Biodiversity Loss

1. Biodiversity Loss Presented by Jim Jackson Debbie Lynch

2. Biodiversity Loss CAUSES ETHICS SOLUTIONS Yes, that is the Carolina Parakeet.

3. Biodiversity Defined Population Diversity • Size of overall population • Size and Numbers of local populations • Distribution • Genetic makeup • Better for analyzing biodiversity loss Species Diversity • Differences between species • Most often used to quantify biodiversity loss • More studies completed in this area • Presentation focus • Rosy Periwinkle.

4. What is Natural? Compared to… • Average Species lives for 4 million years • One mammal per 1000 years • 80 mammals in 400 years • One bird per 500 years • 115 birds in 400 years • One reptile or amphibian every 400 years • 123 fish in 100 years (in America alone)

5. Biodiversity Loss • Overexploitaion • Invasive Species • Habitat Loss CAUSES

6. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Overexploitation Death rate > Birth rate Steller’s Seacow Hunted for profit/food Passenger Pigeon Hunted as a pest

7. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Invasive Species Affects 49% of threatened or endangered species in America 10% rule: 10% of introduced species take, 10% of species that take become invasive McDonaldization

8. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Invasive Species Linear relationship between diversity of species and landmass If the earth was a single landmass, we would lose 66% of mammal diversity & 48% bird diversity

9. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Invasive Species Predation Ex: Cats vs. New Zealand ground birds

10. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Invasive Species Competition & Habitat Alteration Ex: Knapweed!

11. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Invasive Species Hybridization Ex. Native Mediterranean White Duck vs. more numerous Ruddy Duck + =

12. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Invasive Species Disease Vectors Colonization of the Americas

13. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Habitat Loss Affects 85% of threatened or endagered species in America Area the size of South America is planted with crops 175 billion pounds of nitrogen & tons of pesticide applied annually

14. CAUSES Biodiversity Loss Habitat Loss Logging forests Overharvesting => habitat loss Water manipulation Damns, irrigation

15. Biodiversity Loss • Life is Sacred • Economics Costs/Benefit • $30 trillion worth of services • Costs US $137 billion to fight invasive species annually • Future Benefits • Medicines • It’s Cool ETHICS

16. Every Species Has Its Natural Environment Biodiversity Loss Species that live in a specific area are ENDEMICS. Species that are capable of living in a variety of environments are GENERALISTS. SOLUTIONS Endemics are more likely to be affected by change.

17. SOLUTIONS Protecting Biodiversity Biodiversity Loss • Priorities • Econimically • It is economically advantageous to protect biodiversity • Ecologically • By protecting biodiversity, it will prevent ecological problems • Secondary • Emotional Attachment • By protecting nature for nature’s sake provides intrinsic value to biodiversity

18. SOLUTIONS Economical Biodiversity Loss • In Costa Rica, a preserve was established to preserve biodiversity for economic reasons • Ecotourism • Pharmaceuticals

19. SOLUTIONS Ecological Biodiversity Loss Keystone species are species that are crucial to the structure of the entire ecosystem. Without keystone species, ecosystems could not function well.

20. SOLUTIONS Intrinsic Value Biodiversity Loss First Lady Laura Bush has begun to restore their Crawford Texas ranch with native species of grasses. By restoring the native vegetation, Laura hopes to restore the natural habitat of a variety of species.

21. SOLUTIONS Methods of Preservation Biodiversity Loss In Situ Habitat Conservation Regulation of Land Use Protecting Species Ex Situ Captive Breeding Zoological Parks Botanical Gardens

22. SOLUTIONS Irian Jaya’s Reserve System Biodiversity Loss • In designing the Irian Jaya reserves, the Indonesian government • considers • Habitat • Biogeography • Area

23. SOLUTIONS The Black Footed Ferret Biodiversity Loss With an extremely small population, these ferrets were captured in order to reestablish a viable population.

24. SOLUTIONS Cost/Benefits of Protecting Biodiversity Biodiversity Loss • Opportunity Costs

25. SOLUTIONS Opportunity Costs Biodiversity Loss • Management • Maintenance • Future Benefits • Economic Value