1. Biodiversity And Conservation

2. Diversity • Biodiversity: The number of species in a given area • Genetic diversity: The variety of genes in the gene pool • Ecosystem diversity: The variety of ecosystems in the biosphere

3. Threats to Biodiversity • Background extinction: Local environmental changes cause a low number of species to go extinct (~ 1-5 species per 1 million) • Mass extinction: Widespread sometimes global in which 25% to above 70% of the species goes extinct • Mass depletion: Extinction rate is higher than background extinction but does not reach mass extinction rates

5. Threats to Biodiversity • Habitat destruction • Habitat fragmentation • Introduced species • Overexploitation • Pollution

6. Threats to Biodiversity • Biological magnification: The concentration of a toxin is greatly increased the further it is passed up the food chain

8. Eutrophication • Enrichment of a body of water with nutrients • Can occur naturally over long time span • Can be triggered by pollutants

9. Acid Precipitation • Acid rain: Sulfur & nitrogen from burning fossil fuels combine with water, forming sulfuric and nitric acid • Mainly caused from the burning of coal for the generation of electricity • Denatures plant enzymes • Kills fish

10. Conserving Biodiversity • Natural resources • Renewable resources • Nonrenwable resources • Sustainability: Using just enough resources so as not to effect the next generation

11. Restoring Ecosystems • Bioremediation: Using living organisms to detoxify a polluted area • Biological augmentation: Using natural predators to a degraded ecosystem

12. Fixing the Problem • Focusing on hot spots • Understanding an organisms habitat • Balancing the demands for resources • Planning for a sustainable future • Buffer zones • Sustainable development • GETTING INVOLVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

13. It's the only one we have. Do your part to save her!