BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEM STABILITY, ENDANGERED SPECIES ACTS.pptx

Environmental Science

1. BIODIVERSITY and ECOSYSTEM STABILITY PRESENTED BY: LEARA GAIL PARTA JOSEPH TABAYOYONG FILNARD SEAN REYES

2. BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEM STABILITY The practice of conserving and preserving the variety of genes, species, habitats, ecosystems and even culture is as great as keeping your wealth intact. This is because biodiversity is for everyone’s survival since everything necessary for health, food, fuel, and services comes from it.

3. UNDERSTANDING BIODIVERSITY, HEALTH, AND ECOSYSTEM STABILITY What is Biodiversity? the two most acceptable definitions will be presented here accordingly: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992: “The variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”

4. UNDERSTANDING BIODIVERSITY, HEALTH, AND ECOSYSTEM STABILITY What is Biodiversity? 2. E.O Wilson 1998: “The variety of life at every hierarchical level and spatial scale of biological organizations: genes within populations, population within species, species within communities, communities within landscapes, landscapes within biomes, and biomes within the biosphere”. Hence, biodiversity encompasses variety of biological life at more than one scale (see also Fig. 6.2A).

5. The different levels of biodiversity are the following: 1. Genetic Diversity – the variety of genetic material within a species or a population. 2. Ecosystem Diversity – the variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth. 3. Species Diversity – the number and abundance of species present in different communities. 4. Functional Diversity – the biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter recycling needed for the survival of species, communities, sand ecosystems.

6. What is health? Health , according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is also: one of the most basic human rights, one of the most important indicators of sustainable development and, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is vital for the continued functioning of ecosystems at all scales as well as for the delivery of ecosystem services that are essential for human health.

7. The links between biodiversity and health are manifested at various spatial and temporal scales. In fact, the interconnection of biodiversity, human health and the respective policies and activities can be traced from planetary- scale biomes to human- microbial interactions: 1. At planetary scale- biodiversity and ecosystems play a critical role in determining the state of the Earth System, regulating its material and energy flows and its responses to abrupt or gradual change. 2. At a more intimate level, the human microbiota – the symbiotic microbial communities present on our gut, skin, respiratory and neuro-genital tracts, contributes to our nutrition, can help regulate our immune system, and prevent infections.

8. What is ecosystem stability? ECOSYSTEM Biodiversity at the ecosystem level refers to the variety of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment and conservation of biodiversity at the ecosystem level deals with the management of these interactions.

9. ECOSYSTEM An ecological system (or ecosystem) is a network of interactions among living organisms and between these organisms and their local environment.

10. ECOSYSTEM As the basic unit of interest in the study of ecology, an ecosystem has often been referred to as one of the larger entities in the biological hierarchical scale or ascending levels of organization in biology (e.g. cells-tissues-organs-organisms- populations-species-communities ecosystems-landscape- biosphere).

11. Characteristics of an ecosystem: Ecosystems have structures with physical (abiotic) and biological (biotic) components, spatio temporal patterns (e.g. vertical layering seasonal changes) and some degree of predictability (e.g. ecological succession, seasonal migration).

12. Characteristics of an ecosystem: Ecosystems carry on multiple, interdependent processes (e.g. photosynthesis, decomposition, nutrient cycling, interactions among trophic levels in the food chain.

13. Characteristics of an ecosystem: Ecosystems are dynamic. They are regulated by biological, physical, and social agents of change.

14. Characteristics of an ecosystem: Accordingly, the classification of ecosystems is affected by people’s perception of the natural world. Thus, any classification must take context into account, clearly articulating parameters and criteria for setting objectives and delineating the scope of an investigative study or management strategy.

15. Biodiversity and ecosystem stability The state or condition of an ecosystem is often described within the context of ecological integrity, ecosystem health, or level of degradation 1. Ecological Integrity • An ecosystem with ecological integrity is one that has persistence ( i.e capable of sustaining the functioning of the communities) and adaptability ( i.e capable of enduring stress through recovery, regeneration or modification • Ecosystems that have lost their cological integrity are considered “biologically dead”.

16. Biodiversity and ecosystem stability 2. Healthy Ecosystems • A healthy ecosystem has the ability to maintain itself with minimum human intervention and repair itself when some natural or anthropogenic disturbances occur. • An ecosystem is said to be healthy if it can maintain its structure and functions over a period of time even in the presence of environmental stress.

17. Biodiversity and ecosystem stability 3. Degraded Ecosystems • A degraded ecosystem is often referred to as the one that is “unhealthy” or “deteriorated”. • An unhealthy ecosystem is one that is incapable of maintaining its integrity over time.

18. What are the signs of unhealthiness in terrestrial ecosystems? 1 . Decline in species diversity and a shift in species composition to more stress-tolerant species i.e. displacement of native by alien species).

19. What are the signs of unhealthiness in terrestrial ecosystems? 2. Disease outbreaks and pest infestations e.g. pantropical disease (which could be due to monoculture). 3. A decrease in the symbionts of plant roots (e.g. mycorrhizae).

20. Environmental Indicators: Environmental indicators are biological, physical, chemical and socio-economic parameters or measures used in assessing the quality and sustainability of a given ecosystem It gauges the condition and vitality of an ecosystem

21. Environmental Indicators: Benchmark Sites: A yardstick against which comparisons can be made Attributes of a pristine or minimally disturbed natural area are commonly used in setting the standards for a healthy ecosystem

22. Therefore, the definition of an ecosystem integrity, stability or health is focused in general on a healthy ecosystem: one that performs its various functions well where equilibrium is maintained dependent upon biodiversity

23. Ecosystem Approach (EA) The Ecosystem Approach according to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2000) is a strategy for the integrated Management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. It further states that it is based on the application of appropriate scientific methodologies focused on levels of biological organization, which encompasses the essential structure, processes, functions and interactions among organisms and their environment. It recognizes that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component of many ecosystems.

24. Ecosystem Services The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005 defined Ecosystem services as benefits people obtain from Ecosystems. 1. provisioning services- the products people obtain from ecosystems Examples: food, freshwater, timber, fibers, medicinal plants. 2. regulating services- benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes Examples: regulation of climate, water and some human diseases.

25. Ecosystem Services 3. supporting services – that are necessary for the maintenance of all other ecosystem services Examples: biomass production, production of atmospheric oxygen, soil formation and retention, nutrient cycling, water cycling, and provisioning of habitat. 4. cultural services- the non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems Examples: spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation and aesthetic experience such as knowledge systems, social relations and aesthetic values.

26. Ecosystem services can be also classified into two based on the benefits and functions we derived from biodiversity:

27. The idea of ecosystem services, in a form of natural capital has been included in the continuous evolution of biodiversity concept; and generally, it is considered more as support to environmental functions. The ecosystem’s functions and provision of goods and services that are essentials to human health and well-being, are fortified by biodiversity.

28. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES The Philippine forest ecosystem currently consists of patches of old growth (primary) and second-growth forests, ranging in size from small to quite large. The old-growth forests, sometimes referred to as “virgin forests”, is not in the true sense “untouched” because it has actually been used and modified for hundreds of years by indigenous peoples.

29. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES Lowland rainforest -supporting more than 200-300 woody species and numerous other species of plants and animals, covering about 60-70% of the land area of the country in the early 1900s. It is now the most degraded forest type in the Philippines because of over-harvesting of the highly prized timber (Philippine Mahogany) and associated non-timber products (e.g. rattan, wildlife) as well as the conversion of forests to agriculture and other uses.

30. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES Because lowland tropical rainforests have thin topsoil and low nutrient content, the removal of vegetation makes them highly vulnerable to soil erosion, esp. during heavy rainfall.

31. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES b. Montane (mossy) forest • Located at about 1,000-3,000 meters in elevation • Dominated by tree species in the oak and laurel families • With numerous ferns and epiphytes • With high rainfall and the trees and the forest floor are shrouded with thick mats of moss that excel at receiving and slowly releasing rainwater forming the headwaters of most of the rivers in the Philippines and play an especially important role in hydrology

32. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES Removal of forest often causes catastrophic floods and landslides at this elevation but severe drought at lower elevation. Grades into mossy forest or upper montane forest. This forest type is sometimes called “cloud forest” because it is often covered with rain clouds. Trees are stunted (2-8 meters) and twisted due to high winds and steep terrain. The leaves of trees are usually smaller, harder, and thicker than those found at the lower altitudes; forest floor is covered with slowly decomposing organic matter.

33. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES c. Pine Forest Pine forests in the Philippines are of two-types-one type is dominated by Benguet Pine (Pinus insularis) in the Central Cordillera) at 1,000-2,5000 meters elevation, and the other type is dominated by Mindoro Pine (Pinus merkusii ) in northwestern Mindoro. These species are fire tolerant.

34. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES d. Coastal forests These include mangrove, beach, and karst forests: The mangrove forest is dominated by evergreen, woody trees (e.g. Rhizopora , Avicennia), which adapt to varying levels of salinity. The mangrove forest forms an interphase between the terrestrial lowland forest ecosystems and the marine notably seagrass beds and coral reefs.

35. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES e. Beach forest is found along sandy and gravely beaches along the seacoast. It forms a narrow strip of vegetation dominated by widely distributed species such as Terminalia cattapa , Casuarina equisetifolia , Acasia farnesina . Much of the beach forest in the country has been indiscriminately removed to give way to tourism and human settlement.

36. FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES f. Karst forest is a special forest type found in several coastal areas in the country. Karst is a limestone landscape formed by minerals in solution in natural waters. Because soil moisture and nutrients are limiting, only a few but highly distinctive species survive on coastal mountains.

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