Geography 2156B Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Defaunation, Keystone Species, Ocean Acidification

• School: Western University
• Department: Geography
• Course: Geography 2156B
• Professor: tony weis

Document Summary

"extremely high degree of ppl decay in vertebrates, even in common "species of low concern" "principal factor" w *habitat loss* invasive species w large species on the brink: hunting. Defaunation- also a major drive of global ecological change. Animal will cascade onto ecosystem functioning w physiological stress. w new dynamics + distribution of pests, disease vectors, invasive species (severe: ampbian) w habitats untenable: considerable evidence that many species are migrating pole-ward / upward in. New temp n moisture patterns n extremes elevation, but . No guarantee of suitable new niches n food supplies. Absolute loss of habitat n food supplies (sea ice, ocean acidification) w. "largely cryptic phenomenon need for more research n applied attention w complexity of interactions b/n: land use changes (shrinking + fragmenting habitat) Ppl health & genetics (w/ extirpation & isolation)