GEOG 310 Lecture 9: Lecture 9
Document Summary
Today"s outline: what is freshwater biodiversity(overview of threats, climate change impacts on freshwater biodiversity glacier example, dams flow modification and use for hydropower. Potential alternative to barriers: estimating global threats to biodiversity. What does freshwater biodiversity look like: fate of the bridle shiner(a minnow) in eastern canada(a species of special concern) When there is pollution, it cannot find it"s food. Some cases, freshwater species are used as indicator species. If this species is in danger, it could be possible that other species are in danger also: 40% of all species live in fresh water, 1/3 of all vertebrates live in freshwater. Larger organisms are dependent on smaller organisms in the food web. Decomposition: one of the main contributions of small organisms in freshwater(besides being the base of food webs) Different types of things that break down larger structure: breaking down leaves from larger to smaller. What kind of ecosystem functions and services can freshwater biodiv provide: decomposition: provides filtering/cleaning ecosystems.
