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Today’s Headlines

Today’s Headlines. Chlopyrifos (golf courses), malathion (mosquitoes), diazinon (agriculture). ESA, chinook salmon, food web. Conservation Biology. Definition History & Connections Biodiversity & threats Approaches to Solutions. Definitions.

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Today’s Headlines

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  1. Today’s Headlines Chlopyrifos (golf courses), malathion (mosquitoes), diazinon (agriculture) ESA, chinook salmon, food web

  2. Conservation Biology Definition History & Connections Biodiversity & threats Approaches to Solutions

  3. Definitions • … 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

  4. Critique • …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 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

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

  6. History • Muir vs. Pinchot • Wilderness Act (1964) • Environmental Laws: Jan. 1, 1970 (NEPA) • Science and the funding agencies • NSF: Ecosystems (1970) • LTER (1980) • Urban LTER (1997) • Emergence of Conservation Biology • Lecture by Andrea Woody: • Anthropocentric view • Biocentric view

  7. ‘Mainland’ ‘Island’ Size Time Environment Climate Change Core Corridor Fragmentation Connectivity Mountains 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) http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/Filson.html

  8. 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

  9. Conceptual Background Resilience Theory Earth, we have a problem! Example: Easter Island

  10. 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)

  11. Agricultural Systems • In order to maintain simplified biologicalsystems, one must use extensive quantities of energy • Water • Fuel • Fertilizers • Pesticides • Intensity: Erosion

  12. Stable geological crust • Critical are the rates of erosion • Need for low tillage farming • Montgomery, D.R. 2007. PNAS 104: 13268 Global Loss of Soil World is losing 1% of its arable land each year

  13. Bottom line I = P x A x T • Population • Consumption • View of nature • Solutions

  14. 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 • Restoration

  15. Small Reserves • Focus on ‘hot spots’

  16. Example

  17. Large Reserves • Uncertainty • Anticipate climate change • Provides latitudinal and elevational opportunities for migration • Three examples • Y to Y • Panda reserves in the eastern Himalayas • Australia

  18. Concept • Umbrella species • Food chain and trophic pyramid

  19. Pluie, the Wandering Wolf Penelope Pierce, US Regional Director See also http://wolfquest.org/

  20. Epic Journey

  21. The Y to Y • A corridor of connected protected areas • Effort: Identification of • Prime habitat • Areas at risk

  22. Greater Muskwa-Kechika Ecosystem Process

  23. Detail: Road Ecology • Montana State University • University California - Davis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50BvDQnztEU

  24. More Alternative (s) • Restoration • Working environments (agriculture, grazing and forestry) (example: Cascade Land Conservancy).

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