After completing this chapter, you will know: Why is biodiversity important? Make a list of some of the general reasons that animals and plants are endangered; how could a company (legally) develop land that is home to an endangered species? What is the most productive terrestrial ecosystem? What is the extent of deforestation globally? Where and how rapidly is it occurring? Contrast the different levels of ecosystem protection given to public lands in the United States; what is the tragedy of the commons? Give an example of a commons and how it is mistreated. | CHAPTERS 10 and 11 Protection of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Species are Human Effect on Biodiversity Most of these extinctions have occurred on islands. The difference is Threatened – if the trend continues, the species will be endangered. Species that are declining because of human impact are categorized as threatened or endangered. Endangered – if the trend continues, the species will go extinct. Act Date What does it do? ESA 1973 (1982, 1985, 1988, 2006) Federal legislation that protects endangered species and their habitat CITES Early 1970’s International treaty conveying some protection to endangered and threatened species by restricting trade in the species or products Lacey Act 1900 Forbids interstate commerce to deal illegally killed wildlife. First law to protect Plumeal birds Important Acts Endangered Species Act The National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for ocean species The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services identifies and lists all others Listing of a species must be based on biological factors alone without economic or political considerations Recovery plans are required ($$ may be considered when planning to protect a habitat) Know Specific Details about Pharmaceuticals and native plants Approximately 25% of drugs used as medicines come from natural plant sources. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (1989) 300,000 birds died as a result of that particular oil spill. The area, Prince William Sound, is still recovering. Wetlands Know Specific Details about These Endangered animals: (Habitat, why endangered, laws that protect them, etc) Wild Turkey – a success story Whooping Crane- Eggs raised by sandhill cranes led to problems, but the efforts proved successful overall. Peregrine Falcon- DDT Spotted Owl- deforestation Fish living in George’s Bank (off New England)-The marketable fish were over fished and other species took over. An example of poor management of fisheries. Endocrine Disrupters Interfere with normal hormone action Can interfere with development Are often connected to cancer Can interfere with sexual activity (alligators) Are found in plastics and some pesticides Search for Guillette LJ Jr. on Pubmed Example of why biodiversity is important: The anticancer drug Taxol Taxol was found in the bark of the Pacific yew tree found in the north-west coastal region of the USA. Its antitumor activity was discovered in 1967. A 40-foot Pacific yew tree, which may have taken 200 years to reach that height, yields only a half gram of paclitaxel. Paclitaxel was brought to the market by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1993 as Taxol®. Annual sales in 2000 were $ billion.
