Pluie, the Wandering Wolf

1. Pluie, the Wandering Wolf Penelope Pierce, US Regional Director

2. Epic Journey

3. Conservation Biology Definition History & Connections Biodiversity & threats Current Status Links to previous course topics

4. Definition • … pursuit of a coherent goal: the protection and perpetuation of the Earth’s biological diversity. A mission-oriented, crisis-driven discipline comprising both pure and applied science • Meine et al. 2006 • …not defined by a discipline but by its goal —to halt or repair the undeniable, massive damage that is being done to ecosystems, species, and the relationships of humans to the environment. • Ehrenfeld 1992

5. Critique • Clearly western, North American • Juxtaposition of ‘wild areas’ and trashed areas. • …effort by “an elite group of biologists” who “[aimed] to change science, conservation, cultural habits, human values, our ideas about nature, and ultimately, nature itself.” • Takacs 1996

6. Not without controversy • I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist & the best one is written not with a pen, but an axe. -- Aldo Leopold • Example: what should be done with forests in the west?

7. 0 Answer Now! Is the following statement true or false: Conservation biology does acknowledge the fact that it is a “value-laden” field. • True • False

8. History • Realization: Wallace, Marsh • Progressive Era (utilitarian [Pinchot] vs. preservationist [Muir]) • Appreciation of the biota as a whole - biocentric (vs. anthropocentric view) Review Andrew Light’s lecture. • Laws of the early 70s • Emergence of Conservation Biology

9. Focus on Biodiversity • Diversity - the number of different items and their relative frequency. • Biodiversity - number and variety of species, ecological systems, and the genetic variability they contain. http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html

10. Climate Change Foundation - 1 Endangered Species Act (1973) Northern Spotted Owl Salmon • Population biology: a study of biological populations of organisms, especially in terms of biodiversity, evolution, and environmental biology. • Island Biogeography: Number of species present = f(rate of immigration & rate of extinction) • Concept of Umbrella Species ‘Mainland’ ‘Island’ Size Age Environment Core Corridor Fragmentation Connectivity Mountains http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/Filson.html

11. Foundation - 2 • The worst thing that can happen during the 1980s is not energy depletion, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, or conquest by a totalitarian government. As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired within a few generations. The one process ongoing in the 1980s that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats. This is the folly that our descendents are least likely to forgive us. • E.O. Wilson 1985

12. Loss of Biodiversity - Real or imagined problem • The conceptual framework • A real example • Practical example

13. Conceptual Background

14. Hypothesized examples of collapse • Example from Jared Diamond’s (2006) book: “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” (e.g., Easter Island) • Loss of the forest (over utilization)

15. Practical Example • Conventional agriculture vs. “sustainable agriculture” • In order to maintain simplified biologicalsystems, one must use extensive quantities of energy • Water • Fuel • Fertilizers • Pesticides

16. Stable geological crust • Critical are the rates of erosion • Need for low tillage farming • Montgomery, D.R. 2007. PNAS 104: 13268 Hypothesized examples of collapse - 2 • With the world losing an astonishing 1 percent of its arable land each year

17. Threats to Biodiversity • Habitat loss/conversion/degradation/ fragmentation • Species introductions (includes invasive species) • Over-harvesting (hunting, fishing) • Air pollution • Climate change

18. Red pine Loblolly pine http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/atlas/ Example with Climate Change

19. Bottom line • Population • Consumption • Cultural

20. Solutions • Ex-situ (off-site)conservation: Arboreta, zoos, plant collections, seed banks • In-situ conservation: Preserves, reserves • SLOSS: Single large or several small. • Working farms and forests • Recognition of attributes of ‘umbrella’ species (link to discussion of food chain/web) • Yellowstone to Yukon (remember Pluie) • Restoration

21. Outcome • Corridor of connected protected areas • Identification of • Prime habitat • Areas at risk

22. Alternative (s) • Restoration • Working environments (agriculture, grazing and forestry) (example on Wednesday with Cascade Land Conservancy).

26. Analysis of Restoration Project • Transformation of a relative small piece of land (~ 0.15 acres) • Work for 70 minutes @ $10 per hour • 142 students • 4 TAs • 2 Faculty • Doug & Alaine • $11670 per acre

27. Summary • Value of biodiversity? • Cultural, ethical, economic values • Cost of conserving (vs. preserving vs. restoring): Wednesday CLC and TNC • Who decides • Social justice • Associated issues with the loss of cultural and linguistic diversity