BIOC63H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Old-Growth Forest, Forest Steppe, Dung Beetle
Document Summary
Habitat destruction: land use is the largest threat to biodiversity, the destruction is in full swing in the tropics. Has already occurred in n. america: yellow red = high biodiversity, highest biodiversity is in the tropics this is also the same areas that are now being destroyed. Destruction of terrestrial wetlands: 6 states lost more than 95% of wetlands including their ecosystem services due to construction, agriculture etc. 50% deduction in mangroves worldwide so far. Fish that spend majority of life in ocean, but come back to these places to pawn the young and etc. Shrimp hatcheries are the number 1 reason why we are loosing the mangroves. Wildlife affected by things like roads, in the park used to be all forest even preserved provincial parks are still affected due to roads running through the park i. e. wildlife is affected. Diversity in fragments vs. ecosystem function: number of plant species and functional groups alter plant biomass in grasslands.