Biomes and Biodiversity/Environmental Conservation

Questions:

1. Tellico Dam – Which side of the dam is upstream? How can you tell? 

                          The East side of the dam is upstream. The higher water level on the East side of the dam                                     suggests the flow of the current is to the West.

2.      What large town is about 30 km northeast of the dam?

Knoxville

3.      Based on inspection of this area, would you say that pivotal policy cases, such as the Tellico Dam case, always occur in highly visible locations? Or do they sometimes occur in obscure situations?

Pivotal policy cases typically occur in locations that are widely seen by the public. In this case, flooding of areas of significance would have prompted action. Policy shifts can also result from situations that aren’t as visible – such as the extinction of an endangered species.

4.      What was the species whose fate was decided at this dam? What was the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the ESA in this case?

The Snail Darter or Percina tanasi. The Supreme Court called for a halt in dam construction, as eradication of an endangered species was in direct violation of the Endangered Species Act.

5. Google Earth Question.  Using Google Earth, open the ‘Global Awareness’ dropdown on the left side of the screen.  Click the ‘WWF Conservation Projects’ layer on.  Find a Project anywhere in the world that interests you. 

a) What is the title of the project and which biome does the project occur in?

             Funding Community Conservation in New Zealand. This project exists in a Temperate                                       Rainforest

b) Which group of plants or animals are being conserved?

            This project provides funding for various projects around New Zealand. Important

             Conservation sites include waterways, mountains, brush, and marine areas.

c) From which type of threat, all that apply? (hint, HIPPO threats question 6)

            The project in New Zealand provides funding to various conservation projects. Human                                         population growth and habitat destruction are two of the major threats to ecosystems.

6.  What are the major human threats to biodiversity?

EO Wilson, a famous conservation biologist summarized the major threats to biodiversity using the acronym HIPPO.  What does each letter stand for?

The major human threats to biodiversity are: habitat destruction, introduced species, pollution, population growth, over-consumption

7.  What two factors are the most important in determining biome distribution?

           

            Latitude and Elevation

8. Define Biodiversity, what are the three types essential for preserving ecological systems and functions? Describe them.

Biodiversity is defined in three ways: genetic biodiversity, species biodiversity and ecosystem biodiversity. Genetic diversity is defined as the diversity of genes within a species. Species biodiversity is a measure of the array of species in an area. Ecosystem biodiversity is defined as the amount of ecosystems in an area.

9. Briefly explain the purpose of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

 What are the three levels of risk in the ESA identifies?

           

The Endangered Species Act allowed for the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems in which endangered species live. Species can be identified as a candidate for official listing, threatened to become endangered, and endangered.

10.  The Engandered Species Act (ESA) has drastically changed the environmental movement.  Cite an example of both a success story and a controversy.

After the Endangered Species Act, wolves in the conterminous United States were placed on the endangered species list. The State of Idaho instituted a wolf management plan to combat the loss of wolves in Idaho, which has proved successful in restoring the wolf population. There are now efforts to remove wolves from the endangered species list. The Endangered Species Act is not always helpful in the prevention of extinction. The Caribbean Monk Seal was taken off the endangered species list in 2008 because the species was ruled extinct.

11. What does the term ‘anthropogenic extinction’ refer to? What is one plant or animal which has gone extinct as a result?

Anthropogenic extinct refers to extinction that is the result of human activity. The Bali Tiger which was exclusively found on the island of Bali in Indonesia went extinct as a result of hunting practices.

12.Vertical Stratification is an important element of marine ecosystems, and ocean systems can be described by depth and proximity to shore.

List at least three different zones or communities and their characteristics.

• Littoral Zone – The area nearest to the shore. The littoral zone features high levels of light as well as strong wave action. Organisms that thrive in this zone are those that have adapted to withstand mechanical forces of wave action – such as starfish, sea urchins, and coral.
• Pelagic Zone – This area reaches past the continental shelf and features deep and open water. The producers of this zone are plankton. Various swimming organisms can be recognized in this zone.
• Abyssal Zone – The abyssal zone refers to deep regions of the ocean. Organisms that inhabit the abyssal zone are those that have adapted to low light levels, high pressures and low temperatures. Animals in this zone feature unique attributes. Two examples of animals that inhabit this zone are the giant squid and the angler fish.