BIODIVERSITY

The Value of Variety

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1VYmpTikgwhttp://youtu.be/I7G2rQARCC8

Biodiversity Biological Diversity (biodiversity)

› Total number of species in the biosphere› The variety of life on earth

Ecosystem Diversity › Variety of habitats, communities, & ecological

processes in the living world Species Diversity

› Number of different species in the biosphere Genetic Diversity (w/i species)

› Total of all different forms

The World Turning Green !

Global Environment Concerns

Rising tides

Cape Hatteras in North Carolina

More pests

White Spruce trees in Alaska

No snow

Mount Hood in Oregon

DESERTIFICATION

•Species diversity refers to the variety of species within region.

Rainforest are among the most biodiverse Ecosystem in the World

Malaysia is one of the 12 world hotspots for Biodiversity

Why is biodiversity so important?

We could call it our 'life support system'.

What threatens biodiversity?

Many human activities have a negative effect upon our biodiversity.

Each time we change the natural environment we change the environment that biodiversity lives in.

The Value of Biodiversity

Greatest Natural Resource

Natural Resource

Is a material that nature provides

which can be used in production. PASS OUT TABLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn0RipJPRIY

BiodiversityDirect Value Medicinal Value

Prescription drugs Homeopathic remedies Research

Consumptive Use Value Wild fruits & vegetables, trees Skins, fibers, beeswax, seaweed Freshwater & marine fish Natives - hunting

Agricultural Value Crops came from wild plants Pollinators

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0

BiodiversityIndirect Value Biogeochemical Cycles

Waste Disposal decomposition

Fresh Water Water Cycle

Prevention of Soil Erosion Regulation of Climate Ecotourism Natural Beauty (Aesthetic Value)

Biodiversity Hotspots Regions of the world that contain

unusually large concentrations of species. Biodiversity is highest at the tropics.

The most remarkable places on earth are

also the most threatened

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=667BA1A4-C549-42BC-8EEA-C22081F176B0

Where are the hotspots in Texas?

Edwards Plateau

&Llano Uplift

Trans Pecos

Threats to Biodiversity Human Activity1. Habitat Loss

Habitat fragmentation

2. Demand for Wildlife Products Poaching

3. Non-native Species Invasive species

4. Pollution Biological magnification

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/?guidAssetId=eb93e962-2632-47f7-9a9a-5363461d6f48

#1 Threat to Biodiversity

Habitat Fragmentation› Splitting of ecosystems into small

fragments

Threat to Biodiversity Poaching – illegal hunting

Overexploitation – overharvesting (overuse)

Throughout history there have been species pushed to extinction› Food› Ivory› Clothes› Décor› Trade› Tourists› Medicine

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/nat-geo-wild/shows-1/crimes-against-nature/ngc-poaching-endangered-species/

Threat to Biodiversity Tragedy of the Commons

› The idea that any resource that is free & accessible to everyone may eventually be destroyed. People may take advantage of a resource without also taking the responsibility to maintain it.

› Exploitation (overuse) of resources is due to the fact that increasingly, humans modify ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and consumption. Human destruction of habitats through direct harvesting, is threatening current global stability, and if not addressed, ecosystems will be irreversibly affected.

Invasive Species – plants & animals that have migrated to places where they are not native› Moved by humans accidentally or on

purpose› Outcompete native species› Reproduce rapidly› No natural predators or parasites

Threat to Biodiversity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwDzmwY_8wohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ntKyFWOoNIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qgmPVASHHI

NON-NATIVESFeral Hogs (mammal)

Nutria (aquatic mammal)Chinese Tallow Tree

Japanese Privet (shrub)European Starling (bird)

English House Sparrow (bird)Zebra Mussel (invertebrate)

Snakehead (fish)Emerald Ash Borer (beetle)

Imported Red Fire Ant

Threat to Biodiversity Pollution - Any environmental change

that negatively affects the lives & health of living things› Enters the biosphere

through land, air, or water Chemical Light Solid waste Nuclear waste Thermal Water Air Noise

http://www.youtube.com/embed/NOJEMO65nGk

Point Source Pollution

Contaminants that can be traced back to a specific source, location, and offender.› Water: Dumping of industrial

waste, sewage treatment facilities, illegal dumping

› Air: Stationary equipment, paper mills, oil refineries, chemical processing facilities

Non-Point Source

Pollution

Contaminants that cannot be traced back to a specific source, location, and offender.

Comes from many diffuse sources and often enters in small amounts but can become concentrated.

Hard to manage› Water: runoff

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

Discovered as a pesticide in 1930s Helped1 billion people stay malaria-free for

30 years

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

1962: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson “Carson profiles many facets of DDT, besides it ability to kill disease and

agricultural pests. DDT is persistent in the environment. It seems to affect wildlife and non-target species. It is a contact toxin to animals, and can possibly accumulate in the food chain, leading to neurological effects. Carson claims it is a carcinogen, possibly poisoning food. For Carson, alternative pest management strategies are available and need to be considered.” http://www.tc.umn.edu/~allch001/1815/pestcide/sim/background.htm

1972: DDT banned in most nations

Biomagnification

Harmful substance enters environment Concentration of

substance increases in organisms at higher trophic levels

Affects the entire food web

Top-level carnivores are at highest risk

Conserving Biodiversity

Conservation = The planned management of a natural resource to prevent waste

Preservation = The non-use of a natural resource to prevent waste

Why would you want conservation/preservation efforts to focus on protecting entire ecosystems & not just a single species? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGLP38P0GyM

Extinct

Endangered

Threatened

Species of Concern(Watch List)

Endangered

A species whose _____________ size is declining in a way that places it

in danger of extinction

population

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUT-JIbIOJI

Federal and International Legislation

Endangered Species Act (1973)› Protection for endangered and threatened plant

and animal species & their habitats Effectiveness??? Exemptions are often granted if

No alternatives to the project National or regional significance of project Benefits outweigh those of any alternatives

CITES (late 1970s)-prohibits trade and commerce of threatened and endangered species› By 1998: signed by 144 countries

Threatened SpeciesTexas Horned Lizard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhw7JSHPMg4

Threatened SpeciesBald Eagle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RtMHcq6KVs&feature=related

Threatened SpeciesAlligator Snapping

Turtle

Endangered SpeciesAttwater’s Prairie-

Chicken

http://youtu.be/tyIOPXsm_W4

Endangered SpeciesOcelot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DBV7gEJ-98

ExtinctionDisappearance of a species from all or part of its range

Passenger Pigeon

http://vimeo.com/30054385

Extinct SpeciesIvory-billed Woodpecker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkIoS1E61PY&feature=colike

Texas SpeciesThreatene

dEndangere

d Extinct

Texas Horned Lizard * Interior Least Tern Carolina Parakeet *

Bald Eagle * Ocelot Passenger Pigeon *

Timber Rattlesnake * Navasota Ladies’ Tresses Red Wolf *

Wood Stork * Texas Blind Salamander Jaguar *

Alligator Snapping Turtle *

Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken

Ivory-billed Woodpecker

http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/120216.html

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/14-extinct-animals-that-were-rediscovered

http://news.discovery.com/animals/extinct-frogs-amphibians-found.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/02/120223-new-bat-species-vietnam-animals-science/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/02/pictures/120221-limbless-amphibians-caecilians-new-species-science/

60 Minutes: Resurrecting the Extinct - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68QhIQLeVUA&feature=colike

60 Minutes: Can Hunting Endangered Animals Save Them? - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/02/pictures/120221-limbless-amphibians-caecilians-new-species-science/

The Loneliest AnimalsPBS Nature

http://video.pbs.org/video/1108704964

1. What is biodiversity?2. List 1 benefit of biodiversity. 3. What 2 Texas Eco-regions have the highest biological diversity?4. What is the main threat to biodiversity? 5. What are 3 other human-caused threats to biodiversity?6. Give 1 example of a non-native invasive species found in Matagorda County.7. Give 1 example of an endangered species found in Texas.

JOURNAL QUIZ