CONSERVATION HOTSPOTS HAVE VERY LOW PROTECTION

CONSERVATION HOTSPOTS HAVE VERY LOW PROTECTION

Our world is vast. Today the planet earth is home to so many varieties of soil, vegetation and animal species that it is hard to believe… that little by little mankind, with its irresponsible activities and habits, is destroying it all.

To address this situation, various professional groups, researchers and other experts developed the concept of “Conservation Hotspots”. As applied in geology, “hotspots” are areas of particular interest. In the field of environmental conservation, this interest derives from the immense amount of biodiversity that these hotspots harbour.

READ MORE:BIODIVERSITY ALERT RENEWED: ARE WE ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION?

 

THE FIRST MAJOR GLOBAL ESTIMATE

We owe the concept of “conservation hotspots” to professional research work led by IRNAS-CSIC, better known as the Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of the Spanish National Research Council pornos).

To carry out the study, it was necessary to analyse just over 10,000 observational exercises of continuous biodiversity in a wide variety of animal and plant ecosystems, as well as approximately 615 different soil types.
For their assessment, the scientists used the following criteria:

  • The richness of each living animal or plant.
  • The uniqueness of each of them.
  • The interaction with ecosystems.

The study revealed, among other things, a very interesting key fact: each type of soil, due to its particular characteristics, offers a greater conservation ecosystem to different animal or plant species. For example:

  • Temperate ecosystems have a lot of areal biodiversity.
  • Arid and tropical ecosystems harbour greater soil biodiversity.

This is why determining general guidelines for the conservation of these areas is so challenging.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION HOTSPOTS?

With this main constraint in mind, and by contrasting the study with reality, it was concluded that the “conservation hotspots” are not receiving the level of care they require globally to ensure the survival of biodiversity.

READ MORE:THE CHALLENGE: IDENTIFYING EXISTING BIODIVERSITY, UNDERSTANDING HOW IT IS CHANGING AND WHY”

The experts point out that, when delimiting “conservation areas” or natural spaces protected by the State, not all of the variables mentioned above are being taken into account, making the guidelines for selecting and establishing conservation norms not adapted to real needs.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION HOTSPOTS?

Manuel Delgado, leader of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Laboratory at IRNAS-CSIC, affirms that the State has not been very interested in these differentiations either, delimiting spaces and measures that protect animal and plant diversity, without taking into account the soil itself and all its variants.

This is largely due to the current widespread ignorance we have of soil as such and its impact on ecosystems, despite the fact that we practically eat, breathe and exist indirectly thanks to them.

Ana Rey, a leading scientist on the team, also points to the need to be able to preserve soils by making the proper delimitation by type, understanding that each plays a fundamental role in human survival. After all, most soils are exposed not only to natural factors. But also to climate change and human intervention.

What do you think about this issue, and do you think that governments have not made the necessary effort to ensure the conservation of our planet’s biodiversity?

 

 

 

BIODIVERSITY ALERT RENEWED: ARE WE ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION?

BIODIVERSITY ALERT RENEWED: ARE WE ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION?

According to scientists and researchers Pedro Cermeño and Carmen García-Comas Rubio, there are an estimated 8.7 million species of living organisms on Earth, the largest number in history. But at the same time, biodiversity on our planet has never been so threatened.

So far, as far as we know, five mass extinctions have occurred on Earth. The most likely reasons were increased volcanic activity (due to the accumulation of radioactive energy within the planet), as well as the impact of extraterrestrial bodies (the famous meteorite).

READ MORE: “THE CHALLENGE: IDENTIFYING EXISTING BIODIVERSITY, UNDERSTANDING HOW IT IS CHANGING AND WHY”

Today, 250 million years after the last mass extinction, and according to the scientists mentioned above, we are closer than ever to a sixth one. However, this time the cause would be directly related to human activity, which has altered and continues to alter the ecosystems of our planet.

 

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Biodiversity, in simple terms, refers to the variety of living organisms that exist and have existed on our planet, as well as their interaction with the environment and ecosystems. It can also include the genetic diversity that exists between species.

Although humans have dedicated ourselves to studying nature, we still do not know all the species found on the planet and how they relate to each other and to us. Therefore, preserving all forms of life is of vital importance for the Earth’s balance and our survival.

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Dr Aníbal Pouchard, founder of the Biological Invasions Laboratory (LIB) at the University of Concepción in Chile, believes that although we tend to focus on endangered mammals, “we are also losing insects, bacteria and fungi, which can be very useful to humans and we don’t know what we are losing,” he told TVU in an interview.

READ MORE: “BIODIVERSITY: TOWARDS A WHOLE PLANET

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), approximately 5,200 species of animals are currently threatened with extinction. According to National Geographic, this represents 20% of the more than 7.7 million animal species xnxx. And that’s not counting other living organisms, such as plants.

 

 

ANTHROPOCENE, THE NEW GEOLOGICAL ERA MARKED BY HUMANS

Throughout Earth’s history, our planet has experienced several eras, with drastic changes in climate leading to the disappearance of life forms and the emergence of new ones. However, these changes have been accelerated by human activity.

To define these changes, the Dutch scientist Paul Crutzen, winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, coined the concept “anthropocene”, which would define the geological era marked by changes resulting from human activity.

The greatest impact is estimated to have occurred in the last 100 years, although others consider this to be a product of World War II and the use of nuclear bombs. For Dr. Pauchard, the biggest impact is the invention of plastic, which we use for basically everything and is a material that does not degrade easily.

ANTHROPOCENE, THE NEW GEOLOGICAL ERA MARKED BY HUMANS

The global effect of economic activity, especially the use of fossil fuels, is being felt. Especially with the most recent extreme weather (heat waves) and phenomena such as hurricanes, and more frequent storms. “A generalised increase in temperature translates into an increase of energy in the atmosphere (leading to) catastrophic phenomena,” says Dr Pauchard.

So what can we do? The answer is clear: public policies that support environmental protection are needed, as well as individual changes that do have an important impact. In addition to pressure from countries to accelerate a Sustainable Agenda for 2030, each of us has to make changes that, as Dr Pauchard explains, will not only save the planet, but also improve our quality of life.

 

 

 

The Impact of Technology in Children with Autism

The Impact of Technology in Children with Autism

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience symptoms that range from mild to severe. However, there are common characteristics shared by individuals with autism. They have difficulties with communication and social interactions and have a narrow scope of interests. They also show repetitive behavioral patterns and can become anxious if routines are disturbed. Management of autism should start at an early age by combining different strategies to suit the child’s needs with ASD.

Evidence has it that technology can come in handy for children with autism spectrum. Today, technology is everywhere and very accessible porno français, and parents and autistic children should make maximum use of technology. Below are some impacts technology has on the lives of children with autism.

 

Improved Communication

Technology can help bolster augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in children with autism. A significant percentage of children with ASD are minimally verbal. Despite the challenge, these children have the need and desire to communicate their needs. AAC devices and mobile apps can help children with ASD interact in a manner that engages their favorite style of communication. These technologies can lower the events that can trigger the child to show agitation because the physical expression is rooted in the child’s perceived inability to have their needs understood.

 

Modeling Behavior

The Impact of Technology in Children with Autism

Children with ASD often experience more difficulty with novel activities that other children handle easily. They may fail to know how to conduct themselves in new situations. With technology, parents can model their children’s steps into new activities or environments. This can boost the child’s confidence and lower the feelings of anxiety. For example, if a child is preparing for a first airplane ride, technology can assist them in having a better understanding of the entire process.

 

Scheduling Skills

Thanks to technology, various scheduling apps for children with ASD are available. These mobile apps provide tasks in a sequential manner to aid the child to complete tasks and work on essential life skills, including self-care and daily living. Due to special considerations, the apps are designed to be visual. The visual indicators on completed tasks can help the child feel accomplished while working through what may appear like an overwhelming amount of steps to achieve a task. It is no doubt that these visual schedulers can help a child with autism learns independent living skills and more.

 

Motivational Tool

Kids with ASD enjoy computer and smartphone games like other children. Numerous games focus on helping children with ASD develop cognitive skills while playing. These apps come in handy as an addition to the parenting tools. Parents can use the apps to motivate kids to complete a chore or build a skill. Learning games are also an excellent way of rewarding children with ASD for good behavior.

 

Development of Social Skills

Children with ASD often lack or have poor social skills. These skills are essential for a child to fit in a conventional classroom and social groups. Children with autism may not abide by social norms such as waiting their turn or maintaining eye contact with the speaking person. A child can learn these skills through repetition and patience. Some apps have gentle approaches to aid child master common social cues like facial expressions.

 

Enhanced Learning through Games

Technology is an excellent tool for supporting learners regardless of their abilities. This is because using technology to teach engages many of the child’s senses. Learning apps feature bright colors as well as lights for visual stimulation, while the sounds and words are good for auditory learning. The learner will push buttons, slide tiles, and drag objects to engage the sense of touch. Another great thing about learning apps is that children can repeat them as often.

 

 

 

Biodiversity: towards a whole planet

What Is Biodiversity?

In essence, biological diversity or biodiversity is the sum of all life on Earth. It includes the vast array of life forms, their individual genetic makeup, their life processes, and their interrelationships in communities and ecosystems. Peter H. Rogan, Director of the Botanical Garden offers this more eloquent definition:

“At the simplest level, biodiversity is the sum total of all the plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms in the world, or in a particular area; all of their individual variation; and all of the interactions between them. It is the set of living organisms that make up the fabric of the planet Earth and allow it to function as it does, by capturing energy from the sun and using it to drive all of life’s processes; by forming communities of organisms that have, through several billion years on Earth, altered the nature of the atmosphere, the soil and the water of our planet; and by making possible the sustainability of our planet through their life activities now.”

Biodiversity Studies

According to Edward O. Wilson, a world-renowned scientist and researcher, biodiversity emerged as a scientific discipline during the last 25 years in response to two important events: the realization that human activity threatens the extinction of many plant and animal species either directly or indirectly, by habitat destruction, and the recognition that we have the ability to end that process at minimal cost to human welfare. Biodiversity studies are a hybrid discipline, drawing on both evolutionary biology and biotechnology in “the systematic examination of the full array of organisms and the origin of this diversity, together with the technology by which diversity can be maintained and utilized for the benefit of humanity.”

Levels Of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is commonly studied at three levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

Genetic Diversity

Genetic diversity refers to the different genetic makeup up of individual plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. It includes both genetic variation within a single species and between different species.

Species Diversity

Species diversity is, simply, the variety of species. It includes all the differences within and between species populations, as well as among different species. Species diversity is often used to mean “species richness,” or the number of different species present in a specific habitat. However, it can also be measured in terms of either “species abundance” – the relative population sizes among various species – or “taxonomic diversity” — the genetic linkages between different groups of species. (To learn more about how organisms are classified, follow links from our Biodiversity Reference Material Page to the Sidwell School’s Classification Lab website)

Most discussions on biodiversity focus on species diversity. Evolution occurs at the species level, and the origination and extinction of species are the primary factors impacting biological diversity.

Ecosystem Diversity

Ecosystem diversity is more difficult to define than the other two levels of biodiversity. It comprises the many differences among ecosystem types, including diversity of habitats and ecological processes. In practice, ecosystem diversity can only be evaluated on a local or regional basis, rather than on a global scale; however, even this assessment is difficult due to the ever-changing boundaries of ecological communities and ecosystems.

Number of Species

Approximately 1.7 million species have so far been identified and scientifically described, but this represents only a fraction of life on Earth. The United Nations’ 1995 Global Biodiversity Assessment estimated the total number of species at 14 million, although other estimates range from 5 million to more than 100 million!

Microorganisms and insects are thought to comprise the largest numbers of species. Insects alone are estimated to account for between 2 and 100 million species, with a working estimate within the scientific community of 8 million. Of the 100 species of animals described to date, approximately 750,000 are insects.

Scientists are working to classify and describe additional species, but it is a slow and painstaking process. For example, as many as half the plant species of Colombia’s Chocó region, including trees and shrubs, do not have a scientific name. On occasion, even new species of mammals are discovered, such as the Chinese muntjac, a kind of deer, and the sun-tailed guenon, a monkey found in Gabon. Most recently, in April 2000, the Amazon National Research institute announced the discovery of two new monkey species in northwestern Brazil.

Measuring Biodiversity

The history of life on Earth spans approximately 3.75 billion years, the last 600 million years of which has seen a tremendous growth in biodiversity. At that time, the Earth underwent a major ecological transformation. The concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere increased dramatically, and a shield of ozone was created in the stratosphere, providing protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation. These changes permitted the emergence of larger animals in the Earth’s oceans and proliferation of plants, and later, animals on land surfaces. With the exception of a plateau reached during the Mesozoic Era, this diversity of life forms continued to grow, and Earth’s biodiversity is now at or near its peak.

Every life form plays a role in ecosystem processes, although both the nature and scope of its functions will vary. The contribution of a single species to biodiversity is frequently measured in two ways. The first is its taxonomic significance; that is to say that the more different a species is – or the more isolated in the taxonomic hierarchy used to classify species – the greater its contribution to the overall measure of global biodiversity. The second measure focuses on the impact of a particular species on an ecological community. So-called “keystone species” are those whose role within the ecosystem is so great that their removal from the local or regional ecosystem will have a disproportionate effect.

Recent experimental studies have shown that overall ecosystem productively declines as the number of species in the community decreases. This loss of productivity is most dramatic in managed ecosystems – such as crop growing lands and timber plantations – where the variety of species is particularly small. The findings of the one available long-term field study on plant species richness also indicate that reductions in plant species diversity lowered the ecosystem’s resistance to drought.

Researchers have identified two possible explanations for this relationship between plant diversity and productivity. The first, called the “sampling effect,” relies on basic probability, i.e., greater the number of species present, the more likely some will be species with higher levels of contributions to ecosystem functioning. The second proposed explanation is the “complementarity effect,” where increased diversity leads to an increase in the number of species which are complementary rather than competitive in their use of available resources. This creates a more efficient and productive ecological community.

Ecosystem processes are driven by the combined activities of all the species which comprise that community, and reductions in species diversity can severely diminish its productivity. However, it is as yet impossible to predict how the loss of any single species will impact the overall ecological balance – or how it may affect the welfare of man.