Biodiversity Loss Presentation PDF

Biodiversity Loss  Ecosystem Services An ecosystem service is any positive benefit that wildlife or ecosystems provides to people. Examples: Decomposition: Conversion or decay of degradable material to simpler components or forms by the natural action of air, water, light, or microor...

Biodiversity Loss  Ecosystem Services An ecosystem service is any positive benefit that wildlife or ecosystems provides to people. Examples: Decomposition: Conversion or decay of degradable material to simpler components or forms by the natural action of air, water, light, or microorganisms. Water Purification: is one of the many services provided by ecosystems. Pollutants such as metals, viruses, oils, excess nutrients, and sediment are processed and filtered out as water moves through wetland areas, forests, and riparian zones. Nutrient Cycling: is the movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter Pollination: the process by which pollen is transferred to the female reproductive organs of a plant, thereby enabling fertilization to take place.  An existential risk comparable to climate change Biodiversity loss is also a contributing factor behind climate change Phenomenons such as: Ecosystem fragmentation, invasive species, pollution, oxygen depletion caused by fertilizers running off into ponds and streams, overfishing, human overpopulation, and overconsumption have a direct impact on the health of the biosphere For example, deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and elsewhere reduces the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by plants ○ In Brazil - illegal logging Biodiversity loss is a distinct environmental crisis with its own unique syndrome of causes, consequences, and solutions.  What Is Biodiversity? ❖ The total of all Plants & Animals in an area (Worldwide) Three Different Levels: Species Diversity- Number of different species in the biosphere or in a particular region Genetic Diversity- The amount of variation in the genetic material within all members of a population. Ecosystem Diversity- Variety of habitats, living communities, and ecological processes in the living world.  THREATS TO THE ECOSYSTEM A. NATURAL HAZARDS ◉ Red Tide - also called “blooms’, caused by the explosive population growth of algae called dinoflagellates that give off a reddish color to the water - produces a strong nerve toxin that contaminates clams and crustaceans that causes illness to humans when eaten ◉ El Niňo and La Niňa - warming of ocean that causes severe droughts and deadly forest fires - brings torrents of rain with strong winds and devastating floods. THREATS TO THE ECOSYSTEM B. MAN-MADE HAZARDS ◉ Bombings and Nuclear Fallout - nuclear bombs released radiation that cause serious long-term injuries to individuals who survived the heat and blast of initial explosion ◉ Deforestation - clearing of forests for human consumption Reasons for cutting trees: -Clearance for urban development -Clearance for grazing -Clearance for cultivation -Clearance for fibers THREATS TO THE ECOSYSTEM Effects of Deforestation: -Soil Erosion -Flooding and mudslides -Desertification -Loss of Biodiversity and Wildlife extinction  Causes Of Biodiversity Loss Habitat Alteration- Is a change in land use or land cover that has an impact on local ecosystems. Invasive Species- Species that enter new ecosystems and multiply, harming native species and their habitats. Often were accidentally or even deliberately introduced by humans. Pollution- Any matter or energy released into the environment that causes undesirable impacts on the health and well-being of humans or other organisms. Overharvesting/Overuse- Overexploitation, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns.  Habitat Alteration Farming practices Clearing forests Hydroelectric dams Urbanization and suburban sprawl Grazing animals and livestock  Invasive Species The Introduction of non-native plants and animals to new environments. Make large damage and raise competition levels for resources. Examples: Cane Toad Kudzu Zebra Mussel Brought to Australia ” to kill the sugar cane eating beetle  Pollution Water pollution Agricultural runoff Air pollution degrades Oil and chemical spills POLLUTION- process by which harmful substances are added to the environment ◉ Air Pollution -contamination of atmosphere by gaseous, liquid or solid wastes or by-products that endanger humans, plants and animals Main air pollutants: -lead -chlorofluorocarbons -carbon dioxide -sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides -carbon monoxide ◉ Water pollution -contamination of water by foreign matter (microorganisms, chemicals, industrial wastes and sewage. Major water pollutants: -sewage and other oxygen-demanding wastes -pesticides -petroleum/oil spills -sediments -industrial wastes -radioactive substances -fertilizers -heat CORAL REEF DESTRUCTION ◉ CORAL REEFS -”rainforests of the ocean”, home to a variety of marine organisms -require tropical and subtropical temperatures (30 degrees north and 30 degrees south of equator) -found in shallow, clear waters where light can penetrate down to nurture symbiotic relationships of algae and corals CORAL REEF DESTRUCTION ◉ Major threats to coral reefs -dynamite fishing -cyanide fishing -human runoff -dive tourisms -Muro Ami  Endangered Species Siberian Tiger: Hunted without rules or regulations Southeast corner of Russia in the Sikhote Alin mountain range east of the Amur River Amur- Tiger Florida Panther: Due to hunting and habitat destruction The panther was reduced to a small population (20-30) and suffered from the effects of inbreeding depression. Southern Florida in swamplands Less than 100 left in wild. Maintenance Through Conservation 3 main approaches to maintain and protect wildlife: ◉ Species Approach - protecting endangered species through legislation ◉ Ecosystem Approach - preserving balanced ecosystems ◉ Wildlife Management Approach - managing game species for sustained yield through international treaties  Endangered Species Act Forbids the government and private citizens from taking actions that destroy endangered species or their habitats Signed on December 28, 1973 Provides for the conservation of species and habitats that are endangered ○ Prevents extinction ○ Stabilizes declining populations ○ Enables populations to recover Important Laws Regarding Biodiversity Relevant Laws and Treaties Multiple-use Act of 1920 Directed that the national forests be managed for timber, watershed, range, outdoor recreation, wildlife, and fish purposes. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 1963 An international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants do not threaten their survival Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 Established Federal Responsibility to conserve marine animals Endangered Species Act of 1973 Provided a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found. Conservation Status Definition: An indication of whether a species still exists or how likely the species is likely to not exist in the future. Created by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Is constantly being updated to match the rapidly changing world ○ i.e. animals switch between positions to better describe their situation should something akin to a natural disaster occur  Extinct Definition: The end of an organism or of a group of organisms through the destruction of the species. This can occur through natural causes such as long periods of droughts or through human interference. Once a species goes extinct, there is no way to recreate that species. Example Species: Quagga  Extinct in the Wild Definition: This term implies that in one form or another (habitat destruction or natural disaster), a species has been wiped out in the wild and the remaining species are under careful watch in zoos or conservatories to ensure that those species continue to exist. “Extirpated” Most of the animals that fall under this category fall there due to human interactions Example Species: Hawaiian Crow  Critically Endangered Definition: Species that fall under this category at a high risk of becoming extinct either in the wild or altogether. This change can be brought by a whole slew of things, but the major causes are typically related to humans. From 1998 to 2014, the number of critically endangered species has doubled in size. Example Species: Black Rhino  Endangered Species Definition: Species that are placed in this category has recently decreased in size and is projected to decrease even more in the future. Remedial steps typically begin occurring at this point. As of 2014, there are approximately 6000 endangered species alone Example Species: Red Panda  Vulnerable Definition: Species in this category have begun to show signs characteristic of being endangered such as declining populations or decreasing habitat space. Of 41,415 species documented by the IUCN, 16,306 of them are threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable) Example Species: Polar Bear  Near-Threatened Definition: As the gateway point of being a threatened species, near- threatened defines a species as having the potential to being endangered. This means that they are still abundant in numbers but current trends depict a negative route for these animals. Conservation Efforts have temporarily moved many threatened species to near threatened Example Species: Beluga Whale  Least Concern Definition: Species that fall under this category are not currently in risk of extinction nor are they likely to become under risk of extinction in the future. Animals that fall under this category typically produce many offspring and cover a wide range of land. Example Species: Humans Red List Definition: The IUCN created a Red List to better acclimate society to how threatened our world is. Using the Conservation Status, the Red List can tell every day members of society just how many species are extinct, how many species are endangered, or how many species are safe from extinction. Human Impact Besides a couple isolated cases, the reason for much of the loss of biodiversity is due to human society. ○ Habitat Fragmentation ○ Increases in Global Temperature ○ Chemical Runoff ○ Pollution Humankind is on its way to creating the sixth mass extinction ○ At its current rate, in 5 centuries, 75% of species could be extinct THANK YOU