Biodiversity basics
What is biodiversity?
The variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.
What are ecosystem services?
Ecosystem services are the free services nature provides with the help of biodiversity, like keeping water and air fresh/clean, giving us food, and pollinating flowers
Name one major threat to biodiversity.
Climate change, pollution, overexploitation of resources, habitat destruction, and invasive species because they kill native species, all of these reduce biodiversity.
What caused the decline of the American Bald Eagle?
Habitat loss, overhunting, and the use of the pesticide DDT which weakened eggshells and made the chicks inside have a lower possibility of surviving.
Name one way we can protect biodiversity at home.
Plant native plants in your house, avoid using chemicals, put up bird feeders in your backyard, and throw the correct garbage in the correct garbage bin.
Name the 3 levels of biodiversity. Give 1 example for each.
Genetic diversity, different breeds of dogs, species, different animals in the a desert, and ecosystem diversity, coral reefs, deserts, and rainforests.
How does biodiversity help with food?
Biodiverse ecosystems provide a variety of foods like fruits, vegetables, and meat, these have a wide variety of nutrients so we can stay healthy. Different species also act like safety net, so if one type of potato dies for example, we will still have potatoes because some will survive with their gene differences.
What is overexploitation? Give 3 examples
Using natural resources faster than they can naturally recover, such as overfishing, overhunting, and deforestation.
When was DDT banned in the USA?
In 1972, which helped eagle populations to recover from near extinction.
What should governments do to protect species?
Make specific policies about protections for endangered species and other wildlife animals to prevent the hunting, killing, or to capture these wild animals and to illegalize habitat destruction, ensure that the homes of these animals are left alone
Which ecosystem has the most biodiversity? Add percentage.
The amazon rainforest, covering about 10 percent.
What do trees do to help ecosystems?
They produce oxygen by absorb carbon dioxide, prevent soil erosion because their roots keep soil together, provide shelter and food for animals, control our temperature temperature, and slows water in floods.
How does pollution affect biodiversity?
Pollution in air, water, and soil harms plants and animals because they eat pollution which carry diseases or fatal substances/chemicals, damages habitats, causes disease, and can make species extinct.
What year did the American bald eagle get to it's least population?
1963, when there was only 417 American bald eagles were left.
What do conservationists do?
Set up habitats such as national parks, wildlife reserves that limit human activities in the area. Restore damaged or destroyed habitats, rescue and care for orphaned or injured animals to release them back to the wild
How does genetic diversity help species survive?
It allows species to survive diseases, pests, or harsh climates because some breeds have genes that make them stronger or more resilient. Biodiversity gives us food, clean air, and clean water. It helps pollinate plants, keep soil healthy, protect against floods, and allows ecosystems to recover from disasters like fires or diseases. Without it, humans and animals cannot survive.
What is resilience in ecosystems?
It means the power of ecosystems to recover from diseases, climate change or extinction of some species, because many species have the sam job, so some will always survive to do the extinct one's jobs.
What are invasive species?
Non-native species introduced into ecosystems where they harm native species, spread diseases, and disrupt ecosystems.
Name one act that protected the American bald eagle.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, who banned hunting and using DDT, they also made special nature reserves for them to recover.
What can educaters do?
They can educate others about how many species are at risk of extinction and how we can protect them, and organize community activities such as planting new trees or plants. They can also make posters, books and videos to educate other people about biodiversity.
What happens if biodiversity disappears?
If biodiversity disappears, ecosystems will collapse, ee could lose important foods, medicines, clean water, and air. Natural disasters would cause more damage because there wouldn’t be enough plants and animals to protect the environment, and our planet won't be resilient because if one species die, for example a pollinater, there won't be anymore taking it's place so the plants won't reproduce....
How does biodiversity help us with medicine?
Many medicines come from plants and animals, so the more types we have, the more cures we have for fatal diseases.
What does DDT do to birds like eagles?
It weakens their eggshells,which reduces the possibility of the little bird surviving, causing the whole population to not have the new generations.
Name 3 factors we need to consider when saving endangered species.
Level of threat: ... Role in ecosystem:... Chance of success: ...
What is the Montreal Protocol?
An international agreement started in 1987 to stop using harmful chemicals like CFCs, which protects the ozone layer and helps keep ecosystems healthy.