Week 6 extinction

• Biodiversity


  The variety of life in an area, referring to every living thing including plants, bacteria, animals and humans
• Population (in biodiversity)

  A group of organisms of the same species living in a certain place
• Biodiversity


  The variety of life in an area, referring to every living thing including plants, bacteria, animals and humans
• High diversity vs low diversity

  • Tuba tahari (marine ecosystem with different aquatic species) vs coconut plantation (dominated by coconut trees)
• Threatened species


  • Species whose population declines so fast that it becomes endangered, e.g. Philippine eagle
• Population (in biodiversity)


  A group of organisms of the same species living in a certain place
• Endangered species


  • Species whose population is so low that only a few remain, e.g. tamarao and tarsier in the Philippines
• High diversity vs low diversity

  • Tuba tahari (marine ecosystem with different aquatic species) vs coconut plantation (dominated by coconut trees)
• Extinct species


  • Species where the last member has died, e.g. Philippine rhinoceros, Asian elephant, fossil murids, cebu tamaraw, Philippine deer, Philippine crocodile, Philippine rhinoceros, Philippine tiger
• Threatened species


  • Species whose population declines so fast that it becomes endangered, e.g. Philippine eagle
• Extinct animals in the Philippines


  • Asian elephant (Holocene)
  • Fossil murids (Pleistocene or Holocene)
  • Cebu tamaraw (Pleistocene or Holocene)
  • Philippine deer (Holocene)
  • Philippine crocodile (Holocene)
  • Philippine rhinoceros (Pleistocene)
  • Philippine tiger (Holocene)
• Endangered species


  • Species whose population is so low that only a few remain, e.g. tamarao and tarsier in the Philippines
• Natural causes of extinction

  • Climatic heating and cooling
  • Changes in sea levels or currents
  • Asteroids and cosmic radiation
  • Acid rain
  • Disease epidemics
  • Spread of invasive species
• Extinct species


  • Species where the last member has died, e.g. Philippine rhinoceros, Asian elephant, fossil murids, cebu tamaraw, Philippine deer, Philippine crocodile, Philippine rhinoceros, Philippine tiger
• Extinct animals in the Philippines


  • Asian elephant (Holocene)
  • Fossil murids (Pleistocene or Holocene)
  • Cebu tamaraw (Pleistocene or Holocene)
  • Philippine deer (Holocene)
  • Philippine crocodile (Holocene)
  • Philippine rhinoceros (Pleistocene)
  • Philippine tiger (Holocene)
• Human causes of extinction


  • Increased human population
  • Destruction and fragmentation of habitat
  • Pollution (water and air)
  • Climate change/global warming
  • Habitat degradation
• Natural causes of extinction

  • Climatic heating and cooling
  • Changes in sea levels or currents
  • Asteroids and cosmic radiation
  • Acid rain
  • Disease epidemics
  • Spread of invasive species
• Organisms need a balanced environment, and if any part of the ecosystem is disturbed, other parts will also be affected
• Human causes of extinction


  • Increased human population
  • Destruction and fragmentation of habitat
  • Pollution (water and air)
  • Climate change/global warming
  • Habitat degradation
• Organisms need a balanced environment, and if any part of the ecosystem is disturbed, other parts will also be affected
• Crocodiles, snakes, and mosquitoes cause harm when encountered and attacked by humans
• Crocodiles, snakes, and mosquitoes still help us in other ways and we need them to balance our ecosystem
• Eliminating crocodiles, snakes, and mosquitoes is not the answer because they have important roles in the environment
• Snakes found in esteros, canals, and comfort rooms are likely due to loss of their natural habitat and them having to find new places to live
• Organisms can adapt easily to changing environments, while others cannot
• Extinct animals of the Philippines

  • Asian elephant or elephant's maximus
  • Stegodon luzonensis
  • Palawan fossil sirenia
  • Fossil murines
  • Tiger panthera tigris species
  • Philippine rhinoceros
• Habitat loss and degradation

  Affect 86% of threatened birds, 86% of mammals, and 88% of threatened amphibians
• Causes of species extinction


  Increase in population, destruction and fragmentation of habitat, pollution, and climate change/global warming
• Invasive species


  Use resources that other species depend on, leading to the survival of the fittest and one species dying off
• Acid rain


  Increases the acidity of soil, affecting plant life, and can disturb rivers and lakes to a possibly lethal level
• Disease and epidemics


  Species are losing their ability to fend off disease and becoming more susceptible, leading to eventual extinction
• Climate change and global warming

  Species are not used to severe weather conditions and long seasons, leading to extinction
• Changes in sea levels and currents


  Affect marine life that depends on them
• Asteroids or cosmic radiation


  Can have a devastating impact on the environment, leading to extinction
• Humans may also become extinct due to diseases and pandemics in the future
• Programs and projects are needed to avoid the extinction of human beings