A strategy to balance the needs of growth and development with conservation. Created for the Comox Valley, this unique and innovative approach, integrates natural connections into land-use planning. The intent is to protect, preserve and restore biodiversity for the benefit of current and future generations. Healthy living starts here!
Biological diversity or biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms at all levels of biological systems (i.e. molecular, organism, species, population and ecosystem levels) and is used to measure the health of ecosystems.
The seminar covered the topics of species extinction including defining extinction, estimating the number of species on Earth, the rates of species loss, the timing and causes of extinctions. Natural causes include climate change, changes in sea levels or currents, asteroids, and disease. Human causes were identified as climate change, increased human population, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and trade in endangered species. Facts presented included that over 16,000 species are threatened and the current extinction rate is estimated to be 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural background rate. Some easy actions people can take to help endangered species were also outlined.
Extinction occurs when a species dies out completely. The main causes of extinction are habitat loss and degradation, introduction of invasive species, overhunting, climate change, pollution and disease. When many species go extinct simultaneously over a short period, it is considered a mass extinction event. The five major mass extinctions in Earth's history were caused by events like asteroid impacts and climate shifts. Today, the main drivers of extinction are human activities like habitat destruction, pollution and climate change. Conservation efforts aim to protect biodiversity in extinction hotspots and prevent further species losses.
This document discusses biodiversity and evolution. It explains that biodiversity includes genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity and is an important part of natural capital. Evolution occurs through genetic mutations and natural selection, which can be influenced by geographic changes and climate events. Each species fills an ecological niche and specialist species are more vulnerable to extinction than generalists.
The importance of models —dynamics of extinction and their drivers from the M...Liliana Davalos
This document summarizes the work of Liliana M. Dávalos, a biogeographer who focuses on biological diversity, extinction, and their drivers from the Miocene to recent decades. Some of her work has shown that human influence is now a clear driver of extinctions in places like the West Indies. Her research also finds that government-sponsored development projects from decades ago in the Amazon continue to influence deforestation and illegal crop cultivation patterns today through their effects on colonization along roads. While these projects initially aimed to develop remote areas, they ultimately transformed landscapes and often led to minimal remaining forest cover.
This document discusses mass extinction events that have occurred throughout history. It provides details on 5 major extinction events, including their timing in millions of years ago and potential causes such as asteroid impacts, volcanic activity, and climate change. Causes of species extinction are also explored, including climate change, changes in sea levels/currents, asteroids/cosmic radiation, acid rain, disease, invasive species, habitat loss, pollution, and human population growth.
A strategy to balance the needs of growth and development with conservation. Created for the Comox Valley, this unique and innovative approach, integrates natural connections into land-use planning. The intent is to protect, preserve and restore biodiversity for the benefit of current and future generations. Healthy living starts here!
Biological diversity or biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms at all levels of biological systems (i.e. molecular, organism, species, population and ecosystem levels) and is used to measure the health of ecosystems.
The seminar covered the topics of species extinction including defining extinction, estimating the number of species on Earth, the rates of species loss, the timing and causes of extinctions. Natural causes include climate change, changes in sea levels or currents, asteroids, and disease. Human causes were identified as climate change, increased human population, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and trade in endangered species. Facts presented included that over 16,000 species are threatened and the current extinction rate is estimated to be 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural background rate. Some easy actions people can take to help endangered species were also outlined.
Extinction occurs when a species dies out completely. The main causes of extinction are habitat loss and degradation, introduction of invasive species, overhunting, climate change, pollution and disease. When many species go extinct simultaneously over a short period, it is considered a mass extinction event. The five major mass extinctions in Earth's history were caused by events like asteroid impacts and climate shifts. Today, the main drivers of extinction are human activities like habitat destruction, pollution and climate change. Conservation efforts aim to protect biodiversity in extinction hotspots and prevent further species losses.
This document discusses biodiversity and evolution. It explains that biodiversity includes genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity and is an important part of natural capital. Evolution occurs through genetic mutations and natural selection, which can be influenced by geographic changes and climate events. Each species fills an ecological niche and specialist species are more vulnerable to extinction than generalists.
The importance of models —dynamics of extinction and their drivers from the M...Liliana Davalos
This document summarizes the work of Liliana M. Dávalos, a biogeographer who focuses on biological diversity, extinction, and their drivers from the Miocene to recent decades. Some of her work has shown that human influence is now a clear driver of extinctions in places like the West Indies. Her research also finds that government-sponsored development projects from decades ago in the Amazon continue to influence deforestation and illegal crop cultivation patterns today through their effects on colonization along roads. While these projects initially aimed to develop remote areas, they ultimately transformed landscapes and often led to minimal remaining forest cover.
This document discusses mass extinction events that have occurred throughout history. It provides details on 5 major extinction events, including their timing in millions of years ago and potential causes such as asteroid impacts, volcanic activity, and climate change. Causes of species extinction are also explored, including climate change, changes in sea levels/currents, asteroids/cosmic radiation, acid rain, disease, invasive species, habitat loss, pollution, and human population growth.
This document summarizes research on managing grasslands to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. It finds that:
1) Grasslands store large amounts of carbon in soils, and practices like applying livestock manure or compost can significantly increase soil carbon storage for decades or more, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.
2) Managing half of California's grasslands to increase soil carbon by 0.5 metric tons per hectare per year could offset 21 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually.
3) Projects demonstrating increased soil carbon through compost and manure in California grasslands show the potential for agriculture and soil management to meaningfully contribute to climate change mitigation.
Cool Australia Biodiveristy 7&8 Powerpoint PresentationCool Australia
Biodiversity refers to all the living organisms that make up the web of life on Earth. High levels of biodiversity are important for clean air, food, fresh water, clothing, energy, and medicine for humans. However, human activities like pollution, overconsumption, climate change, and habitat loss are threatening biodiversity and causing a mass extinction. Conservation efforts aim to protect threatened species and restore damaged ecosystems, but protecting biodiversity will require individual actions like reducing waste, planting native plants, and choosing sustainable options.
Population ecology examines how biological processes impact population densities and growth over time. Sampling techniques like mark-recapture are used to estimate wild population sizes. Exponential growth occurs in unlimited environments, but slowing growth as populations reach the carrying capacity of their environment is shown in sigmoid curves. Population sizes are determined by the relative rates of birth, death, immigration and emigration. Limiting factors can be either top-down, through predation and competition, or bottom-up, through resource availability.
The document discusses five major mass extinction events in Earth's history:
1) The Ordovician mass extinction occurred 440 million years ago and was likely caused by global cooling and reduced sea levels.
2) The Devonian mass extinction 350 million years ago caused the extinction of many tropical marine species and was due to changes in sea level and ocean anoxia.
3) The Permian-Triassic mass extinction 250 million years ago was the largest mass extinction ever and was caused by acid rain following massive volcanic gas release.
4) The Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction 210 million years ago allowed dinosaurs to flourish after other vertebrates went extinct, caused by climate change and rising sea levels from carbon dioxide
This document discusses the causes of species extinction, including deforestation, pollution, habitat destruction, and overpopulation. It defines key terms like biodiversity, extinction, and species. Several human activities are highlighted as contributing to extinction, such as illegal logging, kaingin farming, water pollution from domestic waste and factories, air pollution from vehicles, and destruction of coastal ecosystems through dynamite fishing and development. The greenhouse effect and climate change are also discussed as global issues exacerbating extinction. In summary, the document outlines the biological concepts of extinction and biodiversity before examining various human-caused threats driving increased species loss.
The document discusses biological diversity and endangered species. It covers evolution and how it has led to the variety of species found today. It also discusses factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, climate change and catastrophes that have impacted evolution over time. Additionally, it covers the current extinction crisis caused by human activities and some solutions to help protect biodiversity such as establishing nature reserves and protecting habitats in national parks.
The document provides information about the requirements for earning the Environmental Science Merit Badge through the Boy Scouts of America. It discusses key terms, experiments that can be done to learn about different types of pollution and their effects, and research on an endangered species found in the student's state. The timeline requirement involves creating a history of environmental science and conservation in America. Overall, the document outlines the steps and assignments necessary to complete the merit badge.
Extinction refers to the end of a species or group of organisms. A species goes extinct when no living individuals remain. Extinction can occur through natural causes like climate change or competition, or through human activities like habitat destruction and overhunting. Mass extinctions where many species die out simultaneously have occurred throughout history, including five major events in Earth's past. Scientists estimate that human activities are currently driving extinction rates 100 to 1000 times higher than the natural background rate, and up to half of all species could be extinct by 2100 if trends continue.
This document discusses the natural causes of extinction and characteristics of species vulnerable to extinction. It identifies seven natural causes: 1) genetics and demographics, 2) uncontrolled predation, 3) coextinction, 4) mass extinction, 5) climatic heating and cooling, 6) change in sea levels, and 7) acid rain. It also lists six characteristics of species vulnerable to extinction, including large species with low reproduction, species with high economic value, species at the end of long food chains, species restricted to local habitats, highly specialized species, and migratory species.
Environmental Science Merit Badge - requirement 1, 2, 3a and 3bHillary Jones
Some steps society can take to help reduce the effects of acid rain include:
- Implementing regulations to limit sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants and other industrial sources. Many areas have seen reductions in acid rain as a result of these emissions regulations.
- Transitioning from fossil fuels like coal to cleaner energy sources such as natural gas, solar, wind, nuclear and hydropower which produce fewer acid rain causing emissions.
- Developing and adopting technologies that can capture sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from large stationary sources before they are released into the air.
- Educating the public about acid rain causes and effects so individuals can make choices that produce fewer emissions, such as driving less, improving energy efficiency
Ecology 2: Energy & Biodiversity NOTESRobin Seamon
1) The document discusses energy transfer through ecosystems, beginning with thermal radiation from the sun being absorbed by autotrophs through photosynthesis and chemosynthesis. This chemical energy is then transferred through food chains and webs to heterotrophs.
2) It also covers key biogeochemical cycles - carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus - and how they circulate crucial elements through biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.
3) Finally, it addresses human impacts like pollution, climate change, and habitat loss that threaten biodiversity by disrupting natural population balances and ecosystem functions in unsustainable ways.
BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION
POPULATION
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF POPULATION
BIRTH- Natural process in which parents give rise to new offspring.
DEATH- Reduces the number of existing individuals in a population.
MIGRATION- Movement of individuals into or out of the population.
IMMIGRATION- Movement of individuals into the population.
EMIGRATION- Movement of individuals out of the population.
PATTERNS OF POPULATION GROWTH
BIOTIC POTENTIAL- Maximum reproductive capacity of an organism given that the resources are unlimited.
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH- Capacity of a population to increase continuously without showing any signs of stabling or declining.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT POPULATION GROWTH OR SIZE
LIMITING FACTORS
-control the growth, size, and distribution of organisms
COMPETITION
ABIOTIC FACTORS
PREDATOR-PREY RELATIOSHIP
POPULATION DENSITY
EXTINCTION
Some famous mass extinction events
Causes of Extinction
The loss of biodiversity is a silent killer that is difficult to detect until it is too late, unlike climate change whose impacts are felt in everyday life. By the time the consequences of biodiversity loss are felt, it may be too late to remedy the situation.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of organisms in a given area and includes genetic diversity within and between species as well as ecosystem diversity. While about 1.7 million species are currently known to science, the actual number is estimated to be over 10 million. Biodiversity is important for ecosystem stability and sustainability as species are interconnected through food webs and the loss of one species can impact others. It also provides benefits like medicines, industrial and agricultural materials, and is valued for ethical, aesthetic, and recreational reasons.
This document summarizes a study that predicted future land use change and its impacts on biodiversity in the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve in South Africa. The study found that between 1990 and 2006, there was rapid growth in urban development and loss of valuable lowland habitat. Similar patterns of habitat loss are predicted to continue in the future. The study also found that the zoning of protected areas in the biosphere reserve is inadequate to protect areas of high plant diversity and species concentrations, particularly of Proteaceae species. The study recommends determining priority conservation areas and improving spatial protection to maintain biodiversity in the face of ongoing habitat loss and climate change impacts.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms within an ecosystem and is a measure of ecosystem health. Greater biodiversity implies greater health, and terrestrial biodiversity generally declines from the equator to the poles. The evolution of life over 3.5 billion years has resulted in the biodiversity we see today, although until around 600 million years ago life consisted primarily of single-celled organisms like bacteria and archaea. Biodiversity provides many benefits to humans like genetic resources for improving crops, and is also culturally and aesthetically valuable. However, biodiversity is facing major threats from habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and climate change, with many species currently endangered or facing extinction. Conservation efforts are needed to protect biod
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the genetic diversity within species, diversity of species, and diversity of ecosystems. There are over 2 million identified species but many more remain unknown. Biodiversity is important because all living things interact in complex ways and biodiversity provides intrinsic value as well as utilitarian value like goods, services, information, oxygen, food, clean water, and medicine to humans. However, biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate due to threats like habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, climate change, and exploitation, so conservation efforts are needed.
The document discusses biodiversity from several perspectives:
- It defines biodiversity as the variety of life on Earth, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
- Biodiversity is the result of billions of years of evolution but is now seriously threatened by human activities like habitat loss and climate change.
- Maintaining biodiversity is important for ecological, economic, and moral reasons, and countries have legal obligations to protect biodiversity.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal life on Earth. It is being threatened by five major causes: habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, population growth, and overharvesting. Habitat loss is a major driver of extinction, as human activities like deforestation and development destroy natural environments. Invasive species also harm ecosystems by outcompeting native species. Pollution from sources such as fossil fuel burning, farming practices, and mining contaminates air, water and soil. Growing human populations increase pressure on natural resources. Overharvesting, including the wildlife trade, is the second biggest threat after habitat destruction. Biodiversity provides important benefits like medicines, food sources, and ecosystem services like climate and water regulation
Biodiversity refers to the variety of all life forms on Earth, from tiny bacteria to large trees and animals. It includes ecosystems like rainforests, oceans, and deserts where different species depend on each other. A UN treaty aims to protect biodiversity because the natural world provides food, water, air quality, and affects the climate. However, biodiversity faces many threats like habitat loss, pollution, and climate change that can cause species and ecosystems to decline or become extinct. Developing countries face challenges in balancing biodiversity protection with economic growth and reducing poverty.
This document summarizes research on managing grasslands to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. It finds that:
1) Grasslands store large amounts of carbon in soils, and practices like applying livestock manure or compost can significantly increase soil carbon storage for decades or more, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.
2) Managing half of California's grasslands to increase soil carbon by 0.5 metric tons per hectare per year could offset 21 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually.
3) Projects demonstrating increased soil carbon through compost and manure in California grasslands show the potential for agriculture and soil management to meaningfully contribute to climate change mitigation.
Cool Australia Biodiveristy 7&8 Powerpoint PresentationCool Australia
Biodiversity refers to all the living organisms that make up the web of life on Earth. High levels of biodiversity are important for clean air, food, fresh water, clothing, energy, and medicine for humans. However, human activities like pollution, overconsumption, climate change, and habitat loss are threatening biodiversity and causing a mass extinction. Conservation efforts aim to protect threatened species and restore damaged ecosystems, but protecting biodiversity will require individual actions like reducing waste, planting native plants, and choosing sustainable options.
Population ecology examines how biological processes impact population densities and growth over time. Sampling techniques like mark-recapture are used to estimate wild population sizes. Exponential growth occurs in unlimited environments, but slowing growth as populations reach the carrying capacity of their environment is shown in sigmoid curves. Population sizes are determined by the relative rates of birth, death, immigration and emigration. Limiting factors can be either top-down, through predation and competition, or bottom-up, through resource availability.
The document discusses five major mass extinction events in Earth's history:
1) The Ordovician mass extinction occurred 440 million years ago and was likely caused by global cooling and reduced sea levels.
2) The Devonian mass extinction 350 million years ago caused the extinction of many tropical marine species and was due to changes in sea level and ocean anoxia.
3) The Permian-Triassic mass extinction 250 million years ago was the largest mass extinction ever and was caused by acid rain following massive volcanic gas release.
4) The Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction 210 million years ago allowed dinosaurs to flourish after other vertebrates went extinct, caused by climate change and rising sea levels from carbon dioxide
This document discusses the causes of species extinction, including deforestation, pollution, habitat destruction, and overpopulation. It defines key terms like biodiversity, extinction, and species. Several human activities are highlighted as contributing to extinction, such as illegal logging, kaingin farming, water pollution from domestic waste and factories, air pollution from vehicles, and destruction of coastal ecosystems through dynamite fishing and development. The greenhouse effect and climate change are also discussed as global issues exacerbating extinction. In summary, the document outlines the biological concepts of extinction and biodiversity before examining various human-caused threats driving increased species loss.
The document discusses biological diversity and endangered species. It covers evolution and how it has led to the variety of species found today. It also discusses factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, climate change and catastrophes that have impacted evolution over time. Additionally, it covers the current extinction crisis caused by human activities and some solutions to help protect biodiversity such as establishing nature reserves and protecting habitats in national parks.
The document provides information about the requirements for earning the Environmental Science Merit Badge through the Boy Scouts of America. It discusses key terms, experiments that can be done to learn about different types of pollution and their effects, and research on an endangered species found in the student's state. The timeline requirement involves creating a history of environmental science and conservation in America. Overall, the document outlines the steps and assignments necessary to complete the merit badge.
Extinction refers to the end of a species or group of organisms. A species goes extinct when no living individuals remain. Extinction can occur through natural causes like climate change or competition, or through human activities like habitat destruction and overhunting. Mass extinctions where many species die out simultaneously have occurred throughout history, including five major events in Earth's past. Scientists estimate that human activities are currently driving extinction rates 100 to 1000 times higher than the natural background rate, and up to half of all species could be extinct by 2100 if trends continue.
This document discusses the natural causes of extinction and characteristics of species vulnerable to extinction. It identifies seven natural causes: 1) genetics and demographics, 2) uncontrolled predation, 3) coextinction, 4) mass extinction, 5) climatic heating and cooling, 6) change in sea levels, and 7) acid rain. It also lists six characteristics of species vulnerable to extinction, including large species with low reproduction, species with high economic value, species at the end of long food chains, species restricted to local habitats, highly specialized species, and migratory species.
Environmental Science Merit Badge - requirement 1, 2, 3a and 3bHillary Jones
Some steps society can take to help reduce the effects of acid rain include:
- Implementing regulations to limit sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants and other industrial sources. Many areas have seen reductions in acid rain as a result of these emissions regulations.
- Transitioning from fossil fuels like coal to cleaner energy sources such as natural gas, solar, wind, nuclear and hydropower which produce fewer acid rain causing emissions.
- Developing and adopting technologies that can capture sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from large stationary sources before they are released into the air.
- Educating the public about acid rain causes and effects so individuals can make choices that produce fewer emissions, such as driving less, improving energy efficiency
Ecology 2: Energy & Biodiversity NOTESRobin Seamon
1) The document discusses energy transfer through ecosystems, beginning with thermal radiation from the sun being absorbed by autotrophs through photosynthesis and chemosynthesis. This chemical energy is then transferred through food chains and webs to heterotrophs.
2) It also covers key biogeochemical cycles - carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus - and how they circulate crucial elements through biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.
3) Finally, it addresses human impacts like pollution, climate change, and habitat loss that threaten biodiversity by disrupting natural population balances and ecosystem functions in unsustainable ways.
BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION
POPULATION
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF POPULATION
BIRTH- Natural process in which parents give rise to new offspring.
DEATH- Reduces the number of existing individuals in a population.
MIGRATION- Movement of individuals into or out of the population.
IMMIGRATION- Movement of individuals into the population.
EMIGRATION- Movement of individuals out of the population.
PATTERNS OF POPULATION GROWTH
BIOTIC POTENTIAL- Maximum reproductive capacity of an organism given that the resources are unlimited.
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH- Capacity of a population to increase continuously without showing any signs of stabling or declining.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT POPULATION GROWTH OR SIZE
LIMITING FACTORS
-control the growth, size, and distribution of organisms
COMPETITION
ABIOTIC FACTORS
PREDATOR-PREY RELATIOSHIP
POPULATION DENSITY
EXTINCTION
Some famous mass extinction events
Causes of Extinction
The loss of biodiversity is a silent killer that is difficult to detect until it is too late, unlike climate change whose impacts are felt in everyday life. By the time the consequences of biodiversity loss are felt, it may be too late to remedy the situation.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of organisms in a given area and includes genetic diversity within and between species as well as ecosystem diversity. While about 1.7 million species are currently known to science, the actual number is estimated to be over 10 million. Biodiversity is important for ecosystem stability and sustainability as species are interconnected through food webs and the loss of one species can impact others. It also provides benefits like medicines, industrial and agricultural materials, and is valued for ethical, aesthetic, and recreational reasons.
This document summarizes a study that predicted future land use change and its impacts on biodiversity in the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve in South Africa. The study found that between 1990 and 2006, there was rapid growth in urban development and loss of valuable lowland habitat. Similar patterns of habitat loss are predicted to continue in the future. The study also found that the zoning of protected areas in the biosphere reserve is inadequate to protect areas of high plant diversity and species concentrations, particularly of Proteaceae species. The study recommends determining priority conservation areas and improving spatial protection to maintain biodiversity in the face of ongoing habitat loss and climate change impacts.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms within an ecosystem and is a measure of ecosystem health. Greater biodiversity implies greater health, and terrestrial biodiversity generally declines from the equator to the poles. The evolution of life over 3.5 billion years has resulted in the biodiversity we see today, although until around 600 million years ago life consisted primarily of single-celled organisms like bacteria and archaea. Biodiversity provides many benefits to humans like genetic resources for improving crops, and is also culturally and aesthetically valuable. However, biodiversity is facing major threats from habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and climate change, with many species currently endangered or facing extinction. Conservation efforts are needed to protect biod
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the genetic diversity within species, diversity of species, and diversity of ecosystems. There are over 2 million identified species but many more remain unknown. Biodiversity is important because all living things interact in complex ways and biodiversity provides intrinsic value as well as utilitarian value like goods, services, information, oxygen, food, clean water, and medicine to humans. However, biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate due to threats like habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, climate change, and exploitation, so conservation efforts are needed.
The document discusses biodiversity from several perspectives:
- It defines biodiversity as the variety of life on Earth, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
- Biodiversity is the result of billions of years of evolution but is now seriously threatened by human activities like habitat loss and climate change.
- Maintaining biodiversity is important for ecological, economic, and moral reasons, and countries have legal obligations to protect biodiversity.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal life on Earth. It is being threatened by five major causes: habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, population growth, and overharvesting. Habitat loss is a major driver of extinction, as human activities like deforestation and development destroy natural environments. Invasive species also harm ecosystems by outcompeting native species. Pollution from sources such as fossil fuel burning, farming practices, and mining contaminates air, water and soil. Growing human populations increase pressure on natural resources. Overharvesting, including the wildlife trade, is the second biggest threat after habitat destruction. Biodiversity provides important benefits like medicines, food sources, and ecosystem services like climate and water regulation
Biodiversity refers to the variety of all life forms on Earth, from tiny bacteria to large trees and animals. It includes ecosystems like rainforests, oceans, and deserts where different species depend on each other. A UN treaty aims to protect biodiversity because the natural world provides food, water, air quality, and affects the climate. However, biodiversity faces many threats like habitat loss, pollution, and climate change that can cause species and ecosystems to decline or become extinct. Developing countries face challenges in balancing biodiversity protection with economic growth and reducing poverty.
The document discusses how the loss of biodiversity due to factors like extinction, erosion, and pollution can disrupt natural processes and balance. This can lead to issues like displacement of rural peoples, migration to cities, overcrowding, poverty, crime, and abuse. If left unaddressed, the loss of biodiversity poses risks to both human well-being and national economies.
It is PPT by swapnil lahane on biodiversity
for any one .
It is information about worlds biodiversity and indian Ecosystem.
That PPT useful for students of Engg. and Medical for their projects.
Ozone is a gas found in the upper atmosphere that protects the Earth from UV radiation. It forms a layer between 17-25 km above the surface. This ozone layer absorbs 97-99% of harmful UV rays, preventing damage to living tissue. The ozone layer has been depleted by chemicals like CFCs and halons released into the atmosphere. Increased UV radiation due to ozone depletion can lead to skin cancer and cataracts in humans. International agreements like the Montreal Protocol have led to bans on ozone-depleting substances to help protect the ozone layer.
Micro-organisms are microscopic organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye or sometimes even with a microscope. There are different types including fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Fungi include yeasts and molds and are the largest microorganisms. Bacteria come in various shapes like rods, spheres, and spirals. They can cause disease but can also be killed by antibiotics or sterilization. Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and can only reproduce inside living cells. They cause illnesses like the flu but are not affected by antibiotics.
The document summarizes natural resource management and conservation strategies in Pakistan. It discusses renewable and non-renewable natural resources in the country like water, forests, biodiversity, and wildlife. It also outlines threats to Pakistan's natural resources from human activities like deforestation, pollution, and overexploitation. The National Conservation Strategy aims to promote sustainable use and protection of these vital resources.
This document discusses plant and animal cells. It describes some of the key discoveries in cell biology including Hooke discovering cells in 1665 and von Leeuwenhoek first observing single-celled organisms under a microscope. The cell theory established that all living things are made of cells, cells are the basic unit of structure and function, and all cells come from preexisting cells. The document compares prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and describes several organelles found in plant and animal cells including the nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies and lysosomes. It notes both the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.
The document summarizes key aspects of the animal kingdom. It describes the main characteristics of animals, including being multicellular, eukaryotic heterotrophs without cell walls. It outlines the two main groups of animals - invertebrates and vertebrates. It then discusses the main functions of animals for survival and some trends in animal evolution like cell specialization, body symmetry, and cephalization. The major animal phyla are also introduced.
Existing wild life in Pakistan presentation by Allah Dad Khan Mr.Allah Dad Khan
The document discusses existing wildlife and threats to biodiversity in Pakistan. It describes various animal species found in different regions of the country, including snow leopards, ibex, and markhor in mountainous areas. It also lists the national animal (markhor) and bird (chakor). Major threats include population growth, irrigated agriculture, hunting, competition with livestock, and loss of habitat from deforestation, overgrazing, and agricultural expansion. Severe climatic conditions also impact wildlife in desert regions. Overall, many species are endangered or have had populations reduced due to human activities.
Microorganisms are microscopic organisms that include bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi, algae, and some animals. They play important roles in environments and processes like decomposition, nutrient cycling, and carbon cycling. There are four main types of microorganisms: bacteria, archaea, protozoa, and viruses. Bacteria are prokaryotic microbes that have diverse shapes and live in many environments. Viruses can only replicate inside host cells and come in different shapes and sizes but are usually 100 times smaller than bacteria. Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic organisms including some motile species. Microorganisms are also used in food production and have medical applications but some can cause diseases if
This document provides an overview of different types of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast, algae, protozoa. It discusses how some microorganisms can cause diseases like athlete's foot, tuberculosis, and chickenpox, but others can be useful in food production, cleaning waste, and creating antibiotics. It also profiles Alexander Fleming, the scientist who discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928 and received the Nobel Prize for his work.
The document provides information about the structure and function of cells. It discusses:
- The basic parts of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including their genetic material, organelles, size, and whether they are unicellular or multicellular.
- The key structures of animal and plant cells, such as the cell membrane, nucleus, mitochondria, vacuoles, and in plant cells, the cell wall and chloroplasts.
- The functions of important organelles like the nucleus, which houses DNA; ribosomes, which produce proteins; and the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, which are involved in protein transport.
- Differences between animal and plant cells
This document provides an overview of biodiversity, including its definition, types, distribution, benefits, threats, and conservation. It discusses how biodiversity represents the variety of life on Earth and is vital to sustaining human life. The three types of biodiversity are genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. While biodiversity is threatened by habitat loss and other human impacts, conservation efforts aim to protect biodiversity through protected areas, restoration, and environmental policies.
Corey Bradshaw_Brave new green world: the costs and benefits of a carbon econ...TERN Australia
The document discusses how land use in Australia may change under the country's Carbon Farming Initiative, which provides financial incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This could include more environmental plantings, managing native forest regrowth, prescribed burning, changes to forestry and agricultural practices, and controlling feral animals. While some changes may benefit both carbon storage and biodiversity, land use changes must be based on ecological principles to avoid negative biodiversity outcomes over the long term. More research is still needed to understand interactions and trade-offs between carbon sequestration and conservation goals.
This document summarizes key statistics on biodiversity and extinction rates:
- It lists the estimated numbers of various taxonomic groups ranging from protists to mammals.
- It notes that 99% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct, and current extinction rates are 100-10,000 times higher than background rates.
- Several studies are cited showing high percentages of threatened species for groups like mammals, amphibians, birds, sharks and corals.
- Causes of extinction are discussed, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, invasive species, climate change and their interactions.
It's no secret that environmental degradation has been shown to have damaged people's health, often fatally, in many specific cases.
Now, however, world-leading research at the University of Adelaide has linked the two on a staggering global scale.
Using data from over 100 countries, Professor Corey Bradshaw has examined the relationships between key indicators of human health and environmental quality and discovered a clear correlation, with dire implications.
As only one example, his findings indicate just a 10% overall reduction in water quality would raise infant deaths by many millions per year.
It's vital information for people and planet. And in this important presentation Professor Bradshaw will reveal the full story.
The document discusses several major environmental problems facing the world including climate change, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, ocean exhaustion, desertification, pollution, deforestation, and population growth. It provides details on the causes and impacts of issues like global warming, the Antarctic ozone hole, desertification, pollution of oceans, air, water and soil. Solutions proposed include sustainable development, green economy, education programs, effective policy implementation, and individual action along with government and non-government groups working together. The presentation calls for immediate intervention to address the alarming global environmental crisis.
RNS State Action Plan on Climate Change EPCO_forest_cc_20.09.2018RavindraSaksena
Presentation on "Impact of Climate Change on Forests of Madhya Pradesh" made in a workshop organised by the Environment Protetion & Conservation Organisation for State Action Plan on Climate Change
Ensuring ecosystem integrity in Indian Sundarbansaranyermajhe
Peer Assignment - Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided : This artifact is intended for decision makers in the state of West Bengal, India. There is relatively little knowledge on the status of the Sundarbans ecosystem resilience and biodiversity groups contributing to it. However, the loss of diversity within functional groups may weaken the ability of the system to adapt to climate change impacts and therein impact the dependant community. The ecosystem linkers that control resilience and ecological stability in the Sundarbans should be determined. Decision makers will hardly have any control over extraneous drivers of change such as the climate but can alter present policies and pattern of governance.
The transformative role of livestock in the developing worldILRI
Presented by Christopher Delgado (World Resources Institute) at the ILRI@40 side event on Livestock-based options for sustainable food systems, Des Moines, USA, 15 October 2014
The document discusses the importance of nature-based solutions for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. It notes that climate change and biodiversity loss are urgent issues, with 1 million species at risk of extinction and climate impacts accelerating. The same human activities like land use change and food production are major drivers of both issues. Nature-based solutions can help mitigate climate change through approaches like reforestation, peatland restoration, and improved agricultural practices. Implementing nature-based solutions requires an interdisciplinary approach combining natural science, data science, economics, social science, geography and engineering. The document advocates for international cooperation on nature-based solutions through initiatives like the Leaders' Pledge for Nature.
The document is a summary of the Living Planet Report 2012 published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It discusses two main indicators used in the report - the Living Planet Index, which shows a decline of 52% in vertebrate populations between 1970-2010, and the Ecological Footprint, which shows humanity uses 50% more than what Earth can renew. It also discusses the main threats to biodiversity as being agricultural expansion, forestry, fishing and climate change. The report calls for action in several areas like preserving natural capital, sustainable production and consumption, equitable governance of resources, and redirecting financial flows to value nature.
Extinction occurs when a species dies out completely. It has multiple causes including habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, disease, and human activities like pollution and deforestation. Small population sizes also increase the risk of extinction due to reduced genetic diversity and inbreeding. Mass extinctions have occurred periodically throughout history, including one caused by an asteroid impact 65 million years ago. Today's extinction rates are estimated to be 100-1000 times higher than background rates, primarily due to human activities. Biodiversity hotspots experience especially high rates of species loss. International efforts like the Convention on Biological Diversity aim to reduce extinction risks.
Presented by Markku Kanninen and Markku Larjavaara, from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), at Practical Training in CarboScen in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 28, 2017.
Human activities are causing widespread extinction of species around the globe at a rate of 8 species lost every hour. Factors driving extinction include habitat loss due to agriculture, urban development, pollution, introduced species, mining and climate change. Examples of recently extinct Australian species include the Tasmanian tiger and several rodents. The introduction of non-native plants and animals can negatively impact ecosystems by competing with and precluding native species. While preservation of natural habitats is key to protecting biodiversity, human population growth and resource consumption continue to stress the environment.
The document discusses the state of global agriculture and its effects on ecosystems. It notes that 15 of 24 key ecosystem services have been degraded or unsustainably used in recent decades due largely to expansion of agriculture. About half of original forests have been lost to agriculture. Agriculture appropriates one third of the planet's net primary productivity and is a major driver of biodiversity loss and carbon emissions. Feeding a growing population while reducing these impacts will require intensifying production on existing farmland and improving sustainability through techniques like irrigation, fertilization, and conservation agriculture.
Credits of the presentation are to the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
This presentation was included in the event kit of Green Bloggers Forum, held 7 June 2016 at the Cocoon Boutique Hotel, QC, Philippines. The DENR authorized all bloggers and participants to promote the information and materials during the event.
The document discusses biodiversity, its definition, types (genetic, species, ecosystem), distribution, hotspots, causes of loss like habitat loss and degradation, pollution, overexploitation, and importance. It also talks about biosphere reserves which promote conservation and sustainable use through different zones. India has established 18 biosphere reserves to protect habitats and human communities. Biopiracy and issues like lack of compensation to indigenous communities for commercial use of genetic resources are also covered. Biodiversity conservation approaches include protected areas and ex-situ conservation methods. The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through national strategies.
This document discusses causes of species extinction, including environmental changes that populations fail to adapt to. It defines key terms like biodiversity, extinction, species, ecosystem, and explains causes of extinction like habitat destruction, overhunting, pollution, and climate change. Environmental issues that contribute to extinction are deforestation, water and air pollution, coastal destruction, and acid rain. Sustainable development is needed to balance human activities and protect biodiversity.
The document discusses biodiversity in the Philippines, including:
- The Philippines has extremely high biodiversity and is considered a global hotspot. It ranks highly in terms of endemic species.
- However, Philippine biodiversity is facing major threats like deforestation, climate change, invasive species, and illegal wildlife trade. Deforestation rates remain high.
- Humans both contribute to biodiversity loss but also have the potential to be part of the solution through conservation efforts. Schools and youth can help promote biodiversity conservation through education and activities.
Similar to Current State of World Biodiversity: our impoverished future life support system (20)
The document discusses improvements made to the conventional species-area model (SAM) for predicting biodiversity loss due to changes in habitat area. The conventional SAM assumes habitat loss fragments are completely inhospitable and does not account for edge effects between habitat and surrounding land. The improved "matrix-calibrated species-area model" (MC SAM) accounts for how species respond to the composition and quality of surrounding land and the effects of habitat edges. When tested against data, the MC SAM was over 13 times more strongly supported than the next best model.
Estimating Extinction Rates: Habitat loss, species-area curves, and the “exti...Flinders University
This document discusses methods for estimating extinction rates and examines the limitations of using species-area relationships (SAR) to estimate extinction rates from habitat loss. Specifically, SAR methods may overestimate extinction rates because they assume species are randomly distributed when in reality species distributions are often non-random. The document explores how non-random spatial distributions violate the mirror-image relationship between forward and backward modeling using SAR and endemics-area curves. Data from forest plots are analyzed showing SAR may not accurately capture extinction risks from habitat loss for non-randomly distributed species.
This document summarizes information about biodiversity and ecosystems. It notes that over 99% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct, and current extinction rates are 100-10,000 times higher than background rates. It also discusses the valuable services provided by ecosystems like water purification and climate regulation, and notes that trillions of dollars are lost annually from ecosystem degradation. Finally, it presents data showing the relationship between economic development and various environmental impacts, highlighting the need for sustainable development policies.
Accounting for uncertainty when estimating Pleistocene megafauna extinction t...Flinders University
This week's topic was Accounting for uncertainty when estimating Pleistocene megafauna extinction times and was presented by Corey Bradshow Director of Ecological Modelling here at the Environment Institute.
This document summarizes a study that ranked countries based on their environmental impact. The researchers developed several metrics to measure a country's impact, such as forest loss, land conversion, fish catches, fertilizer use, carbon emissions, and threats to biodiversity. They found that high-impact countries tended to be in Asia, and wealth did not reduce countries' impacts as predicted by the environmental Kuznets curve. The researchers hope these rankings can identify countries needing assistance and encourage better environmental policies.
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
Let’s explore the intersection of technology and equity in the final session of our DEI series. Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to support and enhance your nonprofit's DEI initiatives. Participants will gain insights into practical AI applications and get tips for leveraging technology to advance their DEI goals.
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, and GDPR: Best Practices for Implementation and...PECB
Denis is a dynamic and results-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a distinguished career spanning information systems analysis and technical project management. With a proven track record of spearheading the design and delivery of cutting-edge Information Management solutions, he has consistently elevated business operations, streamlined reporting functions, and maximized process efficiency.
Certified as an ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) Lead Implementer, Data Protection Officer, and Cyber Risks Analyst, Denis brings a heightened focus on data security, privacy, and cyber resilience to every endeavor.
His expertise extends across a diverse spectrum of reporting, database, and web development applications, underpinned by an exceptional grasp of data storage and virtualization technologies. His proficiency in application testing, database administration, and data cleansing ensures seamless execution of complex projects.
What sets Denis apart is his comprehensive understanding of Business and Systems Analysis technologies, honed through involvement in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). From meticulous requirements gathering to precise analysis, innovative design, rigorous development, thorough testing, and successful implementation, he has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Throughout his career, he has taken on multifaceted roles, from leading technical project management teams to owning solutions that drive operational excellence. His conscientious and proactive approach is unwavering, whether he is working independently or collaboratively within a team. His ability to connect with colleagues on a personal level underscores his commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
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How to Add Chatter in the odoo 17 ERP ModuleCeline George
In Odoo, the chatter is like a chat tool that helps you work together on records. You can leave notes and track things, making it easier to talk with your team and partners. Inside chatter, all communication history, activity, and changes will be displayed.
How to Manage Your Lost Opportunities in Odoo 17 CRMCeline George
Odoo 17 CRM allows us to track why we lose sales opportunities with "Lost Reasons." This helps analyze our sales process and identify areas for improvement. Here's how to configure lost reasons in Odoo 17 CRM
This slide is special for master students (MIBS & MIFB) in UUM. Also useful for readers who are interested in the topic of contemporary Islamic banking.
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
How to Setup Warehouse & Location in Odoo 17 InventoryCeline George
In this slide, we'll explore how to set up warehouses and locations in Odoo 17 Inventory. This will help us manage our stock effectively, track inventory levels, and streamline warehouse operations.
it describes the bony anatomy including the femoral head , acetabulum, labrum . also discusses the capsule , ligaments . muscle that act on the hip joint and the range of motion are outlined. factors affecting hip joint stability and weight transmission through the joint are summarized.
How to Fix the Import Error in the Odoo 17Celine George
An import error occurs when a program fails to import a module or library, disrupting its execution. In languages like Python, this issue arises when the specified module cannot be found or accessed, hindering the program's functionality. Resolving import errors is crucial for maintaining smooth software operation and uninterrupted development processes.
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
Current State of World Biodiversity: our impoverished future life support system
1.
2. • Anthropocene
biodiversity crisis
• global environmental
degradation drivers
• deforested Australia
• degraded Australia
• feral Australia
• ecosystem services –
what are we losing?
12. • 21 % of all known mammals
• 30 % of all known amphibians
• 12 % of all known birds
• 35 % of conifers & cycads
• 17 % of sharks
• 27 % of reef-building corals
threatened with
extinction
IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES
www.iucnredlist.org
13. City Development Index www.unchs.org
Ecological Footprint www.footprintnetwork.org
Environmental Performance Index epi.yale.edu
Environmental Sustainability Index sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu
Genuine Savings Index worldbank.org
Human Development Index hdr.undp.org
Living Planet Index www.panda.org
Well-Being Index www.well-beingindex.com
Environmental Impact Rank
Böhringer & Joachim 2007 Ecol Econ 63:1-8
14. • natural forest loss
2005-1990 /ha
• natural habitat conversion
human-modified landcover/total landcover
• marine captures
1990-2005 fish, whales, seals/EEZ km
• fertiliser use
NPK/ha arable land
• water pollution
biochemical oxygen demand/total renewable water resources
• carbon emissions
forestry, land-use change, fossil fuels/km2
• biodiversity threat
Red List threatened birds, mammals, amphibians/listed species
Bradshaw et al. 2010 PLoS One 5:e10440
29. • legacy of deforestation –
some of world’s highest
• highest modern mammal
extinction rate on Earth
• continued mammal declines
due to altered fire regimes
• meso-predator release
• Murray-Darling Basin a mess
• rates of changing climate in
Southern Hemisphere
• 2nd-highest GHG emitters per
34. • ~ 90 % of all wild plant species
require animal pollinators for
fruit & seed set
• ~ 35 % of all human crops require
pollination by insects (> 50 % by
Apis mellifera)
• domestic honey bees declined in USA
by 59 % since 1947 & in Europe by 25
% since 1985
• bees (& other pollinators) require
more than just crops to complete
life cycle
• decline mostly from habitat loss,
Potts et al. 2010 Trends Ecol Evol 25:345-353
35. Bradshaw et al. 2007 Glob Change Biol 13:2379-2395
1990-2000
• ~100,000 people killed
• 320 million people displaced
• total reported damages > US$1151 billion
36. Carbon Farming Initiative (2011)
• financial incentive to land managers & farmers to reduce GHG
emissions from BAU or sequester (store) C on land (offset scheme)
• Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) = 1 t CO2-e = AU$23 (as of
01/07/12)
• ACCU rise 2.5 % yr-1 until 2014/2015; set by market thereafter
• emissions-avoidance: agricultural, introduced animal & legacy landfill
emissions
• sequestration-offsets: sequestering C in plants as they grow,
increasing soil organic matter, avoided vegetation loss, afforestation,
reforestation, revegetation, rangeland restoration and native forest
protection
• must be additional, no leakage, permanent (unholy trinity)
van Oosterzee et al. 2012 Conserv Lett 5:266
37.
38.
39. •largest potential GHG mitigation using ecology:
enhancing woody biomass
•most landscape changes likely compatible with
biodiversity maintenance/enhancement
•but potentially many negative biodiversity
outcomes if not done based on sound ecological
principles
•more research on synergies, economics of trade-
offs
•future conservation planning needs to incorporate
GHG abatement values
•future C pricing largest driver of optimal trade-offs
Bradshaw et al. 2013 Biol Conserv 161:71-90
Since 1970, 600,000 km2 rain forest lost in Amazon (600000/3300000=18%)Russia has the most extensive forest cover, followed by Brazil, Canada and USAEstimated area of gross forest cover loss at the global scale is 1,011,000 km2, or 3.1 % of year 2000 forest area (0.6% per year from 2000 to 2005)Gross forest cover loss was highest in the boreal biome, with fire accounting for 60 % of that lossThe humid tropics had the second-highest gross forest cover loss, due mainly to broad-scale clearing for agriculture in Brazil, Indonesia and MalaysiaWhen expressed as proportion lost from the 2000 extent estimates, the humid tropics is the least disturbedThe Amazon interior is the largest remaining ‘intact’ forest, followed by the Congo basinThe dry tropics has the 3rd-highest gross forest cover loss, with Australia, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay accounting for most of thisAlthough the temperate biome had the lowest forest cover (due mainly to forest clearances long, long ago), it had the 2nd-highest proportional gross forest cover lossNorth America has the greatest area of gross forest cover loss, followed by Asia and South AmericaNorth America alone accounts for ~ 30 % of global gross forest cover loss, and has the highest proportional gross forest cover loss at 5.1 %Brazil has the highest gross national forest cover loss of any nationIndonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are next in line for tropical countriesUSA has the highest proportional global forest cover loss since 2000Despite previous estimates suggesting that Canada has had little forest loss, the new estimates place it second in terms of gross forest cover loss only to Brazil
The world’s oceans are under huge threat, with predictions of 70 % loss of coral reefs by 2050, decline in kelp forests, loss of seagrasses, over-fishing, pollution and a rapidly warming and acidifying physical environment. Given all these stressors, it is absolutely imperative we spend a good deal of time thinking about the right way to impose restrictions on damage to marine areas – the simplest way to do this is via marine protected areas (MPA).
Now, it’s not bulldozers razing our underwater forests – it’s our own filth. Yes, we do indeed have underwater forests, and they are possibly the most important set of species from a biodiversity perspective in temperate coastal waters around the world. I’m talking about kelp. Climate change poses a threat to these habitat-forming species that support a wealth of invertebrates and fish. In fact, kelp forests are analogous to coral reefs in the tropics for their role in supporting other biodiversity.Connell et al. 2008:The Adelaide coastline has experienced a fairly hefty loss of canopy-forming kelp (mainly species like Eckloniaradiata and Cystophora spp.) since urbanisation (up to 70 % !). Now, this might not seem too surprising – we humans have a horrible track record for damaging, exploiting or maltreating biodiversity – but it’s actually a little unexpected given that Adelaide is one of Australia’s smaller major cities, and certainly a tiny city from a global perspective. There hasn’t been any real kelp harvesting around Adelaide, or coastal overfishing that could lead to trophic cascades causing loss through herbivory. Connell and colleagues pretty much are able to isolate the main culprits: sedimentation and nutrient loading (eutrophication) from urban run-off.Second, one might expect this to be strange because other places around the world don’t have the same kind of response. The paper points out that in the coastal waters of South Australia, the normal situation is characterised by low nutrient concentrations in the water (what we term ‘oligotrophic’) compared to other places like New South Wales. Thus, when you add even a little bit extra to a system not used to it, these losses of canopy-forming kelp ensue. So understanding the underlying context of an ecosystem will tell you how much it can be stressed before all hell breaks loose.
81360 km2 lost in 200 years; size of Austria;45% of Guandong
78 % of Aus forests = Eucalypts; 7 % Acacia, 5 % Melaleuca
Imagine a line of trucks from Sydney to Grafton on the New South Wales north coast. More than five hours driving at the speed limit hurtling past truck after truck lined up bumper to bumper. Now fill the back of every one of those trucks with wildlife. Feathertail gliders, mountain pygmy possums, dunnarts and New Holland mice. Wonga pigeons and little penguins. Green tree frogs and frill-necked lizards. Fill those trucks to the top. (Yes, they'd be rabbits and black rats and a few Indian mynahs too). A line of trucks from Sydney almost to Queensland filled with wildlife. Unique wildlife. Wildlife you don't really get anywhere else on earth. That's the diet of Australia's feral cat population. For one year. It's hard to believe but there may be as many as 18 million feral cats in the country, each eating about a hundred and twenty five grams of food each day.
Imagine a line of trucks from Sydney to Grafton on the New South Wales north coast. More than five hours driving at the speed limit hurtling past truck after truck lined up bumper to bumper. Now fill the back of every one of those trucks with wildlife. Feathertail gliders, mountain pygmy possums, dunnarts and New Holland mice. Wonga pigeons and little penguins. Green tree frogs and frill-necked lizards. Fill those trucks to the top. (Yes, they'd be rabbits and black rats and a few Indian mynahs too). A line of trucks from Sydney almost to Queensland filled with wildlife. Unique wildlife. Wildlife you don't really get anywhere else on earth. That's the diet of Australia's feral cat population. For one year. It's hard to believe but there may be as many as 18 million feral cats in the country, each eating about a hundred and twenty five grams of food each day.
“Introduced animal emissions avoidance projects; projects that avoid emissions of methane from the digestive tract of an introduced animal or emissions of methane or nitrous oxide from the decomposition of introduced animal urine or dung”
It’s amazingly arrogant and anthropocentric to think of anything in ecosystems as ‘providing benefits to humanity’. After all, we’re just another species in a complex array of species within ecosystems – we just happen to be one of the numerically dominant ones, excel at ecosystem ‘engineering’ and as far as we know, are the only (semi-) sentient of the biologicals. Although the concept of ecosystem services is, I think, an essential abstraction to place emphasis on the importance of biodiversity conservation to the biodiversity ignorant, it does rub me a little the wrong way. It’s almost ascribing some sort of illogical religious perspective that the Earth was placed in its current form for our eventual benefit. We might be a fairly new species in geological time scales, but don’t think of ecosystems as mere provisions for our well-being.