Threats to Biodiversity: An Overview
1: Natural Capital: Forests
Ecological Services
-Support energy flow-and chemical cycling-Reduce soil erosion-Absorb and release water-Purify water and air
Influence local and-regional climate-Store atmospheric carbon-Provide numerous wildlife habitats
Economic Services
-Fuelwood-Lumber-Pulp to make paper-Mining-Livestock grazing-Recreation-Jobs
2: What are the 3 main types of forests?
-Old-Growth Forest
-Second-Growth Forest
-Tree Palntation
3: What are some of the problems associated with deforestation?
-Decreased soil fertility from erosion
• Runoff of eroded soil into aquatic system
• Premature extinction of species with specialized niches
• Loss of habitat for native species and migratory species such as birds and butterflies
• Regional climate change from extensive clearing
• Release of CO2 into atmosphere
• Acceleration of flooding
4: What are the methods for harvesting trees? (selective cutting), an entire forest can be cut down (clear cutting), or portions of the forest is harvested
5: Clear-Cutting Forests
Advantages
-Higher timber yields
Maximum profits in shortest time
Can reforest with fast- growing trees
Short time to establish new stand of trees
Needs less skill and planning
Good for tree species needing full or moderate sunlight
Disadvantages
-Reduces biodiversity
Disrupts ecosystem processes
Destroys and fragments wildlife habitats
Leaves large openings
Increases water pollution, flooding, and erosion on steep slopes
Eliminates most recreational value
6: What are some solutions for sustainable forestry?
- Identify and protect forest areas high in biodiversity
• Grow more timber on long rotations
• Rely more on selective cutting and strip cutting
• Stop clear-cutting on steep slopes
• Cease logging of old-growth forests
• Prohibit fragmentation of remaining large blocks of forest
7: What is the Healthy Forest Restoration Act? What are the PROS and CONS?
-Allows timber companies to cut medium and large trees in 71% of the national forests. – In return, must clear away smaller, more fire- prone trees and underbrush. – Some forest scientists believe this could increase severe fires by removing fire resistant trees and leaving highly flammable slash.
8: Logging in National Forests
Advantages
-Helps meet country’s timber needs
Cut areas grow back
Keeps lumber and paper prices down
Provides jobs in nearby communities
Promotes economic growth in nearby communities
Disadvantages
-Provides only 4% of timber needs
Ample private forest land to meet timber needs
Has little effect on timber and paper prices
Damages nearby rivers and fisheries
Recreation in national forests provides more local jobs and income for local communities than logging
Decreases recreational opportunities
9: What are some causes of tropical deforestation?
-It can create a lot of problems such as the loss of many of our resources and less biodiversity
-Institute as sources of cancer-fighting chemicals come from tropical forests.
11: Sustaining Tropical Forests
Prevention
-Protect most diverse and endangered areas
Educate settlers about sustainable agriculture and forestry
Phase out subsidies that encourage unsustainable forest use
Add subsidies that encourage sustainable forest use
Protect forests with debt-for-nature swaps and conservation easements
Certify sustainably grown timber
Reduce illegal cutting
Reduce poverty
Slow population growth
Restoration
-Reforestation
Rehabilitation of degraded areas
Concentrate farming and ranching on already-cleared areas
12: Why are rangelands/grasslands so important?
-– Soil formation – Erosion control – Nutrient cycling
13: How can we sustain rangeland productivity? What are some solutions to overgrazing?
- controlling the number and distribution of livestock and by restoring degraded rangeland.
14: What is the 4 point strategy to restoring biodiversity worldwide?
- Map global ecosystems Locate and protect endangered ecosystems & species Restore as many degraded ecosystems as possible Make development biodiversity- friendly
15: What is a biodiversity hotspot? How many are there worldwide?
-34 hotspots identified by ecologists as important and endangered centers of biodiversity.
16: What are the top 6 hotspots in the United States?
-1 Hawaii 2 San Francisco Bay area 3 Southern Appalachians 4 Death Valley 5 Southern California 6 Florida Panhandle
17: What are the five basic science-based principles for ecological restoration?
-– Identify cause. – Stop abuse by eliminating or sharply reducing factors. – Reintroduce species if necessary. – Protect area form further degradation. – Use adaptive management to monitor
18: Define:
Preservation-Setting aside or protecting undisturbed natural areas from harmful human activities.
Remediation- Repairing an ecosystem that has been destroyed.
Sustainability- Ability of a system to survive for some specified time.
18: What are the eight priorities for protecting biodiversity?
-Take immediate action to preserve world’s biological hot spots. – Keep intact remaining old growth. – Complete mapping of world’s biodiversity for inventory and decision making. – Determine world’s marine hot spots.-Ensure that the full range of the earths ecosystems are included in global conservation strategy. – Make conservation profitable. – Initiate ecological restoration products to heal some of the damage done and increase share of earth’s land and water allotted to the rest of nature.
19: Define: Reconciliation/Applied Ecology
-Establish and maintain new habitats to conserve species in places where people live, work, and play
20: Define:
Background Extinction: -continuous, low level of extinction of species
Extinction Rate: - expressed as a percentage or number of species that go extinct within a certain time period
Mass Extinction: - extinction of many species in a relatively short amount of time. \
21: What are characteristics of vulnerable species?
-Wild species that is still abundant in its natural range but is likely to become endangered because of a decline in numbers.
-Low Reproductive Rate Specialized Feeding Habits Feed at high trophic levels Large size Specialized nesting or breeding areas Found only in one place or region
22: What is HIPPCO?
- Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation – Invasive species – Population growth
23: What can you do about invasive species?
-Do not allow wild animals to escape.
• Do not spread wild plants to other areas.
• Do not dump the contents of an aquarium into waterways, wetlands, or storm drains.
• When camping use wood near your campsite instead of bringing firewood from somewhere else.
• Do not dump unused bait into the water.
• After dogs visit woods or the water brush them before taking them home.
• After each use clean your vehicle, mountain bike, surfboard, kayaks, canoes, boats, tent, hiking boots, and other gear before heading for home.
• Empty all water from canoes, kayaks, dive gear, and other outdoor equipment before heading home.
• Plant a variety of trees, shrubs, and other plants in your yard to reduce losses from invasive species.
• Do not buy plants from overseas or swap them with others using the Internet.
24: What are some characteristics of successful invader species?
-• High reproductive rate,short generation time (r-selected species)
• Pioneer species
• Long lived
• High dispersal rate
• Release growth-inhibiting chemicals into soil
• Generalists
• High genetic variability
25: How is pollution affecting species?
-Kill about 1/5th of the U.S. honeybee colonies.
– 67 million birds.
– 6 -14 million fish.
– Threaten 1/5th of the U.S.’s endangered and threatened species.
26: What is overexploitation?
- Some protected species are killed for their valuable parts or are sold live to collectors. Killing predators and pests that bother us or cause economic losses threatens some species with premature extinction.
Legal and illegal trade in wildlife
27: What is the U.S. Endangered Species Act?
-–ESA forbids federal agencies (besides defense department) to carry out / fund projects that would jeopardize an endangered species.
–ESA makes it illegal for Americans to engage in commerce associated with or hunt / kill / collect endangered or threatened species.
28: What is the CITIES Treaty?
- Signed by 169 countries, lists 900 species that cannot be commercially traded.
-Banned all international trade in elephant products to protect elephant populations that were being decimated by poachers.
Signed by 152 countries and lists more than 800 species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products because they are in danger of extinction and 29,000 other species whose international trade is monitored because they are at risk of becoming threatened
29: What can you do to help terrestrial biodiversity? What can you do to help protect species worldwide?
-• Plant trees and take care of them.
• Recycle paper and buy recycled paper products.
• Buy sustainable wood and wood products.
• Choose wood substitutes such as bamboo furniture and recycled plastic outdoor furniture, decking, and fencing.
Protect species
-• Do not buy furs, ivory products, and other materials made from endangered or threatened animal species.
• Do not buy wood and paper products produced by cutting remaining old- growth forests in the tropics.
• Do not buy birds, snakes, turtles, tropical fish, and other animals that are taken from the wild.
• Do not buy orchids, cacti, and other plants that are taken from the wild.
• Spread the word. Talk to your friends and relatives about this problem and what they can do about it.
Ecological Services
-Support energy flow-and chemical cycling-Reduce soil erosion-Absorb and release water-Purify water and air
Influence local and-regional climate-Store atmospheric carbon-Provide numerous wildlife habitats
Economic Services
-Fuelwood-Lumber-Pulp to make paper-Mining-Livestock grazing-Recreation-Jobs
2: What are the 3 main types of forests?
-Old-Growth Forest
-Second-Growth Forest
-Tree Palntation
3: What are some of the problems associated with deforestation?
-Decreased soil fertility from erosion
• Runoff of eroded soil into aquatic system
• Premature extinction of species with specialized niches
• Loss of habitat for native species and migratory species such as birds and butterflies
• Regional climate change from extensive clearing
• Release of CO2 into atmosphere
• Acceleration of flooding
4: What are the methods for harvesting trees? (selective cutting), an entire forest can be cut down (clear cutting), or portions of the forest is harvested
5: Clear-Cutting Forests
Advantages
-Higher timber yields
Maximum profits in shortest time
Can reforest with fast- growing trees
Short time to establish new stand of trees
Needs less skill and planning
Good for tree species needing full or moderate sunlight
Disadvantages
-Reduces biodiversity
Disrupts ecosystem processes
Destroys and fragments wildlife habitats
Leaves large openings
Increases water pollution, flooding, and erosion on steep slopes
Eliminates most recreational value
6: What are some solutions for sustainable forestry?
- Identify and protect forest areas high in biodiversity
• Grow more timber on long rotations
• Rely more on selective cutting and strip cutting
• Stop clear-cutting on steep slopes
• Cease logging of old-growth forests
• Prohibit fragmentation of remaining large blocks of forest
7: What is the Healthy Forest Restoration Act? What are the PROS and CONS?
-Allows timber companies to cut medium and large trees in 71% of the national forests. – In return, must clear away smaller, more fire- prone trees and underbrush. – Some forest scientists believe this could increase severe fires by removing fire resistant trees and leaving highly flammable slash.
8: Logging in National Forests
Advantages
-Helps meet country’s timber needs
Cut areas grow back
Keeps lumber and paper prices down
Provides jobs in nearby communities
Promotes economic growth in nearby communities
Disadvantages
-Provides only 4% of timber needs
Ample private forest land to meet timber needs
Has little effect on timber and paper prices
Damages nearby rivers and fisheries
Recreation in national forests provides more local jobs and income for local communities than logging
Decreases recreational opportunities
9: What are some causes of tropical deforestation?
- wood and making paper and charcoal fuel from fibers
- - Subsidies Population growth Poverty Crop and timber exports Fires Logging Roads Tree plantations
-It can create a lot of problems such as the loss of many of our resources and less biodiversity
-Institute as sources of cancer-fighting chemicals come from tropical forests.
11: Sustaining Tropical Forests
Prevention
-Protect most diverse and endangered areas
Educate settlers about sustainable agriculture and forestry
Phase out subsidies that encourage unsustainable forest use
Add subsidies that encourage sustainable forest use
Protect forests with debt-for-nature swaps and conservation easements
Certify sustainably grown timber
Reduce illegal cutting
Reduce poverty
Slow population growth
Restoration
-Reforestation
Rehabilitation of degraded areas
Concentrate farming and ranching on already-cleared areas
12: Why are rangelands/grasslands so important?
-– Soil formation – Erosion control – Nutrient cycling
13: How can we sustain rangeland productivity? What are some solutions to overgrazing?
- controlling the number and distribution of livestock and by restoring degraded rangeland.
14: What is the 4 point strategy to restoring biodiversity worldwide?
- Map global ecosystems Locate and protect endangered ecosystems & species Restore as many degraded ecosystems as possible Make development biodiversity- friendly
15: What is a biodiversity hotspot? How many are there worldwide?
-34 hotspots identified by ecologists as important and endangered centers of biodiversity.
16: What are the top 6 hotspots in the United States?
-1 Hawaii 2 San Francisco Bay area 3 Southern Appalachians 4 Death Valley 5 Southern California 6 Florida Panhandle
17: What are the five basic science-based principles for ecological restoration?
-– Identify cause. – Stop abuse by eliminating or sharply reducing factors. – Reintroduce species if necessary. – Protect area form further degradation. – Use adaptive management to monitor
18: Define:
Preservation-Setting aside or protecting undisturbed natural areas from harmful human activities.
Remediation- Repairing an ecosystem that has been destroyed.
Sustainability- Ability of a system to survive for some specified time.
18: What are the eight priorities for protecting biodiversity?
-Take immediate action to preserve world’s biological hot spots. – Keep intact remaining old growth. – Complete mapping of world’s biodiversity for inventory and decision making. – Determine world’s marine hot spots.-Ensure that the full range of the earths ecosystems are included in global conservation strategy. – Make conservation profitable. – Initiate ecological restoration products to heal some of the damage done and increase share of earth’s land and water allotted to the rest of nature.
19: Define: Reconciliation/Applied Ecology
-Establish and maintain new habitats to conserve species in places where people live, work, and play
20: Define:
Background Extinction: -continuous, low level of extinction of species
Extinction Rate: - expressed as a percentage or number of species that go extinct within a certain time period
Mass Extinction: - extinction of many species in a relatively short amount of time. \
21: What are characteristics of vulnerable species?
-Wild species that is still abundant in its natural range but is likely to become endangered because of a decline in numbers.
-Low Reproductive Rate Specialized Feeding Habits Feed at high trophic levels Large size Specialized nesting or breeding areas Found only in one place or region
22: What is HIPPCO?
- Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation – Invasive species – Population growth
23: What can you do about invasive species?
-Do not allow wild animals to escape.
• Do not spread wild plants to other areas.
• Do not dump the contents of an aquarium into waterways, wetlands, or storm drains.
• When camping use wood near your campsite instead of bringing firewood from somewhere else.
• Do not dump unused bait into the water.
• After dogs visit woods or the water brush them before taking them home.
• After each use clean your vehicle, mountain bike, surfboard, kayaks, canoes, boats, tent, hiking boots, and other gear before heading for home.
• Empty all water from canoes, kayaks, dive gear, and other outdoor equipment before heading home.
• Plant a variety of trees, shrubs, and other plants in your yard to reduce losses from invasive species.
• Do not buy plants from overseas or swap them with others using the Internet.
24: What are some characteristics of successful invader species?
-• High reproductive rate,short generation time (r-selected species)
• Pioneer species
• Long lived
• High dispersal rate
• Release growth-inhibiting chemicals into soil
• Generalists
• High genetic variability
25: How is pollution affecting species?
-Kill about 1/5th of the U.S. honeybee colonies.
– 67 million birds.
– 6 -14 million fish.
– Threaten 1/5th of the U.S.’s endangered and threatened species.
26: What is overexploitation?
- Some protected species are killed for their valuable parts or are sold live to collectors. Killing predators and pests that bother us or cause economic losses threatens some species with premature extinction.
Legal and illegal trade in wildlife
27: What is the U.S. Endangered Species Act?
-–ESA forbids federal agencies (besides defense department) to carry out / fund projects that would jeopardize an endangered species.
–ESA makes it illegal for Americans to engage in commerce associated with or hunt / kill / collect endangered or threatened species.
28: What is the CITIES Treaty?
- Signed by 169 countries, lists 900 species that cannot be commercially traded.
-Banned all international trade in elephant products to protect elephant populations that were being decimated by poachers.
Signed by 152 countries and lists more than 800 species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products because they are in danger of extinction and 29,000 other species whose international trade is monitored because they are at risk of becoming threatened
29: What can you do to help terrestrial biodiversity? What can you do to help protect species worldwide?
-• Plant trees and take care of them.
• Recycle paper and buy recycled paper products.
• Buy sustainable wood and wood products.
• Choose wood substitutes such as bamboo furniture and recycled plastic outdoor furniture, decking, and fencing.
Protect species
-• Do not buy furs, ivory products, and other materials made from endangered or threatened animal species.
• Do not buy wood and paper products produced by cutting remaining old- growth forests in the tropics.
• Do not buy birds, snakes, turtles, tropical fish, and other animals that are taken from the wild.
• Do not buy orchids, cacti, and other plants that are taken from the wild.
• Spread the word. Talk to your friends and relatives about this problem and what they can do about it.