DougJones

SPECIAL GUEST

Florida Museum of Natural History

Douglas Jones

UF Biodiversity Initiative

What is biodiversity?A. A term describing the organic/whole

food movement (926813)

B. Workforce diversification (926814)

C. Agricultural plans to shift from

monoculture crops (926815)

D. The totality of life on Earth (926816)

NOTE: Text keyword to 22333

Biodiversity: The totalityof life on

Earth

Global Biodiversity Map showing distribution of some of the most highly valued terrestrialbiodiversity worldwide (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, seed plants) for equal area gridcells with red for high and blue for low biodiversity

2009

Need for enhancedstudy of Biodiversity

How many major mass extinction events has Earth’s biota already suffered?

A. 1 (981447)

B. 5 (981448)

C. 12 (981449)

D. 26 (981450)

NOTE: Text keyword to 22333

Human Population Growth

2050

20509 billionWorld Population Growth

Last 12,000 Years

Florida’s Population Explosion 1910-2010From 1 Million to 19 Million in 100 years

NearlyExtinct

Miami Blue

CaptivePropagation

Program

Photo Tobey Curtis

Small-toothed SawfishPristis pectinata

Which of the following probably does NOT represent a major threat to biodiversity?

A. Climate change (927116)

B. Invasive species (927117)

C. Capital campaigns (927118)

D. Habitat degradation (927119)

NOTE: Text keyword to 22333

Biodiversity Crisis & Societal Problems Climate change

Loss of biodiversity Emerging pathogens Invasive species Threats to food security Environmentally induced health issues

Solving these biodiversity-centered problemsrequires concentrated attention

from diverse perspectives

Biodiversity Initiative: Why UF?

• Florida is a biologically hyper-diverse region• World-class natural history museum• Comprehensive, diverse campus expertise

in environmental & conservation science

20092008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

2009: Biodiversity concept developed / Great Recession impact Conceptual

discussions with top prospects. UF cuts budgets in response to recession

20092008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

2010: International Year of Biodiversity

20092008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

2013: Conceptual discussions with top prospects. Begin discussion with Provost to evaluate timing and interest. Meeting with

Provost and SVP Research to evaluate interest

20092008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

2014: Biodiversity Visioning Session. Meeting with UF & college/unit leadership. Meeting with faculty/researchers interested in biodiversity.

Data collection to analyze interest across campus. Plan submitted to UF leadership for

review.

Biodiversity CollectionsThe Library of Life

Florida Museum of Natural History

40 Million Specimens

2nd Largest University Museum Collection in U.S.

www.idigbio.org

National center for digitization of biodiversity collections

Collaboration among FLMNH, Engineering, & FSU: ~$12M

Coordinate digitization and databasing of US collections

Ingest, serve, integrate data:Localities

DatesImages

134 institutionsin 49 statesTen TCNS and collaborating institutions: 152

institutions in 50 states

HUB

UF Partners

New Opportunities New collaborations to address biodiversity grand

challenges related to: Human health, agriculture, species discovery and extinction,

ecosystem services, etc.

Big Data: Build on recent programs, iDigBio Link to Informatics Institute, Preeminence hires Established record of federal funding Private/corporate/foundation support

A Vision for the Museum of the 21st Century

Interdisciplinary research labs

FLORIDA FORWARD

S E P T E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 1 4