Conserving LifeConserving Life

BiodiversityBiodiversity

The variety of life in an ecosystem.The variety of life in an ecosystem.

Biodiversity increases as Biodiversity increases as you near the equatoryou near the equator

3 most diverse biomes:3 most diverse biomes:

Coral ReefCoral Reef Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest Wetlands MarshWetlands Marsh

Why is Biodiversity Why is Biodiversity important?important?

Beautiful and scenicBeautiful and scenic Good for our health and an ecosystem’s Good for our health and an ecosystem’s

health health (diet, medicines, and disease prevention)(diet, medicines, and disease prevention)

Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity

Extinct speciesExtinct species

A species once present on Earth but has A species once present on Earth but has died outdied out

Endangered speciesEndangered species

A species in danger of becoming extinct.A species in danger of becoming extinct.

http://webecoist.com/2008/11/03/strange-rare-bizarre-endangered-flowers-plants-and-trees/

Threatened speciesThreatened species

A species likely to become endangered A species likely to become endangered in the near future.in the near future.

What causes the loss of What causes the loss of biodiversity?biodiversity?

““HIPPO”HIPPO” HHabitat Lossabitat Loss IInvasive Speciesnvasive Species PPoachingoaching PPollutionollution OOver population ver population

by humansby humans

1. Habitat Loss1. Habitat Loss

DeforestationDeforestation Slash and burnSlash and burn

Makes soil more Makes soil more fertile for farmingfertile for farming

Nutrient poor soil Nutrient poor soil in rain forestin rain forest

Negative Effects of Negative Effects of DeforestationDeforestation

Loss of habitat – crowds out speciesLoss of habitat – crowds out species Increases levels of COIncreases levels of CO2 2 – –

contributing to global warmingcontributing to global warming

EncroachmentEncroachment Slowly moving into a species’ habitatSlowly moving into a species’ habitat ExamplesExamples

Road buildingRoad building & & farming and housing farming and housing developmentdevelopment

2. Invasive Species2. Invasive Species

Species that are Species that are introduced into an introduced into an environment they are not environment they are not originally fromoriginally from

Synonyms for exotic: alien, Synonyms for exotic: alien, feral, invasive, introducedferal, invasive, introduced

Cane ToadsCane Toads

Released on purpose to kill Released on purpose to kill cane beetlescane beetles

Skin contains deadly toxinsSkin contains deadly toxins Practically no predatorsPractically no predators 101 have turned into 200 101 have turned into 200

million over 70 yearsmillion over 70 years

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090326.wcane0326/BNStory/Science/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_vs._Australia

Fire AntsFire Ants Stowed away on ship to Stowed away on ship to

AlabamaAlabama Sting feels like burnSting feels like burn Kills native insectsKills native insects

Killer BeesKiller Bees

More aggressive honey beesMore aggressive honey bees Escaped from lab in BrazilEscaped from lab in Brazil Kills native bee speciesKills native bee species

Non-harmful invasive Non-harmful invasive speciesspecies

WheatWheat RiceRice DogsDogs CatsCats HorsesHorses Pigs Pigs CowsCows GoatsGoats

How do they arrive?How do they arrive?

Invasive species in FLInvasive species in FL

A Burmese A Burmese python python

attempted attempted to eat an to eat an alligatoralligator

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/enter

What’s the problem?What’s the problem?

Crowd out native Crowd out native speciesspecies

No predatorsNo predators Decreases Decreases

biodiversitybiodiversity

3. Poaching3. Poaching Illegal hunting (killing) Illegal hunting (killing)

OROR Illegally removing a species from its Illegally removing a species from its

habitat habitat

Poached SpeciesPoached Species Big Cats – FurBig Cats – Fur Elephants – IvoryElephants – Ivory Rhinoceros – HornsRhinoceros – Horns Orangutans – PetsOrangutans – Pets Macaws – PetsMacaws – Pets

“In 2005 there were nearly 88,000 mammals, 1.3 million reptiles and 203 million fish imported illegally into the United States.” -Reuters

PoachingPoaching

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=7513626

4. Pollution4. Pollution

Water PollutionWater Pollution Air PollutionAir Pollution Ground PollutionGround Pollution

Water PollutionWater Pollution PesticidesPesticides

Pesticide UsePesticide Use

Pesticide= chemicals Pesticide= chemicals used to kill a pest used to kill a pest (rodent, insect, (rodent, insect, fungus, etc.)fungus, etc.)

Runoff with rainwater Runoff with rainwater puts it into local water puts it into local water systems.systems.

Disrupts aquatic food Disrupts aquatic food chainschains

DDTDDT

Pesticide used to kill mosquitoesPesticide used to kill mosquitoes Blamed for decline in bird of prey Blamed for decline in bird of prey

populationspopulations Fish in polluted water eaten by birdsFish in polluted water eaten by birds Travels up the food chainTravels up the food chain Top predators (eagles, peregrine falcons) Top predators (eagles, peregrine falcons)

affected mostaffected most

These birds lay eggs with thin shellsThese birds lay eggs with thin shells U.S. banned DDT in 1972U.S. banned DDT in 1972 DDT still used in tropical locations to fight DDT still used in tropical locations to fight

malariamalaria Some oppose ban due to DDT’s ability to Some oppose ban due to DDT’s ability to

fight malariafight malaria

Fertilizer UseFertilizer Use

Runoff into Runoff into lakeslakes

Causes rapid Causes rapid algae growth algae growth (algae bloom)(algae bloom)

Algae blocks sunlight and….Algae blocks sunlight and…. Plants die (less oxygen)Plants die (less oxygen) Decomposers break down dead Decomposers break down dead

plants (& use up oxygen)plants (& use up oxygen) No oxygen available to other No oxygen available to other

animals and they “suffocate” animals and they “suffocate”

MercuryMercury

Mercury released into the air when burned, Mercury released into the air when burned, and mixes with rainfall to get into the water.and mixes with rainfall to get into the water.

Found in high quantities in fish Found in high quantities in fish Can damage nervous and reproductive Can damage nervous and reproductive

systems (Pregnant women and young kids systems (Pregnant women and young kids at highest risk)at highest risk)

Hatters used mercury to Hatters used mercury to shape felt hats and often shape felt hats and often were poisoned. “Mad as a were poisoned. “Mad as a Hatter” references this.Hatter” references this.

Mercury can

accumulate in the food

chain.

Mercury is Mercury is often often combined combined with other with other metals for metals for fillings fillings (ADA says (ADA says this is safe)this is safe)

Air PollutionAir Pollution Pollutants released into air usually from Pollutants released into air usually from

burning fossil fuelsburning fossil fuels

Air Pollution causes…Air Pollution causes…

Global warmingGlobal warming Ozone depletionOzone depletion Acid RainAcid Rain Carbon Monoxide Carbon Monoxide

poisoningpoisoning

Ground PollutionGround Pollution Soil becomes polluted Soil becomes polluted

when air pollutants when air pollutants drift to the ground or drift to the ground or when water leaves when water leaves pollutants behind as it pollutants behind as it flows through the soil.flows through the soil.

5. Over Population of 5. Over Population of HumansHumans

Population numbersPopulation numbers

OverpopulationOverpopulation As more humans are added to our As more humans are added to our

planet, the demand for natural resources planet, the demand for natural resources (for energy, food and shelter) increases (for energy, food and shelter) increases and more land is cleared for and more land is cleared for development.development.