-Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an area-

-The most common measure of biodiversity is the number of species in an area-

-Extinctions occur when the last of a species dies out-

-Human actions have resulted in habitiat loss, fragmentation, and degradation that has accelerated the extinction rate-

 

Section 5.1: Vanishing Species

Define- biodiversity-

           - extinction-

           - threatened species-

           - endangered species-

           - habitat fragmentation-

           - edge effect-

           - habitat degradation-

           - acid precipitation-

           - ozone layer-

           - exotic species-

5.1 Outline-

  -Ex. A rainforest has greater biodiversity than a cornfield-

 -biodiversity- refers to the diversity of life in an area-

  -that area could be mississippi, mexico, sweden, or alaska-

 -Where is biodiversity found-

  -areas around the world differ in diversity-

  -it does increase as you move from the north toward the equator-

  -2/3 of all land species live in the tropics-

 -which do you like more, a parking lot, or a rain forest?-

  -living things adapt to live with other organisms.  without those other organisms, more dependent organisms would die out-

  -if predators are removed, then the carrying capacity would be exceeded-

  -life depends on life... animals can't live without green plants-

  -plant depend on decomposers to break down dead material into nutrients they can use-

  -biodiversity bring stability to an ecosystem, and makes it stronger-

 -Importance to people-

  -humans use nature for many things including food, wood, medicine, and "entertainment"

 -extinction- the wiping out of an entire species-0

  -since 1980 40 species of plants and animals have become exticnt in the US-

 -threatened species- when a species # begin to decline rapidly-

 -endangered species- when a species is in trouble of becoming extinct-

 -Habitat Loss- loss of habitat-

  -the greatest threat-

 -Habitat Fragmentation- when a large habitat becomes many smaller ones surrounded by humans-

  -certain species could wiped out, and nothing would move back in to take their place-

 -Abiotic Issues-

  -can change the climate of an area-

   -can make a rain forest dryer than normal, any species dependent on the constant moisture would die out-

   -air, water, and land pollution-

   -acid precipitation- precipitation with a low ph level-

    -kills trees and piosons water supplies killing fish-

   -ozone layer- sunscreen that protects us from UV rays-

    -is being destroyed by CFC'c (chlorofluorocarbons) -

  -degrades aquatic habitats-

   -excess fertilizer, animal waste, human waste-

 -Land Pollution-

  -mainly from humans-

  -animal waste, stuff in landfills-

  -can take over or even kill other species-

  -exotic species- a non-native species in an ecosystem-