Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Biodiversity Hotspots: Carribean

Biodiversity Hotspots: Caribbean

Introduction:

Biodiversity is the variance of life on earth. (Conservation International). It is vital to the foundation of an ecosystem because it lifts the ecosystem's potency in which all species, no matter the size, all have critical roles to play. (Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?). For this project our group chose the Caribbean for our hotspot. This biologically and culturally diverse area is an important reservoir of biodiversity because of the large quantities of unique and endemic species it contains who are facing endangerment because of habitat loss and degradation caused by humans.(Habitat loss and extinction in the hotspots of biodiversity).
Myers, Norman, et al. "Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities." Nature 403.6772 (2000): 853-858. 

  Background Information:


"Caribbean Islands." N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015.
The Caribbean Islands hotspot geographically includes the Caribbean sea and all islands situated southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, North of South America, and east of Central America. (Caribbean Map). This region mainly consists of three large groups of islands: the Bahamas, the Lesser Antilles, and the Greater Antilles (Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, and Hispaniola).( Caribbean Islands).The hotspot is found in tropical and subtropical dry forests biomes (Terrestrial Biome). and supports ecosystems and habitats ranging from cactus scrublands to montane cloud forests to mangrove forests to coral reefs.




Picture
"The Food Web." Ecology of the Caribbean Sea. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://itzascaribbeanseaecology.weebly.com/the-food-web.html>.
Also, the cultural biodiversity of this place is extremely high with influences from Native American, African, European, Hispanic, and Asian cultures. (THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT). NPP is the measurement found by subtracting an areas GPP from its rate of respiration and this finds the amount of new foliage growth within a fixed interval of time (Net Primary Production). The Caribbean has an average NPP rate of 7,333 (kcal/m2/yr), indicating that this region has a large base at the food chain. (Ecosystems: What are They and How Do They Work?).

Discussion:

Economically, the tourism industry of the Caribbean has drawn in millions of visitors and is one of the leading economic sectors among many of the islands, earning 8 million annually. (Tourism in the Caribbean: impacts on the economic, social and natural environments).Forestry, mining, fishing, and energy production are also economic sectors among the hotspot. Despite all of the many economic services that the region supplies, several natural services are provided by this hotspot as well. For instance Forests play a huge role by protecting the land from erosion, flooding, and storms, supplying wood for fuel, acting as nursery habitats for fish, absorbing nutrients,trapping sediments left behind by rivers, and reducing eutrophication in the islands waters.(Socioeconomics, policy, and Civil Society Context of the Region). The Caribbean's ecosystems, and all the services they provide, are extremely important and human civilization depends on it; however, scientists have found that these ecosystems are being degraded. (Ecosystem services). The main threats to the Caribbean's biodiversity is habitat fragmentation and degradation due to the expansion of cities, tourism, and commercial development, overexploitation of living resources, invasive species, pollution,  and climate change. (Influence of Coastal Economic Valuations in the Caribbean).


Table 10. Prioritized Threats in the Caribbean Islands Hotspot


THREATSAverage prioritization score
(on a scale from 1–4)
Invasive Species3.7
Residential, Commercial Development3.5
Severe Weather, Climate Change3.3
Human Disturbance2.8
Agricultural Expansion, Intensification2.7
Over-exploitation2.7
Mining, Energy Production2.6
Pollution2.4
Transportation2.3
Geological Events1.2

"Threats." Www.cepf.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.cepf.net/where_we_work/regions/caribbeanislands/ecosystem_profile/pages/threats.aspx>.


Implications of Degradation:

Economic- 

Coral reefs are an integral part of the Caribbean fabric, threading along thousands of kilometers of coastline. Rich in life and beauty, they serve a multitude of purposes to the Caribbean people. The fisheries supply food for millions of people, and there oceans attract people from around the world bringing with them tourism dollars for the Caribbeans growing economy; However, it is expected that if the degradation continues it will result in less tourism and thus less money. (Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean).

Culture-

Poverty in the Caribbean is has been directly linked to the degradation of                                         
the island's natural environment. For example, in Haiti wood fuel has become a very popular alternative source and as a result the demand for wood increased, causing deforestation, and leaving haiti ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world with only 1.5% of its original tree cover remaining. (Haiti's Poverty Is Directly Linked to Deforestation and Habitat Loss).


Environmental degradation has impacted the functional diversity and ecosystem processes of the Caribbean in many ways. To begin with, ecosystems such as the coral reefs are at great risk with approximately two-thirds of all coral reefs in the Caribbean threatened by human activities.(Reefs at Risk). The reefs are being physically damaged and overexploited resulting in a decrease of marine life.(Tourism's Impact on Reefs). Also, the forests are being impacted as well, especially in the bahamas and cuba, where only 24% of it original vegetation remains.(Forest Data: Deforestation Rates and Related Forestry Figures). 

The island's ecosystems aren't the only things facing change. Researchers have found that the once diverse Caribbean is experiencing a major loss of diversity among its plants and animals. (Declining Biodiversity).

Endangered Species/Especies en peligro de extinción


T = Threatened Species/Especies amenazadas

E /T
Scientific Name
Nombre Científico
Picture
Fotos
English Common Name
Nombre Común en Español
Fact Sheet
Hoja de Datos

Amphibians / Amfibios (4)

E
Coquí llanero
T
Golden coquí / coquí dorado
T
Puerto Rican crested toad / sapo concho puertorriqueño
T
Puerto Rican rock frog / coqui guajón

Reptiles / Reptiles (11)

E /T
Scientific Name
Nombre Científico
Picture
Fotos
English Common Name
Nombre Común en Español
Fact Sheet
Hoja de Datos
E
St. Croix ground lizard / Siguana de Santa Cruz
E
Culebra giant anole / Lagartijo Gigante de Culebra
T
Loggerhead sea turtle
T
Green sea turtle / tortuga verde / peje blanco
T
Mona ground iguana / iguana de Mona
E
Leatherback sea turtle / tinglar
E
Puerto Rican boa / boa Puertorriqueña
E
Virgin Islands tree boa / boa de Islas Vírgenes

T
Mona Island boa / boa de Mona
E
Hawksbill sea turtle / carey / carey de concha
E
Monito gecko / Salamanquita de monito

Birds / Aves (11)

E /T
Scientific Name
Nombre Científico
Picture
Fotos
English Common Name
Nombre Común en Español
Fact Sheet
Hoja de Datos
E
Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk / falcón de sierra
E
Yellow-shouldered blackbird / mariquita
E
Puerto Rican parrot / Iguaca / Cotorra Puertorriqueña
E
Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk / guaraguao de bosque

T
Red Knot / Chorlo gordo / Chorlo rojizo
E
Puerto Rican nightjar / guabairo
T
Piping plover / playero melódico
E
Puerto Rican plain pigeon / paloma sabanera
E
presumed extinct
White-necked crow / cuervo pescueciblanco

R
Brown pelican / pelicano pardo
T
Roseate tern / palometa

Mammals / Mamíferos (1)

E /T
Scientific Name
Nombre Científico
Picture
Fotos
English Common Name
Nombre Común en Español
Fact Sheet
Hoja de Datos
E
West Indian manatee / manatí antillano
"Caribbean Endangered and Threatened Animals." Fish and Wildlife Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.fws.gov/caribbean/es/Endangered-Animals.html>.E =


Conclusion:

      When studying the Caribbean, we learned about the effects that the hotspot leaves on the planets. The most important part we was about how the environmental degradation has impacted the functional diversity and ecosystem processes of the Caribbean in many ways. Since the island's ecosystems are facing change it may be experiencing a major loss of diversity among its plants and animals. We have to do something so the whole ecosystem isn't destroyed. We need to stop fragmentation and use selective cutting so the whole ground isn't destroyed. We also need to stop coral reefs from disappearing because it is causing economic drop for the Caribbean and the ecosystem is being destroyed. To prevent this we need to start being cautious about the things we use and how it effects the ecosystem around us.  


Work Cited:

"Conservation International." Conservation International. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.conservation.org/How/Pages/Hotspots.aspx>.

 Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?" - Global Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.globalissues.org/article/170/why-is-biodiversity-important-who-cares>.

 Brooks, Thomas M., et al. "Habitat loss and extinction in the hotspots of biodiversity." Conservation biology 16.4 (2002): 909-923. 

"Caribbean." Map / Map of the. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/carib.htm>.

"Caribbean Culture." : Food, Music, Dance, History and Festivals. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. http://www.caribbeantraveler.com/caribbean-culture.html 

Pidwirny, Michael. "Terrestrial Biome." N.p., 29 Nov. 2007. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156487/>

 Profile, Ecosystem. "THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT." (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.cepf.net/Documents/Finaldraft_Caribbean_EP.pdf>

 "Net Primary Production." Net Primary Production. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://indicators.ucdavis.edu/waf/model/indicator/net-primary-production>.

 Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. "Ecosystems:What Are They and How Do They Work?" Living in the Environment, AP Edition. Belmont, C.A.: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2012. 65-66. Print.

 "The Food Web." Ecology of the Caribbean Sea. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://itzascaribbeanseaecology.weebly.com/the-food-web.html>.

 Beekhuis, Jeanne V. "Tourism in the Caribbean: impacts on the economic, social and natural environments." Ambio (1981): 325-331.

 "Socioeconomic, Policy, and Civil Society Context of the Region." CEPF.net -. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.cepf.net/where_we_work/regions/caribbeanislands/ecosystem_profile/pages/socioeconomic_context.aspx>.

 "Ecosystem Services." Www.esa.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.esa.org/ecoservices/comm/body.comm.fact.ecos.html>.

 "Influence of Coastal Economic Valuations in the Caribbean." Influence of Coastal Economic Valuations in the Caribbean. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.wri.org/publication/influence-coastal-economic-valuations-caribbean>.

 "Caribbean Islands." N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015.

 Myers, Norman, et al. "Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities." Nature 403.6772 (2000): 853-858.

"Threats." Www.cepf.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.cepf.net/where_we_work/regions/caribbeanislands/ecosystem_profile/pages/threats.aspx>.

 "Haiti’s Poverty Is Directly Linked to Deforestation and Habitat Loss." N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/10/haitis-poverty-is-directly-linked-to-deforestation-and-habitat-loss/>.

 Burke, Lauretta, and Jon Maidens. "Reefs at Risk."Www.wri.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.wri.org/publication/reefs-risk-caribbean>.

 "Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean." Www.eoearth.org. N.p., 14 Oct. 2009. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155682/>.

 "Caribbean." Map / Map of the. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/carib.htm>.

 "Caribbean Islands." CEPF.net -. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015. <http://www.cepf.net/resources/hotspots/North-and-Central-America/Pages/Caribbean-Islands.aspx>.

"Cuba." Forest Data: Deforestation Rates and Related Forestry Figures. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/archive/Cuba.htm>.

 "Tourism's Impact on Reefs." Www.unep.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/Business/SectoralActivities/Tourism/Activities/WorkThematicAreas/EcosystemManagement/CoralReefs/TourismsImpactonReefs/tabid/78799/Default.aspx>.

 "Declining Biodiversity." Www.populationmatters.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.populationmatters.org/issues-solutions/environment/declining-biodiversity/>.

 "Caribbean Endangered and Threatened Animals." Fish and Wildlife Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.fws.gov/caribbean/es/Endangered-Animals.html>.E =







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