Bio 317: Conservation of Wildlife Resources

1. Bio 317: Conservation of Wildlife Resources • Reading Assignment – Chapter 1 and 2 • Why this course is important to you • What wildlife conservation is • What conservation biology is and is not • Cover the history of wildlife conservation with a focus on North America

2. Conservation Today:A Crisis • Human population growth is modifying ecosystem processes on a global scale • The crisis of survival of natural ecosystems is a crisis of survival of the human species • An understanding of ecology has become a requirement of every educated person

3. Why do we need this understanding? • We are all faced, almost daily, with decisions that affect conservation of wildlife: • Should we buy only dolphin-safe tuna? • Should we oppose efforts to weaken the endangered species act? • ...the clean water act? • Should we support laws to reduce use of fossil fuels and reduce emissions from industries, cars, etc. that contribute to the greenhouse effect? • Should we support the international ban on trade in elephant ivory?

4. Wildlife Conservation:Not just one discipline • Wildlife Conservation developed from: • Ecology • Population biology • Conservation movement • And has lead to: • Conservation biology

5. Ecology • A branch of biology • Comes from the Greek “oikos” meaning home, and “logos” meaning study • It is a field of science • Definition: The study of the interrelationships between living things and their biotic and abiotic environment

6. History of Ecology • 1793: Christian Springel - published the “Secret of Nature Discovered” • pollination (insects and flowers) • 1859: Charles Darwin – published “The Origin of the Species” • “natural selection” and evolution • sold out the day it was released (Nov. 24)

7. History of Ecology, continued • 1870: Ernst Haeckel - coined the term “ECOLOGY” from oikos and logos • actually “OEKOLOGIE” in German • 1900: Sir Arthur Tansley - came up with the term “ECOSYSTEM”

8. What is an Ecosystem? Any community of living organisms and the physical environment with which they interact, and all of the processes that connect them to one another Dust – Grass – Cow – Man – Worms – Dust

9. Population Biology Population - group of organisms of a single species limited in space and time We may define the space The study of characteristics unique to a population a) growth (birth, immigration) b) decline (death, emigration) c) density or size d) distribution in space e) structure (sex, age) f) genetic makeup g) ecology of above

10. History of Population Biology 1798: Thomas Malthus - described “geometric” or “exponential” growth in humans - J-shaped growth curve - cannot continue that way forever 1838: P.F. Verhulst - described “logistic growth” - S-shaped growth curve - environment slows and limits population growth 1840: J. von Liebig - “law of the minimum” - population is limited only until limiting factor is eliminated; a new limiting factor will take over TODAY: Computer programs deal with population dynamics and predictions

11. Conservation Movement Aldo Leopold "father of wildlife management" 1920's - 40's: wrote on science of wildlife biology popular author of "A Sand County Almanac" in which he wrote about the "land ethic"

12. Conservation Movement J. “Ding” Darling Two-time Pulitzer prize winning political cartoonist 1932: contributed $9,000 of his own money to start a wildlife research unit in his home state (Iowa) 1934: FDR appointed him the first head of the U.S. Biological Survey He was a wildlife artist on the side

13. Conservation Movement Rachel Carson a marine scientist by training was the first to popularize ecology wrote "Silent Spring" about the effects of environmental contaminants on wildlife

14. Development of Conservation in America 1700's - early 1800's: we used resources almost without regard to impact on the environment Mid 1800's: Darwin published Late 1800's: science of ecology develops first National Park (Yellowstone) established U.S. Forest Service established

15. Development of Conservation in America Early 1900's - More National Parks - Bureau of Reclamation established - National Wildlife Refuge system established Mid 1900's - drought and poor conservation = dust bowl era - ecosystem concept recognized - TVA and SCS (now NRCS) established - baby boom leads to economic growth, increased use of resources, and more pollution

16. Development of Conservation in America 1963 - Rachel Carson's book 1964 - Wilderness Act 1970 - EPA established 1970 - National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ( Environmental Impact Assessments ) 1973 - Endangered Species Act

17. Development of Conservation in America 1990’s - E. O. Wilson speaks of Biophilia and the importance of the "Diversity of Life" Today there is a Biodiversity Crisis we’ve progressed to Conservation Biology

18. Biodiversity Richness of genetically distinct organisms and the ecosystems they inhabit Variety of kinds of plants, animals, and habitats

19. What is Conservation Biology? Scientific study of biodiversity and its management for human welfare Focuses on interaction of humans with biodiversity Has the specific goal of preserving biodiversity Is an applied science, but our knowledge of ecosystems is still primitive

20. What is Conservation Biology? (continued) Brings together many sub-fields within biology: genetics ecology behavior Constrained by laws, funds, and public opinion

21. Conservation Biology 3 major problems exist: legal system of protection of endangered species has proved inadequate management of public lands has emphasized exploitation of resources and commerce in developing countries, strictly protecting a few parks does not work

22. 3 functions of conservation biology: 1. Clarify the ecological and economic values of biodiversity 2. Develop technologies to protect, restore, and manage biodiversity 3. Provide responsible opinion about the future trends in biodiversity and their significance to humanity

23. Benefits of Biodiversity(in a nutshell ) 1. Important to basic ecosystem function 2. Utilitarian benefits to man 3. Non-material benefits to human well-being

24. What if we loose a "keystone" species? e.g., American Chestnut Now, what about an endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker?

25. The value of biodiversity Cost-benefit analysis is needed hard to measure the value of wilderness to the human spirit but the cost to preserve wilderness and biodiversity is great conservation biology will help us look to the future

26. Question? Why does history repeat itself? Answer: Because we weren’t listening the first time!