Bài giảng Environmental Sciences - Chapter 10 & 11: Protection of Biodiversity and Ecosystems

CHAPTERS 10 and 11Protection of Biodiversity and EcosystemsSpecies are Human Effect on BiodiversityMost of these extinctions have occurred on islands.The difference isThreatened – 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.ActDateWhat does it do?ESA1973 (1982, 1985, 1988, 2006)Federal legislation that protects endangered species and their habitatCITESEarly 1970’sInternational treaty conveying some protection to endangered and threatened species by restricting trade in the species or productsLacey Act1900Forbids interstate commerce to deal illegally killed wildlife.First law to protect Plumeal birdsImportant ActsEndangered Species ActThe National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for ocean speciesThe U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services identifies and lists all othersListing of a species must be based on biological factors alone without economic or political considerationsRecovery plans are required ($$ may be considered when planning to protect a habitat) Know Specific Details aboutPharmaceuticals 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.WetlandsKnow Specific Details aboutThese Endangered animals:(Habitat, why endangered, laws that protect them, etc)Wild Turkey – a success storyWhooping Crane- Eggs raised by sandhill cranes led to problems, but the efforts proved successful overall.Peregrine Falcon- DDTSpotted Owl- deforestationFish 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 DisruptersInterfere with normal hormone actionCan interfere with developmentAre often connected to cancer Can interfere with sexual activity (alligators)Are found in plastics and some pesticides for Guillette LJ Jr. on PubmedExample of why biodiversity is important: The anticancer drug TaxolTaxol 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 Taxolđ. Annual sales in 2000 were $1.6 billion.