Biodiversity and Evolution PDF

**BIODIVERSITY and EVOLUTION** **BIODIVERSITY** : also called Biological Diversity. - *Note : the more diverse species in a habitat, the better is the biodiversity. The less diverse species in a habitat , the greater the vulnerability of the habitat to change.* **EVOLUTION :** - is a chang...

**BIODIVERSITY and EVOLUTION** **BIODIVERSITY** : also called Biological Diversity. - *Note : the more diverse species in a habitat, the better is the biodiversity. The less diverse species in a habitat , the greater the vulnerability of the habitat to change.* **EVOLUTION :** - is a change in the genetic composition of a population over successive generations. **IUCN** : International Union for the Conservation of Nature - is an international organization founded in 1948 that promotes researches and specific studies related to the preservation of the threatened species of flora and fauna all over the world. **Red List of Threatened Species** : is a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. 1. **Extinct** -- no living species anymore of this kind on earth. **Example : dinosaurs , dodo bird** 2. **Extinct in the wild** -- survives only in captivity or in a controlled environment. **Example: horned oryx** 3. **Critically endangered** -- with extremely high risk of extinction. 4. **Endangered** -- with high risk of extinction 5. **Vulnerable** -- with high risk of endangerment 6. **Near threatened** -- likely to become endangered in the near future. 7. **Least concern**- can still be found abundantly in the environment. 8. **Data deficient** -- not enough submitted data for evaluation. 9. **Not evaluated** -- no data available as of date. **Causes of Extinction** - Natural factor - Anthropogenic or man-made factors 1. ***Climate change*** -- - is the significant variation of average weather conditions becoming, for example, warmer, wetter, or drier---over several decades or longer. - The effect that climate has on extinction is very big. The biodiverse Earth can\'t keep up with the rapid changes in temperature and climate. The species are not used to severe weather conditions and long seasons, or a changing chemical make-up of their surroundings. As more species die, it is only making it more difficult for the survivors to find food. The warmer climates we are used to present-day are perfect for diseases and epidemics to thrive. 2. ***Changes in the sea level or currents.*** - The melting of polar ice and glaciers due to global warming can directly add water volume in the ocean. Such increase in the sea level will eventually affect the habitat in the low-lying and other coastal marshes. - The melting icebergs can also cause receding shorelines, as typhoons and storm surges also do. - The gases from the volcanic activity can also be absorbed by the water, thus changing the chemical composition, making it unsuitable for some life. 3. ***Meteors , comets and asteroids.*** - Scientists have theorized that a very big asteroid, as big as Rhode Island, was thought to have slammed into the Earth and wiped out many species of plants and animals, including the dinosaurs. The impact had caused seismic waves hundreds of kilometers across the Earth, even setting off larger earthquakes. Tsunamis thousands of meters deep are also generated and caused destruction of many places. 4. **Diseases and epidemics.** - Each species has defense mechanisms like immunities and the ability to fight disease. With the changing climate and landscape certain species are losing their ability to fend off disease. They are becoming more susceptible to disease and epidemics, which can lead to their eventual extinction. - ***foot and mouth disease,*** - ***bird flu*** - It is lethal to poultry and is potentially fatal in humans. Bird flu spreads between both wild and domesticated birds. - ***ebola virus -*** is **a rare and deadly epidemic disease most** commonly affecting people and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). 5. **Volcanic eruption -** **Anthropogenic or man-made factor.** 1. **Habitat destruction** - is the leading cause of modern-day extinction. a. **Deforestration** -- *is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use* - is human activity that has greatest negative impact on habitat. b. **Use of insecticides** -- Insecticides are ideally supposed to kill pests. However, there are insecticides which also kill non-target insects, including beneficial insects necessary for pollination. c. **Habitat fragmentation *--*** *refers to the subdivision of large areas of natural habitat*. - This threatens the survival of large predators, like tigers, which need large hunting areas. Species confined in the small areas are susceptible to extinction by isolation. 2. **Pollution --** - Air, water, and soil pollution have extremely adverse effects on the populations of species. They can disrupt the life cycles of species and can cause biodiversity decline. Species extinction can occur when a natural habitat becomes polluted to the point when it can no longer sustain life. - **Acid Rain** *- is rain that is contaminated by pollutants,* - Acid rain can do a lot of damage to drops and animal species. It can kill agricultural crops, or can bring about instances of a fish kill**.** 3. **Overexploitation *-*** *the act of using too much of something, especially a* *natural resource*  ( over harvesting -- over fishing) 4. **Introduction of invasive species --** - **Invasive species --** any non-native species that significantly modifies of disrupts the ecosystems it colonizes. - Because of the very fast reproduction of this type of plant, they readily clog the rivers and deprive the inhabitant species of food and oxygen. on fossils. and vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines ( WCSP). - He is the lead person working on project to divert people , most especially the ethnic group , from charcoal making to honey production. Activity 3 : Chapter Review **A. Identify the following** [\_\_\_\_\_\_] 1. the place where specific species live. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_2. refers to the existence of varied species of plants and animals in a specific environment. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_3. plants or animals that are not existing anymore. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_4. species with high risk of extinction. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_5. an international organization that promotes scientific studies to promote the conservation of our ecosystem. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_6. another name for anthropogenic factors of extinction \_\_\_\_\_\_\_7. believed to be the cause of the extinction of dinosaurs, which happened about 65 billion years ago. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_8. example of epidemic diseases affecting birds and fowls. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_9. example of epidemic disease that have threatened the monkeys \_\_\_\_\_\_\_10. water or snow that is contaminated by nitrogen oxide **B. Answer with True or False. Then, justify your answer.** CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the letter of your answer on the space before each number. \_\_\_\_ 1. The Philippine eagle is an example of specie that is\_\_\_\_. A. critically endangered C. threatened B. extinct D. vulnerable \_\_\_\_ 2. The primary cause of extinction at present time is\_\_\_\_\_\_ A. anthropogenic actions C. earthquakes B. meteors and other heavenly bodies D. volcanism \_\_\_\_ 3. When a species no longer exists in wild but survives only in captivity or in Controlled environment, it is said to be \_\_\_\_\_\_. A. endangered C. extinct in the wild B. extinct D. vulnerable \_\_\_\_ 4. The horned Oryx could be considered as\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ A. critically endangered C. extinct in the wild B. endangered D. threatened \_\_\_\_ 5. Which of the following is NOT a natural factor of extinction? A. Volcanic eruptions B. Habitat destruction C. Changes in oxygen in seawater D. Massive impact from asteroid or comet \_\_\_\_ 6.Which of the following is considered a human factor of extinction? A. Pollution C. Habitat destruction B. Over-harvesting D. All of the answer choices Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Extinctio  1. Which of the following is NOT a natural factor of extinction? - Volcanic eruptions - Habitat destruction - Changes in oxygen in seawater - Massive impact from asteroid or comet Which of the following is considered a human factor of extinction? - Pollution - Habitat destruction - Over-harvesting - All of the answer choices 2.