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Biodiversity

Biodiversity. “… in wildness is the preservation of the world.” - Thoreau. I. Biodiversity at Risk. What is biodiversity? Number and variety of species on Earth 1.4 million known species (mainly insects) Compared to 10-100 million actual living species. Extinction.

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Biodiversity

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  1. Biodiversity “… in wildness is the preservation of the world.” -Thoreau

  2. I. Biodiversity at Risk • What is biodiversity? • Number and variety of species on Earth • 1.4 million known species (mainly insects) • Compared to 10-100 million actual living species

  3. Extinction • What caused the dinosaurs to go extinct? • They were part of a mass extinction • Huge meteor crashed into the Earth or increase in volcanic activity • Either would have caused enough dust and ash in the atmosphere to block sunlight

  4. Extinction Today • How are Humans causing extinctions? • Human population increases at a rate of about 260,000 people each day • We take up more space, we destroy habitats of other species • Other causes: unregulated hunting & introduction of nonnative species • Rate of extinction: • Plant/animal species are disappearing 1,000 times faster than at any point in the past 65 million years • 1900-2100 25% of all species(plant/animal) will have become extinct

  5. Extinction Today Cont… • Where are most extinctions occurring today? • Tropical rain forests (7% of Earth’s land surface) • Land is cleared for farming or cattle • 50% of world’s species live here, millions of which have never been described

  6. Exotic Species • What is an Exotic Species? • Species not native to a particular region • Can threaten native species, which have no natural defense against them • Ex: Melaleuca tree: Australian tree brought to Florida now threatens the Everglades

  7. The Value of Biodiversity • Why should we work so hard to slow the rate of extinction? • Each species has a role in its ecosystem, and each is dependent upon other species for survival • Maintain healthy ecosystem ensures healthy biosphere Keystone species- any species that is essential to the health of an ecosystem

  8. Practical Uses of Species • 40% of all prescription drugs used in the US originally made from living things • If a plant/animal goes extinct before we can study it we could loose a possible cure or future food source Rosy Periwinkle- plant from which a drug used to treat leukemia is made

  9. II. Public Policy • Endangered Species Act • Passed by US Congress 1973 • Protects any plant/animal species in danger of extinction • Endangered/threatened animal spcies may not be caught or killed sold or traded • Federal gov’t may not carry out any project that jeopardizes endangered species • Must have a species recovery plan for each species • International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources • IUCN • Collaboration of over 200 gov’t agencies & 300 private groups • Convention on International trade in Endangered Species • CITES • Working to stop poaching-illegal hunting • Helped reduce the killing of African Elephants

  10. Earth Summit • Meeting (1992)of over 100 world leaders and over 30,00 other participants • Met to tackle environmental issues • Biodiversity Treaty- encourages wealthier countries to give money to poorer countries for protection of potentially valuable species

  11. III. The Future of Biodiversity • Captive-Breeding Programs • Breed animals under managed circumstances • Ex: California Condor • Germ-Plasm Banks • Genetic material contained within the reproductive (germ) cells sperm/egg or seeds of plants • Store this material of endangered species for future use in case of extinction

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