BIOLOGY 1M03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Coral Reef, Atelopus, Monteverde
14 Jun 2020
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Document Summary
Extinction risk due to global warming: extinctions due to human caused climate change are already happening, cold loving species with range restrictions. Climate-linked epidemic hypothesis: in 1989 the monteverde harlequin frog and the golden toad were extinct, ~67% of the ~110 atelopus species met the same fate, chytrid fungus is implicated. Paradox: chytrid grows on amphibian skin and is widespread, deserts to cold mountain tops, often saprophytic/non-lethal parasitic, host mortality in highlands or during winter. Use of fossil fuels: developed countries are extravagant users, fossil fuel corporations (exxon mobil) knew about global warming in the 1980s, fossil fuel companies deliberately hid results and funded climate change deniers. Number and relative frequency of all alleles in a species: ecosystem diversity. Regional array of biotic communities with the abiotic components. Value of biodiversity: sources for agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, and animal husbandry, sources for medicine. Vincristine 95% remission from type of leukaemia.
