Lesson Objectives: To identify and analyze the difference between intrinsic and

instrumental value of wildlife species.

Read the Future of Life, interact with the text using sticky notes, please DO NOT WRITE ON
THE PACKET. Skim the entire article and answer the questions below, pages are given as a
reference, but you are expected to read the entire article.
Future of Life Reading Guide.

Skim pages 42-47

1. What is the rate that the Living Planet Index is decreasing a year?

- The rate that the Living Planet Index is decreasing per year is 3%.

2. How many bird species were native to Hawaii? How many are still in existence
today?
- There were 145 species of bird native to Hawaii. There are 35 of the original species that
still exist, 24 of which are endangered.

3. At the start, what was the principal destroyer of Hawaiian flora and fauna?

- At the start, the principle destroyer of Hawaii flora and fauna was habitat destruction.

Read 47-50
4. What are the arch-destroyers of Hawaiian biota? Why?

- The arch destroyers of Hawaiian biota are the African big-headed ant and feral strains of
the common pig. The Ant had no colony boundaries and killed and exterminated many
native insects which destroyed the food chain. The common pig destroyed the bark on
the trees. They are invasive species.

5. What does HIPPO stand for?

Habitat destruction
Invasive species
Pollution
Population
Overharvesting

6. Which element of HIPPO is the most incursive in the world?

- The element of HIPPO that is the most incursive in the world is population.
Read pages 52-54
7. What is the reason for the Marmot’s decline?

The main reasoning for the Marmot’s decline comes from is the clear cutting of forests, to
harvest timber below the subalpine habitat.

8. The story of the snails presents a new problem. What happened with the
introduction of a new snail species? What does this warn against in current agriculture
and development?

In the early 1900s,a new type of snail was introduced into the pacifiic ocean. These giant land
snails from africa multiplied out of control, while consuming native snails and attacking crops. It
models the case for biological control.

Read page 55
9. The “Declining Amphibian Phenomenon” was caused by which HIPPO element? How is
this, ultimately attributed to a human problem?

It was caused by habitat and because this was majorly human caused.

Read page 56
10. What is an inbreeding depression?
The smaller the population, the high the level of inbreeding.

Read page 58
11. What is the most consequential form of habitat destruction? Why (provide 2 examples)?

The two most consequential forms of habitat destruction are pollution and clearing the forests.

Read page 61
12. The savanna and coastal sagebrush take up 1.4% percent of the world’s land surface.
These lands are home to 44% percent of the world’s plant species and a third of all species of
birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

Read page 63
13. Why are rainforests so fragile? (Think of soil and rain)

They are vulnerable because they can easily be destroyed from both natural disasters and
man-made ones.
Read pages 67-70
14. What does this article say about global warming? (provide evidence)

This article states that fossil air samples trapped in glacial ice, and other proxies, the mean
surface temperatures of earth varied by less than 2 degrees F. It states that global warming is
no longer a debate and that the causes are largily due to the human economy. This poses a as
a major threat to the sustainability of the earth.

Read pages 67-70

15. For the ten introduced species, pick 5, list how they came to America, the problem caused,
and the benefits.

The Chestnut Fungus came to America in 1904. The problem caused was that the fungus
eliminated the American chestnut. The benefit is they are used as a shade plant.

Miconia = introduced as an ornamental by the French

Harm = formed dense trees the dominated the land.
Benefit = nice to look at

Brown tree snake = introduced onto island of Guam

Harm = a predator of birds
Benefit = market for snake meat will be unreliable.

Balsam woodly adelgid = introduced

Harm = wiped out almost all fir trees
Benefit = none

Read pages 71-75

16. What do you think of Wilson’s portrayal of earth in 2100 and the testament that the 21st
century that we’ll leave?

This portrayal is very daunting and leaves me wanting to do more to help the environment. If our
current trends continue, we will not have an earth to call home. Our natural world will suffer
greatly.