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Environmental Sciences: Towards a Sustainable Future Chapter 11. Wild Species: Biodiversity and Protection. Google search: Biodiversity. Results 1 - 10 of about 3,330,000 for biodiversity. bi·o·di·ver·si·ty n.
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Environmental Sciences: Towards a Sustainable Future Chapter 11 Wild Species: Biodiversity and Protection
Google search: Biodiversity Results 1 - 10 of about 3,330,000 for biodiversity • bi·o·di·ver·si·tyn. • The number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region. • The variability among living organisms on the earth, including the variability within and between species and within and between ecosystems.
The Value of Wild Species • Instrumental • Sources for agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and animal husbandry • Recreational, aesthetic and scientific value • Sources of medicine • Intrinsic
Ecosystem Goods, Services, and Functions = $33 Trillion/year • Gas, climate, and water regulation • Water supply • Erosion control • Soil formation • Pollination • Biological control • Food production • Recreation • Raw materials • Nutrient cycling • Waste treatment
Wild species Agricultural crops Example: Corn Originated in prehistoric times in Mexico No longer occurs wild, but related spp. found in mountains of Mexico and Guatemala Early small-grained forms were probably eaten as popcorn Small primitive cobs have been found in caves dating to around 3500 BC Not a stable crop in North America until after 500 AD Sweet corn first used as sugar source for beer http://courses.nres.uiuc.edu/nres105/sweetcorn.htm
Wild Cultivated • Selected for growth under specific conditions • Need highly controlled environmental conditions • Usually high degree of genetic diversity-adaptable • Represents the genetic bank
Botany of Desire Michael Pollan Apples Tulips Potatoes Marijuana
~Chart Of Heirloom Apples Suitable For The Southern Great Lakes Region~ Name, Origin & Date Description Uses 'Cox's Orange Pippin', England, 1830 Yellow and Red, streaked with red.Does well in our area, England's premier dessert apple Superb for eating, also good for cooking, sauces, and cider. 'Baldwin', Massachusetts, 1740 Blush red on green, streaked red Good all-purpose, wonderful for apple pie 'Grime's Golden', West Virginia, 1832 One of the parents of 'Golden Delicious' Baking, particularly pies, applesauce, and cider 'Northern Spy', New York, 1800 Red and Yellow Good All-purpose, fine for eating out-of-hand as well as other apple uses. 'Blue Permain', New England, 1833 Deep red to red purple with dots and a bluish bloom Good for baking 'Fameuse' (Snow), Quebec, 1600's Red over white with pink tones Cooking, juice, cider, and fresh eating 'Rhode Island Greening', Rhode Island, 1650's Green, large fruits Very tart, good in pies, ciders, and sauces 'Newtown Pippin', New York, 1700 Yellowish-green with white spots and often russeted good all-purpose apple 'Wolf River', Wisconsin, 1860's Dark Red over yellow, huge fruits Famous as the, "One apple will make a whole pie" apple. Use for sauce, pies, and cooking 'Chenango Strawberry', New York, 1850 Light greenish-yellow striped with bright red Good all-purpose apple 'Calville Blanc D'Hiver', France, late 1590's Yellow with red blush French specialty apple, gourmet quality, good for all-purposes 'Duchess of Oldenburg', Russia, 1832 Yellow with red stripes and spots Cooking, sauces, and pies 'Spitzenberg', New York, 1790 Yellow with red, faint spots and streaks Fresh use, eating out of hand 'Summer Rambo', France, 1530's Red, striped Sauce, pies, and cooking, good for eating when very ripe
Red junglefowl: S.E. Asian ancestor of the chicken Domestication = ~8000 yr ago
Sources of Medicine: Table 11-1 • Vincristine from rosey periwinkle cures leukemia. • Capoten from the venom of the Brazilian viper controls high blood pressure. • Taxol from the bark of the pacific yew used to treat ovarian, breast and small-cell cancers.
Recreational, Aesthetic, and Scientific Value • Ecotourism: largest foreign exchange-generating enterprise in many developing countries • $104 billion spent on wildlife-related recreation • $31 billion spent to observe, feed, or photograph wildlife
Intrinsic Value? Do species have an intrinsic value? Why: religion? Is it ever OK to purposefully extinct a species?
~ 1/3rd N.A. species gone or threatened http://www.fws.gov
Endangered Species Act • 1973, reauthorized 1988 • Protects endangered (imminent danger) and threatened (in jeopardy) spp • Imposes substantial fines • Pgs 271-275
Reasons for Biodiversity Decline • Habitat alterations • Conversions • Fragmentation • Simplification
N.A. fish very diverse, negatively affected by dams # fresh water fish spp. North America 700 Europe 250 W/ in North America Canada & Alaska 180 Tennessee & Cumberland rivers 250
# fish species - + due to Pleistocene extinction rates site of famous snail darter http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/2000/biodiversity/index.cfm
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/2000/biodiversity/index.cfmhttp://magma.nationalgeographic.com/2000/biodiversity/index.cfm snail darter Darters related to walleye & perch small ( most < 100mm) highly specious
banded darter crystal darter log perch orangethroat darter http://www.state.ia.us/government/dnr/organiza/fwb/fish/iafish/perch/card/otd-card.htm
Snail Darter E.S.A. Exemption Case Mid-1970s, water impoundments on the Little Tennessee River behind the nearly completed Tellico dam threatened to eradicate the only known population of the snail darter (listed under ESA). 1976, the case of Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill was filed in an effort to protect the fish. 1978, Supreme Court found that ESA contained an absolute prohibition against activities detrimental to listed species. Mandated that the gates of the dam not be closed. 1 month after Supreme Court decision, the ESA was amended by Congress to include a process by which economic impacts could be reviewed and projects exempted from the restrictions. 1978, an exemption was sought using the new amendment.
1979 the ES Committee denied an exemption in the snail darter case; the dam project remained on hold because of the fish. 1979, Tennesse Sen. Howard Baker and Rep. John Duncan Sr., tacked an amendment to the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which exempted Tellico from the ESA and other laws. Workers at Tellico closed the gates of the dam, allowing the reservoir to fill. 1984 the Fish and Wildlife Service rescinded the designation of the Tellico dam area as critical habitat for the snail darter, because the species no longer existed in that area. The snail darter classification under the ESA later changed from endangered to threatened, because other small populations were found elsewhere in the Tennessee River Watershed
Pollution: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill • March 24, 1989 • 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into Prince William Sound Oil slick
Exotic Species Zebra mussels encrusting a native clam
species identification can be difficult Winged mapleleaf Quadrula fragosa federally endangered Mapleleaf Quadrula quadrula wide spread, common
Purple wartyback Cyclonaias tuberculata endangered in WI, threatened in IA Slippershell mussel Alansmidonta viridis endangered in IL & WI, threatened in IA
Mucket Actinonaias ligamentina widespread, locally abundant, extirpated in OH Fawnsfoot Tuncilla donaciformis widespread common through most of range, threatened in OH
Biology of Unionid mussels Host serves as a transportation vector for the mussels parasitic glochida attach to fish host external fertilization male & female adults live in sediment
Some unionids attract host fish by waving a ‘lure’. Glochidia enclosed in package that looks like a fish disguised glochidia mucus tether clam http://courses.smsu.edu/mcb095f/gallery/L_reeveiana/Reeviana.htm
some unionids mimic a crayfish to attract fish host Elongate papillae on the mantle margin resemble antennae and legs. The mantle margins are folded to one side to present a lateral view, and the mussel usually positions the lure with papillae toward the substrate (putting its "feet" on the ground). http://courses.smsu.edu/mcb095f/gallery
There are ~ 300 species of Unionids in North America diversity highest in south east most species found in streams, some in lakes At least 70 species listed as threatened or endangered • dispersal restricted by dams (stop host fish) • many species intolerant of poor water quality and sedimentation • zebra mussels
Overuse • Harvest of wild birds for food and feathers • Extinction of passenger pigeon pg 265 • Trafficking in wildlife and products derived from wild species - $10 billion/year • 90% decline in rhinos • 1.6 tons of tiger bones = 340 tigers • Parrot smuggling: 40 of 330 species face extinction
International Steps to Protect Biodiversity (282-283) • Convention on trade in endangered species (CITES) • Focuses on trade in wildlife and wildlife parts eg. ivory • Convention on biological diversity • Focuses on conserving biological diversity worldwide • Does not yet have the support of the United States
Do we live in a diversity hotspot? What pattern do you see in hotspots? Who bears responsibility for maintaining hotspots? http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/strategies/hotspots/hotspots_map.xml