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Biodiversity of Life

Biodiversity of Life. Chapter 6. What is Biodiversity?. The variety of life in a given location. The best biodiversity is found: near the equator. Hotspots for Biodiversity…. Tropical rain forests Coral Reefs Tropical lakes. Why is Biodiversity so Important?. Life depends on life.

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Biodiversity of Life

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  1. Biodiversity of Life Chapter 6

  2. What is Biodiversity? • The variety of life in a given location. • The best biodiversity is found: near the equator

  3. Hotspots for Biodiversity… • Tropical rain forests • Coral Reefs • Tropical lakes

  4. Why is Biodiversity so Important? • Life depends on life. • Animals could not exist without plants to eat. • Many plants could not exist w/out animals to pollinate for them and carry their seeds.

  5. What about on Islands? • The larger the island, the greater the diversity of life will be found there.

  6. Who cares?!? • The number of species in an ecosystem are comparable to the rivets in an airplane. If 1 or 2 fall out, no big deal. BUT, if they keep falling out, eventually, the plane (i.e. the ecosystem) will fall apart (die out).

  7. Loss of Biodiversity… • Extinction-A permanent disappearance of a species because the last one dies out.

  8. Loss of Biodiversity… • Threatened Species- When the population of an organism is declining rapidly.

  9. Loss of Biodiversity… • Endangered species- When the number of organisms becomes so low that extinction is possible.

  10. What Threatens Biodiversity? • Habitat Loss- When an organism’s habitat is destroyed. • Largest threat to biodiversity

  11. What Threatens Biodiversity? • Habitat fragmentation - Separation from one wilderness area to another • Causes problems for migrating animals and those that gather food.

  12. What Threatens Biodiversity? • Habitat Degradation – Damage to a habitat by pollution of air, land, and/or water.

  13. Habitat Degradation… • Acid Rain/ Fog/ Smog-Deteriorates forests and lakes by removing K from the soil and lowering the pH of water sheds

  14. Habitat Degradation… • Water Pollution- Abandoned nets, chemicals clog fish gills, detergents can cause sickness and death

  15. Habitat Degradation… • Land pollution- The average American produces 1.8 kg of solid waste every day (657 kg/year * 7 billion)

  16. Conservation Biology • Most extinction is caused by … PEOPLE, US, YOU, ME • Conservation studies methods and implements plans to protect biodiversity.

  17. Legal Protection of Biodiversity • In 1973, Richard Nixon passed the U.S. Endangered Species Act • It illegalized the killing or harming of any endangered organisms. • It protected at the time: bald eagles, American alligators, brown pelican

  18. Habitat Preservation • Sustainable Use- A way of living so that people learn to use the environment in a way that does not damage an ecosystem.

  19. Habitat Preservation • Habitat corridors- Natural strips that allow the migration of organisms from one area to another.

  20. Habitat Preservation • Reintroduction programs- Releasing of organisms into an area where their species once lived.

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