Biodiversity: Who cares?

Biodiversity:

Who cares?

Which do you like better?

A B

A B

Which do you like better?

A B

Which do you like better?

What do you think biodiversity means?

Bio =

Biodiversity

What does “Bio” mean?

Biodiversity

Diversity = Variety

What does “Diversity” mean?

Biodiversity ALL organisms in an area

More kinds of organisms = greater biodiversity

High biodiversity = healthy, sustainable environment

The essential interdependence of all living things

• Scientists have identified more than 2 million species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown

• The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made possible by complex interactions among all living things including microscopic species like algae and mites.

Natural Capital: Major Components of

the Earth’s Biodiversity

There are 4 components of biodiversity

1. Diversity of genesChihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but they're not the same because their genes are different.

Chihuahua Beagle

Rottweilers

Diversity of speciesFor example, monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all different species.

Saki Monkey Golden Skimmer Meadow Beauty

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

Hoh Rain Forest

Florida Sand hill Pond

There are 3 components of biodiversity

Components of biodiversity Species diversity: the number and abundance of species

Ecosystem diversity: The variety of ecosystems found in a place or on earth

Functional diversity: variety in the processes and energy flow in an ecosystem

Genetic Diversity: Variety in traits/genes in a species

A B

Which has more cultural diversity?

Biodiversity

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Where is the biodiversity Everywhere

Every continent and habitat has unique life forms

Concentrated in the tropics

Panama: > 500 species of breeding birds

Arctic: 50-100 species Dense concentrations

Which has more biodiversity?

A B

Should we be concerned about biodiversity?

What we know: The Earth is losing species at an alarming rate

Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur each year.

when species of plants and animals go extinct, many other species are affected.

Biodiversity has Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic Value = Something that has value in and of itself

Biodiversity also has utilitarian Value

Utilitarian Value = the value something has as a means to another’s end.

Utilitarian values include:• Goods• Services• Information

Benefits of Biodiversity• Natural Resources• Food• Medicine• Clean water• Clean air• Oxygen• Habitat & breeding

areas for wildlife, …• Aesthetic and cultural

benefits• Ideas

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Natural Resources Vital economic natural resources

Renewable Forests (plants, wildlife) Soils Fresh water (lakes, rivers) Wildlife and fisheries Rangeland

Nonrenewable Minerals Fossil Fuels

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 22

Benefits of Biodiversity• New food sources

– Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish

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Benefits of Biodiversity• Medicines

• Plants• Jellyfish & sea

anemones• Nudibranchs

• Marine slugs

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 24

What is Biodiversity?

The variety of life!

genesspecies

ecosystems

Threats to biodiversity

Habitat destructionInvasive (Introduced) Species

Population GrowthPollution

Over-harvesting = Over exploitation~HIPPO~

Threats to Biodiversity Extinction and population

reductions Hunting and overharvesting

Tiger Dodo Whales Sharks

Habitat loss

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Threats to Biodiversity

Extinction and population reductions Pollution Climate change Invasive species

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Chinese Tallow TreeInvasive Species in our area

Sustainability Definition: when a population of plants,

animals and other living organisms can continue to interact and reproduce indefinitely… it is the capacity to endure

The more links in a food web, the more stable and sustainableit is.

What is sustainable use?

To use natural resources at a rate that the Earth can renew them.

Threats to SustainabilityThe more organism that can fulfill a particular

niche (energy role) in an ecosystem the more likely it is to sustain a threat.

Choose 3 of the following threats to ecosystem sustainability and explain why this is true:

Disease Environmental change

Limited resources Human disturbance

Catastrophic events Invasive Species

Sustainable Use of Biodiversity To use biodiversity in a sustainable manner

means to use natural resources at a rate that the Earth can renew them.

What kinds of natural resourcesare we talking about here?

Biodiversity and Sustainability

The biodiversity of an ecosystem contributes to the sustainability of that ecosystem.

Higher/more biodiversity = more sustainable Lower/less biodiversity = less sustainable High biodiversity in an ecosystem means that

there is a great variety of genes and species in that ecosystem.

What is Biodiversity?

The variety of life!

genesspecies

ecosystems

Sustainable Use of Biodiversity To use biodiversity in a sustainable manner

means to use natural resources at a rate that the Earth can renew them.

It is a way to ensure that we meet the needs of present generations and future generations.

Are we part of these ecosystems?

Think food webs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES!

The more links in a food web, the more stable and sustainableit is.

Protecting Biodiversity

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How can we protect biodiversity Stop overharvesting

Sustainable yield Hunting & fishing laws

(every state ?) in developing nations ?

Protect habitat Refuges, parks, preserves

Endangered Species Act Clean Air & Water Act Stop over grazing

Protecting Biodiversity

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Endangered Species Act (1973)

Listing of “endangered” and “threatened” species

Restricts development of habitats

Captive breeding programs Release of captive bred

stocks to enhance or recover wild populations.

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/

Protecting Biodiversity Endangered Species Act (1973)

Goal to “recover” species so they no longer need protection under ESA Implements U.S. participation in CITES

“Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species” Prohibits trade in listed species

whole organisms parts: skins, bones, teeth, flowers, leaves, etc.

Other laws: Marine Mammal Protection Act Migratory Bird Treaty Act Anadromous Fish Conservation Act etc.

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Protecting Biodiversity Refuges, parks, preserves

How big should refuges be? Where should they be? McArthur & Wilson “Theory of Island

Biogeography” colonization rate extinction rate (local) predicts number of species

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Formative Assessment

Examine the two food webs below.

Make 3 claims about why one of the food webs below is less sustainable than the other. Support your claims with explanation as well as evidence from the food webs.

What can you do?As a group brainstorm a list of things

YOU can do to protect biodiversity!