Week 9 T1/T2

Changes

to Classification Systems

Wildlife Biology

Upcoming Activities

Taxonomy

The evolution of life on Earth over the past 4 billion years has resulted in a huge variety of species. For more than 2,000 years, humans have been trying to classify the great diversity of life. Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms and is an important step in understanding the evolutionary history of life on Earth. A new technology that allows us to see the genetic code (DNA) of an organism reveals a great deal about its relationship to other organisms. Scientists are reclassifying species based on shared DNA sequences.

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Red Pandas have been classified as raccoons and bears. DNA evidence places Red Pandas in their own family because they are not very similar to any other organism.

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

New technologies like DNA sequencing allows scientists to refine classification of organisms to reflect new knowledge of evolutionary history.

Question 9

(1:30 - 4:15)

Question 10

Accurate taxonomy is critical because it helps determine whether the species is truly new or just a variation of an existing one. This affects conservation status and how resources are used. If an outdated classification is used, we might overlook a species that is endangered or misidentify it, leading to poor protection decisions.

9.2 Threats to Wildlife

Wildlife are under threat from many different kinds of human activities, from directly destroying habitat to spreading invasive species and disease. Invasive Species are among the leading threats to native wildlife. Approximately 42 percent of threatened or endangered species are at risk due to invasive species.

Question 1

Question 2

An invasive species can be any kind of living organism that are not native to an ecosystem and causes harm to the environment. They usually grow and reproduce quickly, and have potential to cause harm. An invasive species does not have to come from another country. For example, lake trout are native to the Great Lakes, but are considered to be an invasive species in Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming because they compete with native cutthroat trout for habitat.

Question 3

Invasive species are primarily spread by human activities, often unintentionally. People, and the goods we use, travel around the world very quickly, and they often carry uninvited species with them. Ships can carry aquatic organisms in their ballast water, while smaller boats may carry them on their propellers. Insects can get into wood, shipping palettes, and crates that are shipped around the world. Some ornamental plants can escape into the wild and become invasive. Some invasive species are intentionally or accidentally released pets, like the Burmese python problem in the Florida Everglades.

Question 4

Questions 5 & 6

Question 7

They should monitor the bird's diet, reproduction rate, and impact on local species. If it competes with or harms native birds or plants, steps like containment or removal may be necessary to prevent ecological disruption.

Question 8

Question 9

Next week's Assignment 10.1

Invasive Species Poster Project