Essential Questions What are three types of biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important? What are the direct and indirect values of biodiversity? Biodiversity
Vocabulary Review gene New extinction biodiversity genetic diversity species diversity ecosystem diversity Biodiversity
What is biodiversity? Biodiversity is the variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species in that area. Biodiversity increases the stability of an ecosystem and contributes to the health of the biosphere. Extinction occurs when the last member of a species dies. Biodiversity
What is biodiversity? Genetic diversity Genetic diversity is the variety of genes or inheritable characteristics that are present in a population. Genetic diversity increases the chances that some species will survive during changing environmental conditions or during the outbreak of disease. Biodiversity
What is biodiversity? Species diversity The number of different species and the relative abundance of each species in a biological community is called species diversity. Biodiversity
What is biodiversity? Ecosystem diversity The variety of ecosystems that are present in the biosphere is called ecosystem diversity. An ecosystem is made up of interacting populations and the abiotic factors that support them. Biodiversity
The Importance of Biodiversity Direct economic value Humans depend on plants and animals for food, clothing, energy, and medicine. Most of the world s food crops come from just a few species. Wild species serve as reservoirs of desirable genetic traits that might be needed to improve commercial crop species. Scientists continue to find new extracts from plants and other organisms that help in the treatment of human diseases. Biodiversity
The Importance of Biodiversity Indirect economic value A healthy biosphere provides many services to humans: Green plants provide oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Natural processes provide drinking water that is safe for human use. It is often difficult to assign an economic value to biosphere services. Biodiversity
The Importance of Biodiversity Aesthetic and scientific values There is value in maintaining healthy ecosystems that are beautiful or interesting to study It is difficult to assign economic value to these services. Biodiversity
Review Essential Questions What are three types of biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important? What are the direct and indirect values of biodiversity? Vocabulary extinction biodiversity genetic diversity species diversity ecosystem diversity Biodiversity
Essential Questions What are the threats to biodiversity? How is the current extinction rate different from the background extinction rate? How can the decline of a single species affect an entire ecosystem? Threats to Biodiversity
Vocabulary Review food web New background extinction mass extinction natural resource overexploitation habitat fragmentation edge effect biological magnification eutrophication introduced species Threats to Biodiversity
Extinction Rates The gradual process of species becoming extinct is known as background extinction. Scientists are not concerned about the natural process of extinction as much as the increasing rate of extinctions. Mass extinction is an event in which a large percentage of all living species become extinct in a relatively short period of time. Threats to Biodiversity
Factors that Threaten Biodiversity The current high rate of extinction is due to the activities of a single species Homo sapiens. Humans are changing conditions on Earth faster than new traits can evolve. Natural resources are the materials and organisms found in the biosphere, including minerals, fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, plants, animals, soil, clean water, clean air, and solar energy. Threats to Biodiversity
Factors that Threaten Biodiversity Overexploitation One factor that contributes to rising extinction rates is the overexploitation, or excessive use, of species that have economic value. Affects a variety of species, such as: Bison Passenger pigeons Ocelot Rhinoceros Threats to Biodiversity
Factors that Threaten Biodiversity Habitat loss Destruction of habitat, such as clearing tropical rainforests, has a direct impact on global biodiversity. Disruption of habitat, such as overfishing, can start a chain reaction and affect an entire ecosystem. Threats to Biodiversity
Factors that Threaten Biodiversity Fragmentation of habitat Problems with fragmentation: Smaller parcels of land support fewer species. Reduces the opportunities for individuals in one area to reproduce with individuals from another area. Decreases genetic diversity Creates more edges Edge effects are different environmental conditions experienced at the boundaries of ecosystems. Threats to Biodiversity
Factors that Threaten Biodiversity Pollution Pollution changes the composition of air, soil, and water. Biological magnification is the increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms as trophic levels increase in a food chain or food web. Threats to Biodiversity
Factors that Threaten Biodiversity Pollution Acid precipitation: Sulfur and nitrogen compounds react with water and other substances in the air to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Acid precipitation removes calcium, potassium, and other nutrients from the soil, depriving plants of these nutrients. Threats to Biodiversity
Factors that Threaten Biodiversity Introduced Species Nonnative species that are either intentionally or unintentionally transported to a new habitat are known as introduced species. Introduced species often reproduce in large numbers because of a lack of predators. An estimated 40% of the extinctions that have occurred since 1750 are a result of introduced species. Threats to Biodiversity
Review Essential Questions What are the threats to biodiversity? How is the current extinction rate different from the background extinction rate? How can the decline of a single species affect an entire ecosystem? Vocabulary background extinction mass extinction natural resource overexploitation habitat fragmentation edge effect biological magnification eutrophication introduced species Threats to Biodiversity
Essential Questions What are the two classes of natural resources? What are the methods used to conserve biodiversity? What are two techniques used to restore biodiversity? Conserving Biodiversity
Vocabulary Review natural resources New renewable resource nonrenewable resource sustainable use endemic bioremediation biological augmentation Conserving Biodiversity
Natural Resources The consumption rate of natural resources is not evenly distributed. Conserving Biodiversity
Natural Resources Renewable resources Resources that are replaced by natural processes faster than they are consumed are called renewable resources. Include resources such as solar energy, agricultural plants, animals, clean water, and clean air. Resources that are found on Earth in limited amounts or those that are replaced by natural processes over extremely long periods of time are called nonrenewable resources. Conserving Biodiversity
Natural Resources Nonrenewable resources Resources that are found on Earth in limited amounts or those that are replaced by natural processes over extremely long periods of time are called nonrenewable resources. Include resources such as fossil fuel and mineral deposits Conserving Biodiversity
Natural Resources Renewable versus nonrenewable resources The classification of a resource as renewable or nonrenewable depends on the context. Sustainable use Sustainable use means using resources at a rate at which they can be replaced or recycled while preserving the long term environmental heath of the biosphere. Conserving Biodiversity
Protecting Biodiversity Biodiversity hot spots Biodiversity hot spots must have at least 1500 endemic vascular plants and have lost 70% of its original habitat. Endemic species are only found in one specific geographic location. Biodiversity hot spots contain approximately half of all plant and animal species. Conserving Biodiversity
Protecting Biodiversity Corridors between habitat fragments Connect smaller parcels of land, allowing organisms to move safely between them Create a larger piece of land that can sustain a wider variety of species and a wider variety of genetic variation Can also pass disease and infection between fragments and increase edge effects Conserving Biodiversity
Restoring Ecosystems Biological communities can recover from natural and humanmade disasters, given the appropriate amount of time. The larger the affected area, the longer it takes for the biological community to recover. Ecologists use two methods to speed recovery time: bioremediation and biological augmentation. Conserving Biodiversity
Restoring Ecosystems Bioremediation The use of living organisms, such as prokaryotes, fungi, or plants, to detoxify a polluted area is called bioremediation. Biological Augmentation Adding natural predators to a degraded ecosystem is called biological augmentation. Conserving Biodiversity
Legally Protecting Biodiversity The United State s Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973. The ESA was designed to legally protect species that were becoming or in danger of becoming extinct. An international treaty, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1975. CITES outlawed the trade of endangered species and animal parts. Conserving Biodiversity
Review Essential Questions What are the two classes of natural resources? What are the methods used to conserve biodiversity? What are two techniques used to restore biodiversity? Vocabulary renewable resource nonrenewable resource sustainable use endemic bioremediation biological augmentation Conserving Biodiversity