Preserving Biodiversity

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 12 &13 Biodiversity & Preserving Biodiversity

2 12 Biodiversity on our planet is our greatest asset. Within this diverse collection of plants, animals, and other organisms, we have the power to provide food for a rapidly growing population, find cures for disease, and insure our economic survival. There are many compelling reasons to protect species. Main Concept

3 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species We have discovered tens of thousands of species but still have not come close to identifying or knowing all life on the planet.

4 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species

5 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species With diversity comes ecosystem service Beyond providing goods, nature is a machine supporting everything we do, from providing the oxygen we need for survival to cleaning up our waste with filtering mechanisms. Photosynthesis Converting light energy to the chemical energy that can be stored and used by living organisms. Nutrient cycling Using the organic and inorganic materials from dead and decomposing organisms to support new life. Population control Competition and predation maintain a balance of organisms while helping maintain diversity. Pollination Insects, birds, mammals, and other organisms provide a mechanism for distribution of critical genetic diversity and generation of grasses, herbs, and other plants. $44,000,000,000,000

6 Natural spaces and nature s services also provide cultural, economic, and social value. Biodiversity benefits humans and other species

7 Natural spaces and nature s services also provide cultural, economic, and social value. Biodiversity benefits humans and other species

8 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species More biodiversity = increased ability to adapt to changing conditions Tropical regions and rain forests around the world hold extremely high concentrations and varieties of plants. In addition to species and genetic diversity, these areas have many communities and ecosystems within a variety of habitats and trophic levels. Biodiversity includes genetic variation, much variety of plant species, and many different community interactions.

9 Biodiversity hotspots Some ecosystems have naturally higher species diversity. This areas often have ecological diversity variety of habitats, niches, and ecological communities in an ecosystem. Tropical forests (equatorial regions) tend to have high ecological and species diversity. Endemic species specially adapted to that locale and naturally found nowhere else on Earth.

10 Endemism increases with isolation, as does extinction risk Isolated populations are especially vulnerable to detrimental environmental changes because they cannot freely breed with other populations and thereby increase their genetic diversity and chances of survival. p. 229

11 Main threats to biodiversity Habitat destruction & Fragmentation o Development o Resource extraction (timber, minerals, fossil fuels, damns) Invasive species Overexploitation Pollution Climate Change

12 Invasive species 6 groups Freshwater aquatic Freshwater plant Terrestrial plant x2 Marine aquatic Invertebrate What is it? Where is it? Where is it from and how did it get here? What problems is it causing? What other species or food webs is it disrupting? Etc. What is being done about it?

13 Chapter 13 Preserving Biodiversity There are many different ways to protect and enhance biodiversity

14 There are many different ways to protect and enhance biodiversity Conservation biology is the science of preserving biodiversity. Conservation biologist focus on protecting individual species and maintaining or restoring entire ecosystems. They must understand how ecosystems work and their threats. Identifying keystone and indicator species is an important part of that.

15 Threats to biodiversity can lead to extinction Extinction end of an organism or group of organisms Extirpated locally extinct The rapid loss of species we are seeing today is estimated by experts to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate.* These experts calculate that between 0.01 and 0.1% of all species will become extinct each year. Low estimate of 2 million species on planet = 200-2,000 extinctions per year! High estimate of 100 million species on planet = 10, ,000 extinctions per year! Conservation biologists designate levels of threat to species (start at :40)

16 There are multiple approaches to species conservation Single species conservation- single out wellknown animals and focus on the specific threats it faces. Goal- Increase population size and reintroduces individuals to the wide. Captive breeding Field conservation Reintroduction programs Ecosystem conservation- identifying entire ecosystems-often biodiversity hotspots- that are at risk and restoring or rehabilitating them. Goal- return ecosystems to their original states Reforestation, remove non-natives Restore river flow Remediate (clean up pollution) Benefits all species existing there

17 There are many different ways to protect and enhance biodiversity Must address the needs of humans as well as ecosystems and species that are in danger. Tradeoffs!

18 There are many different ways to protect and enhance biodiversity

19 There are many different ways to protect and enhance biodiversity

20 There are many different ways to protect and enhance biodiversity

21 There are many different ways to protect and enhance biodiversity Need to consider needs of people living in the area! Debt for nature swaps - forgive debt in exchange for conservation or environmental policy Ecotourism supports local economies, focus on nonconsumptive use of resources