Biomes and Biodiversity

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Biomes and Biodiversity

• Diversity of Living Things

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How are living things separated?

• Living things are divided into 6 kingdoms
  archaebacteria, eubacteria, fungi, protist,
  plants, and animals.
• Each have different characteristics, made of
  different cells and have different niches.

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Archaebacteria

• Single celled-no nucleus
• Reproduce by dividing in half
• Found in harsh environments methane gas swamps,
  hot springs

4
Eubacteria

• Single-celled, no nucleus
• Reproduce by dividing in half
• VERY common

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Fungi

• Absorb food through body
• Have cell walls
• Most live on land

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Protists

• Single-celled, some multi-celled
• Most live in water

• multi-celled
• Make own food
• Have cell walls

Plants

• multi-celled
• Ingest food
• Invertebrates or vertebrates

Animals
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A World Rich in Biodiversity

• Starts with the unfinished task of cataloging all
  the species on Earth.
• Many unknown species exist in remote
  wildernesses, deep ocean, and even in cities.
• There are 3 levels species, ecosystem and
  genetic.
• (p241)

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Benefits of Biodiversity

• Affects the stability of ecosystems and the
  sustainability of populations.
• Humans use and benefit from the variety of
  life-forms on Earth. (p243)
• Species are important part of the cycle of energy
  and nutrients
• in a healthy biosphere,
• especially the keystone
• ones.
• Sea otters, p242

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Biodiversity at Risk

• Extinctions are the 1 risk to the biodiversity
  of an ecosystem.
• It takes millions of years for biodiversity in an
  ecosystem to rebound. (mass extinction)
• We are currently in a mass extinction, loosing
  about 25 of all species by 2100.
• Species prone to extinctions are ones with low
  populations, migratory, need large niches and
  exploited by humans.

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How do humans cause extinctions?

• Habitat destruction
• Use land to build homes
• Harvest land resources for ourselves
• Causes about 75 of the extinctions occurring now

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Invasive exotic species

• Most brought in by accident, some to help
  control another population.
• Threaten native species in the ecosystem.
• Have no natural predators and no competition from
  native species.

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Harvesting, Hunting and Poaching

• Excessive hunting of a species like the bison are
  a being controlled by govts now.
• This leads to illegal hunting, especially in poor
  countries.
• Harvesting of a species for medicine, food, pets
  and houseplants are still a concern.

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Pollution

• Chemicals in pesticides, cleaning supplies and
  drugs make there way into food webs worldwide.
• These cause the water and air pollution in the
  ecosystems.

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Where is biodiversity critical?

• There are 3 areas of major concern
• Tropical rain forest covering less than 7 of
  Earth but houses over ½ the species living on
  Earth.
• Coral Reefs/Coastal Ecosystems cover small
  areas but have the highest biodiversity are a
  major food source for many people as well as
  income from tourism.
• Islands colonizing species from a main go to
  a new island, evolving into new species, but with
  limited populations.

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What is a biodiversity HOTSPOT?

• Most threatened area with a high species
  diversity
• Areas have endemic species that are threatened by
  human activities
• Currently there are 25 areas with a 70 loss of
  original vegetation.

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What is the future of biodiversity?

• There are four ways that we as a conservation
  community can help.
• Save a species one at a time
• Preserving their habitats and ecosystems
• Setting up legal protection
• Working together internationally

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Saving a species (p252)

• Captive breeding programs are one way wildlife
  experts try to restore the population of a
  endangered species.
• There are concerns however
• - will they be able to readapt to their natural
  habitat and hunt
• - will they be able to reproduce in the wild.
• Heirloom crops are a way gardeners of common
  vegetables are preserving the biodiversity of
  plants.

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Preserving the home (p254)

• Conservations efforts now focus on saving the
  entire ecosystem not just the species.
• These efforts start with the hotspots.
• Cultural views help to preserve the biodiversity
  of their region.
• A strategy that is beginning to take root is
  using products from a sustainable resource or
  practice.

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Legal Protection and International Cooperation
(p255-256)

• The U.S. has one of the strongest regulations
  with respects to protecting species from
  extinction.
• 1973 the Endangered Species Act was passed.
• IUCN is a group effort of almost 200 govnt 700
  private conservation groups.
• IUCN advises govnt on how to manage their
  natural resources.
• CITES and the Biodiversity Treaty are just some
  ways the global community is coming together