Humans In The Biosphere

1
Humans In The Biosphere

• Biodiversity

2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
The Value of Biodiversity

• Diversity Variety
• Ecosystems Diversity
• Species Diversity
• Genetic Diversity

7
The Value of Biodiversity

• Key Concept
• Biodiversity is one of Earths greatest natural
  resources. Species of many kinds have provided us
  with foods, industrial products, and medicines.
• Many other discoveries are out there, but only if
  the organisms that contain them survive.

8
(No Transcript)
9
Threats to Biodiversity

• Key Concept
• Human activity can reduce biodiversity by
• altering habitats
• hunting species to extinction
• introducing toxic compounds into food webs
• introducing foreign species into new environments.

10
(No Transcript)
11
Habitat Alteration Fragmentation

• Creates Biological Islands
• Costa Rica Rainforest Project is attempting to
  reverse fragmentation.

12
Demand For Wildlife Products

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered
  Species

13
Demand For Wildlife Products

• Body Parts
• Fur, horns, gall bladders, feathers, etc.

14
(No Transcript)
15
Pollution

• Biological Magnification
• Toxic chemicals concentrate in tissues and are
  passed up the food chain.
• Higher concentrations accumulate at each level
  until the animal is toxic to itself, or any
  organism that eats it.
• DDT

16
Invasive Species

• Zebra Mussel
• Leafy Spurge
• Nutrias
• Kudzu
• Varroa Mites
• Dutch Elm Disease

17
Invasive Species

• Zebra Mussel
• Leafy Spurge
• Nutrias
• Kudzu
• Varroa Mites
• Dutch Elm Disease

18
Invasive Species

• Zebra Mussel
• Leafy Spurge
• Nutrias
• Kudzu
• Varroa Mites
• Dutch Elm Disease

19
Invasive Species

• Zebra Mussel
• Leafy Spurge
• Nutrias
• Kudzu
• Varroa Mites
• Dutch Elm Disease

20
Conserving Biodiversity

• Key Concept
• Conservation efforts focus on protecting entire
  ecosystems as well as single species
• National Parks
• Marine Sanctuaries
• Tropical Megareserves