Biological Diversity AKA Biodiversity Biodiversity Refers to variety
Biological Diversity AKA: Biodiversity
Biodiversity Refers to: variety of life in a specific area the genetic variation within a species the number of different species the variety of different ecosystems
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Why care about biodiversity?
Intrinsic Value Inherent worth, independent of its value to anyone or anything else Right to exist, just as all humans do Do you agree? "Every form of life is unique, warranting respect regardless of its worth to man. “ -The United Nations Charter for Nation (1982)
Importance to Nature: Relationships: Predator-Prey Mutualism Parasitism Others? Brings stability Pests are usually specific could wipe out one plant easily, but if there’s a variety someone will survive http: //www. globalchange. umich. edu/globalchange 1/current/lectures/predation. html
Importance to Nature: Diversity breeds diversity Ex. Trees provide habitat and nutrients for birds, insects, other plants and animals, fungi, and microbes
Importance to People We rely on organisms for: Food Medicines Shelter and warmth Companionship http: //www. juliezickefoose. com/blog/uploaded_images/liampetchet -736647. jpg www. pbase. com/chanseng/image/88275458
Importance to People: Enriches quality of life Hard to quantify Important for our emotional, psychological, and spiritual well -being Human responsibility to be stewards for the rest of the world’s living organisms Do you agree?
Importance to People: Indirect services (Ecological services) Drinkable water Clean air Fertile soils Other examples of indirect services Honeybees – pollinate fruit crops and flowers Use as medical models – researchers are looking at how seals, whales, and penguins use oxygen during deepwater dives for clues to treat people who suffer strokes, shock, and lung disease
Genetic Diversity �Needed for species and populations to adapt to changing conditions �Climate change �Evolving pests �“Survival of the fittest” only works if some individuals survive!! �Ex. Cheetah � 10, 000 years ago cheetahs nearly went extinct �Not much genetic diversity in survivors – “genetic bottleneck” �Now they’re vulnerable to disease and changes in habitat
Loss of Biodiversity: �Extinct: when animals are gone forever, last individual has died �Natural process �Rate of extinction now 1000+X the natural rate �Only 5 large mass extinctions in history of planet – last one brought the end of the dinosaur age �Are we creating the next mass extinction? http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Extinction
Biodiversity Hotspots What areas are the most immediately important for conserving biodiversity? In which areas would a given dollar contribute the most towards slowing the current rate of extinction? Biodiversity hotspots contain at least 1, 500 species of vascular plants (> 0. 5% of world’s total) as endemics (unique to the area) have lost at least 70% of original habitat
�Hotspots cover only 2. 3 percent of the Earth's land surface total �Over 50% of the world’s plant species and 42% of all terrestrial vertebrate species are found only in these areas.
Recorded extinctions since 1500. *Categories I-IV afford higher levels of protection. Our Very Own Hotspot California Floristic Province Vital Signs Hotspot Original Extent (km 2) Hotspot Vegetation Remaining (km 2) Endemic Plant Species 293. 804 73. 451 2. 124 Endemic Threatened Birds 4 Endemic Threatened Mammals 5 Endemic Threatened Amphibians 8 Extinct Species 2 Human Population Density (people/km 2) Area Protected (km 2) in Categories I-IV* 121 108. 715 30. 002 Recorded extinctions since 1500. *Categories I-IV afford higher levels of protection.
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