I. INTRODUCTION
Biodiversity, the variety of organisms living together in a specific place, is very important in maintaining balanced ecosystems. An ecosystem is a group of organisms that live inter-connectedly in a community (Vogt, 1997). If the community's environment suddenly change, the balance of that community may also change which can cause its destruction. The destruction of an ecosystem can have serious effects on the organisms in it such as loss of different species or even their extinction. Therefore, conserving biodiversity is very significant.
There are various methods on which biodiversity can be conserved. According to Buchanan (2002), keystone species should be prioritized for conservation. A keystone species is an organism which performs a critical role that greatly affects its community (Power et al., 1996). Sea otters, for example, are the keystone species in kelp forests. These mammals feed on sea urchins. Without sea otters regulating the sea urchins’ population, sea urchins would eat up most of the ecosystem’s kelp, which is one of the primary sources of food and shelter for that ecosystem. Everything that depends on kelp would be also much affected by the loss of sea otters. Thus, being a
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For example, Lirbralato et al. (2006) analyzed a group of species in food web model and their keystone factors using ecosystem modelling software Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE). Afterwards, he ranked the level of keystone factors to get the keystone species. Jordan et al. (2008), on the other hand, used CosBiLab Graph Software to evaluate the importance of structure and function of species in the food web model in Prince William Sound. Their studies found that the relationship of keystone species and ecosystem characteristics can give an efficient way to understand ecosystem
Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to investigate the various components of different ecosystems in a smaller representation and study the conditions required for the ecosystem’s sustainability as well as the connections between
For example the canopies of kelp provide shelter for many organisms . Because the kelp is able to float, it creates a canopy. This canopy has warm temperatures and slow water currents, providing a home to defenseless young. This is important because the kelp is able to protect many organisms from predators and rough storms (6). Kelp is also the base of the food chain. Since kelp is the base of the food chain many organisms eat kelp and other animals eat them.This is important because without the kelp all the primary consumers would starve having no other food source (5). Finally each part of kelp is home to a different species. Because each part of kelp is home to a different species, many species breed in them. This is important because if the kelp where gone there would be no place for the organisms to breed downsizing their population (4). Overall kelp is providing food and shelter to many
Mills, Scott L., Daniel F. Doak, and Michael E. Soule. "The Keystone-species Concept in Ecology and Conservation." BioScience 43.4 (1993): 219-25. Apr. 1993. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.
http://eaglenet.lambuth.edu/facultyweb/science/biology/RCook/community%20ecologyS10.pdf. Impacts on the Biodiversity. Quebec Biodiversity Website -. Web. The Web.
The preservation of any species that contributes to the biodiversity of an area. In an ecosystem, the absence of one species creates unfavorable conditions for the others. The. The absence of the spotted owl could have a significant effect on the North Coast forest ecosystems. In order to send the owl population to the right.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, sea otters were hunted for their luxurious pelts, and by the early 1900s, the species was believed to be extinct in California. (Carswell) Why do we care you ask, well not only are they super cute and eat with their hands. Apparently, a healthy population of sea otters keeps the sea urchin population in check. An unhealthy or small population of sea otters allows the sea urchin’s number to explode thus decimating kelp beds, which is the sea urchin’s food source, and causing a “chain reaction that depletes the food supply for other marine animals consequently causing their decline. (Kuipers)
Overprotection of Biodiversity "Extinction is normal"(pg26, 1st paragraph). However, the rate this process is happening is up to us, to some extent. In this article, two sides are discussing this rate. One side is arguing that biodiversity is overprotected and the other the opposite. The first argument, against protection of biodiversity, states that "at a macro level, there is a tradeoff between production/consumption of timber and production/consumption of related environmental amenities"(pg28, 2nd paragraph).
Landscape fragmentation contributes to loss of migratory corridors, loss of connectivity and natural communities, which all lead to a loss of biodiversity for a region. Conservation of biodiversity must include all levels of diversity: genetic, species, community, and landscape (CNHP 1995). Each complex level is dependent upon and linked to the other levels. In addition, humans are linked to all levels of this hierarchy. A healthy natural and human environment go hand in hand (CNHP 1995). An important step in conservation planning, in order to guarantee both a healthy natural environment as well as a healthy human environment, is recognizing the most endangered elements.
A keystone species is an organism that has a critical effect on maintaining the structure of an ecosystem. Keystone species have a low functional redundancy and if extinct, would significantly alter the ecology, negatively impacting the range of species that inhabit the environment. The report will discuss the application and limitation of science as a human endeavor, with consideration to the role that humans are playing to reduce the extinction of the keystone specie, Grey-headed Flying-Fox. The Grey-Headed Flying-fox is recognized as a keystone specie within its environment as it plays an important role in the pollination of rainforests and native
Any species which fall into the categories vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered are considered to be at risk of extinction. Robert Redford said “I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security defense of our resource’s because it’s just as important as defense abroad otherwise what is there to defend?” People should all take the environment more seriously and protect the future for those to come. It’s our responsibility to ensure that the children to come may enjoy all of earth’s beauty, and not through old issues of National Geographic’s.
Biodiversity loss can lead to extinction, and hurt human life. It is our responsibility to take care of the environment. We bring in machines that harm the environment and destroy animal life. We need to limit ourselves on how much land and resources we consume. There are major issues that are causing species to become extinct and hurt our way of life and other animals do to the change in food chain.
Biodiversity conservation is about saving life on Earth in all its forms and keeping natural ecosystems functioning and healthy. Biodiversity is being depleted by the loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat, over exploitation of resources, human sponsored ecosystems, climatic changes, pollution invasive exotic species, diseases, shifting cultivation, poaching of wild life etc. Since the human beings are enjoying all the benefits from biodiversity, they should take proper care for the preservation of biodiversity in all its form and should prevent the degradation as well as the destruction of the habitats thereby maintaining the biodiversity at its optimum level which will ultimately conserve the biodiversity for the future generation.
The initial step in wildlife conservation is understanding why wildlife is vital to the ecosystem in the first place. Earth is one immense ecosystem. According to Inamullah Khan from Environmental News, wildlife plays a important role in the world's ecosystem. Inamullah Khan states that wildlife is key to six parts of the ecosystem: "ecological value, economic value, recreational value, scientific value, social value, and aesthetical value." (Inamullah Kahn) Inamullah Kahn explains that "ecological value is the interaction of wildlife in nature." (Inamullah Kahn) The ecosystem relies on harmony between all species. Without this equity balances would shift leading to discord and eventual collapse of the ecosystem. "Food chains" would become altered leading to the upset of the natural sequence of life. (Inamullah Kahn) Nature is a deligate balance of life and with the loss of one species all others will cease.
The branch of science that deals with how living things, including humans, are related to their surroundings is called ecology . The Earth supports some 5 million species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. These interact and influence their surroundings, forming a vast network of interrelated environmental systems called ecosystems. The arctic tundra is an ecosystem and so is a Brazilian rain forest. The islands of Hawaii are a relatively isolated ecosystem. If left undisturbed, natural environmental systems tend to achieve balance or stability among the various species of plants and animals. Complex ecosystems are able to compensate for changes caused by weather or intrusions from migrating animals and are therefore usually said to be more stable than simple ecosystems. A field of corn has only one dominant species, the corn plant, and is a very simple ecosystem. It is easily destroyed by drought, insects, disease, or overuse. A forest may remain relatively unchanged by weather that would destroy a nearby field of corn, because the forest is characterized by greater diversity of plants and animals. Its complexity gives it stability.
Nowadays it is common to read articles in newspapers and magazines regarding biodiversity issues. Human beings have been knowingly and unknowingly destroying biodiversity since their existence. Biodiversity is the measure of the variety of species of animals living in an area. Forests are usually areas with high biodiversity while deserts are the opposite. Human beings have always destroyed biodiversity either by deforestation, or by some other means. Biodiversity depletion is a natural phenomenon. But the present levels of biodiversity depletion are many times higher than the natural rate. Recently the levels of loss in biodiversity have started causing global concern. Some of the main causes for loss in biodiversity are alteration of habitats, increasing levels of pollution and human population growth.