Page 15 (Biodiversity)Page 15 (Biodiversity)

Conserving LifeConserving Life

o Bio-lifeo Diversity-different

Video: Bill NYE Biodiversityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU0As7130mc20:38 min

Bill Nye: Biodiversity- Bill Nye: Biodiversity- Finish for homework.Finish for homework.

1. What does an ecosystem need to have in order for it to be healthy and successful?

2. What does biodiversity mean?

3. How is an ecosystem like a giant jenga game?

BiodiversityBiodiversityRefers to the variety of life in an ecosystem.

Why is biodiversity Why is biodiversity important?important?

A loss of biodiversity can weaken an ecosystem

What reduces What reduces biodiversity?biodiversity?

Human Impact 1. Habitat Loss 2. Invasive Species 3. Pollution (climate change)

Habitat Loss #1Habitat Loss #1Habitat loss is the main reason why species are becoming extinct, endangered or threatened.

Compared to other threats to biodiversity, invasive/introduced species ranked second.

Invasive Species Invasive Species #2#2

Anthro: a prefix meaning humanGenic: means origin

Pollution/Climate Change Pollution/Climate Change #3#3

• Anthropogenic climate change-caused by human activity.

• A.K.A. global warming, is causing huge changes to biodiversity, and it will continue to threaten species and their habitats.

Anthropogenic can refer to any changes in nature that are caused by humans — like the existence of roads or cities where once there were forests.

Global warming due to burning fossil fuels is making the climate change a lot faster.

Pollution/Climate Change Pollution/Climate Change #3#3

Page 16 (Native, Page 16 (Native, Introduced/Invasive)Introduced/Invasive)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ftiWffNTcIntroduced Species 9:55 min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmztPktOfzsInvasion of the Yellow Crazy AntsBiological Control

Native SpeciesNative SpeciesA species that is original to the ecosystem it lives in.

In Michigan, a native species is one that was present in Michigan prior to European settlement. • Wild Turkey • Lake Sturgeon• Snapping Turtle• White Tailed Dear

Introduced Introduced SpeciesSpeciesAlso called an exotic species, are those that have been moved by humans to a new environment.

Invasive SpeciesInvasive SpeciesInvasive species are organisms that cause harm to an ecosystem.

Invasive species can enter an environment unintentionally.

Sometimes they are brought in on purpose and then later found to damage the ecosystem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDOwTXobJ3kBozmanThe Bunny StoryInvasive Species10:44 min

Michigan Introduced/ Michigan Introduced/ Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species1. Brown Headed Cowbird

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guXdDc5XrFYKirdland Warbler Endangered Species2:59 min

1.Effect on the Kirkland Warbler

Parasitism 

Michigan Introduced/ Michigan Introduced/ Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species2.

Phragmitieshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIROHThBzvo

1.Effect on Ecosystem

Crowding out the native plants.

Michigan Michigan Introduced/Invasive Introduced/Invasive SpeciesSpecies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtqb41CjQfc Silent Invaders: Zebra Mussels 20:31 min

1.Effect on native mussels

Crowding out the native mussels.

Pg 17 (Threatened, Endangered & Pg 17 (Threatened, Endangered & Extinct)Extinct)

Michigan Threatened Michigan Threatened SpeciesSpeciesA species that is likely to

become “endangered”.1. Copperbelly Water Snake

LIMITING FACTORHABITAT LOSS!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJuSQoxuHoI

Monarch Butterfly 3:18min

2. Monarch butterflies Limiting factors:

HABITAT LOSS

CLIMATE CHANGE

Michigan’s long, cold winters are causing many returning butterflies to stay further south.

Endangered Endangered SpeciesSpeciesA species that is in danger of becoming “extinct”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iu8bbntr80Endangered Species: Cosmo 6:16 min

Michigan endangered Michigan endangered speciesspecies

1. Karner Blue ButterflyLimiting Factor:

♦ Habitat Loss

Michigan endangered Michigan endangered speciesspecies2. Kirkland Warbler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3vAPMUW4CA&list=PLUMPmkLD0pskzvosl3RrZgEzAk0M0_6wV&index=3Brownhead Cowbird laying egg in Warbler nest. 2:36 min

Limiting Factors: oHabitat loss oCowbird parasitism

3. Northern Long Eared BatLimiting Factor:

♦ Population declines caused by white-nose syndrome.

Extinct SpeciesExtinct SpeciesA species that was once present on Earth but has died out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7IzvcVa53A10 species hunted into extinction10:30 min

1. Passenger PigeonLimiting Factor:Hunted out of existence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpC8Nm4v1xMNear Extinct Species6:25 minhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrokfZ6mD5A10 Animals That May Go Extinct In The Next 10 Years3:14 min

1. Dodo BirdLimiting Factor:Hunted out of existence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tuxKDMDZZADodo BirdClimate Change?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RhqR2ZGkc0Ice Age 2:42

Pg 18 Conservation Pg 18 Conservation BiologyBiology

Protecting Protecting BiodiversityBiodiversity

1. Conservation: The study of methods for protecting biodiversity.

There are two goals for every There are two goals for every conservation plan.conservation plan.◦Protect a species from harm.◦Protect a species habitat.

2. Conservation 2. Conservation StrategiesStrategiesLegal protections: Laws are made to protect species and their habitat.

Example: U.S. Endangered Species Act

3. Habitat Preservation: National parks and wildlife areas.

The United States’ first national park – Yellowstone National Park

4. Wildlife Corridors & Divided Habitats

Connect one wildlife preserve to another without having to cross roads, farms or other area inhabited by humans.

Panther Crossing in the Everglades

5. Habitat RestorationTaking action to bring a damaged habitat back to a healthy condition.

PlantingEelgrassReading selectionEcology BookPg 141

6. Wildlife managementPark rangers, guards and volunteers manage the area.

7. Captive populations A way for conserving species that may not survive in the wild.

Cared for by humans. Not ideal because it is expensive and animals loose their wild behaviors.

8. Reintroduction programs

Must remove the factors that caused endangerment “threat”.

Organism can be returned to their original habitat.

Releasing Wolfs into Yellowstone National Park

9. Relocation Programs

The threat cannot be removed.

Organisms are transported to a new habitat.

Brown Pelican relocation

Scenario 1Scenario 1Mrs. Wiles noticed that the muskrats in the St. John’s marsh were disappearing at an alarming rate. She decided to do some investigating. She found out that someone let an alligator loose in the St. John’s Marsh. She asked her students to help capture all the remaining muskrats and help her take care of them at school until they caught the alligator. Then they would be able to return the muskrats back to their original habitat.

Scenario 1Scenario 1Reintroduction program

Scenario 2Scenario 2Mrs. Wiles was reading thenewspaper and she read that theywere planning on building a Walmart right in the middle of the St. John’s Marsh. Mrs. Wilesasked her students to help her capture all the muskrats and find a new home for them in another marsh.

Scenario 2Scenario 2Relocation Program

Scenario 3 Scenario 3

Isle Royale is seeing an alarming loss of moose. They create a national park to protect the animals.

Scenario 3 Scenario 3 Habitat Preservation & Wildlife Management

Scenario 4Scenario 4

The highway runs through the St. John’s Marsh and there have been a large number of turtle deaths, due to cars. The park ranger designs a under road ditch that will connect both sides of the marsh. The turtles can use this path to cross safely.

Scenario 4Scenario 4Wildlife Corrdoors

Phragmites - A conservation effortAcross Belle Isle Park, a tall grass is quickly

invading. Phragmites australis, or the common reed, is a perennial grass found all around the world. The grass grows an impressive 6-13 feet tall with upright stems and long flat smooth leaves. Its preferred habitat is wetlands, ditches, streams and ponds.

Phragmites on Belle Isle and in the Great Lakes region is a concern because it is an invasive species (1). According to the National Invasive Species Management Plan, an invasive species is not native to the original ecosystem and its introduction causes or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment or to human health.

(2)In Michigan, a non-native species is one that was not present in Michigan prior to European settlement. Only about five percent of introduced species become invasive, however the effects can be devastating to an ecosystem.

• Phragmites establishes quickly when introduced to an area, especially if the area has been disturbed recently by development or construction.  Dense strands of the common reed (3)take up most of the nitrogen and phosphorus from the soil, making these nutrients unavailable for other native wetland plants. (4)The resulting decrease of native wetland species means that wetlands and coastal marshes may not be able to serve as habitat for aquatic wildlife and migratory birds.

(5) When Phragmites die and decay, the plant debris covers the ground and significantly reduces the ground temperature. The cooler temperature can prevent amphibians, fish and insects from completing their life cycles. It is uncertain how this invasive strain was introduced to North America and the continental United States; (6) it may have been introduced by the shipping industry when ship ballast was emptied. On Belle Isle, several methods are currently being used to control and prevent Phragmites. (7) The management techniques include a combination of chemicals and controlled burning. These methods have proven to be effective, but it is important to recognize that it is impossible to completely eliminate Phragmites.

1. According to the National Invasive Species Management Plan, what is considered an invasive species?

2. How are the phragmites hurting the native wetland plants?

3. What effect are the phragmites having on the aquatic wildlife and the migratory birs?

4. What effect are the phragmites having on the amphibians, fish and insects?

5. How do ecologists believe the phragmites were introduced to North America?

6. What are two management techniques used to control phragmites?