All living things are dependent on, and can affect

(and sometimes effect) their physical and biological

environment.

Any change in one part of an ecosystem

causes ripple effects . . .

Species Extinctions
Extinction is a fact of life: all species become
extinct eventually
More than 99% of species known to science
are now extinct

Extinctions
Extinction of dinosaurs (asteroid?)

Global extinction events

Five major extinction
events evident from the
fossil record
Likely caused by major
ecological events (e.g.,
shifts in climate from
large volcanoes or
asteroids)

Groups of related species

(estimate of diversity)

Extinctions
Current extinctions most in past 150
years
20% of present day species projected to be
extinct by the middle of this century
Extinction rate is increasing
2000 of the worlds 8600 species of birds
could go extinct

Extinctions
Current mass extinctions are notable
because
It is the only such event triggered by a
single species (Homo sapiens)
Ecosystem recovery from mass
extinctions can take millions of years
It is not clear that biodiversity will
rebound this time inadequate habitat

Threats to biodiversity:
Habitat Loss
Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
are threatened by habitat loss
Single greatest terrestrial problem is
deforestation by cutting or burning

Guatemala: Peten

Guatemala: Peten

Entrance to Xibalba Cave

system, Guatemala

Entrance to Xibalba Cave

system, Guatemala

Entrance to Xibalba Cave

system, Guatemala

Entrance to Xibalba Cave

system, Guatemala

Habitat fragmentation

Clearing of forested habitat (Wisconsin)

Some species do well with intact
forests, some do well with edge
26

Habitat loss
Rain forest
covering the
eastern coast of
Madagascar:
90% habitat loss
many extinctions
16 of 31 primate
species
threatened or
extinct
27

Habitat degradation
Destruction of coastal ecosystems
Estuaries subjected to severe eutrophication
(algae blooms as a result of fertilizer in runoff)
Destruction of salt marshes (clearing and
draining)
Major contributing factor to hurricane destruction
along the coast of Louisiana
Had marshes been present, Katrina might not have
caused as much damage

Louisiana Marsh

Spread of exotics (non-native)

species
Can outcompete native species.
Often have no natural enemies or diseases in the new area.
Estimates of 50,000 introduced species in United States
$140 billion / year in economic damages

Nine-banded armadillo

Kudzu

Zebra mussles

Purple loosestrife

Human Impacts: Pollution

Pollution effects in the ocean
Plastic found washed up on beaches in remote
areas (animals can be entangled or strangled)
Toxic chemicals can be found in oceans
Biopsy of tissue from Arctic killer whales reveal
high levels of pesticides and flame-retardant
chemicals

Pollution in terrestrial systems

Acid rain, soot, smog, etc.

Pollution in freshwater systems

Eutrophication, antibiotics, pesticides, etc.

Human Impacts: Pollution

Biomagnification
of pesticides and
other pollutants
in the food
chain.

Human Impacts:
Overharvesting

Overfishing of the ocean

Crisis proportions -- single greatest

problem in ocean systems

32

Disease

Bats: White Nose Syndrome (WNS)

Erratic behavior, leave hybernacula in
winter, emaciated, dehydrated
Extremely high mortality: 80-100% of bats in
affected colonies
Fungal disease: Pseudogymnoascus
destructans
Ecosystem services: insect predation,
pollination, etc.
Some bat species are endangered
(even before WNS)

Global Warming

Recent years: warmest on record

Global Warming
Global climate change has affected
ecosystems in the past and is doing
so now
Shift in species geographic ranges
Migratory birds arrive earlier at their
summer breeding grounds
Insects and amphibians breed earlier
Wild fruit fly populations-changes in
gene frequency
bleaching of reef building corals