Biodiversity and Roles of Species

1. Biodiversity and Roles of Species

3. Biodiversity

4. Biodiversity • number of species • genetic diversity of species • diversity of ecosystems

5. Within every ecosystem, every species has its role (its niche) • Niche • Specialists and Generalists • Niche Overlap • Native Species vs. Exotic Species • Indicator / Keystone Species

6. Species’ Roles • a species’ total way of life and / or “role” in the ecosystem including all physical, chemical, and biological conditions a species needs to live and reproduce in an ecosystem • Niche:

8. Specialists and Generalists(plants and animals) Specialist: Can only survive in a limited number of biomes, very limited diet Generalist: Can survive in awide varietyof biomes, usually omnivorous

9. Niche Overlap • Two (or more) species that require similar resources (i.e. two species that have to compete for the same thing) • Fundamental niche (“perfect world”) • Realized niche (“real world”)

11. Native Species vs. Exotic Species • So what if a species is “exotic!” What’s the big deal? • No natural enemies (always the consumer and never consumed) • Superior competition skills and may remove the native species • Where in the food chain / web do they fit if they are from somewhere else?

12. Exotic Species Item Source Problem Location Kudzu Japan SE U.S. Zebra Mussels NE Europe / Russia Great Lakes Brown Tree Snake Asia Hawaii Asian Lady Beetle Asia Midwest Asian Carp China All fresh waters And so many more…

13. Asian Carp:Where are they now?…and where will they be in the future?

14. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/keeping-asian-carp-out-of-the-great-lakes-will-cost-billions-and-take-decades/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/keeping-asian-carp-out-of-the-great-lakes-will-cost-billions-and-take-decades/

15. Indicator / Keystone Species • Species that have a much greater impact than food alone • Control population of other species • Create food at times when food is scarce • Impact would be greater than others if disappeared

17. Gray Wolf Population in Wisconsin

18. Wolf Depredations in WI(2007-09) Q: Has the Wolf Recovery Act of 1989 in Wisconsin lessened deer overpopulation?

19. Wolf Target Population Reached (1994) Wolf Recovery Plan Instituted in Wisconsin (1989)

20. Impact of Wolf Recovery Plan of 1989 • Since 1992 the deer population in WI hasincreasedby 300,000 deer… * Therefore, wolves have not helped control the deer population of Wisconsin • Since 1994 the deer population in WI hasstayed the same… * Therefore, wolves have been doing their job. • Since 1995 the deer population in WI has decreasedby 300,000… * Therefore, wolves have had killed too many of Wisconsin’s deer population.

21. Interpretation! • “Data” is just a bunch of numbers! • In order to effectively use data, you MUST: • Analyze • Interpret • Place into the right context

22. Case Study:Galapagos Islands(Ecuador)

23. Most Unique Ecosystemanywhere in the world! • The archipelago is home to around 5,000 different species, almost half of which are found nowhere elseon Earth.

24. Galapagos Islands • Charles Darwin: “Origin of Species” • Many of his ideas came from his trip to the Galapagos (many unique species) • No natural enemies! • Humans can “pet” the wild animals (tortoises, dolphins, seals, etc.) • Darwin Research Station (1959) for conservation of the Galapagos. However…

25. History of the Galapagos • 1535: Arrival of the Spanish…and the introduction of HUNDREDS of exotic species!! • goats, cats, dogs, fruits, vegetables, diseases • Perhaps the most destructive of all: • 1790: Arrival of the English—whaling industry • 1833: First permanent settlement Humans.

26. Galapagos:the hangover begins… • Islands isolated, undisturbed until last few hundred years • Due to isolation and abundant resources (tropics), animals coexisted with relatively little competition. • As a result, they developed few tools to compete (i.e. “natural” defenses)… • Therefore, native species are no match for exotic animals and diseases. Even goats.

27. Introduction of Invasive Species: Galapagos

30. Back to the most exotic of all… • The Galapagos population has grown 13x in 34 years! • 1972: 3,488 2006: 40,000+ • Animal life threatened: • Tourism • Overfishing • Pollution • “Development” • Increased population equals: • greater risk of introduction / spread of alien species / diseases • higher pressure on scarce resources. • Ecuadorian law now prohibits moving to the Galapagos unless you: • Were born on the islands • Have family on the islands • Yet thousands of violators

31. Key: Sustainability But how?

32. Sustainability • To have the ability to exploit resources without depleting them or creating significant adverse effects • How do you measure sustainability? • Who decides? • What comes first: Environment, Animals or Humans? • Environmental Ethics: Applying “moral” principles to environment just as one would do with humans. • But which humans are you considering? http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/07/galapagos-no-longer-world-heri.html

33. The Galapagos Islands?

34. Cultural Sustainability? The Sea Turtle vs. Pope Francis

35. Somewhat related… • Allsea turtles(worldwide) are critically threatened or endangered…but particularly in Latin America. • Latinos 90+% Catholic: Lent • Reptiles not considered “meat” • Due to increased human population, not sustainable tradition anymore • Environmentalists asked old Pope to put turtles on the “not acceptable list” • No word yet from new Pope

36. Sustainability.