Sustaining Aquatic Sustaining Aquatic BiodiversityBiodiversity

Questions for TodayQuestions for Today

What are the major threats to aquatic What are the major threats to aquatic biodiversity (HIPPCO)?biodiversity (HIPPCO)?

How can we protect and sustain marine How can we protect and sustain marine biodiversity?biodiversity?

How should we manage and sustain marine How should we manage and sustain marine fisheries?fisheries?

How can we protect and sustain wetlands?How can we protect and sustain wetlands? How can we protect and sustain freshwater How can we protect and sustain freshwater

lakes, rivers, and fisheries?lakes, rivers, and fisheries?

Remember:Remember:

The greatest biodiversity occurs in coral The greatest biodiversity occurs in coral reefs, estuaries, and deep ocean floor.reefs, estuaries, and deep ocean floor.

Biodiversity is higher near coasts because Biodiversity is higher near coasts because of the greater variety of producers and of the greater variety of producers and habitats in coastal areas. habitats in coastal areas.

Biodiversity is greater in the bottom region Biodiversity is greater in the bottom region of the ocean because of habitats and food of the ocean because of habitats and food sources. sources.

HHIPPCO – Acronym to RememberIPPCO – Acronym to RememberGreatest Threats to Biodiversity Greatest Threats to Biodiversity

H stands for Habitat Loss and H stands for Habitat Loss and Degradation.Degradation.– 90% of fish living in the ocean spawn 90% of fish living in the ocean spawn

in coral reefs, mangrove forests, in coral reefs, mangrove forests, coastal wetlands, sea-grass beds, or coastal wetlands, sea-grass beds, or rivers. rivers.

The above areas are under intense The above areas are under intense pressure from human activities. pressure from human activities. (dredging, trawling, dams, (dredging, trawling, dams, excessive water withdrawal)excessive water withdrawal)

Restoring sea-grass beds in Galveston, tX

HHIIPPCOPPCO I stands for Invasive SpeciesI stands for Invasive Species These bioinvaders can displace or cause These bioinvaders can displace or cause

extinction of native species and disrupt extinction of native species and disrupt ecosystem services and human economies.ecosystem services and human economies.

USFW states that bioinvaders are blamed for USFW states that bioinvaders are blamed for about 2/3 of fish extinctions in the US since about 2/3 of fish extinctions in the US since 1900 1900

84% of world’s coastal waters are being 84% of world’s coastal waters are being colonized by invaders! (Water hyacinth, Asian colonized by invaders! (Water hyacinth, Asian swamp eel, zebra mussel, Nile perch, are swamp eel, zebra mussel, Nile perch, are some examples…p. 252 for details)some examples…p. 252 for details)

How do aquatic invaders spread?How do aquatic invaders spread?

Many aquatic invaders are introduced Many aquatic invaders are introduced through ballast water that is stored in tanks through ballast water that is stored in tanks in large cargo ships to keep them stable and in large cargo ships to keep them stable and then dumped into another bay.then dumped into another bay.

Example: Example: – The brown seaweed Unidaria or wakame that The brown seaweed Unidaria or wakame that

was introduced along the California coastwas introduced along the California coast– Chokes out native kelp forests that are habitat Chokes out native kelp forests that are habitat

for sea otters, fish, and others for sea otters, fish, and others

Water HyacinthsWater Hyacinths

Zebra Mussels in the Great LakesZebra Mussels in the Great Lakes

Lionfish in FloridaLionfish in Florida

Lionfish were introduced to the Atlantic Lionfish were introduced to the Atlantic through human actions, though the exact through human actions, though the exact mechanism is still being debated.mechanism is still being debated.

Some believe they were dumped from Some believe they were dumped from aquariumsaquariums

Compete with native fishes such as grouper Compete with native fishes such as grouper and snapper for foodand snapper for food

Common CarpCommon Carp

HIHIPPPCOPCO

PP The first P in HIPPCO is coastal Population The first P in HIPPCO is coastal Population

Growth. Growth. More people moving to coastal areas More people moving to coastal areas

destroy habitat and increases pollution.destroy habitat and increases pollution. U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) in U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) in

2010 reported that about 80% of the world’s 2010 reported that about 80% of the world’s people were living along or near the coastspeople were living along or near the coasts

For more information visit: http://www.unep.org/

HIPHIPPPCOCO The second P is PollutionThe second P is Pollution

– 2004, UNEP estimated that 80% of all pollution 2004, UNEP estimated that 80% of all pollution comes from land-based activities. comes from land-based activities.

Humans have Humans have doubled the flow of nitrogendoubled the flow of nitrogen, , mostly from nitrate mostly from nitrate fertilizersfertilizers since 1860. since 1860. Similar inputs of phosphorous have occurred. Similar inputs of phosphorous have occurred. (They cause (They cause eutrophicationeutrophication, which can lead to , which can lead to algal algal bloomsblooms, , fish die-offsfish die-offs, and , and degradationdegradation of of ecosystems.)ecosystems.)

Pollution ContinuedPollution Continued

Toxic pollutants from industrial and urban Toxic pollutants from industrial and urban areas can kill some forms of aquatic life by areas can kill some forms of aquatic life by poisoning them (i.e. Irrawaddy dolphins in poisoning them (i.e. Irrawaddy dolphins in Mekong River at risk of extinction from DDT, Mekong River at risk of extinction from DDT, PCB’s, and mercury)PCB’s, and mercury)

Massive inputs of sediment and wastes Massive inputs of sediment and wastes (plastics, sewage, etc) from land due to (plastics, sewage, etc) from land due to construction of homes and recreation areas. construction of homes and recreation areas.

HIPPHIPPCCOO

The C in HIPPCO is for projected climate The C in HIPPCO is for projected climate changechange

Sea levels riseSea levels rise– Destroys coral reefs, swamp low-lying islands, Destroys coral reefs, swamp low-lying islands,

drown highly productive coastal wetlands, and drown highly productive coastal wetlands, and put many coastal cities such as New Orleans put many coastal cities such as New Orleans under water. under water.

Mangrove forests that protect islands will be Mangrove forests that protect islands will be destroyed or damaged. destroyed or damaged.

HIPPCHIPPCOO

The BIG O in HIPPCO is OVERFISHING!!The BIG O in HIPPCO is OVERFISHING!! Industrialized fishing has depleted marine life at an Industrialized fishing has depleted marine life at an

alarming rate. alarming rate. The “fishprint” is defined as the area of ocean The “fishprint” is defined as the area of ocean

needed to sustain the consumption of an average needed to sustain the consumption of an average person, a nation, or the world. person, a nation, or the world. – All the world’s nations together are overfishing the All the world’s nations together are overfishing the

global oceans by an unsustainable 157%!!!! global oceans by an unsustainable 157%!!!!

In most cases, this leads to commercial extinction. In most cases, this leads to commercial extinction.

Fish species are also threatened with Fish species are also threatened with biological extinction, mostly from biological extinction, mostly from overfishing, water pollution, wetlands overfishing, water pollution, wetlands destruction, and excessive removal of water destruction, and excessive removal of water from rivers and lakes. from rivers and lakes.

Marine and freshwater species are Marine and freshwater species are threatened with extinction by anthropogenic threatened with extinction by anthropogenic activities more than any other group of activities more than any other group of species!!! (OUR fault!) species!!! (OUR fault!)

Industrial Fish Harvesting MethodsIndustrial Fish Harvesting Methods

Trawlers (fishes and shellfish – shrimp, Trawlers (fishes and shellfish – shrimp, flounder, scallops)flounder, scallops)

Purse-seine (schooling fish - tuna, mackerel, Purse-seine (schooling fish - tuna, mackerel, herring)herring)

Longlining (open-ocean fish – tuna, swordfish, Longlining (open-ocean fish – tuna, swordfish, sharks, cod)sharks, cod)

Drift nets (leads to excess Drift nets (leads to excess bycatchbycatch of unwanted species such as turtles and seabirds)– Bans on the length of driftnets have reduced use of

technique

Sonar and Spotter airplanesSonar and Spotter airplanes

Fig. 11-7, p. 256

Fish farming in cage

Trawler fishing Spotter airplane

Sonar Purse-seine fishing

Drift-net fishing

Long line fishing

Float Buoy

lines with hooks

Deep sea aquaculture cage Fish caught

by gills

Trawling Before and AfterTrawling Before and After

What can the government do?What can the government do?

There are different ways the government can There are different ways the government can help the environment:help the environment:

1.1. Pass LawsPass Laws1.1. Regulate people and fine those that break the lawRegulate people and fine those that break the law

2.2. Levy Taxes or subsidize for positive responses.Levy Taxes or subsidize for positive responses.

3.3. Educate the peopleEducate the people1.1. Community Outreach OrganizationsCommunity Outreach Organizations

2.2. Public Service AnnouncementsPublic Service Announcements

4.4. Create Reserves and Mitigate new land.Create Reserves and Mitigate new land.

How Can We Protect and Sustain How Can We Protect and Sustain Marine Biodiversity??Marine Biodiversity??

CITES: 1975 Convention on International CITES: 1975 Convention on International Trade in Endangered SpeciesTrade in Endangered Species

The U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of The U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 19721972

The U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973The U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 U.S. Whale Conservation and Protection Act U.S. Whale Conservation and Protection Act

of 1976of 1976 1995 International Convention on Biological 1995 International Convention on Biological

DiversityDiversity

Wetlands are cool, K?Wetlands are cool, K?

Wetlands are important because: Wetlands are important because:

* they are natural filters* they are natural filters

* they are breeding grounds for coastal wildlife* they are breeding grounds for coastal wildlife

* they are very biologically diverse* they are very biologically diverse

How Should We Protect and Sustain How Should We Protect and Sustain Wetlands?Wetlands?

Wetlands have been drained, filled in, or Wetlands have been drained, filled in, or covered over to create rice fields, crop land, covered over to create rice fields, crop land, cities, and roads.cities, and roads.

Wetlands have been destroyed by Wetlands have been destroyed by processes of extracting minerals and oil.processes of extracting minerals and oil.

AND to reduce breeding grounds of disease AND to reduce breeding grounds of disease causing insects. causing insects.

How to Preserve and Restore Wetlands??How to Preserve and Restore Wetlands??– Mitigation banking: allows destruction as long Mitigation banking: allows destruction as long

as an equal area is created or restored.as an equal area is created or restored. Not the best idea though!Not the best idea though!

– Buy wetlands and restore them with help of Buy wetlands and restore them with help of EPA or US Corps of EngineersEPA or US Corps of Engineers

FRESHWATER ISSUES! FRESHWATER ISSUES!

Aside from HIPPCO, one way that humans Aside from HIPPCO, one way that humans have destroyed freshwater ecosystems are have destroyed freshwater ecosystems are through the creation of Dams.through the creation of Dams.– Dams create different economic and Dams create different economic and

environmental benefits and problems.environmental benefits and problems.– We will further discuss dams during our We will further discuss dams during our

renewable energy unit.renewable energy unit.