Post on 03-May-2020
What is biodiversity?
5.1 Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life in an area
determined by the number of different
species in that area.
Chapter 5 Biodiversity and Conservation
Biodiversity increases the stability of an
ecosystem and contributes to the health of
the biosphere.
Biodiversity A healthy biosphere provides
many services to humans and
other organisms that live on
Earth.
Green plants provide oxygen
to the atmosphere and
remove carbon dioxide.
Natural processes provide
drinking water that is safe for
human use.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Overexploitation
Bison
Ocelot
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Cause: Overcollecting, overhunting, and
overfishing of native plants and animals
Effect: Increases extinction rates; 2nd greatest
THREAT to biodiversity
Ocelot
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
Habitat Destruction or Loss
Cause: Poisoning
lakes, destroying
forests for wood,
clearcutting land.
Effect: Threatens
native species and
upsets the balance of
nature; GREATEST
threat to
biodiversity
clearing of tropical rain forests
cutting forests for real estate
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
Pollution
Cause: Pollution, garbage,
and atmospheric changes
due to burning fossil fuels
Effect: Poor air quality; loss
of species due to water
contamination; less clean
drinking water
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Garbage fields in ocean
Poor air quality
Soil pollution
Biodiversity and Conservation
Acid Rain
Coal-burning power plants
cause the pH in rain to be
more acidic
Poisons lakes; destroys
leaves and bark of trees;
changes soil pH; damages
buildings and cars
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Kills forests in
eastern U.S.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Eutrophication
Cause: pollution flows into
waterways from soil runoff, causing
extensive algae growth.
Effect: The algae use up the
oxygen supply which kills fish and
other plants
Red Tide in Florida
Algae blooms in lakes
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
Introduced Species
Cause: Nonnative species that are either intentionally
or Unintentionally transported to a new habitat
Effect: Take over their new habitat killing other
animals or plants.
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Fire Ants
Kudzu
Soil Erosion
Cause: over farming,
logging, construction,
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Effect: lowers soil fertility;
threatens agriculture and
homes
The Dust Bowl
Landslides
Cause: Burning fossil
fuels and killing forests
Effect: Global climate
change; melting of polar
ice caps; drought;
threatens plants and
animals
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Greenhouse Effect
2017: hottest year on record
Cause: Use of CFCs
destroys the ozone
layer which blocks UV
rays
Effect: higher incidence
of DNA mutation rates
in all species
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Ozone
Skin cancer rates increasing
Resources that are replaced by natural
processes faster than they are consumed
are called renewable resources.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Resources that are found on Earth in limited
amounts or those that are replaced by natural
processes over extremely long periods of time
are called nonrenewable resources.
5.3 Conserving Biodiversity
Chapter 5