Web-based Course

1. Web-based Course วิชา ความหลากหลายทางชีวภาพในประเทศไทย (Biodiversityin Thailand)

2. สถาบันบัณฑิตวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยีไทย (สบวท.)Thailand Graduate Institute of Science and Technology (TGIST) www.learn.in.th LearnOnline@learn.in.th

3. สำนักงานพัฒนาวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยีแห่งชาติ National Science and Technology Development Agency

4. Prof. Dr. Warren Y. BrockelmanMahidol UniversityBangkok, Thailand BIODIVESITY: AN INTRODUCTION

5. Biodiversity • Genetics • Evolution • Ecology • Taxonomy • Environmental Sciences • Molecular biology • Biotechnology

6. Causes of Extinction of Species • Habitat destruction • Pollution • Over Hunting Current Rate of over Extinction ~ 1000 times the Natural Rate (Natural Rate ~1 per 1-10 million species /year) The majority of species will become extinct before we will able to study or use them

7. “Biodiversity” = all the systems of living things (DNA, genes, individuals, species, communities, and ecosystems) Saving as many species as possible The improvement of our lives and our very survival (biotechnology, genetic engineering, ecosystem function, beauty, ...)

8. Food diversity

9. Hidden products

10. Speicies diversity

11. Genes to ecosystems

12. Within species diversity • Genetic variation • Races • Subspecies (geographic variation)

13. Genetic Variation: • Each individual is genetically distinct • Measured by detecting variation in enzymes or proteins (direct products of genes) • Measured by analyzing for differences in nucleotide sequences

14. Ecosystem Variability: = the differences in structure, productivity and nutrient cycles in communities in different types of environment and climatic zones of the Earth

15. Ecosystem function is vital to all living things Nitrogen cycle Carbon cycle

16. History of Life 3.7 billion years The first living things 3.6 billion years aquatic cyanobacteria 2.5 billion years planktonic plants (O2) 400 Mya fishes 300 Mya land plants, insects amphibians, reptiles 150 Mya first birds, mammals 65 Mya mammal radiations 2 Mya primitive humans

18. History of the Earth (continue) 245 Mya The regign of dinosaurs, until their extinction caused by collision of a large asteroid 65 Mya with Earth But normal rate of extinction approximately 1 species per 1-10 million per year

19. Evolution over millions of years • Changes in populations through time • Speciation (branching) , due to • Separation (geographic speciation) • Reproductive isolation Species diversity

20. Species:distinct types of organisms with reproductively separate populations Each species:has distinct scientific name (Genus and species name) We are:Homo Sapiens Number of species in an areas is the most useful measure of biodiversity

21. How many species are there on Earth ? 5 to over 15 million species But only 1.5 million species have been described so far • insects = 2/3 of all species • vertebrates = 40,000 species • vascular plants = 270,000 species • invertebrates = ? • fungi and microorganisms = ?

22. Individual Variation Inheritance from parents to offspring Population growth and competition Survival of the fittest Evolutionary Change Charles Darwin Era (Natural Selection):

23. Important genetic principles • Particulate inheritance • “Genes” come in pairs • Dominance • Independent assortment

24. Quantitative inheritance

25. By 2000: Genetics, Molecular Biology • genes and chromosomes • mutation • recombination • gene frequencies and selection • DNA structure and replication • transcription (protein formation) • nucleotide sequence

26. DNA codes for proteins

27. A continuing controversy : Is evolution gradual or sudden?

29. Genetic analysis reveals phylogeny

30. 99% of all species that ever evolued are now extinct

32. The study of biodiversity above the species level • Population study • Ecological communities • Interactions (Stability & Diversity of communities) - herbivores and plants - predators and prey - trees and seed dispersers - pollinators and plants - fungi and roots • Ecosystem function and diversity

33. Communities consist of many interactions Nutrientsplants herbivorespredator diseasesdecomposer dispersalmigrationgenetic change

34. The flow of energy through a community

35. Species diversity in a community Number of species on islands affected by: • Local extinction • Colonization of immigrants

36. Causes of Extinction • Fragmented forest • Small species population sizes Species at most risk of extinction • Low rate of population increase • Poor dispersal ability • Low natural density • Hunted for their valuable parts • In vanishing habitats

37. Causes of Species loss Half the species on Earth (by next few centuries) • Tropical forest destruction • Forest fragmentation • Hunting • Pollution • Damming and Canalization of rivers

38. Why save species?: Because • Direct use to humans • Maintain ecosystems for survival of humans If we lose species food • cannot be recreated • loss of potential values or uses: chemicals genes natural beauty ecosystem stability

39. How to slow down the extinction of species • Reduction of human population increase • Conservation of natural ecosystems as “ protected areas” • Reduction of rural poverty • Special breeding programs for critical species • Reduction of pollution and disturbance of rivers • Diversification of forestry and agriculture to reduce monocultures

40. Why save biodiversity?The answer is:you tell us!Why do you want to save it? Some general reasons

41. Because it pays. Many people make a living harvesting plants and animals, and using wildlife also. While this may not apply to you, it is wrong to destroy animals and plants that others need to make their living from. • Because we are part of an ecosystem that sustains us, by providing services such as clean water and air, rainfall, fertile soil, and pest control. Destroying animals and plants will ultimately harm us. • We do not have a natural right to destroy anything in nature, any more than we have a right to kill other people.

42. The End