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SPECIES EXTINCTION. Created By: Linda, Sherine , Nicole, Neelima & Michelle. Agenda. Wikispaces – Search: species-extinction Facebook Group – Global Education Teachers Network Definitions Extinction Biodiversity Ecological & Socio-cultural Impacts Plants Rainforest Dams
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SPECIES EXTINCTION Created By: Linda, Sherine, Nicole, Neelima & Michelle
Agenda • Wikispaces – Search: species-extinction • Facebook Group – Global Education Teachers Network • Definitions • Extinction • Biodiversity • Ecological & Socio-cultural Impacts • Plants • Rainforest • Dams • Easter Island • Dead Zones • Linking all the Problems • Initiatives • Class Discussion • Video Clip • Lesson Plan • Resources
Definitions EXTINCTION: “The death and disappearance of a species . . . Mass extinctions refer to the loss of a large number of species in a relatively short period of time. Episodes of mass extinction occur at times of rapid global environmental change . . . Human activity is causing extinctions on a scale comparable to the mass extinctions in the fossil record . . . of the past 600 million years.” “Explanations for mass extinctions include lowered sea level, climatic cooling, and changes in oceanic circulation. Biotic processes such as disease, predation, and competition may also cause the extinction of species but are difficult to prove from the fossil record because they leave little evidence. Biotic factors usually affect only one or a few interdependent species. Predation and competition are important causes of more recent extinctions, which continue today. Human activities such as hunting and fishing (predation), habitat alteration (competition for space), and pollution have probably destroyed thousands of species. These activities, together with continued tropical deforestation and resulting changes in climate, are likely to cause extinctions that will be comparable to the mass extinctions seen in the fossil record.” Thesaurus : Extinction 1. Utter destruction : annihilation, eradication, extermination, extinguishing, extirpation, liquidation, obliteration. 2. The act or fact of dying: death, decease, demise, dissolution, passing, quietus, rest. http://www.answers.com/topic/extinction
Definitionscontinued Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: BIODIVERSITY – “Quantity of plant and animal species found in a given environment. Sometimes habitat diversity . . . And genetic diversity . . . Are also considered biodiversity. The estimated 3 – 30 million species on Earth are divided unequally among the world’s habitats, with 50-90% of the world’s species living in tropical regions. The more diverse a habitat, the better chance it has of surviving a change or threat to it, because it is more likely to be able to make a balancing adjustment. http://www.answers.com/topic/ecosystems-1
Ecological & Socio-culturalImpacts • Disruption of Earth’s “balance” • Loss/change in additional species • Displacement of additional species
Ecological & Socio-culturalImpacts www.neotorama.com/2007/03/23/tiny-peruvian-owl/ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Drosera_capensis_bend.JPG Zoological Society of London
Ecological & Socio-culturalImpacts • Loss of essential services • Reduced economic activities • Decline in aesthetic and spiritual value
Ecological & Socio-culturalImpacts PLANTS • The foundation of life • Medicine & Agriculture • 1 in 8 plants threatened http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/01/rate_of_extinction.jpg
1. Forest Clearance for Agricultural Use • Cash Crop Plantations • Cattle Ranching • Subsistence Farming http://www.mongabay.com/images/peru/tambopata/Tambopata_1030_5130.JPG
2. Forest Clearance for Mining and Natural Resource Development mandgoa.blogspot.com/2008/07/illegal-mining-a...
3. Forest Clearance for Logging http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/67849067_1eb037edbc.jpg
4. Other Activities that Contribute to Rainforest Destruction • Construction of development projects such as roads and dams • Use of forest wood for fuel • Population resettlement programs http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t051/T051606A.jpg
Dams • Large areas of the rainforest were destroyed and many people displaced during the construction of this dam • Eg. Itaipu Dam (Pananma Canal http://www.virginmedia.com/images/itaipu-dam.jpg
Rainforest Destruction . . . Is it Avoidable? http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t051/T051606A.jpg
Dead Zones Around the World http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/08/14/gallery/dead-zones-324x205.jpg
Dead Zones http://www.oceanchampions.org/GlobalWarming/images/RedTide.gif
The Easter Island:Economic & Socio-cultural Impacts ~linking the past with the present~ http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ONHQmz2_2pgObM:http://andromedaart.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/ahu-akivi-moai-cc-devittj-350h.jpg
Easter Island http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:BFIBKJ6gstMoCM:http://www.photovolcanica.com/Photos/EasterIsland%2520Info/EasterIsland2b6.jpg
Easter Island http://www.factropolis.com/uploaded_images/Easter-786539.jpg
Video Clip: The 11th Hour LINK: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IBG2V98IBY
Initiatives • www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/ • http://www.naturecanada.ca/endangered.asp • http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/red_list/index.cfm • www.worldwildlife.org
Initiatives • Plant native flowers and trees in your backyard. • Walk, bike, and carpool. Support alternative transportation and drive less. • Buy a smaller or hybrid car but be aware of phony hybrids! Half of all hybrids vehicles currently found in the market are no more fuel efficient that their non-hybrid versions (source: Union of Concerned Scientists). • Save trees and reduce pollution by reducing your junk mail. • Use both side of paper with 100% post-consumer waste content. • Sign junk mail campaign (www.forestethics.org) http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/action.html
Initiatives • Recycle all computer diskettes, CD discs, videos and batters. Instead of using regular batteries, shift to less hazardous, rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries. • Don’t buy plastic bottled water. • Do not buy new items made from gold. Gold mining is one of the most damaging industry to the environment by destroying rainforest, polluting rivers with cyanide and mercury, and in some cases displacing indigenous people. • Recycle your aluminum, glass, and plastic products, as well as newspapers and mixed paper. • Make a contribution to save the planet by supporting local, national and internation environmental non-profits. • Take converstation actions in your own community. http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/action.html
Initiatives • Don’t use pesticides. They harm humans, animals and the environment. • Buy locally grown and produced food. • Don’t buy products including food that come from endangered animals (ie shark fin soup, tiger meat) • If you see live endangered species on sale as pets, immediately inform relevant authorities. • Avoid using plastic shopping bags. 46,000 is the current number of floating plastic per square mil/ 2.6 square km of ocean. • Do not buy products made from palm oil. Palm oil plantations are replacing large areas of rainforest in many countries including Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil increases the risk of CV disease due to high concentrations of saturated fats. • Choose energy efficient home appliances. http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/action.html
Class Discussion • What changes have you made due to the knowledge you’ve acquired from this class? • Why did you make these changes? • How do you feel you could affect your future students as well as their families? • Is there one of our initiatives that you are currently doing or would like to implement into your life?
Lesson Plan Polar Bear Lesson Plan from the Globe and Mail
Resources: Books & Videos • How To Save The World In Your Spare Time • By Elizabeth May • Fight Global Warming Now • By Bill McKibben • We Are The Weather Makers • By Tim Flannery • National Geographic: Six Degrees Could Change The World
Resources • Global Education Teachers Network (Facebook Group) • Fight Global Warming Now • By Bill McKibben • How To Save The World In Your Spare Time • By Elizabeth May • We Are The Weather Makers • By Tim Flannery • National Geographic: Six Degrees Could Change The World • http://speciesextinction.wikispaces.com/
Questions or Comments?