“Rescuing Species”

IBERIAN LYNX

PIKA

TIGER

Learning Targets“I Can . . .”

- Define an “ecological hot spot.”-Describe an ecological hot spot using an animal or plant that became/almost became extinct.-Suggest an alternative solution to prevent the extinction/near extinction event.

Extinction of SpeciesCase Studies

DODO BIRD

WOOLYMAMMOTH

TRILOBITE

How human threaten biodiversity…

• Human activity in habitats can create ecological hot spots.

• These are areas which have traditionally had lots of biodiversity but have lost much of that biodiversity due to human activity.

How humans threaten biodiversity…

DIRECT THREATS:

•Unregulated sport hunting

•Accidental killing

•Commercial harvesting

•Harassing

•Poisoning

•Collecting

How humans threaten biodiversity…

INDIRECT THREATS:

• Pollution

•Invasive species

•Damming

•Deforestation

•Urbanization

•Agriculture conversion

Why is it bad to have small populations?

1. Environment unpredictability: population is so small that natural catastrophes, weather, resource shortages, and predators could cause an extinction

2. Genetic unpredictability: population is so small that inbreeding occurs

3. Demographic unpredictability: population is so small that opposite genders are difficult to find

New roads are built and cut off small

populations from oneanother

Inbreeding increasesin the isolatedpopulations

Fewer individualsare born and more

die because of inbreeding depression

Isolated populationsBecome smaller

An increased proportionof the population iskilled by hunters

Fewer individuals areleft in the population

Fewer animalare around to be

hunted

Fewer new animalsare born

Your assignment

1. Select a plant or animal that has gone or almost has gone extinct

2. Complete Parts 1-3 on your worksheet

3. Complete Part 4 on a poster that will be presented to the class

The Heath Hen

Gray Wolf

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

Passenger Pigeon

American Chestnut Tree

Kirtland’s Warbler

The Black-footed Ferret

The Grizzly Bear

References

• http://www2.volstate.edu/jschibig/resurrectingthechestnut.htm