Biodiversity and Conservation

Chapter 5

Biodiversity
Biodiversity

refers to the variety (number of species) in an area. One acre of farmland may only contain one species of plant, but one acre of rainforest can contain 400 species of plants! The rainforest has more biodiversity.

Where is the most diversity found?

Generally

speaking, the closer an ecosystem is to the equator, the more biologically diverse the ecosystem will be. An ecosystem in Central America will have more biodiversity than an ecosystem in North America.

So What?
Why

is biodiversity important? Ecosystems are more healthy when they are biologically diverse. Living things depend on the health of the other living things in their communities!

Importance of Diversity
Organisms

suffer when an organism they feed upon is removed from the food web. If predators are removed, their prey populations may soon exceed carrying capacity. Life depends on life!

Importance of Diversity
Diverse ecosystems are less likely to be severely damaged by pests or diseases. The farm field with just one crop could be completely destroyed by one insect pest, but the rainforest with 400 species per acre is less likely to be destroyed by a single pest (unless that pest is a human!)

Its kinda like

If

a plane loses a few rivets, itll probably be able to fly. But if it loses one too many

But, why should I care?

Were dependent on plants to supply the oxygen we breathe. Biodiversity supplies us with a diverse diet. Cross-breeding wild plants and cultivated plants can help agricultural crops to be pest and disease resistant.

We depend on the living world for clothes and building materials. Living things supply the world pharmacy- the cure for cancer could become extinct before we discover it!

Loss of Diversity
A

threatened species is a species whose population is declining rapidly. African elephants are an example. An endangered species is a species whose numbers have become so low that extinction is possible. The black rhinoceros is an example. Extinction is when the last member of a species dies. The passenger pigeon is an example.

Where did the very last passenger pigeon in the whole world die?
She

died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914 at the ripe old age of 29 years. Her name was Martha and her stuffed remains are on display at the Smithsonian museum!

Loss of Diversity
Although

the extinction of various species is a natural phenomenon, the rate of extinction occurring in today's world is exceptional -- as many as 100 to1,000 times greater than normal. Scientists believe that, on average, a distinct species of plant or animal becomes extinct every 20 minutes.

What are the Causes of the Loss of Biodiversity?

Habitat

Loss Habitat Fragmentation Habitat Degradation Exotic Species

Habitat Loss
When

a rain forest is made into a cattle pasture, or a meadow is paved for a mall parking lot, habitats are lost. Habitat loss is the biggest threat to biodiversity!

Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat

fragmentation is when wilderness areas are divided by building projects or natural disasters. This results in a smaller area for an organism to search for food or a mate or a disruption in migratory routes for some animals. Habitat fragmentation can also result in changes in climate in an area.

Habitat Degradation
Habitat

degradation is damage to a habitat by air, water or land pollution. Air pollution causes breathing problems as well as the irritation of mucus membranes in animals. Acid rain is a form of air pollution that causes severe damage to plants. Air pollution is caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels.

Air Pollution
Air

pollution can lead to long-term environmental problems. Before CFCs were banned, their use led to holes in the ozone layer. The ozone layer protects living things from over exposure to harmful UV rays from the sun. Remember, burning of fossil fuels leads to an excess of CO2 in our atmosphere, causing global warming.

Acid Rain Damage

Water Pollution
Water

pollution degrades habitats in streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. Excess fertilizers, animal wastes, silt from eroded soil, detergents and industrial wastes are all forms of water pollutants. Sudden changes in water temperature can also degrade aquatic habitats. Generally speaking, warmer water has less dissolved oxygen for aquatic animals to breathe.

Land Pollution
Land

pollution is primarily the result of the disposal of human waste and garbage. Landfills result in habitat loss as well as toxic chemicals leaching into ground water, rivers and streams. Some of the chemicals humans use and dispose of can have severe, long-term effects on other specieslike DDT almost caused the extinction of the bald eagle.

Exotic Species
Exotic

(or introduced) species are organisms that are not native to a particular area. They can cause problems because they sometimes out-compete native organisms for food and space. The exotic species usually do not have natural predators in their new habitats and can grow to large numbers very quickly! Kudzu, starlings and zebra mussels are some examples.

But wait! All is not lost! There are things we can do!
Conservation

Biology is a field of biology that studies ways of protecting biodiversity. Whatta good idea! Effective conservation strategies are based on the principles of ecology- we must understand ecosystems if we want to protect them!

Laws protect biodiversity

Habitats and ecosystems are protected by laws, such as the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973 by President Nixon. This law makes it illegal to harm any threatened or endangered species directly or by causing harm to their environment. This law also makes it illegal for the government to fund any project that may ultimately cause harm to a threatened or endangered species.

Habitat Preservation
Creating

nature preserves is one way to protect the diversity of entire ecosystems. Sustainable use programs allow people to use wildlife habitats in ways that benefit people without damaging the organisms that live in the area. Habitat corridors are protected natural strips that allow the safe migration of species from one area to another.

Reintroduction Programs

Reintroduction programs involve releasing species to areas where they once lived. Sometimes these species are moved from another area and sometimes these species are bred in captivity. Captive breeding programs are sometimes unsuccessful because the animal isnt able to adapt to life in the wild after being kept in captivity.

Read about the black-footed ferret on page 128 of your book.

1.

2.

3.

What caused the decline of the black-footed ferret population? How did wildlife managers help the ferrets? Now read PS Lab 5-2 and answer questions 1-3.