Unit 6 Biodiversity and Conservation Saving the Siberian

Unit 6 - Biodiversity and Conservation

Saving the Siberian Tiger • Siberian tigers are one of five remaining tiger subspecies. • In the early 20 th century, hunting and habitat loss reduced the wild population to just 20– 30 animals. • Conservation efforts have helped the wild population rebound to 450– 500 today. Talk About It What are the benefits of wildlife conservation? Are there drawbacks?

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life There are more known species of insects than any other form of life. Among known insect species, 4% are beetles.

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Biodiversity • Describes the _________ variety of life across all levels of ________ ecological organization • Includes three types: 1) Genetic diversity: Differences in DNA among individuals ___________________ • Within a species, organisms have genetic differences • In general, species with more genetic diversity have better chances of survival Genetic Diversity Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Biodiversity • Includes three types: species in a 2) Species diversity: Variety of _______ given ____ area most commonly used • Easiest to visualize & ________________ Genetic Diversity Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Biodiversity • Includes three types: habitats 3) Ecosystem diversity: Variety of ______, __________, ecosystems or communities in an area • Ex. A seashore with rocky and sandy beaches, forested cliffs and ocean water has more biodiversity than the same area of farmland Genetic Diversity Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Species Diversity - Classification • Taxonomists classify species based on physical ________ genetic makeup and ability appearance , ______ to mate and produce _______ offspring. fertile • Organisms are placed into a hierarchy of taxonomic groups: • • Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Panthera tigris Panthera leo • The more taxonomic levels two organisms have in common, the ______________ more closely related they are

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Species Diversity - Classification • Taxonomic groups reflect ________ evolutionary relationships among species. • Below the species level, organisms may fall into________—populations with genetically subspecies based characteristics that differ area to area. Siberian Tiger Panthera tigris altaica Sumatran Tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Biodiversity Distribution • Species are not ______ evenly distributed among taxonomic groups. insects • Even though _____ are small in size, there are ____ more known species of insect than any other group.

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Biodiversity Distribution • Scientists have identified and described ________ 1. 7 to 2 million species but estimate there are between ________ 5 to 30 million species on Earth. • Why? Some areas of Earth are unexplored Ex. Deep Ocean • ________________________________________________ Many are tiny and easy to overlook Ex. Bacteria Many are difficult to identify and tell apart from other • ________________________ species

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Biodiversity Distribution • Species are not evenly distributed ______ globally • Latitudinal Gradient - there is an increase in species richness towards the ______. equator

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Benefits of Biodiversity Ecosystem services- valuable processes provided • ____________ by intact ecosystems. • Biodiversity enables services such as: 1) Purification ______________________ and air and water 2) Control ______________________ of pests and diseases 3) Decomposition ______________________ of waste

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Benefits of Biodiversity biodiversity increases ______ stability of • High ________ communities and ecosystems, enabling them to perform services. • Stable ecosystems are resistant and resilient. losing • Resistant: Resist environmental change without ______ function • Resilient: Affected by change, but ___________ bounce back and regain function

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Benefits of Biodiversity • Agriculture 1) Wild strains are _______ cross-bred with related crops to transfer beneficial traits. • Ex. Corn that is disease resistant is crossbred with normal corn to make a disease resistant hybrid (______ genetic diversity) 2) New plants are constantly being _______ discovered that have the potential for widespread use. • Ex. Babassu palm used for vegetable oil (_______ species diversity) Zea diploperennis

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Benefits of Biodiversity • Medicine: Organisms contain compounds that are useful for __________. treating disease • Of the 150 most prescribed drugs in the United States, _______ nature 118 originated in _____. • Ex. Yew tree, an original source of Taxol, a cancer-fighting drug

Lesson 7. 1 Our Planet of Life Benefits of Biodiversity Environmentally responsible • Ecotourism: _________________ tourism is a source of income for many nations.

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Biodiversity losses caused by humans are common in our history. Hunting and forest cutting drove the passenger pigeon—once North America’s most numerous bird—into extinction.

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Extinction • Extinction – occurs when the ___________of very last member a species on the ______ dies globe • Extirpation – disappearance of a species from a particular area _____ but ______________ not the entire species globally

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Natural Biodiversity Loss • Background extinctions: Naturally occurring extinctions, occurring _______ one species at a time • Mass extinctions: Events when extinction rates _______ far exceed the normal background rate Dinosaur extinctions were part of a mass extinction. • There have been ______ five mass extinctions in Earth’s history half of all • Each time more than ______ species have gone extinct

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Biodiversity at Risk 100 -1000 times greater • The current extinction rate is ______ than the natural background rate. • In 2009, 1321 species in the U. S. were classified as endangered or threatened. extinction • Endangered: At serious risk of ________ endangered soon through all • Threatened: Likely to become _________ or part of its range

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Biodiversity at Risk • Living Planet Index: Summarizes ___________ trends for certain terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species Global population • The Living Planet Index fell by almost 30% between 1975 and 2005.

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Causes of Biodiversity Loss 4 Primary Causes of Population Decline and Species Extinction: Habitat Change & Loss 1) _________ Invasive Species 2) _________ Siberian tiger Pollution 3) _________ 4) _________ Overharvesting

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Habitat Change and Loss • ______ Greatest cause of biodiversity loss • Organisms, _______________, adapted to their habitat decline in population when the habitat changes. • Ex. Clearing forests for logging or construction

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Habitat Change and Loss Fragmentation • Habitat __________: Patches of _______ suitable habitat surrounded by ________ unsuitable habitat • In general, _____ larger habitat fragments can support _________ greater biodiversity than smaller fragments. • Habitat change or destruction is the primary cause of population decline in more than ____ 80% of threatened birds and mammals.

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Habitat Change and Loss • A few species can benefit from human induced habitat changes. • These species tend to be _______ generalists and can become pests _______. • Ex. ______, _______. Pigeons _________ Grey Squirrels & Cockroaches

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Invasive Species • Invasive species can ______________ Out-compete & displace native species. • Increase rapidly, spread and displace native species.

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Pollution • Harmful chemicals and materials that make their way into habitats can _____ Poison people and wildlife. • Ex. Heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides and _______. Oil spills

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Overharvesting • Occasionally, species can be driven toward extinction when Hunt Fishor ______ a humans _____, ______ species faster than it can replenish its population. Harvest • Poaching (______________) is one reason that. Illegal the Siberian tiger is at for extinction. capture orrisk killing • The parts from one tiger can be sold in the black market for approximately ______. $15, 000

Lesson 7. 2 Extinction and Biodiversity Loss Climate Change • ______ Possibly becoming a factor in biodiversity loss • Unlike the other factors, climate change will have a ____________ Potentially global effect on biodiversity.

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Just 2. 3% of the planet’s land surface is home to 50% of the world’s plant species and 42% of its vertebrate animal species.

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity The Endangered Species Act • _____ US Law that protects biodiversity, passed in 1973 • Has 3 major parts: governments and ______ citizens 1) Forbids _________ from harming listed species and habitats 2) Forbids ___________ Trade in products made from listed species 3) Requires U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Official list maintain an ________of endangered and threatened species, and to develop a _________ Recovery plan for each listed species

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity The Endangered Species Act • Benefits • Birds which were affected by ____ DDT are no longer endangered • Some species are still endangered but have stopped Declining (40% of are now stable) ________ • Costs • While trying to save the northern spotted owl, many _____________because timber loggers lost their jobs harvesting was prohibited in their area. • Landowners worry that use of _________ private land might be restricted to protect an endangered species.

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity International Cooperation • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora International (CITES, 1975): Bans __________ trade in _________of endangered body parts species. • Convention on Biological Diversity (1992): International treaty to conserve biodiversity and ensure its responsible Use & distribution ____________ Ivory products, made from elephant tusks

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Single-Species Approaches to Conservation 1) Captive breeding programs: Raising and breeding organisms in controlled conditions, such as _______________ Zoos and Aquariums

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Single-Species Approaches to Conservation 2) Species Survival Plan (SSP): Program to save individual species, includes: ________________________ Captive breeding, education & research • Ex. Golden Lion Tamarins • In the early 1970’s habitat fragmentation had decreased the number to ~______. 200 • Now there are nearly _____ 500 in captivity 150 have been released & more than _____ back into the wild.

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Single-Species Approaches to Conservation 3) Cloning: Inserting DNA _______ from an endangered species into a cultured egg cell with its nucleus removed then implanting Related Species eggs into mothers of closely __________ NOT believe • Most scientists do _________that this will prevent biodiversity loss since it does nothing to fix the issues such as Habitat loss _______.

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Ecosystem and Habitat Approaches 1) “Hotspot Approach” - focuses attention on areas where the _________________ Greatest Number of Species can be protected with the __________. Least effort • A Biodiversity Hotspot is an area that both supports an especially ________of High number endemic species and in rapidly Losing ___________. biodiversity nowhere else in the world. • Endemic – found ________

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Ecosystem and Habitat Approaches • Hotspots have: • At least ____ 1500 plant species found nowhere else in the world • Already lost 70% ______ of their habitat as a result of _____ Human activity • The 34 biodiversity hotspots are home to 50% of Earth’s plant species and 42% of terrestrial vertebrate species.

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Ecosystem and Habitat Approaches 2) Economic Approaches - Many conservation efforts today protection of land wildlife attempt to balance _________________ with the _____________________: economic interests of local people • Debt-for-nature swap: Conservation organizations raise money to pay off a ___________in return for improved Nation’s debt _____________. Conservation measures • Conservation concession: Conservation organizations _____________________, Buy the rights to conserve resources instead of ____________. Harvesting them

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Wildlife Corridors • Wildlife Corridors: Connect ___________ Habitat fragments enabling onceisolated populations to interbreed • Interbreeding increases __________. Genetic diversity • There is a current proposal to complete a 5000 mile long corridor in southeast Asia to rejoin pieces of tiger habitat.

Lesson 7. 3 Protecting Biodiversity Wildlife Corridors • Conservation biologists hope that a planned 250 -km (150 mile) long corridor in Australia will enable the endangered Cassowary southern _________ to recover from population declines.