Conservation Biology

Chapter 50

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 2

OutlineOutline

Conservation Biology & BiodiversityConservation Biology & BiodiversityExtinction RatesExtinction Rates

Value of BiodiversityValue of BiodiversityDirect ValueDirect Value Indirect ValueIndirect Value

Causes of ExtinctionCauses of ExtinctionHabitat LossHabitat LossAlien SpeciesAlien SpeciesPollutionPollutionOverexploitationOverexploitation

Conservation TechniquesConservation Techniques

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 3Conservation BiologyConservation Biology

and Biodiversityand Biodiversity

Considers all aspects of biodiversityConsiders all aspects of biodiversity

General goal is conserving natural General goal is conserving natural resources for this and future resources for this and future generationsgenerations

Primary goal is the management of Primary goal is the management of biodiversity for sustainable use by biodiversity for sustainable use by humanshumans

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 4Conservation Biology and Conservation Biology and

BiodiversityBiodiversityConservation biology supports certain Conservation biology supports certain ethical principlesethical principles

Biodiversity is desirable for the Biodiversity is desirable for the biospherebiosphere

Extinctions due to human actions are Extinctions due to human actions are undesirableundesirable

Ecosystem interactions supporting Ecosystem interactions supporting biodiversity are desirablebiodiversity are desirable

Biodiversity brought about by Biodiversity brought about by evolutionary change has value in and of evolutionary change has value in and of itselfitself

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 5

BiodiversityBiodiversityAt its simplest level, biodiversity is At its simplest level, biodiversity is the variety of species on Earththe variety of species on Earth

Estimated that between 5 and 15 Estimated that between 5 and 15 million species currently existmillion species currently exist

Genetic diversity refers to variations Genetic diversity refers to variations among the members of a populationamong the members of a population

Community diversity increases Community diversity increases biodiversitybiodiversity

Landscape diversity involves a group Landscape diversity involves a group of interacting ecosystemsof interacting ecosystems

6Number of Described Species

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 7

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Biodiversity hotspotsBiodiversity hotspots

Contain about 20% of earth’s speciesContain about 20% of earth’s species

Represent only about 1% of earth’s Represent only about 1% of earth’s land arealand area

8Eagles and Bears Feed on Spawning Salmon

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 9

Value of BiodiversityValue of Biodiversity

Direct ValueDirect Value

Medicinal ValueMedicinal Value

Agricultural ValueAgricultural Value

­ CropsCrops

­ Biological Pest ControlsBiological Pest Controls

­ PollinatorsPollinators

Consumptive Use ValueConsumptive Use Value

­ WoodWood

­ SkinsSkins

10Direct Value of Wildlife

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 11

Value of BiodiversityValue of Biodiversity

Indirect ValueIndirect Value

Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles

Waste DisposalWaste Disposal

Provision of Fresh WaterProvision of Fresh Water

Prevention of Soil ErosionPrevention of Soil Erosion

Regulation of ClimateRegulation of Climate

EcotourismEcotourism

12Indirect Value of Ecosystems

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 13

Causes of ExtinctionCauses of Extinction

Habitat LossHabitat Loss

Occurs in all ecosystemsOccurs in all ecosystems

Recent concern focused on tropical Recent concern focused on tropical rain forests and coral reefsrain forests and coral reefs

Habitat FragmentationHabitat Fragmentation

14Habitat Loss

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 15

Alien SpeciesAlien Species

Nonnative species that move, or are Nonnative species that move, or are moved, into a new ecosystemmoved, into a new ecosystem

Often have competitive edge against Often have competitive edge against native speciesnative species

Avenues of Human IntroductionAvenues of Human Introduction

­ColonizationColonization

­Horticulture and AgricultureHorticulture and Agriculture

­Accidental TransportAccidental Transport

16Alien Species

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 17

PollutionPollution

Any environmental change that Any environmental change that adversely affects living thingsadversely affects living things

Acid DepositionAcid Deposition

EutrophicationEutrophication

Ozone DepletionOzone Depletion

Organic ChemicalsOrganic Chemicals

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

18Global Warming

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 19

OverexploitationOverexploitation

When the harvest is so great that the When the harvest is so great that the population becomes severely population becomes severely reduced in numbersreduced in numbers

The market forces driving the harvest:The market forces driving the harvest:

Exotic PetsExotic Pets

Hunting / PoachingHunting / Poaching

Over-Harvesting FisheriesOver-Harvesting Fisheries

20Trawling

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 21

Conservation TechniquesConservation Techniques

Habitat PreservationHabitat Preservation

Keystone SpeciesKeystone Species

MetapopulationsMetapopulations

Small populations isolated because of Small populations isolated because of habitat fragmentationhabitat fragmentation

­Source PopulationsSource Populations

­Sink PopulationsSink Populations

22Habitat Preservation

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 23

Conservation TechniquesConservation TechniquesLandscape PreservationLandscape Preservation

Landscape protection for one species Landscape protection for one species benefits other wildlife in the same benefits other wildlife in the same spacespace

Edge EffectEdge Effect

The edge around a patch of habitat has The edge around a patch of habitat has conditions different from the patch conditions different from the patch interiorinterior

Edge does not count as effective habitat Edge does not count as effective habitat for species requiring the conditions of for species requiring the conditions of the interiorthe interior

24Edge Effect

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 25

Conservation TechniquesConservation Techniques

Computer AnalysesComputer Analyses

Gap AnalysisGap Analysis

­ Find gaps in preservation effortsFind gaps in preservation efforts

­ Try to identify areas where biodiversity Try to identify areas where biodiversity is high outside of currently preserved is high outside of currently preserved areasareas

Population Viability AnalysisPopulation Viability Analysis

­Determine how much habitat a species Determine how much habitat a species requires to maintain itselfrequires to maintain itself

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 26

Conservation TechniquesConservation Techniques

Habitat Restoration - Three PrinciplesHabitat Restoration - Three Principles

Begin as soon as possible before Begin as soon as possible before remaining fragments are lostremaining fragments are lost

Once natural history is understood, Once natural history is understood, use biological techniques to mimic use biological techniques to mimic natural processesnatural processes

Goal is sustainable usageGoal is sustainable usage

27Restoration of the Everglades

Conservation Conservation BiologyBiology 28

ReviewReview

Conservation Biology & BiodiversityConservation Biology & BiodiversityExtinction RatesExtinction Rates

Value of BiodiversityValue of BiodiversityDirect ValueDirect Value Indirect ValueIndirect Value

Causes of ExtinctionCauses of ExtinctionHabitat LossHabitat LossAlien SpeciesAlien SpeciesPollutionPollutionOverexploitationOverexploitation

Conservation TechniquesConservation Techniques

Conservation Biology

Ending Slide Chapter 50