Chapter 13 Conservation of Biodiversity

1. Chapter 13 Conservation of Biodiversity

2. Where we’re going • What is biodiversity- a review • Why should we care? Instrumental vs intrinsic value • A bottom line • Some facts, and some disputed facts • Major reasons for diversity decline • Some strategies for maintaining diversity

3. Biodiversity review • One of the five environmental indicators- the rest? • Refers to the abundance of species, and how abundant the population of each species is- in a perfectly diverse world, we’d have lots of species, with a fairly even distribution- think meadow, not lawn with many types, but few, weeds. • Genetic diversity • Species diversity- richness and evenness • Ecosystem diversity

4. Why should we care?? • Instrumental view • Instrinsic view • So…. If there was no one here- would it matter what happened on planet earth?

5. According to the book, We are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction. Note the subtle change: p 7: Some scientists estimate to these slides.

6. The Sixth Mass Extinction Extinction: when there are no longer any individuals of a particular species on the Earth.

7. The Sixth Mass Extinction • We are currently losing approximately 50,000 species per year. (or maybe not- what were the 137 that disappeared today?) • That means 0.5% of all species now alive go extinct each year. Or maybe not- see actual numbers later

8. Whether we are or not: • The fate or numerous species and ecosystems rests firmly in our hands- we have the capacity for causing extinction, and we have the capacity for causing preservation. • Now let’s talk more about Genetic diversity

9. This from XKCD http://xkcd.com/1338/

10. Genetic Diversity Scientists want to conserve genetic diversity so that inbreeding will not occur and species can more likely survive environmental change. What’s diversity got to do with surviving environmental change??

11. Genetic Diversity • Inbreeding occurs when individuals with similar genotypes (genetic makeup), generally relatives, breed with each other. • Populations with low genetic diversity are likely to suffer inbreeding depression.

12. Inbreeding Depression • Inbred individuals are more likely to express harmful mutations. • Such individuals are ultimately less likely to survive and reproduce.

13. Think brother-sister mating

14. Florida panther- low population stimulated by outbreeding w/Texas panthers. What do you think drove it to near extinction?

15. Categories of Endangerment • Wisconsin Endangered Species: Any species whose continued existence as a viable component of this state’s wild animals or wild plants is determined by the Department to be in jeopardy on the basis of scientific evidence. • Wisconsin Threatened Species: Any species which appears likely, within the foreseeable future, on the basis of scientific evidence to become endangered.

16. http://dnr.wi.gov/files/PDF/pubs/er/ER001.pdf

17. Categories of Endangerment • Near-threatened: species that are likely to become threatened in the future. • Least concern: species that are widespread and abundant in numbers.

18. The Decline of Birds, Mammals, and Amphibians (? Fish? Reptiles?) 39/6,200 extinct 133/10K extinct since 1500 79/5,500 extinct Threatened = endangered + threatened

19. Declining biodiversity has many causes.

20. Declining Biodiversity Declining global biodiversity can be explained by reference to the five HIPCO Factors…

21. HIPCO • H Habitat Loss • I Invasive Species • P Pollution • C Climate Change • O Overharvesting

22. Habitat Loss • For most species the greatest cause of decline and extinction is habitat loss. • Most habitat loss is due to human impacts.

23. Changing Forests

24. This is probably the biggie • One problem- some creatures require pretty extensive habitats for living. • Migratory birds- sometimes you only control one end.

25. Invasive Species • Alien species (exotic species): species that live outside their historical range. Can be non-native or invasive- pretty much our perspective. • Invasive species: when alien species spread rapidly across large areas. • For example, kudzu vine, zebra mussel, silver carp, gypsy moth, starlings in North America.

27. Pollution • Threats to biodiversity from pollution can come from toxic contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, acids, and oil spills. • Oil spills may damage entire ecosystems in ways not fully apparent for decades.

28. Climate Change • How will climate change affect temperature and precipitation around the world? E.g.- moose in MN, walleye, trout • How will this impact biodiversity?

29. Overharvesting • Overharvesting: individuals of a species are removed at a rate faster than the population can replace them. • For example, dodo, American bison, passenger pigeon.

31. Overharvesting • Well into the early 1800s, there were over 50 million American bison on the western plains. • By the end of that century, fewer than 1,000 remained.

32. The conservation of biodiversity often focuses on single species.

33. Lacey Act • Lacey Act: one of the earliest laws in the United States enacted to control the trade in wildlife. • First passed in 1900, the act prohibited the transport of illegally harvested game animals, primarily birds and mammals, across state lines.

34. CITES • CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora • Developed by the United Nations in 1973 to control the international trade of threatened plants and animals.

35. CITES Today, CITES is an international agreement between 175 countries across the world.

36. Red List • The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains a list of threatened species, known as the Red List. • Each member country has its own way to monitor and regulate the import and export of animals on the list.

37. Rule of Law

38. Conservation Legislation Marine Mammal Protection Act: prohibits the killing of all marine mammals in the United States and prohibits the import or export of any marine mammal body parts.

39. Endangered Species Act • Endangered Species Act: first passed in 1973, it authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which species can be listed as threatened or endangered and prohibits the harming of these species.

40. Endangered Species Act • Trading in threatened or endangered species is also illegal. • Significantly, the act also authorizes the government to purchase habitat that is critical to the species.

41. Convention on Biological Diversity • Convention on Biological Diversity:In 1992, world nations came together and created a treaty to protect biodiversity. • It recognized that biodiversity is an international concern.

42. Convention on Biological Diversity The treaty had three objectives: • conserve biodiversity • sustainably use biodiversity • equitably share the benefits that emerge from commercial use of genetic resources (e.g., pharmaceutical drugs)

43. The conservation of biodiversity sometimes focuses on protecting entire ecosystems.

44. Size, Shape, and Connectedness • When designing and managing protected areas we must consider several points, including: • closeness to another area • how large the area is • the amount of edge habitat the area contains

45. Size, Shape, and Connectedness • Edge habitat: the area where two different communities come together, typically forming an abrupt transition • For example, where a grassy field meets a forest • Some species specialize in living at “the edge”

46. Biosphere Reserves Protected areas consisting of zones that vary in the amount of permitted human impact

48. Biosphere Reserves • Today there are 564 biosphere reserves worldwide. • Of these, 47 are located in the United States, including Isle Royale • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Biosphere_reserves_of_the_United_States

49. Review Questions • What is meant by “we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction”? • Why is global genetic diversity declining? • What is inbreeding depression? • What is an endangered species?

50. Review Questions • What is a threatened species? • Which of these three groups has the largest number of threatened species: birds, mammals, or amphibians? • About how many species are being lost to extinction every year, according to some scientists who use funky extrapolations?