Biodiversity and Environmental Indicators

Biosphere as a Closed System

• Earth is a closed system meaning matter isn't exchanged with its surroundings.
• Earth exchanges energy with its surroundings.
• All living things interact with both other living and non-living components of Earth.
• Oceans and human bodies are examples of open or closed systems, which need to be explored independently.

Components of the Biosphere

• The biosphere is a narrow zone around Earth containing life.
• It's divided into three main zones:
  • Lithosphere (land)
  • Hydrosphere (water)
  • Atmosphere (air)
• Upper atmosphere and Earth's crust affect living organisms even though they are not part of the biosphere.

Outcomes

• A1.3k - Ecosystems trophic level structure using models like food chains and webs.
• B1.1k - Definitions of species, populations, community, and ecosystems with interrelationships.
• B1.2k- How terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems support organism diversity through varied habitats and niches.
• B1.3k - Biotic and abiotic characteristics in local aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and their influences.

Ecosystem Dynamics

• Energy flows from the sun, through the food web, and as heat.
• Materials cycle through trophic levels back to primary producers.

Dynamic Equilibrium

• Every component of Earth's environment must maintain a balance.
• Dynamic equilibrium is a system with constant changes, where components adjust without disturbing the whole system.
• If one component changes, another must balance it so the ecosystem isn't disturbed.
• Today, Earth's equilibrium is disturbed by humans.

2040: Film Response

• A film response is due.

Ecology

• The study of the relationships between living things and their environment.

The Components

• Biotic: living things (animals, plants, fungi, bacteria).
• Abiotic: non-living things (water, air, sunlight, minerals and nutrients)

Think About an Aquatic Ecosystem

• Biotic factors and abiotic factors at play in the aquatic ecosystem.

The Hierarchy

• Biologists organize organisms into groups to understand how the biosphere functions.
  • Individual organism
  • Population (same species)
  • Community (different species, interacting)
  • Ecosystem (community and non-living parts)

Individual Organisms

• Ecologists study how the environment influences organisms' behavior and physical features.
• Adaptations allow organisms to thrive (e.g., fish in Antarctic waters).

Population

• How populations of the same species change in size and distribution.
  • Impacts include competition for resources and environmental changes.

Communities

• Interactions among members of different populations in communities.
  • Factors include competition, predator-prey, and resource availability.

Biomes

• Large areas of land with similar climates and organisms.
• Different world biomes with defining characteristics

Biodiversity

• The number of species in an ecosystem.
• More biodiversity means greater ecosystem resilience.
• Extinction impacts the food chain.

Indicator Species

• Species very sensitive to environmental changes.
• Provide early warnings about ecosystem balance (e.g., amphibians).

Why are Amphibians Disappearing?

• Amphibians (frogs) have been around for millions of years, adapting to various environmental conditions.
• 30% of North American amphibians are dying.
• Causes include habitat loss, air/water quality, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation.

Loss of Habitat

• Frogs depend on wetlands, clean water, and areas to lay eggs and catch insects.
• Human activities are impacting these habitats.

Extinction Rate

• Half of all species face extinction by the end of the century.
• The current extinction rate is far higher than the natural historical rate, primarily due to humans.
• Earth has approximately 13 million species.
• Over 95% of species have gone extinct throughout Earth's history.

Air and Water Equality

• Pollutions like acid rain harms frogs in reproduction.
  • The thin skin easily absorbs toxins hindering fertilization, development, and leading to deformed limbs.
• Other pollutants like smoke (sulphur oxides) acidify water.

Air Pollution

• Air quality in various cities, including annual PM2.5 particles concentration.

Climate Change

• Rising temperatures due to increased fossil fuel usage.
• Drier climates impact frog populations.

Ultraviolet Radiation

• Frog skin makes them susceptible to UV radiation.
• Increased UV rays are due to ozone layer damage.
• Higher altitudes are most affected.
• Human skin cancer rates are increasing, highlighting the importance of studying amphibians as bioindicators.

The Nationalities Most Susceptible To Skin Cancer

• Countries with highest instances and scores for skin cancer incidence and susceptibility.

Umbrella Species

• Species that have protected other species.
• Protecting these umbrella species helps other species within an ecosystem.

More Options with More Cards

• Variety increases from more options or diversity in a given environment. This can be applied to species and a range of other ideas.

Food Chains

• A step-by-step sequence of organisms feeding on each other.
• Producers (plants and algae) are at the bottom.
• Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores) follow.
• Decomposers (fungi and bacteria) break down waste.
• Relationships within a given community.

Example of Interconnectedness

• Sea otter populations declining after being hunted almost extinct.
• Ecosystem interactions and the significance of the relationship between the otters and kelp forests.
• Interconnectedness of the ecosystem is emphasized.
• Examples illustrate this, including possible questions about specific cases.

Eagles of Lake Erie and Biomagnification

• Eagles in the 1700s were common, but decreased due to threats to livestock and chemical contamination.
• Toxic waste led to thin eggs in the food chain.
• Biomagnification: toxins increase in concentration at higher levels of the food chain.

Species at Risk

• Many species are at various risk levels (e.g., extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern).

Environmental Solutions Presentation

• A presentation about environmental solutions is due.

Biosphere Matching Quiz Booklet

• This booklet needs to be completed before a due date.

Test your knowledge on the causes of extinction, the role of pollutants in ecosystems, and the significance of frogs as bioindicators. This quiz covers various environmental concepts and their impact on biodiversity, focusing on amphibians and ecosystem dynamics.