Endangered Biodiversity

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Endangered Biodiversity
DE WITT CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL LIVING ENVIRONMENT
MS. VASQUEZ
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• Form groups of three students .
• In your own words define the following terms
• 1.Bio
• 2.Diversity
• 3.Endangered

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Endangered Biodiversity

• Bio- means life.

Diversity -means composed of distinct or unlike
elements or qualities Endangered- a species
threatened with extinction broadly anyone or
anything whose continued existence is threatened
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How do we define biodiversity?

• In the very simplest terms, "biodiversity" means
  the diversity of life on our planet, which
  includes genetic diversity, species diversity,
  and habitat diversity.
• A little more specifically
• "The sum total of all the plants, animals
  (including humans), fungi and microorganisms,
  along with their individual variations and the
  interactions between them. It is the set of
  living organisms and their genetic basis that
  make up the fabric of the planet earth and allow
  it to function as it does, by capturing energy
  from the sun and using it to drive all of life's
  processes."

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What can we do to protect biodiversity?

• In your groups make a list of actions that can
  protect biodiversity.
• Plants and animals should be included in your
  list.
• Be specific about your plan of action.

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Go to the following sites and find out what other
people are doing to protect biodiversity.
http//www.biodiversityproject.org/mediakit/Sprawl
_1A_personal_action_.pdf http//www.serconline.
org/biodiversity/pkg_mainframe.html http//www.
smartgrowthgateway.org/bio_why.shtml


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And now

• You will be responsible of making a presentation
  about how to preserve biodiversity.
• Now go to
• http//www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html
  
• And fill in worksheet 2
• http//www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.ht
  m
• And fill in worksheet 3 for your report.

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Just in case...

• Just in case you need more information regarding
  our topic look at the following slides before
  your presentation.

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Ways to preserve biodiversity 1.Reduce habitat
loss. The number one reason for declining
biodiversity is habitat lossthe destruction of
the places where animals and plants live and get
the nutrients, water and living space they need
for survival. We can counteract the loss of
habitat by setting aside land as parks, preserves
and natural areas. 2. Control non-native plants
and animals. When introduced into new areas,
non-native plants or animals (also called alien
species or exotics) can hurt the native plants
and animals. Alien species, such as kudzu and
starlings, do not have natural predators or
diseases to control their populations. They
quickly take over new areas, reducing the native
biodiversity. Also, feral animalspets and farm
animals allowed to run wildcan destroy wildlife
habitats and kill large numbers of wildlife every
year. Scientists estimate that feral cats
kill over a billion small mammals and hundreds of
millions of birds in the United States each
year. 3. Reduce pollution. Oil spills are one
very obvious kind of pollution that can kill a
large number of living things. But there are
other, less obvious kinds of pollution that also
reduce biodiversity worldwide. Overuse of
insecticides and fertilizers is one example.
Gases from power plants, cars, trucks, and
airplanes that cause acid rain and global warming
is another. People can help by limiting the
amount of insecticides and fertilizers they put
on their lawns, by cutting down on the number of
trips taken in the family car, and by reducing
their use of electricity.
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Ways to preserve biodiversity

• 4. Limit human population growth.
• Every day, we add another 250,000 people to
  planet Earth. To provide food, clothing and
  shelter for all
• these people, we need to use more natural
  resources. For example, we cut down more forests
  and put
• up more shopping malls and housing developments.
  Population growth is a difficult issue because
  not
• everyone agrees on what to do about it. Some
  people choose to limit the size of their
  families.
• 5. Avoid over-consumption of natural resources.
• People are using up fossil fuels, forests, fish,
  soil, and water faster than Mother Nature can
  replace
• them. If people would learn to reduce, reuse and
  recycle, our natural resources would last longer.
  This
• would also mean more living space for plants and
  animals and their natural communities.

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• GOOD JOB!