1

CONSERVATION ECOLOGY

http://www.nps.gov/chis/photosmultimedia/santa-cruz-island-photo-gallery.htm

2

BIODIVERSITY• Biodiversity = the variety of organisms in a

community

Tropical Rainforest

Coral Reef

Photos by: Kristin McCully

3

World Biodiversity

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html

4

World Biodiversity

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html

5

How do humans impact biodiversity?

• Introduction of exotic species• Habitat destruction• Hunting/fishing• Pollution• Climate change

Species In-troductions

(39%)Habitat De-

struction (36%)

Hunting (23%)

Other (2%)

Known Causes of Animal Extinctions Since 1600Modified from: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html

6

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/lba_moth/gallery.shtml

Photo UCCE Santa Cruz - http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2830

USDA blackberry

Invasive Species

Light Brown Apple Moth

7

Habitat Destruction

• Ex: Deforestation• Why?

– Agriculture– Logging– Mining– Urban sprawl

• Why not?– Loss of biodiversity– Increased vulnerability to

natural disasters – Loss of ecosystem services

NOAA

Jami Dywer (Wikimedia)

Kristin McCully

João Carvalho (Wikimedia)

8

Hunting/Fishing

1936

1870

1952

2006

Alessio Marrucci (Wikimedia)

9

Pollution

Mikael Häggström (Wikimedia)

10

REVIEW FOOD WEB ACTIVITYThe pesticide DDT was used to kill mosquitoes for many years.

DDT entered bodies of water, moved up the food chain, and built up in the tissues of fish. When female bald eagles ate these fish, they produced eggs with very thin shells. The eggs broke when the eagles sat on their nests. The U.S. government banned the use of DDT in 1972.

Which of these graphs most likely shows how the ban of DDT affected the bald eagle population?

AB C D

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REVIEW FOOD WEB ACTIVITY

Source: Center for Biological Diversityhttp://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/birds/bald_eagle/report/index.html

12

Global Climate Change

13

Global Climate Change

14

Global Climate Change

http://www.rosamundwo.com/2009/the-sixth-extinction/