Extinction

a presentation on endangered and extinct animals

1. EXTINCTION

2. WHAT IS EXTINCTION?

3. Local extinction: a species is no longer found in a portion of its range Ecological extinction: so few members of a population are left that it can no longer serve its purpose in the ecosystem Biological extinction: a species is no longer found anywhere on earth WHAT IS EXTINCTION?

4. Endangered: a species in danger of becoming extinct over all or most of its natural range Threatened: a species in danger of becoming endangered in the near future Rare: species that are limited in their distribution What are endangered, threatened, and rare species?

5. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION Genetics and demographic phenomena  Genetic pollution  Habitat degradation  Predation, competition, and disease   Coextinction  Global warming

6. Population genetics and demographic phenomena affect the evolution, and therefore the risk of extinction, of species. Limited geographic range is the most important determinant of genus extinction at background rates but becomes increasingly irrelevant as mass extinction arises. Effects that cause or reward a loss in genetic diversity can increase the chances of extinction of a species.  4. Genetics and demographic phenomena

7. Genetic pollution Genetic pollution  is undesirable and uncontrolled gene flow into wild populations. Genetic pollution, genetic contamination  or  genetic swamping  happens when original set of naturally evolved (wild) region specific genes /gene pool of wild animals and plants become hybridized with domesticated and feral varieties or with the genes of other nonnative wild species or subspecies from neighboring or far away regions .

8. HABITAT DEGRADATION Habitat degradation is currently the main anthropogenic cause of species extinctions. The main cause of habitat degradation worldwide is agriculture, with urban sprawl, logging, mining and some fishing practices close behind. The degradation of a species' habitat may alter the fitness landscape to such an extent that the species is no longer able to survive and becomes extinct. 

9. Predation, Competition, and Disease Introduction of new competitor species are also a factor in extinction and often accompany habitat degradation, as well. Sometimes these new competitors are predators and directly affect prey species, while at other times they may merely out-compete vulnerable species for limited resources.

10. COEXTINCTION Coextinction refers to the loss of a species due to the extinction of another; for example, the extinction of parasitic insects following the loss of their hosts.

11. Our climate is changing, both naturally and due to human exploitation. There is already undeniable evidence that animals, birds and plants are being affected by climate change and global warming  in both their distribution and behavior. Unless greenhouse gas emissions are severely reduced, climate change could cause a quarter of land animals, birdlife and plants to become extinct. 5. GLOBAL WARMING

12. Probably 500 million species have existed over time “Background” rate of extinction: Amount of species that went extinct before humans became the dominant species on earth With the advent of agriculture species extinctions have increased dramatically 8000 b.c . to a.d . 1600, one species went extinct every thousand years In 1985 1000 species went extinct every year In 2000, between 20,000 and 50,000 species are considered doomed to extinction every year Extinction

13. 99% of all of the species that have ever inhabited the earth are extinct There are natural rates of extinction: “Background rate” of species loss There have been 5 periods of mass extinction throughout history We are now in the worst extinction crisis in the last 65 million years! Is extinction natural?

14. How does the current mass extinction differ from past ones? Caused by one species--- Humans Occurring rapidly--- over decades rather than 1,000s of years Destroying biologically diverse ecosystems Losing keystone species Losing highly adapted species Scientists estimate that current species loss is 100 to 1000 times the background extinction rate

15. Against Extinctions will lead to ecological disaster is an exaggeration. e.g.: Fossil evidence shows that mass extinctions have occurred many times throughout the history of life . By the principle of “survival of the fittest”. Life forms that cannot keep up with the rapid changing world will always risk extinction, unless they adapt to the new challenges.

16. Economic or Medical uses Scientific and Ecological reasons Aesthetics and Recreation Ethical reasons Extinction is forever Why care about species loss?

17. Reasons for preventing species from becoming extinct The future of our natural environment is becoming uncertain as wildlife and wildlife habitats disappear. Every species in our world plays a unique role in earth's intricate ecosystems. Plants, animals and humans live together on the same land and water, and they are interdependent on each other for survival in the way that we do not fully understand.

18. Legal Protection of Endangered Species Federal Endangered Species Act California Endangered Species Act California Environmental Quality Act California Department of Fish and Game Code

19. Some Statistics ¼ of the world’s mammals will be extinct in 30 years Ex: Lion populations have declined 90% over the last 20 years (from 200,000 to 23,000) UN Environmental Programme identifies 11,000 endangered plant and animal species

20. I request all of you to join with me and protect the animals from becoming extinct

21. THANK YOU