Overall unit study for 3.A

• The 6 major human activities that are causing species extinction: HIPPCO

  H - Habitat

  I - Invasives

  P - Population

  P - Pollution

  C - Climate Change

  O - Over exploitation
• Bioaccumulation - accumulation of toxin of an individual

  Biomagnification - accumulation of toxin throughout the trophic levels
• • Mitigation - lessens the impact of certain things; like using a helmet when biking
  • Restoration - restoring it to its original state
  • Reclamation - when there is a disturbance (wildfire etc.) returning it to its predisturbed state (improving the land)
  • Replacement - Impossible to restore, so replace/change the ecosystem (turning a wetland into a forest)
• • Old growth forest - high diversity
  • Secondary growth forest - high diversity but not as much as old growth forests
  • Tree plantation - low diversity; they usually consist of the same species
• Mitigation banking - any aquatic resource area that has been restored/enhanced of twice the area just in case of any unavoidable impact won’t have too much of an effect
• Keystone species - have a large effect on the types and abundance of other species
• K-selected species: vulnerable to extinction due to low reproduction rate
• r-selected species: have a higher chance to adapt to sudden changes
• Ecotourism: tourism intended to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife

  Ex. buffer zones
• Ecosystem/Economic services:

  • increases habitat for wildlife
  • decreases CO2 in atmosphere
  • provides resources
  • decreases soil erosion
  • decreases flooding
• Ethical consideration: thinking about what's right and responsible when dealing with the environment, people, and the future
• Habitat fragmentation: when parts of a habitat are destroyed, leaving behind smaller unconnected areas
• Reclamation: when there is a disturbance, it is returned to its predisturbed state (not original state, for it is improved)
• Mitigation: lessens the impact
• Replacement Impossible to restore and replaces the ecosystem with something else that is also sustainable

  Ex. wetland --> forest
• Restoration: returning to its original state
• Costa Rica Natural Reserves:

  they put in much of their efforts into the conservation of their forests with the use of ecotourism and preventing any more deforestation
• Grasslands:

  • supplies forage for animals
  • gets degraded by overgrazing and the weight of multiple cattle
• Wetlands:

  • provides habitats, resources, and prevents flooding
  • gets drained, filled in, and covered for settlement, freshwater, or agriculture
• Urbanization advantages:

  * center of economic development

  * mass transportation

  * preservation of biodiversity outside of urban areas
• Urbanization disadvantages:

  * Huge ecological footprint

  * Lack of vegetation

  * water problems

  * concentration of pollution

  * altered climate and light pollution
• Eco-city/Smart growth planning:

  • choose walking, biking, or mass transportation
  • building vehicles & appliances that meet high energy efficient standards
  • abandoned lots and industrial sites are cleaned up and used
  • food should be grown locally
  • protect biodiversity by preserving surrounding land