Biological Diversity and Conservation

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Biological Diversity and Conservation

• Chapter 5

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Which do you like better?
B
A
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Which do you like better?
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Which do you like better?
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Which do you like better?
B
A
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Which do you like better?
A
B
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Which do you like better?
A
B
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Biodiversity
What does Bio mean?
Life
Bio
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Biodiversity
What does Diversity mean?
Diversity Variety
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There are 3 components of biodiversity

• Diversity of genesChihuahuas, beagles, and
  rottweilers are all dogsbut they're not the same
  because their genes are different.

Beagle
Chihuahua
Rottweilers
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There are 3 components of biodiversity
Diversity of speciesFor example, monkeys,
dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all
different species.
Golden Skimmer
Meadow Beauty
Saki Monkey
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There are 3 components of biodiversity
Variety of ecosystemsPrairies, Ponds, and
tropical rain forests are all ecosystems. Each
one is different, with its own set of species
living in it.
Paines Prairie
Florida Sand hill Pond
Hoh Rain Forest
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Figure 6-12 The Formation of Acid Rain
Section 6-2
Chemical Transformation Nitric acid Sulfuric acid
Condensation
Emissions to Atmosphere Nitrogen oxides Sulfur
dioxide
Dry Fallout
Precipitation Acid rain, fog, snow, and mist
particulates, gases
Industry
Transportation
Ore smelting
Power generation
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Species Diversity
Section 6-3
Insects
54.4
Protists
Other Animals
4.2
19.7
Plants
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Bacteria
Fungi
0.3
3.4
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Figure 6-16 Biological Magnification of DDT
Section 6-3
Magnification of DDT Concentration
Fish-Eating Birds
10,000,000
Large Fish
1,000,000
100,000
Small Fish
10,000
Zooplankton
1000
Producers
Water
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Sustainable Agriculture
Section 6-4
Cover Crops Legumes, grasses, and other cover
crops recycle soil nutrients, reduce fertilizer
need, and prevent weed growth.
Controlled Grazing By managing graze periods and
herd densities, farmers can improve
nutrient cycling, increase the effectiveness
of precipitation, and increase the
carrying capacity of pastures.
Biological Pest Control The use of predators and
parasites to control destructive
insects minimizes pesticide use as well as crop
damage
A
B
C
Yr. 1
Contour Plowing Contour plowing reduces soil
erosion from land runoff. On hilly areas,
plowing is done across the hill rather than
straight up and down.
Crop Rotation Different crops use and replenish
different nutrients. By rotating crops, the
loss of important plant nutrients is decreased.
alfalfa
oats
corn
Yr. 2
alfalfa (plowed in)
corn
alfalfa
Yr. 3
corn
alfalfa
oats
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Panda
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Vanishing Species

• Biodiversity--variety of life in an area
• number of different species in given area
• terrestrial biodiversity increases as you move
  closer to equator
• tropical regions contain 2/3 of all land species
  on Earth

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• Larger islands have more biodiversity than
  smaller islands (similar locations/biomes)
• more space
• greater variety of enviornments and ecosystems

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Importance of Biodiversity

• Beautification
• Possible unknown relationships
• Brings stability to ecosystem
• Meets human needs
• Potential to improve health (medicines)
• (Fig. 5.3, p.118)

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Biodiversity
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Loss of Biodiversity

• Extinction--disappearance of species when last of
  its members dies
• Threatened species--declining rapidly
• Endangered species--numbers become so low that
  extinction is possible
• 40 extinctions since 1940s
• humans are mainly responsible

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Biodiversity Loss
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Biodiversity Loss
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Threats to Biodiversity

• Changes to habitat can threaten organisms with
  extinction. Three main ways.
• -Habitat loss
• -Habitat fragmentation
• -Habitat degradation

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Habitat Loss

• Biggest threat to biodiversity
• Destruction of habitats and organisms cant adapt
• Results from human actions and natural disaster

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Corral Reefs
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Habitat Fragmentation

• Separation of wilderness areas from other
  wilderness areas
• Ex roads cut across wilderness, building
  projects, etc.

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Fragmentation Results
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Habitat Degradation--damage to a habitat by
pollution

• 3 Main types.
• -Air Pollution
• -Water Pollution
• -Land Pollution

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Air Pollution

• Includes acid rain
• Damages plant tissue and interferes with growth
• Changes water pH (frogs)
• Damages ozone (CFCs)

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Water Pollution

• Results from excess fertilizers, algal blooms,
  silt, detergents, heavy metals, and solid
  pollutants
• Point-source vs. Non-point source

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Land Pollution

• Pesticides
• DDT--Rachel Carson
• Peregrine falcons, bald eagles, brown pellicans,
  etc. (fragile eggs)

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Land Pollution
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Exotic Species

• Organisms not native to a particular area
• Ex Kudzu
• Grow at exponential rate due to lack of
  competitors and lack of predators
• May take over niches and eventually replace
  native species

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Exotic Species
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Conservation of Biodiversity

• Strategies of Conservation --plans to protect
  biodiversity
• -US Endangered Species Act
• -Nature preserves and National Parks
• -Sustainable Use
• -Habitat Corridors
• -Reintroduction programs

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US Endangered Species Act

• Became law in 1973
• Made it illegal to harm any species on endangered
  or threatened species lists
• Also illegal for federal agencies to fund any
  project that would harm organisms on these lists
• includes damaging their ecosystems
• Ex bald eagle, American alligator

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Nature Preserves/National Parks

• Best way to conserve species is to protect whole
  communities and ecosystems
• only 6 of Earths land surface is protected

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Yellow Stone
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Sustainable Use

• Using resources of wilderness areas in ways that
  will not damage the ecosystem
• Harvesting brazil nuts rather than cutting down
  the trees

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Habitat Corridors

• Natural strips of land/water that allow migration
  of organisms from one area to another
• Overcomes habitat fragmentation

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Reintroduction Programs

• Release of organisms into an area where their
  species once lived
• California condors

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Reintroduction Programs