Ecology, Part3-Biodiversity and Pollution

7/31/2019 Ecology, Part3-Biodiversity and Pollution

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Biodiversity


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Endangered Species

Most commonreason for loss ofspecies:

habitat destruction

Question: What areedge effects?

Methods forprotecting species

1. Preservation ofwild spaces

2. Controlledbreeding programs

3. Education4. Legislation


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Why Biodiversity? What is it?

Variety of speciesliving in ecosystems

What are benefits?

1. Stable ecosystems

2. Medicines/drugs

3. Climatestabilizations

4. Nutrient

stabilization


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Biodiversity: 3 types

1. genetic diversity:variety ofgenes or inheritable characteristics

that are present in a population

increases the chances thatsome species will survive

changing environmentalconditions

the outbreak of disease.Problem today: withinendangered species (NationalGeographic article)

Why does this matter?


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Biodiversity and Conservation

Biodiversity: Species

2. species diversity:number of differentspecies and the

relative abundanceof each species ina biologicalcommunity

Problem today:endangeredspecies

Why does this matter?Hot spots
http://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Biodiversityhttp://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Biodiversity


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Biodiversity: Ecosystem

ecosystemdiversity: variety

of ecosystemsthat are presentin the biosphere

Problem today:Coral reef decline

Why does this matter?


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1. A

2. B

It is likely that some ofthe worlds unidentified

species will haveeconomic value.

A. true

B. false


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Most of the worlds food crops

come from just a few species.

Domestic corn plant

Teosinte

plant

Wild species serve as reservoirs

of desirable genetictraits that might beneeded to improvedomestic crop

species.

The Importance of Biodiversity

Arctic Seed Vault
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/science/seeds/slideshow/index.html?type=flashhttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/science/seeds/slideshow/index.html?type=flash


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Scientists continueto find new extracts

from plants andother organismsthat help in thetreatment of human

diseases.Madagascar periwinkle

The Importance of Biodiversity (cont)


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A healthy biosphereprovides manyservices to humansand other organisms

that live on Earth.


Natural processes provide drinking waterthat is safe for human use.

Green plants provide

oxygen to the atmosphere and remove

carbon dioxide.

The Importance of Biodiversity (cont)


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1. A

2. B3. C4. D


Which has indirecteconomic value?

A. ecosystems thatdecompose wastes

B. organisms that providefood and shelter

C. plants that contain

medicinal substancesD. species that have

desirable genetic traits


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What is threatening biodiversity?

Is extinction natural?


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Threats to Biodiversity

Extinction Rates

Background extinction: The gradual

process of species becoming extinct is

Mass extinction: an event in which a largepercentage of all living species become

extinct in a relatively short period oftime.
http://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Species+Extinction


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Threat to biodiversity

Overexploitation,or excessive use,

of species thathave economicvalue is a factorincreasing thecurrent rate ofextinction
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/rhinoceros/video-rhino-horn-lab/1206/


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Threat to biodiversityDisruption of Habitat

The declining

population ofone speciescan affect anentireecosystem.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-panda-baby/bamboo-bears/1975/


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Threat to biodiversity

habitat fragmentation: separation of an ecosysteminto small pieces of land

smaller the parcel of land --> fewer species Reduced reproduction Carving the large ecosystem into small parcels

increases the number of edgescreating edge

effects.

Fragmentation of Habitat


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Acid Precipitation

Sulfur and nitrogen compounds react withwater and other substances in the air to form

sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Acid precipitation removes calcium, potassium,and other nutrients from the soil, depriving

plants of these nutrients.


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Introduced Species - (Invasive Species) Nonnative species that are either intentionally or

unintentionallytransported to anew habitat areknown asintroduced

species. Introduced species: reproduce in large numbers

because of a lack of predators Ex: snakes on a plane!
http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/invasives/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/3/quicktime/l_103_03_56.htmlhttp://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/invasives/http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/invasives/http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/invasives/http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/invasives/


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Some more invasive species

QuickTime and aBMP decompressor

are needed to see this picture.


are needed to s ee this picture.


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1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

A. background extinction

B. mass extinction

C. natural extinction

D. progressive extinction

Which describes the current rate of speciesdisappearance?
http://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Species+Extinctionhttp://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Species+Extinctionhttp://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Species+Extinctionhttp://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Species+Extinctionhttp://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Species+Extinction


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POLLUTION THREATS


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Thermal Pollution: Global

Warming Causes:

Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse gasesCO, CO2,, CFCs,

methane(CH4), H2O (v)

Results: trappedheat
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/greenhouse/


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Global Warming (cont)

Consequences:

#1 Threat toBiodiversity!

Melting of ice= Sealevel rise, coastalflooding

Climate change=

drought, famine Ocean circulation=climate change, rainfall

Economic impacts

Habitat destruction

GLOBAL DIMMING
http://yhs-wooten.wikispaces.com/Environmental+Trendshttp://www.npr.org/news/specials/climate/interactive/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/understanding-global-dimming.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/understanding-global-dimming.html


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GLOBAL DIMMING

Shipping lane smoke

Contrails

Fires over China

Pictures from Nova website
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/understanding-global-dimming.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/understanding-global-dimming.html


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Cause of global dimming:Particulate matter, often sulfates

and aerosols, collecting waterdrops= act as mirrors andreflect sunlight back out tospace

Effects of global dimming*Suppresses/masks the effect of global warming*Decreases pan evaporation rate*Effects plant growth/photosynthesis rates*Climate shifts-cooling of earth/rainfall shifts

What if we clean up the air (particulate pollution)??We need to for health reasons

If greenhouse gasses still produced, then no more maskingand the warming is FAR worse-so we might breathe

easier but all the bad effects of warming could devastate us

QuickTime and a

decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime and a

decompressorare needed to see thispicture.


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This graphcompare theeffects ofdifferent factorson the rise of

temperatures-note whenaerosol/sulfateemissions began

to go down whathappens to theclimate.


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Thermal Pollution: Thermal

Inversions Cause: cold air layers

over warm

Results: pollution

trapped Ozone = O3

Consequences: smog - breathing

problems,

health hazard to thosewith respiration problemslike asthma

San Fernando valley


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Thermal Pollution: Aquatic

Dams Over top

Water warms up at top oflake, dumps warm water

into the river: changes fishpopulations: wont go pastwarm water to spawn

Out bottom: Water is cold at bottom of

lake: much colder thannatural: again changing fish

pop.

Other problems: Fish ladders

Silting in

Controlled flooding


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Red Tide (p547)

Dinoflagellates (Gonyaulax) From Pyrrophyta

Bioluminescent

Produce neurotoxin Effects:

Filter feeders (clams/shellfish)

Accumulate toxin when warm watercauses algal bloom

Warm water: from waste water -more decomposition - heatreleased from power plant discharge


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Bioaccumulation (Biological

Magnification) DDT

Insecticide (kills insects)

Does not degrade easily

Accumulates in living tissue

DDE

Prevents effectiveCalcium fixation

Eggshells

Eagles

Water--> algae--> fish---> bird Rachel Carson


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Results

Unintended results:

In non-targeted speciesdue to biological

magnification Accumulated amounts

had greater effectsthrough the food chain

DDT banned in US Developing countriesnow?

Residence time ofchemicals in

environment now


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The ozone layer

Absorbs UV radiation,

preventing much of it

from contactingorganisms in the

biosphere.


are needed to see this picture.


are needed to s ee this picture.

Ozone thicknessdepletion

Ozone hole(in blue)

Ozone : located 6-30 milesabove us-blocks UV rays

Holes being made by CFCs

from products like coolants


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Eutrophication

Run-off

Dead Zone

Excessdecomposition

Anoxic (without O2) Changes what can grow

there


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Conserving Biodiversity

Natural Resources

The consumptionrate of natural

resources is notevenly distributed.


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renewable resources: Resources that arereplaced by natural processes faster thanthey are consumed

nonrenewable resources: Resources that arefound on Earth in limited amounts or those thatare replaced by natural processes over

extremely long periods of time.


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Energy Resources: in order of

use Fossil fuels

Adv: infrastructure;cheap; versatile

Dis: non-renewable;polluting; emissions


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Energy Resources: in order of use

Energy Source Advantages Disadvantages

FossilFuels:coal, oil

Infrastructure, versatile,cheap

Polluting, greenhouseemissions, non-renewable

Natural

Gas

Easy to use in homes,

efficient heating,cooking, hot water

Emissions, polluting;

Dangers: leaks, explosions

Hydropower (dams:

turbines)

Non-polluting to atm;somewhat renewable;

cheap

Available sites used; habitatimpacts: fish, etc.

Nuclear Accessible; somewhatrenewable

Problem with waste storage;public stigma for safety;radiation


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QuickTime and a

decompressorare needed to see this p icture.


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Hydropower

Adv: Non-polluting

to atm; somewhat

renewable; cheap

Available sites

used; Habitat

impacts: fish, etc


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Nuclear

Accessible; somewhat

renewable

Problem with storage

of wastes; public

stigma for safety:

radiation


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Energy cont


Biomass burning(common for developingcountries for cooking;

heating)

Renewable(replanting);

cheap

Emissions, incompletecombustion; deforestation;

inefficientEthanol (fromcorn, sugarcane,switch grass)

Renewable(replanting);versatile

Emissions, high water usage,efficiency problems, usessame land as food production

Wind Renewable; noemissions

Locations; NIMBY; birddeaths; Costly now, not 24hour source

Solar Renewable; no

emissions

Expensive; not 24 hr source;

scale


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Wind Power

Cape Cod

AT

Locations; NIMBY;

bird deaths Costly

now; not 24 hr source


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Solar

Types:

Photovoltaic

Thermal

Expensive; not 24hr source; scale


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Energy cont


Tidal Renewable; noemissions

Locations; impacts tohabitats unknown; scale

Hydrogen FuelCells

Renewable; noemissions

Efficiency; costly; small scale(cell phones, etc)


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Tidal turbine


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1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

A. farmingB. logging

C. oil drilling

D. commercial fishing

For which human activity is sustainableuse notpossible?


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How can we improve sustainability?

How do we remediate?

Who does this work?

(could it be YOU?)

Protecting Biodiversity


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Protecting BiodiversityCorridors between habitat fragments

Restoring Ecosystems


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Using Organisms to help

Bioremediation

The use of livingorganisms, such as

prokaryotes, fungi,or plants, to detoxifya polluted area

Biological Augmentation

(Biological Control)Adding naturalpredators to adegraded

ecosystem


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Carrying Capacity

(see ppt Ecologypart 2, slide 19-29)

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Ecology, Part3-Biodiversity and Pollution