Vanishing Species

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an area.

A. The simplest and most common measure of biodiversity is the number of species that live in a certain area.

B. Terrestrial biodiversity tends to increase as you move toward the equator. WHY?Tropical regions contain 2/3 of all land species on Earth.

Why is biodiversity important?

1. Aesthetic value--beauty

2. Nature—many relationships among organisms are yet to be discovered. The loss of a species could have detrimental consequences for other living things.

3. Life depends on life.4. Stability to an ecosystem. Ex. If a vital part (bolt) fails on

an airplane the plane crashes.5. Importance to people.

Ex. Oxygen, diet, clothes, furniture, medicines

II. Extinction - disappearance of a species when the last of its members dies.

A. Extinction can result from natural processes. Many species become extinct because of humans.

B. Threatened species-population of species declines rapidly.

C. Endangered species –numbers become so low extinction is possible.

III. Threats to BiodiversityA. The largest threat to

biodiversity is habitat loss.

B. Habitat fragmentation is the seperation of wilderness areas from other wilderness areas.

1. Biotic Issues: large predators cannot get enough food.

2. Abiotic issues: Cutting down the rain forests canopy will dry out the area therefore changing the climate

Edge effect--The different conditions along the boundaries of an ecosystem.

C. Habitat Degradation: is the damage to a habitat by pollution.

Three Types of Pollution

1. Air- The greatest source of air pollution is burning of fossil fuels. Acid Precipitation- (pH values(0-7) Sulfur Dioxide from factories and exhausts that combine with water vapor in the air to form acidic drops of water vapor.

•Acid precipitation damages plant tissues and interfere with plant growth.

The ozone layer protects living organisms from receiving ultraviolet radiation.

2. Water -excess fertilizers and animal waste causes algal blooms cause clogging of the gills of fish. Abandoned drift nets kill sea life.

3. Land – Use of pesticides (DDT) The average American produces 1.8 kg of solid waste daily.

Sanitation and Human Health Activity

D. Introduction of Exotic Species—

not native to a particular area.

Ex. Kudzu, zebra mussels

The Threat to Biodiversity Movie

Conservation of Biodiversity

I. Strategies of Conservation biology--studies methods and implements plans to protect biodiversity.

A. Legal protections of species:

1. U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973--Made it illegal to harm species on the endangered or threatened species list.2. International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has established species lists for which international trade is prohibited or controlled.

B. Natural resource conservation (preserving habitats)—protecting whole communities and ecosystems by creating nature preserves. Ex. Yellowstone National Park

1. Only 6% of the Earth’s surface is protected in this way.

2. Sustainable use-strive to let people use the resources of wilderness areas in ways that will not damage the ecosystem.

3. Habitat corridors-natural strips that allow the migration of organisms from one area to another.

C. Reintroduction programs:

Release organisms into an area where their species once lived.

1. An organism that is held by people is said to be in captivity.

Did You Know?In the U. S., 735 species of plants and 496 species of animals are listed as threatened or endangered.

There are more than 1,000 animal species endangered worldwide.

There are more than 3,500 protected areas in existence worldwide: 3% of our total land area.

Teacher Activities/Labs

Burrowing Owls

Managing the Everglades Ecosystem

Endangered Species Activity

Teacher Resource Page

Glencoe

Puzzle Maker

Notes, Labs, Activities

Slide show of endangered animals

Endangered animals by Alabama counties

1. Why do larger islands tend to have a greater biodiversity than smaller islands?

2. The anti-malarial drug quinine came from the bark of the ______ tree.

3. ______ is the source of drugs for Hodgkin’s disease and leukemia.

4. Willow bark is the original source of ____________.

5. List some organisms that are extinct.

6. List some organisms that are threatened.

7. List some organisms that are endangered.

8. ________________ are the synthetic chemicals that break down the ozone layer.

9. _________________ is the pesticide that was commonly sprayed on crops to control insects and sprayed on water to kill mosquito larvae.

10. Name two species of predators that laid eggs with very thin shells that cracked easily, killing the chicks inside, due to DDT being in their bodies.

Answers

1. Why do larger islands tend to have a greater biodiversity than smaller islands?

Larger islands have more space

and are more likely to have a

greater variety of environments

and ecosystems.

2. The antimalarial drug quinine came from the bark of the ___________ tree.

cinchona

3. __________________ is the source of drugs for Hodgkin’s disease and leukemia.

Rosy periwinkle

4. Willow bark is the original source of ____________.

aspirin

5. List some organisms that are extinct. Passenger pigeons, woodland caribou, relic leopard frog, Louisiana prairie vole

6. List some organisms that are threatened.

African elephants, sea otters, loggerhead turtles

7. List some organisms that are endangered.

California condor, Florida manatees (“sea cows”)

8. _______ are the synthetic chemicals that break down the ozone layer.

Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFC’s

9. _____ is the pesticide that was commonly sprayed on crops. (this pesticide has been banned) DDT

10. Name two species of predators that tended to lay eggs with very thin shells that cracked easily, killing the chicks inside, due to DDT being in their bodies.

American bald eagle and the peregrine falcon