BIODIVERSITY

Miranda Amey & Ian Cassidy

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

It is also one of the measures of health for an ecosystem

Biodiversity is consistently rich in the tropics and less rich in the polar regions

What is the crisis?

The loss of biodiversity throughout the earth. This creates unstable ecosystems and makes it

difficult for communities to adapt within their ecosystem

The extinction of species increasing every day. Some scientists estimate 1/5 of all species alive

today could be extinct or nearly extinct by 2020. The Arizona Jaguar became extinct due to an

increased demand for its fur. As the human population increased in the areas inhabited by the jaguar, the hunting and shooting increased and the last of this rare animal was shot in 1905 in New Mexico

Some is natural (due to evolution etc.) but certain activities have unnaturally sped up this process!

To what extent is the degradation of biodiversity natural, and to what extent is it the fault of mankind?

Indicators

Indicator species are highly sensitive to environmental changes and their populations increase or decrease significantly depending on changes in the environment. Frog populations are very vulnerable to

pollution and other forms of change, while sludge worms are good indicators of low oxygen concentration in waterways.

Biotic indices are calculated via the number of tolerant and intolerant species at a time. The numbers of these organisms in the indicator species populations can be monitored over time directly so they are easy to keep track of.

Why would aquatic creatures be more accurate indicators than terrestrial creatures?

Causes

Human activities Millions of people live in moist tropical regions. Deforestation

90% of the lowland forests in Ecuador have been destroyed and cleared.

Habitat destruction Tropical forests are the most diverse, but are being

destroyed at the fastest rate.

Effects

The effects of biodiversity impacts both forests and people.

Loss of particular plant species means loss of unknown economic potential- loss of food, fibers, medicines

Some organisms are vanishing that may be the most useful to humans, but we’ll never know. Rosy periwinkle from Madagascar aids Hodgkin’s

disease

Loss of just one species can ruin an entire ecosystem. Predators have lost prey, and prey undergo severe population changes which is devastating Entire ecosystem can collapse

What are some ways mankind might reverse/halt its effect on biodiversity?

Prevention

The Nature Conservancy is an organization dedicated towards conserving precious lives, and the resources they need

Steps have been taken towards preventing a great loss of bio diversity. Many areas have set up wildlife, scientific and nature reserves that

preserve diversity and recovery of threatened species These range from big to small, government owned, public or private They are managed by controlling alien species and restoring

ecosystems degraded by human impact Logging is monitored and controlled – if some are cut down, more are

planted

Types of Conservation In Situ Conservation

Places where an animal is found in its own natural habitat and is not allowed to be disturbed by humans and their activities.

Keeps the animals out of danger zones and allows them to live and reproduce naturally. Most animals typically survive at a greater rate using in situ conservation, and preserving their habitat allows other species to live, thus preserving biodiversity.

Ex Situ Conservation Captive breeding, animals kept in zoos or parks are allowed to

reproduce in order to give chance to increase in number, with the possibility of eventually reintroducing some of the offspring into the wild. Unfortunately many do not reproduce. Elephants are an example.

Botanic gardens are sites where many plant species are planted in controlled environments to maintain their species. The Botanic Gardens of Kew has a massive collection of 50,000

species. Seed banks are where seeds are kept in cold and dry storage,

since they stay in good condition for hundred of years.

What is the most effective way to prevent the loss of biodiversity?

http://library.thinkquest.org/17456/loss1.html