Invasive Species We will begin this discussion forum with the topic of invasive

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Invasive Species  We will begin this discussion forum with the topic of invasive species, and move into the Endangered Species Act. We should also include something on wetlands, since the US Supreme Court has recently taken two cases involving wetlands (the cases are from Michigan!). First, invasive species. These species can be particularly troublesome in the Great Lakes watershed. The watershed functions as a closed ecosystem, and this ecosystem has great difficulty adjusting to invaders! The Great Lakes radio consortium has several segments on invasives; you can view the archived programs at: http://www.environmentreport.org/story_archives/search.php3?query=invasive+species There are additional websites located in the Learning Modules. Habitat Alteration Species extinction is mostly attributed to habitat alteration.

Habitat alteration includes desertification, deforestation, pollution, and climate change. Discuss how habitat alteration can result in reduced biodiversity. We have already addressed this topic in the sustainable development discussion forum, and in the human population assignment. Many of the development patterns we observed will lead to a significant change of the environment and species may not be able to tolerate the change. One of the tenets of the smart growth movement is to create green infrastructure and wildlife corridors to maintain populations. Climate change is the largest unknown factor. We may protect habitats but if the climate changes the species may not be able to survive.

Biodiversity Maybe this is a little backwards! But, finally, I want you to discuss why this is important. What is biodiversity? Is it something that we should try to preserve? Edward O. Wilson (a leading scholar in this field) stated that we have three important sources of wealth: material, cultural and biological. Do you agree?

Explanation / Answer

Biodiversity is the variation among organisms from all sources, such as terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and it also includes variation within species, between species, and of ecosystems. It forms the foundation of the ecosystem in which human being is closely linked. In the Earth, the biosphere connects the atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere into one environmental system within which millions of species, including humans, have thrived.

Breathable air, clean water, fertile soils, productive lands, bountiful seas, the equitable climate of Earth’s recent history, and other ecosystem services are the important parameters for life. Huge manmade influences over this biota have great impacts on human well-being.

It clearly recognizes that every biota can be distinguished by its taxonomic, ecological, and genetic diversity and this diversity vary with space and time and this is a key feature of biodiversity. Thus it is very complex and multidimensional evaluation is necessary to provide the relationship between changes in biodiversity and changes in ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services.

Each single organism has a significant role in its ecosystem. We depend on innumerable species directly or indirectly for basic needs such as food, shelter, medicine, pollination and clothing. Preserving biologically diverse ecosystems will help to protect the essential ecosystem services. These are climate regulation, flood mitigation, food, fresh water, carbon appropriation, purification of water and air, poverty mitigation, nutrient cycling in the soil, wood and fiber, pollination of crops and natural vegetation, fuel, disease management, seed dispersal, aesthetics and spirituality, and prevention of soil erosion. These essential services are provided by healthy ecosystems and these make our lives possible. In an ecosystem when one species goes wiped out, it is dangerous to other species. A large reduction in the number of a species can be almost as harmful to an ecosystem and can severely weaken the entire ecosystem. We need to feed nature so we need to cure it and protect it if we want to secure a healthy and prosperous future for our children.

Today’s biodiversity is a result of 3.5 billion years of development. But due to human’s over-exploitation of natural resources, natural ecosystems are degrading at an unprecedented rate. Biodiversity conservation is the saving of life on Earth in all forms and saving the natural ecosystems functioning and healthy.

Habitat alteration is a change in land use or land area which causes an impact on local ecosystems. Plants and animals live in a particular place and have a condition of climate and food resources needed for their survival. Habitats vary from place to place-forest and grassland to urban areas, streams, ponds, and oceans. This habitat is subject to alteration, mainly by the influence of human activities. This may lead to habitat loss and is the greatest current risk to living species. Huge areas of land and water are spoiled by human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, and overfishing. These cause breakup of habitats, which cause damage to those animals in which that require a large habitat for breeding and survival. Many species have already become died out, mainly in tropical areas. It impacts food resources, such as fish stocks. It also can increase soil erosion and accelerate climate change. Controlled use of land and water is therefore require to minimize the impact of habitat alteration.

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