9/26/14

Objective: How are humans impacting biodiversity?

Do Now: What is the difference between a threatened and endangered species?

(Finish video clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWBzwtVXzXc

Endangered

• Endangered in immediate danger of extincition .

Threatened

• A species that is likely to become endangered if it is not protected.

What is the #1 cause?• Habitat destruction leads to species

endangerment

What is biodiversity?• Biodiversity: the total of genetically different

organisms in an area

A lot of biodiversity: Rainforest

What is biodiversity?• Biodiversity: the total of genetically different

organisms in an area

litte biodiversity: corn field, desert

How might low biodiversity effect the stability of an ecosystem?

Levels of Diversity

• Species diversity: # of different species in an area

• Ecosystem diversity: the variety of habitats, communities within an ecosystem

• Genetic Diversity: different genes within a population

Importance of Biodiversity

Keystone Species

• Keystone species: a species that has a major impact and role within an ecosystem. Without them the ecosystem will fall apart.– Sea otter(Decrease Sea Otter Increase sea urchin-

Decrease Kelp- Decrease Fish spawning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3W4OCnHyCs (sea urchin)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xE1bRtl4aA (29 min)

Biodiversity Loss- Deforestation

• The clearing of land without replacing it

Hunting and Poaching

• Illegal trade of endangered animals• Illegal poaching of animals for food, shelter,

trophies

Caspian Tiger- 1970 (Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey)

Biological Magnification

• DDT was eaten by insects, washed into soils and streams and passed through food webs.

Biological Magnification

What is biological magnification?

• Biological magnification: concentrations of harmful substances increase through a food chain/web

• DDT: harmful pesticide used during the 60s to kills insects that pray on crops.

(Planet in Peril- body burden)

Invasive Species

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3N5t70aJ2A

Invasive Species: Species introduced to a non-native area.

Why is biodiversity important?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HSaAlPRN-c

ActivityD = Douglas Fir

N= Noble Fir

C= Western Red Cedar

M= Vine Maples

H = Western Hemlocks

W= White Fir

L= Lodge pole pine

WP= Western White Pines

B= Bigleaf Maple

WD= Western Dogwood

Species and Population SurvivalLots of genetic diversity more likely to survive

environmental change

Bottleneck Effect:

Population shrinks, genetic diversity decreases

Ethics, Aesthetics, and Ecotorism

• Species have a right to exist

Ecotorism: Tourism created to support conservation

sustainable development of ecologically diverse areas Rainforests Coral reefs Tundra

Nonrenewable resources: resources that cannot be replaced once they are used

Nonrenewable Resources

Examples: fossil fuels (gas, coal), minerals (silicon), metals for packaging

Using too many nonrenewable resources will cause their depletion (reduction)

Recall the Oil graphs

Renewable resources: resources that can be replaced

Renewable Resources

Examples: food, water, solar energy

Increased consumption can stress the natural processes that renew some resources

(ex. Fish)

How can we help maintain our supply of both renewable and nonrenewable resources?

Preserving our Resources

Reduce: avoid using resource (walk, bike, carpool)

Reuse: Use product over and over (dishes, paper bags)

Recycle: Discard in a way that it can be used again

Exponential Growth• Population increases with each generation

Due to:- an increase in food production- an increase in hygiene- an increase in medicine and technology

Carrying Capacity• Carrying Capacity: the maximum population

an ecosystem can support.

Carrying Capacity is reached when…

• A species consumes a particular natural resource at the same rate at which the ecosystem produces the resource

• Limiting Factors: can be sunlight,water, food, space, mineral nutrients, oxygen, etc.

Carbon Footprint

• The amount of carbon emitted by you in your daily lives.