Bio 004,CH20, College of the Desert

• 1. Logging
• 2. Mining
• 3. Urban development

• 1. Grazing. (lack of diversity).
• 2. Farming. (lack of diversity).
• 3. Monoculture: Intensive cultivation of a single plant variety over large areas.

Intensive cultivation of a single plant variety over large areas

• Spp which humans move from their native region to a new geographic region (exotic species).
• 1. Number over 50,000 in the US.
• 2. Prey on native species.
• 3. Out-compete native species for resources.
• 4. $130 billion in damage control.

• 1. Increased burning of fossil fuels.
• 2. Deforestation, increased burning of wood.
• Impact: Increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere resulting in global warming.

• 1. Dumping of N/P from sewage treatment plants into rivers & streams.
• 2. Use of N/P-based fertilizers in agriculture & landscaping (nitrates & phosphates).
• Impact: Impact: Increased levels of N/P in lakes & streams resulting in heavy algae growth (eutrophication).

• 1. Deforestation leads to decreased transpiration (source of atmospheric moisture)
• 2. Pumping of groundwater for crop irrigation.
• Impact: Periods of drought and depletion of groundwater supplies.

• 1. First Generation Pesticides = heavy metals.
• 2. Second Generation of Pesticides = DDT

• 1. Mercury, lead, arsenic, etc.
• 2. Accumulate in the environment - usually toxic or carcinogenic (cancer-causing).
• 3. Pests develop resistance making these pesticides ineffective in a short time.

• 1. Initially toxic to insects, while seemingly nontoxic to mammals.
• 2. Inexpensive to produce (synthetic, organic).
• 3. Covered a broad spectrum of pests.
• 4. Persisted in the environment.

• 1. Bioaccumulation
• 2. Biomagnification

Increasing concentrations of potentially toxic substances in living organisms; ingested, but not biodegradable.

Increasing concentrations of potentially toxic substances thru food chains; exponentially increasing in toxicity at each level.

• At risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
• ie: Black footed Ferret

• Those species that are likely to become endangered in the near future.
• ie: Koala

• 1. Accelerated since the Industrial Revolution (1850).
• 2. Increased burning of fossil fuels.
• 3. Deforestation &increased burning of wood.
• Impact: Increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere resulting in global warming

Warming of the atmosphere by CO2, CH4, and other gases that absorb infrared radiation (heat), slowing its escape from earth.

• 1. Reduce deforestation.
• 2. Reduce trees burned after deforestation.
• 3. Reduce burning fossil fuels.

Thin, protective layer of O3 located 17 – 25 km above earth’s surface ; absorbs UV radiation, preventing much of it from reaching organisms in the earth’s biosphere .

• 1. Accumulation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s - refrigerants, propellants, etc.).
• 2. Chlorine reacts with ozone – especially over Antarctica – resulting in holes and thinning ozone.

• Impact: Increase in incidence of skin cancers and cataracts among humans.
• Impact: Damaging effects on phytoplankton & plants. (bottom of food chain!)

• All the variety of life.
• 1. Concerns both species richness & relative abundance of different spp that make up a community.

• 1. Rebound of an endangered spp is unlikely due to human habitat destruction and bio-diversity degradation
• 2. Disaster species: Prevail due to the ability to thrive in habitats disrupted by humansExamples: rats, pigeons, and cockroaches.

Prevail due to the ability to thrive in habitats disrupted by humansExamples: rats, pigeons, and cockroaches

• 1. Habitat Destruction
• 2. Introduced Species
• 3. Population Fragmentation
• 4. Overexploitation

• a) Urban development
• b) Logging
• c) Mining
• d) Agriculture

• Eliminate native spp through predation and competition.
• Example: European rabbits and foxes in Australia

• Splitting, con-sequent isolation of portions of pops. by habitat fragmentation and degradation.
• a) Reduction in pop. size → reduction in gene flow/genetic diversity.

• Animal species whose numbers have been decimated by excessive commercial harvest or sport hunting.
• 1. Overhunting
• 2. Unintentional killing
• 3. Wildlife products

Whales, American bison, Galapagos tortoises, numerous fishes.

Dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds in fishing nets

Elephant tusks, rhino horn, bear gallbladders

• 1. Ethical and aesthetic reasons.
• 2. Dependence upon spp for food, shelter, clothing, oxygen, etc
• 3. 25% of all pharmaceuticals contain substances derived from plants

• Relatively small areas with exceptional concentrations of spp.
• Many spp in hot spots are endangered or threatened.
• Comprise less than 1.5% of earth’s total land mass, but home to 33% of all plant and animal spp.