Human Impact on Human Impact on EarthEarth

Biological DiversityBiological Diversity

Biodiversity Biodiversity – variety of species in a – variety of species in a specific areaspecific area– Increases as you move toward the Increases as you move toward the

equatorequator– Tropical regions Tropical regions 2/3rds of all land 2/3rds of all land

species on Earthspecies on Earth– Brings stability (1 change in species can Brings stability (1 change in species can

destabilize other species)destabilize other species)– Improves healthImproves health– Increases food cropIncreases food crop

Loss of BiodiversityLoss of Biodiversity

ExtinctionExtinction – the disappearance of a – the disappearance of a species when the last of its members species when the last of its members diesdies

Endangered speciesEndangered species – numbers – numbers become so low that extinction is become so low that extinction is possiblepossible

Threatened speciesThreatened species – when the – when the population of a species is likely to population of a species is likely to become endangeredbecome endangered

North Carolina has 61 animals listed on the North Carolina has 61 animals listed on the endangered species list…endangered species list…

American AlligatorAmerican AlligatorBald EagleBald EagleLoggerhead, Green, and Leatherback Sea Loggerhead, Green, and Leatherback Sea

TurtlesTurtlesRed WolfRed WolfCarolina Northern Flying SquirrelCarolina Northern Flying SquirrelRed-cockaded WoodpeckerRed-cockaded WoodpeckerHumpback WhaleHumpback WhaleEastern Puma…Eastern Puma…

North Carolina has 26 plants listed on North Carolina has 26 plants listed on the endangered species list…the endangered species list…

Blue Ridge GoldenrodBlue Ridge Goldenrod

Mountain Sweet Pitcher PlantMountain Sweet Pitcher Plant

Mountain-golden HeatherMountain-golden Heather

Schweinitz’s SunflowerSchweinitz’s Sunflower

Rock Gnome LichenRock Gnome Lichen

Smooth Cornflower….Smooth Cornflower….

Threats to BiodiversityThreats to Biodiversity

1.) 1.) Habitat lossHabitat loss cause plants/animal cause plants/animal extinctionextinction

2.) 2.) Habitat fragmentationHabitat fragmentation – separation of – separation of wilderness areas from other wilderness wilderness areas from other wilderness areasareas– Increased extinctionIncreased extinction– DisruptionDisruption– Invasions by speciesInvasions by species– Increased fire riskIncreased fire risk– Changes in climateChanges in climate

Edge effectEdge effect – different conditions – different conditions along boundaries of an ecosystemalong boundaries of an ecosystem– one habitat or ecosystem meets anotherone habitat or ecosystem meets another– greater biodiversity b/c 2 habitats are greater biodiversity b/c 2 habitats are

meetingmeeting Habitat degradationHabitat degradation – damage to a – damage to a

habitat by pollutionhabitat by pollution– 3 types of pollution:3 types of pollution:– Air –Acid Rain & Ozone deteriorationAir –Acid Rain & Ozone deterioration– Water –Water pollutionWater –Water pollution– Land –Land pollutionLand –Land pollution

Acid PrecipitationAcid Precipitation: rain, snow, : rain, snow, sleet, and fog with low pH valuessleet, and fog with low pH values

Ozone layerOzone layer – absorbs some of the – absorbs some of the ultraviolet waves striking the ultraviolet waves striking the atmosphere, reducing UV radiation atmosphere, reducing UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surfacereaching the Earth’s surface

Water PollutionWater Pollution

Degrades aquatic habitatsDegrades aquatic habitats Stream, rivers, lakes, and oceansStream, rivers, lakes, and oceans

Exotic SpeciesExotic Species

Not native to a particular areaNot native to a particular area Problem: may not have predators or Problem: may not have predators or

competitorscompetitors

Conservation of BiodiversityConservation of Biodiversity

Conservation biologyConservation biology – the study – the study and implementation of methods to and implementation of methods to protect biodiversityprotect biodiversity– Species conservationSpecies conservation– Natural resource conservationNatural resource conservation

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

– – parts of environment that are useful parts of environment that are useful and necessary for living organismsand necessary for living organisms– SunlightSunlight– WaterWater– AirAir– Plant/animalPlant/animal

US Endangered Species Act (1973)US Endangered Species Act (1973)

Illegal to harm any species on Illegal to harm any species on endangered/threatened species listsendangered/threatened species lists

Including changing an ecosystem Including changing an ecosystem where they livewhere they live

Preserving HabitatsPreserving Habitats

Establish parks and protected Establish parks and protected regionsregions

Habitat Corridors – protected strips of Habitat Corridors – protected strips of land that allow the migration of land that allow the migration of organisms from one wilderness area organisms from one wilderness area to anotherto another– Beneficial for plants and animalsBeneficial for plants and animals

Other Efforts…Other Efforts…

Sustainable useSustainable use – enable people to use – enable people to use natural resources in ways that will benefit natural resources in ways that will benefit and maintain the ecosystemand maintain the ecosystem

Reintroduction programsReintroduction programs – release – release organisms into an area where the species organisms into an area where the species once livedonce lived

CaptivityCaptivity – organism that is held by – organism that is held by people (Zoos help preserve endangered people (Zoos help preserve endangered species and provide halfway house)species and provide halfway house)