biodiversity lecture 2014

BiodiversityBiodiversityThe Variety of LifeThe Variety of Life

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What is meant by the term biodiversity?What is meant by the term biodiversity?

bio = bio = lifelife diversity = diversity = varietyvariety biodiversity = variety of life on biodiversity = variety of life on

this planetthis planet

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3 Types of 3 Types of BiodiversityBiodiversity

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3 Types of Diversity 13 Types of Diversity 1

GeneticGenetic Diversity — variation Diversity — variation within a specieswithin a species Different races of peopleDifferent races of people Different tolerance levels of Different tolerance levels of

Douglas Firs for sunlightDouglas Firs for sunlight Different resistance to disease Different resistance to disease

of miceof mice Different types of house catsDifferent types of house cats

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3 Types of 3 Types of Diversity 2Diversity 2

SpeciesSpecies Diversity — variety Diversity — variety of species, types of of species, types of organisms on the planet, organisms on the planet, the sum total of all the sum total of all different forms of lifedifferent forms of life Mammals vs. reptilesMammals vs. reptiles Birds vs. fishBirds vs. fish All the different types of All the different types of

fishfish BirdBird Different types of plantsDifferent types of plants

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Three Types of Diversity 3Three Types of Diversity 3

EcosystemEcosystem Diversity — Diversity — different types of habitats, different types of habitats, biotic communities, biotic communities, ecological processes and ecological processes and the tremendous diversity the tremendous diversity within an ecosystem in within an ecosystem in terms of habitat differences terms of habitat differences and variety of ecological and variety of ecological ForestsForests GrasslandsGrasslands DesertsDeserts RiversRivers OceansOceans Etc.Etc.

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The The Importance of Importance of

BiodiversityBiodiversity

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Variation within a species Variation within a species

VariationVariation within a within a species creates species creates stabilitystability and increases and increases likelihood species can likelihood species can adapt and survive adapt and survive environmental environmental pressurespressures Disease hits cornDisease hits corn Genetic reserveGenetic reserve Beneficial insects Beneficial insects

resistance to pesticidesresistance to pesticides8

Variation 2Variation 2

Corn DiseasesCorn DiseasesTop: Top: Corn RustCorn RustBottom: Bottom: Corn SmutCorn SmutResults in lower food Results in lower food

productionproduction

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Variation within a species 3Variation within a species 3

IndividualIndividual species play critical species play critical roles in our environmentroles in our environment Pollination of fruits and Pollination of fruits and

vegetables by insectsvegetables by insects Interdependence of organisms Interdependence of organisms

on each other = stabilityon each other = stability Twenty-five percent of all Twenty-five percent of all

prescription medicines are prescription medicines are derived from plantsderived from plants

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Variation within a species 4Variation within a species 4

PollinationPollination of fruits and vegetables of fruits and vegetables by insectsby insects

Example: Honey BeesExample: Honey Bees Introduced from Europe in the 1600sIntroduced from Europe in the 1600s Have become widespread across Have become widespread across

North America North America Bred commercially for their abilities to Bred commercially for their abilities to

produce honey and pollinate cropsproduce honey and pollinate crops New problem — "colony collapse New problem — "colony collapse

disorder" (or CCD)disorder" (or CCD) It is believed many 1,00os of bee It is believed many 1,00os of bee

colonies in the U.S. have died colonies in the U.S. have died expressing symptoms of CCD since expressing symptoms of CCD since the fall of 2006. the fall of 2006.

States (in red) where beekeepers are reporting significant honey bee losses to CCD.

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Importance of biodiversity 5Importance of biodiversity 5

””Colony Collapse Disorder" Colony Collapse Disorder" CCDCCD Pesticides may be having unexpected negative Pesticides may be having unexpected negative

effects on honey bees. effects on honey bees. A new parasite or A new parasite or pathogenpathogen may be attacking may be attacking

honey bees. honey bees. A perfect storm of existing stresses may have A perfect storm of existing stresses may have

unexpectedly weakened colonies leading to unexpectedly weakened colonies leading to collapsecollapse

These stresses could include high levels of These stresses could include high levels of infection by the varroa mite (a parasite that feeds infection by the varroa mite (a parasite that feeds on bee blood and transmits bee viruses)on bee blood and transmits bee viruses)

Poor nutrition due to apiary overcrowding, Poor nutrition due to apiary overcrowding, Pollination of crops with low nutritional value, or Pollination of crops with low nutritional value, or

pollen or nectar scarcitypollen or nectar scarcity Exposure to limited or contaminated water Exposure to limited or contaminated water

supplies. supplies. Migratory stress brought about by increased Migratory stress brought about by increased

needs for pollination might also be a contributing needs for pollination might also be a contributing factor. factor.

Healthy colonies of bees contain thousands of worker bees. Colonies suffering from CCD have few or no bees remaining in the hive.

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Loss of Loss of BiodiversityBiodiversity

The CausesThe Causes

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Loss of whole ecosystems Loss of whole ecosystems Loss of whole Loss of whole ecosystemsecosystems can lead to can lead to

the major global environmental the major global environmental problemsproblems DeforestationDeforestation as a cause of global warming as a cause of global warming DestructionDestruction of oceans = loss or food source of oceans = loss or food source

for peoplefor people Loss of Loss of wetlandswetlands = loss of clean water for = loss of clean water for

peoplepeople Ecosystem loss = Ecosystem loss = extinctionextinction of plants and of plants and

animalsanimals AestheticAesthetic value — different species enrich value — different species enrich

our livesour lives Ethical Ethical issues — uniqueness of each issues — uniqueness of each

species; right to existspecies; right to exist

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Three Ways to ViewThree Ways to View

Three ways to viewThree ways to view1.1. Loss of Loss of geneticgenetic diversity diversity

= no variation within a = no variation within a speciesspecies

2.2. Loss of Loss of speciesspecies diversity diversity = extinction of = extinction of individual speciesindividual species

3.3. Loss of Loss of ecosystemecosystem diversity = habitat diversity = habitat destructiondestruction Ivory Billed Woodpecker

Campephilus principalisThe species is listed as critically endangered and

possibly extinct.15

Loss of Biodiversity Loss of Biodiversity

Causes for loss of biodiversityCauses for loss of biodiversity1.1. Hybridization of Hybridization of domesticdomestic

plants and animals — variety in plants and animals — variety in the supermarketthe supermarket

2.2. Habitat destruction Habitat destruction causing causing extinction = 100 species per extinction = 100 species per dayday Filling/ draining Filling/ draining wetlandswetlands DeforestationDeforestation Desertification (Desertification (the process the process

by which fertile land by which fertile land becomes desert)becomes desert)

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Loss of Biodiversity 2Loss of Biodiversity 2

Causes for loss of biodiversityCauses for loss of biodiversity3.3. FragmentationFragmentation of habitat — of habitat —

breaking up a forest means breaking up a forest means that Grizzly bears can no that Grizzly bears can no longer survive, not enough longer survive, not enough spacespace

4.4. OverexploitationOverexploitation of plants and of plants and animalsanimals Over-fishing the oceansOver-fishing the oceans Ivory tradeIvory trade

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Loss of Biodiversity 3Loss of Biodiversity 3

5.5. Pollution ofPollution of

a.a. SoilSoil

b.b. WaterWater

c.c. AtmosphereAtmosphere Peregrine Falcon and Peregrine Falcon and

DDTDDT

5.5. Introduction of Introduction of non-native non-native species — bullfrog eating species — bullfrog eating western tree frogwestern tree frog

6.6. Global Global climateclimate change — as change — as temperature increase, many temperature increase, many species will go extinctspecies will go extinct

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Causes of Causes of LossLoss

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Big Yellow TaxiBig Yellow Taxi19701970

They paved paradise They paved paradise And put up a parking lot And put up a parking lot With a pink hotel *, a boutique With a pink hotel *, a boutique And a swinging hot spot And a swinging hot spot

Don't it always seem to go Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone Till it's gone They paved paradise They paved paradise And put up a parking lotAnd put up a parking lot

They took all the trees They took all the trees Put 'em in a tree museum * Put 'em in a tree museum * And they charged the people And they charged the people A dollar and a half just to see 'em A dollar and a half just to see 'em

Don't it always seem to go Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone Till it's gone They paved paradise They paved paradise And put up a parking lotAnd put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer Hey farmer farmer Put away that DDT * now Put away that DDT * now Give me spots on my apples Give me spots on my apples But leave me the birds and the bees But leave me the birds and the bees Please! Please!

Don't it always seem to go Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone Till it's gone They paved paradise They paved paradise And put up a parking lotAnd put up a parking lot

Late last nightLate last nightI heard the screen door slamI heard the screen door slamAnd a big yellow taxiAnd a big yellow taxiTook away my old manTook away my old man

Don't it always seem to goDon't it always seem to goThat you don't know what you've gotThat you don't know what you've gotTill it's goneTill it's goneThey paved paradiseThey paved paradiseAnd put up a parking lotAnd put up a parking lot

They paved paradiseThey paved paradiseAnd put up a parking lotAnd put up a parking lot

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““I wrote 'Big Yellow Taxi' on my I wrote 'Big Yellow Taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise. That's this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the when I sat down and wrote the song.song.””

— — Joni MitchellJoni Mitchell

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Root Causes LossRoot Causes Loss

PopulationPopulation growth growth

Increasing Increasing consumptionconsumption of of resourcesresources

IgnoranceIgnorance about about species and species and ecosystemsecosystems

U.S. 307,844,492World 6,794,518,700

22:40 UTC (EST+5) Nov 02, 2009 22

Root causes of biodiversity loss 2Root causes of biodiversity loss 2

Government Government policiespolicies Encouraging Encouraging

agriculture or agriculture or forestryforestry

Effects of global Effects of global trading systemstrading systems Trend toward Trend toward

specializationspecialization

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Root causes of biodiversity loss 3Root causes of biodiversity loss 3

InequityInequity of resource of resource distributiondistribution Richer countries vs. poorer countriesRicher countries vs. poorer countries

Value of biodiversity is ignored Value of biodiversity is ignored Value of non-timber goods the forest providesValue of non-timber goods the forest provides

FoodFood MedicineMedicine Etc.Etc. 24

World PopulationWorld Population

Location of humansJanuary 2007

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World PopulationWorld Population

Pop. Density (people per km2) by country 201226

Current World Population

#1 Leading Cause#1 Leading Cause

Habitat Habitat disruptiondisruption in in currently the leading currently the leading cause of extinction. cause of extinction.

It is a It is a disturbancedisturbance of of the physical the physical environment in which environment in which a population lives.a population lives.

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Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction

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Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction

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Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction

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Other Reasons — OverhuntingOther Reasons — Overhunting

When a When a predatorpredator population population increasesincreases or becomes more or becomes more efficient at killing the prey, the efficient at killing the prey, the prey population may prey population may declinedecline or or go extinct. go extinct.

Examples Examples Big game hunting, which has in Big game hunting, which has in

many places reduced the many places reduced the predator (or in this case prey) predator (or in this case prey) population. population.

In human prehistory we may In human prehistory we may have caused the extinction of have caused the extinction of the mammoths and mastodons the mammoths and mastodons due to increased human hunting due to increased human hunting skill.skill.

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Other Reasons — Species IntroductionOther Reasons — Species Introduction

An An exotic species exotic species is is introduced into an area introduced into an area where it may have where it may have no no predators predators to control its to control its population size, or where it population size, or where it can greatly can greatly out compete out compete native organisms. native organisms.

Known as Known as invasive speciesinvasive species Examples Examples

Zebra mussels introduced Zebra mussels introduced into Lake Erieinto Lake Erie

Lake trout released into Lake trout released into Yellowstone Lake where Yellowstone Lake where they are threatening the they are threatening the native cutthroat trout native cutthroat trout populations.populations.

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Invasive Species 1Invasive Species 1

InvasiveInvasive species are organisms species are organisms introduced into a introduced into a non-native non-native ecosystem ecosystem

They cause or are likely to They cause or are likely to cause, harm to cause, harm to the the economyeconomy environmentenvironment human human healthhealth

They are perhaps the They are perhaps the greatestgreatest single factor to affect natural single factor to affect natural populations. populations.

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English Ivy native to Europe and Asia is a a vigorous growing vine impacting all levels of disturbed and undisturbed forested areas across the US.

Invasive Species 2 — PlantsInvasive Species 2 — Plants

Exotic plants will:Exotic plants will: Crowd out sunlight and Crowd out sunlight and

nutrients from other plantsnutrients from other plants Crowd out other plants, Crowd out other plants,

jeopardizing animals dependent jeopardizing animals dependent on native vegetationon native vegetation

Overgrow, leading to excessive Overgrow, leading to excessive plant growth, which in turn plant growth, which in turn leads to decay and excess leads to decay and excess oxygen depletion, which results oxygen depletion, which results in fish losses.in fish losses.

Crowd out navigation channelsCrowd out navigation channels Clog machinery.Clog machinery.

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Iris pseudacorus Common Name: Yellow Iris

Native to Eurasia — growing to the complete exclusion of other native marsh plants throughout US.

Invasive Species 3 — AnimalsInvasive Species 3 — Animals

Exotic animals tend to:Exotic animals tend to: Consume food sources that Consume food sources that

native species would eat, native species would eat, leaving insufficient food.leaving insufficient food.

Occupy safe or supportive Occupy safe or supportive habitat, leaving a reduced habitat, leaving a reduced amount of habitat for natives.amount of habitat for natives.

Serve as food for native Serve as food for native species but lack certain species but lack certain essential nutrients, leading to essential nutrients, leading to death of native offspring.death of native offspring.

Consume eggs, young, and Consume eggs, young, and adults of native species .adults of native species .

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Myocastor coypus Common Name: Nutria

Native to southern South America — causes over-grazing of wetland habitats. Introduced in to Louisiana for fur-farming.

Invasive Species 4Invasive Species 4

Pathways that contribute to the spread of invasive species. Pathways that contribute to the spread of invasive species. What you see in the video above represents a 24-hour observation of aircraft travel What you see in the video above represents a 24-hour observation of aircraft travel

on the earth's surface. on the earth's surface. Every dot of moving light represents an aircraft carrying people and goods. Every dot of moving light represents an aircraft carrying people and goods. And, every dot represents potential for the intentional or unintentional movement And, every dot represents potential for the intentional or unintentional movement

of plant or animal species that may be travelling with those people and their of plant or animal species that may be travelling with those people and their goods, species that could become invasive once they establish in a new goods, species that could become invasive once they establish in a new environment.. environment..

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Invasive Species 5Invasive Species 5

More than 1,500 exotic insect More than 1,500 exotic insect species.species.

More than 25 families of alien More than 25 families of alien fish have been introduced into fish have been introduced into North America.North America.

In excess of 3,000 plant species In excess of 3,000 plant species have also been introduced. have also been introduced.

Zebra mussels are prolific breeders and can live for several days out of water. Credit: USGS

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Invasive Species 6Invasive Species 6

The majority of The majority of accidental accidental introductionsintroductions may fail, may fail, however, once an introduced however, once an introduced species becomes established, species becomes established, its population growth is its population growth is explosive. explosive.

Kudzu, a plant introduced to Kudzu, a plant introduced to the American south from the American south from Japan, has taken over large Japan, has taken over large areas of the countryside. areas of the countryside.

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Invasive Species 7Invasive Species 7

Carp http://www.youtube.com/my_playlistsCarp http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists Mussels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abImqGDzXBoMussels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abImqGDzXBo Grant’s Getaways https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jnMOZIWldc Start 3:35Grant’s Getaways https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jnMOZIWldc Start 3:35 Dock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt0XwFS8YPgDock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt0XwFS8YPg

Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp)

Fish Exotic to United States

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Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra Mussel)

Japanese Tsunami DockVarious Species

Results Results

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ExtinctionExtinction

PermanentPermanent loss of a species loss of a species The end of a type of organismThe end of a type of organism Species become extinct when Species become extinct when

they are they are no longer no longer able to able to survivesurvive in changing conditions in changing conditions or against superior or against superior competition.competition.

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Dodo reconstruction (Dodo reconstruction (Raphus cucullatusRaphus cucullatus) ) reflecting new research at Oxford University Museum of Natural Historyreflecting new research at Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Last confirmed sighting in 1662.Last confirmed sighting in 1662.

Secondary Extinction 1Secondary Extinction 1

The death of one species or The death of one species or population can population can causecause the the decline or elimination of decline or elimination of others, a process known as others, a process known as secondary extinction.secondary extinction.

Loss of Loss of foodfood species can cause species can cause migrationmigration or extinction of any or extinction of any species depending largely or species depending largely or solely on that species as a food solely on that species as a food source. source.

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Every year 15 million children die of hunger world wide.

There are currently thousands of children with severe acute malnutrition in the Kasai provinces of southern Democratic Republic

of Congo.

Secondary Extinction 2Secondary Extinction 2

Destruction of bamboo Destruction of bamboo forests in China, the forests in China, the food for the giant food for the giant panda, may cause the panda, may cause the extinction of the panda. extinction of the panda.

The extinction of the The extinction of the dodo bird has caused dodo bird has caused the Calvaria Tree to the Calvaria Tree to become unable to become unable to reproduce since the reproduce since the dodo ate the fruit and dodo ate the fruit and processed the seeds of processed the seeds of that tree.that tree. 43

How We Can How We Can Prevent LossPrevent Loss

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How can we prevent How can we prevent biodiversity loss 1biodiversity loss 1

Save it Save it Enact political legislation Enact political legislation

ensuring preservation of speciesensuring preservation of species __________________ __________________

__________ ______________________ ____________ 19731973 Amended through theAmended through the

108th U.S. Congress108th U.S. Congress Responsible agency:Responsible agency:

Department of the Interior Department of the Interior

U.S. Fish and Wildlife U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Service

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These are the number of species currently protected by the U.S. government

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How can we prevent How can we prevent biodiversity loss 3biodiversity loss 3

Study it Study it The more known about The more known about

something, the more something, the more its value can be its value can be understood and then it understood and then it is more likely to be is more likely to be savedsaved

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How can we prevent How can we prevent biodiversity loss 4biodiversity loss 4

Use it Use it sustainablysustainably and and equitable equitable Do not Do not extractextract resources resources

at a faster rate than they at a faster rate than they can be renewedcan be renewed

Cut down Cut down consumptionconsumption levels in general so there levels in general so there is not such a disparity is not such a disparity between the U.S. and between the U.S. and developing nationsdeveloping nations

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Reclaiming Lost HabitatReclaiming Lost Habitat

49Restoring wetlands to the Klamath Basin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpD9mHLedJE

Removing the Marmot Dam, Sandy River Oregon

Why Should Why Should We CareWe Care

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5 Reasons We Should Care5 Reasons We Should Care

1.1. EconomicEconomic

2.2. RecreationalRecreational

3.3. Human healthHuman health

4.4. Human rightsHuman rights

5.5. Spiritual / Intrinsic Spiritual / Intrinsic valuevalue

1. Economic1. Economic

Biodiversity can Biodiversity can help people make help people make money or keep money or keep people from losing people from losing money. money.

2. Recreational2. Recreational

People love People love outdoor activities outdoor activities like fishing and like fishing and backpacking, backpacking, which would not which would not be possible if be possible if ecosystems were ecosystems were destroyed. destroyed.

3. Human Health3. Human Health

Biodiversity can Biodiversity can help people find help people find better cures for better cures for illnesses.illnesses.

4. Human Rights4. Human Rights

If biodiversity is If biodiversity is protected, protected, indigenous people indigenous people can continue to live can continue to live in their native in their native lands. lands.

5. Spiritual / Intrinsic Value5. Spiritual / Intrinsic Value

Biodiversity should Biodiversity should be preserved for its be preserved for its own sake.own sake.

Animals and plants Animals and plants have a right to live.have a right to live.

People rely on wild People rely on wild places and creatures places and creatures for spiritual for spiritual fulfillment. fulfillment.

A Few Last WordsA Few Last Words

Perhaps even more important, Perhaps even more important, intact intact ecosystemsecosystems perform many perform many vital functions:vital functions: purifying the airpurifying the air filtering harmful substances out filtering harmful substances out

of waterof water turning decayed matter into turning decayed matter into

nutrientsnutrients preventing erosion and flooding, preventing erosion and flooding, moderating climatemoderating climate

It is not known how many species It is not known how many species can be eliminated from an can be eliminated from an ecosystem without its functioning ecosystem without its functioning being impaired.being impaired.

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