Marine Conservation Biology ESP 198-024 Fall 2007

Marine Conservation Marine Conservation BiologyBiology

ESP 198-024 Fall 2007ESP 198-024 Fall 2007

Marine Conservation BiologyMarine Conservation Biology

• ESP 198-024 ESP 198-024 • CRN 54650 - 3 unitsCRN 54650 - 3 units• Lecture: Tues. & Thurs. 1:40-3:00 Lecture: Tues. & Thurs. 1:40-3:00

p.m., Olson 217p.m., Olson 217• Instructor: Ted Grosholz, Department Instructor: Ted Grosholz, Department

of Environmental Science and Policyof Environmental Science and Policy• Office and Hours: 3114 Wickson Hall, Office and Hours: 3114 Wickson Hall,

752-9151, Office Hours: Tues. 3-4 pm 752-9151, Office Hours: Tues. 3-4 pm or by appointmentor by appointment


• Lecture Format: Lecture Format: – The period of 1.5 hoursThe period of 1.5 hours– Lecture will generally be followed by Lecture will generally be followed by

questions and discussionquestions and discussion– Five minute break mid-lectureFive minute break mid-lecture


• Grading: Grading: – Final Exam (35%) (Final Exam (35%) (Dec. 14Dec. 14))– Midterm Exam (25%) (Midterm Exam (25%) (Oct. 30Oct. 30))– Two Essays (15% each, 30% total) (Two Essays (15% each, 30% total) (Nov. Nov.

15, Dec. 6)15, Dec. 6)– Attendance and Participation (10%)Attendance and Participation (10%)


• Essays:Essays:– Two essays due during the quarterTwo essays due during the quarter– Essays are no more than two pagesEssays are no more than two pages– Issues and/or controversies in marine Issues and/or controversies in marine

conservation biology conservation biology – Read two short papers discussing Read two short papers discussing

different perspectives on each issuedifferent perspectives on each issue


• Course Philosophy:Course Philosophy:– Many ways to approach science and Many ways to approach science and

conservation scienceconservation science– Although scientific method is objective, Although scientific method is objective,

scientists and users of science are generally notscientists and users of science are generally not– Questions asked, methods used, and Questions asked, methods used, and

interpretations of data are subjectiveinterpretations of data are subjective– Try not to defend positions, but try to provide Try not to defend positions, but try to provide

evidence and discuss controversies where evidence and discuss controversies where applicableapplicable

– Need to understand limits of science and its useNeed to understand limits of science and its use

Class InformationClass Information

• NameName• Year and MajorYear and Major• Classes takenClasses taken

– Ecology and evolutionEcology and evolution– Fisheries, conservation, wildlife managementFisheries, conservation, wildlife management– Marine sciences, oceanography, limnologyMarine sciences, oceanography, limnology– Statistics, math, computer scienceStatistics, math, computer science

• Email/contact informationEmail/contact information• Three most important issues in Marine Three most important issues in Marine

ConservationConservation

Defining Marine Defining Marine Conservation BiologyConservation Biology

• Marine Conservation biology is the science Marine Conservation biology is the science of conserving marine biodiversityof conserving marine biodiversity

• ““Biological diversity” or “biodiversity” was Biological diversity” or “biodiversity” was first used in the context of conservation first used in the context of conservation around 1980around 1980

• Diversity occurs at many levels from genes Diversity occurs at many levels from genes to species to ecosystemsto species to ecosystems

• Marine systems have much greater Marine systems have much greater diversity at higher taxonomic levelsdiversity at higher taxonomic levels

• 32 of 33 animal phyla are in the oceans32 of 33 animal phyla are in the oceans• 15 phyla are exclusively marine15 phyla are exclusively marine


• Marine Conservation Biology occurs Marine Conservation Biology occurs at the interface of the scientific study at the interface of the scientific study of marine systems and the public of marine systems and the public policy goal of conserving marine policy goal of conserving marine resourcesresources

• Focus on the science of marine Focus on the science of marine conservation, although occasional conservation, although occasional discuss how science is used in policydiscuss how science is used in policy


• ““Marine systems” will be a shorthand Marine systems” will be a shorthand for a wide range of coastal and for a wide range of coastal and marine systems marine systems – Open oceans and deep oceansOpen oceans and deep oceans– Coral reefs and temperature reefsCoral reefs and temperature reefs– Sea grasses and sandflatsSea grasses and sandflats– Coastal bays and estuaries Coastal bays and estuaries – Polar oceans and polynyasPolar oceans and polynyas

Reasons for Conserving Reasons for Conserving Marine BiodiversityMarine Biodiversity

• Important source of proteinImportant source of protein– Some countries (Indonesia, Japan, Some countries (Indonesia, Japan,

Philippines) more than 50% of the protein Philippines) more than 50% of the protein comes from oceancomes from ocean

• Unique pharmaceuticalsUnique pharmaceuticals– Anti-tumor compounds like Didemnin b Anti-tumor compounds like Didemnin b

(from tunicates) and Bryostatin (from (from tunicates) and Bryostatin (from bryozoans) and Dolastatins (from sea bryozoans) and Dolastatins (from sea hares)hares)

– Carrageenan and agar from red algae Carrageenan and agar from red algae


• Ecosystem services provided by coastal Ecosystem services provided by coastal and marine systemsand marine systems– Mangroves, marshes, sea grasses help buffer Mangroves, marshes, sea grasses help buffer

coastal areas from wind and wavescoastal areas from wind and waves– They stabilize sediments and prevent erosion They stabilize sediments and prevent erosion

of coastal areasof coastal areas– Corals literally create new land masses, many Corals literally create new land masses, many

topical islands are entirely coraltopical islands are entirely coral– Global climate is regulated by the oceans (COGlobal climate is regulated by the oceans (CO22) )

exchange, ocean is a large sink for exchange, ocean is a large sink for atmospheric COatmospheric CO22


• AestheticsAesthetics

• RecreationRecreation

• Marine wildernessMarine wilderness

• Value of lifeValue of life

Why Marine Conservation Why Marine Conservation BiologyBiology• Reasons for conserving diversity are Reasons for conserving diversity are

generally similar to terrestrial systemsgenerally similar to terrestrial systems• Significant differences in the habitats, Significant differences in the habitats,

organisms and compared with land and organisms and compared with land and traditional conservation biologytraditional conservation biology

• Also many differences in legal structures, Also many differences in legal structures, governance and policiesgovernance and policies

• Conservation biology in marine systems Conservation biology in marine systems does build on conservation efforts in does build on conservation efforts in terrestrial systems, but must reflect terrestrial systems, but must reflect realities of the oceansrealities of the oceans

Differences Between Marine Differences Between Marine and Terrestrial Systemsand Terrestrial Systems

• Oceans are physically differentOceans are physically different – Water is 850 times denser and 60 times Water is 850 times denser and 60 times

more viscousmore viscous– Greater buoyancy for organismsGreater buoyancy for organisms

•Organisms can be much largerOrganisms can be much larger•Larger size usually influences life historyLarger size usually influences life history

– Sound and electricity conducted more Sound and electricity conducted more efficientlyefficiently•Communication pathways differ, subject to Communication pathways differ, subject to

human impactshuman impacts


• Oceans are physically different Oceans are physically different – Light absorptionLight absorption

•Majority of ocean is light limitedMajority of ocean is light limited

– Steeper pressure gradientSteeper pressure gradient•Can restrict distribution of organismsCan restrict distribution of organisms

– Greater thermal stabilityGreater thermal stability•Temperature changes slowlyTemperature changes slowly•Many tropical organisms live near their Many tropical organisms live near their

thermal limitthermal limit


• Ocean habitats are much more 3-dimensionalOcean habitats are much more 3-dimensional• Ocean systems have boundaries defined by Ocean systems have boundaries defined by

temperature, light, salinity, depth, wind, temperature, light, salinity, depth, wind, currents, upwelling, etc.currents, upwelling, etc.– Boundaries shift on scales of hours to daysBoundaries shift on scales of hours to days

• Vertical gradients of temperature, light, Vertical gradients of temperature, light, pressure change rapidly near the surface but pressure change rapidly near the surface but more slowly with depthmore slowly with depth– Biological zones are more compressed near the Biological zones are more compressed near the

surfacesurface


• Organisms are differentOrganisms are different– Large diversity of planktonic organisms Large diversity of planktonic organisms

(holoplanktonic=entire life or (holoplanktonic=entire life or meroplanktonic=part of life)meroplanktonic=part of life)

– Much more diverse and permanent than aero-Much more diverse and permanent than aero-plankton (seeds, spores, spiders, flying insects)plankton (seeds, spores, spiders, flying insects)

• Species on average have larger rangesSpecies on average have larger ranges– Populations are more “open”Populations are more “open”

• Large numbers of sessile animalsLarge numbers of sessile animals– Filter and suspension feedersFilter and suspension feeders


• Marine primary producers are smaller Marine primary producers are smaller relative to consumers relative to consumers – Important marine plants are small and short-Important marine plants are small and short-

lived (phytoplankton) lived (phytoplankton) – Important terrestrial plants are larger and Important terrestrial plants are larger and

longer-lived (trees)longer-lived (trees)

• Food chains in the oceans are longer on Food chains in the oceans are longer on averageaverage– Average of 6-7 linksAverage of 6-7 links


• Threats are differentThreats are different– Loss of habitat generally not a critical Loss of habitat generally not a critical

issue (IMPORTANT exceptions: coral issue (IMPORTANT exceptions: coral reefs, sea grasses, salt marshes, reefs, sea grasses, salt marshes, mangroves) mangroves)

– Overexploitation of non-target species is Overexploitation of non-target species is a primary issuea primary issue

– Extinction (so far) is rare outside of birds Extinction (so far) is rare outside of birds and mammals in marine systems and mammals in marine systems


• Much of the world’s oceans are subject to Much of the world’s oceans are subject to international lawinternational law

• Majority of open ocean and deep ocean Majority of open ocean and deep ocean habitats are less well studied than habitats are less well studied than terrestrial habitatsterrestrial habitats

• Observation of many species, let alone Observation of many species, let alone identification is difficultidentification is difficult

• Diversity hot spots and patterns are less Diversity hot spots and patterns are less clearclear

Similarities Among Terrestrial Similarities Among Terrestrial and Marine Systemsand Marine Systems

• There are threatened and endangered There are threatened and endangered species, even invertebratesspecies, even invertebrates

• Species have been driven extinct and Species have been driven extinct and this continuesthis continues

• There are particular high priority areas There are particular high priority areas – Islands with high endemism (unique Islands with high endemism (unique

species)species)•Ascension Isl., Easter Isl., Galapagos IslandsAscension Isl., Easter Isl., Galapagos Islands

– Isolated seas and oceansIsolated seas and oceans•Baltic Sea, Adriatic Sea, Black Sea, Sea of Baltic Sea, Adriatic Sea, Black Sea, Sea of

CortezCortez


• There are particular high priority areas There are particular high priority areas – Spawning grounds and nursery areasSpawning grounds and nursery areas

•Coral reef fishesCoral reef fishes

•Sea grasses and estuariesSea grasses and estuaries

– Areas of high productivityAreas of high productivity•Upwelling zones, polar ice edgesUpwelling zones, polar ice edges

– Migration stopover areasMigration stopover areas•Birds and mammalsBirds and mammals


• There are high priority speciesThere are high priority species– Taxonomically distinct Taxonomically distinct – Species with limited distributions or Species with limited distributions or

small population sizesmall population size– Species with life histories low Species with life histories low

recruitment (slow to recover)recruitment (slow to recover)– Restricted habitatsRestricted habitats– Exploited speciesExploited species

Documents

Marine Conservation Biology ESP 198-024 Fall 2007