Unit FiveUnit FiveEcology and Conservation Ecology and Conservation

BiologyBiology

Conservation BiologyConservation Biology

What is BiodiversityWhat is Biodiversity

• Biodiversity is the variety of life whether one Biodiversity is the variety of life whether one focuses on the Earth as a whole, a somewhat focuses on the Earth as a whole, a somewhat smaller area known as a biome, or an even smaller area known as a biome, or an even smaller area called an ecosystemsmaller area called an ecosystem

• There are 3 levels of biodiversity which are from There are 3 levels of biodiversity which are from smallest to largest:smallest to largest:– 1. genetic diversity1. genetic diversity– 2. species diversity2. species diversity– 3. ecosystem diversity3. ecosystem diversity

What is Biodiversity cont’dWhat is Biodiversity cont’d

• Biodiversity tends to be highest in areas Biodiversity tends to be highest in areas with moderate climatic conditions with moderate climatic conditions

• Rainforests and coral reefs are two Rainforests and coral reefs are two biomes that have high biodiversitybiomes that have high biodiversity

• Areas with high biodiversity are called hot Areas with high biodiversity are called hot spotsspots

Threats to BiodiversityThreats to Biodiversity

• Humans are the primary cause for loss of Humans are the primary cause for loss of biodiversity during the last few hundred biodiversity during the last few hundred yearsyears

• The four main anthropogenic (human The four main anthropogenic (human related) reason for species decline are:related) reason for species decline are:– 1. habitat destruction/habitat fragmentation1. habitat destruction/habitat fragmentation– 2. pollution2. pollution– 3. overexploitation3. overexploitation– 4. exotic species4. exotic species

Benefits to Preserving BiodiversityBenefits to Preserving Biodiversity

• There are several benefits to preserving There are several benefits to preserving biodiversitybiodiversity– 1. medicinal value of flora1. medicinal value of flora– 2. improved food crops 2. improved food crops – 3. maintains ecosystem function3. maintains ecosystem function– 4. economic benefits - tourism and recreation4. economic benefits - tourism and recreation– 5. overall aesthetic value5. overall aesthetic value

What is Conservation BiologyWhat is Conservation Biology

• This discipline of Conservation Biology is This discipline of Conservation Biology is relatively new (1980’s) and focuses on the relatively new (1980’s) and focuses on the preservation/restoration of biodiversity at preservation/restoration of biodiversity at the three levels (genetic, species, and the three levels (genetic, species, and ecosystem)ecosystem)

• It is a response to the documented loss of It is a response to the documented loss of species over the last few hundred yearsspecies over the last few hundred years

What is Conservation Biology What is Conservation Biology cont’dcont’d

• Conservation biologists are able to affect Conservation biologists are able to affect change because of the federal endangered change because of the federal endangered species act of 1973species act of 1973

• If a species is “listed”, it then garners special If a species is “listed”, it then garners special protection under the above actprotection under the above act

• There can be three “listed” categories:There can be three “listed” categories:– 1. species of special concern1. species of special concern– 2. threatened2. threatened– 3. endangered 3. endangered

What is Conservation Biology What is Conservation Biology cont’dcont’d

• Once a species is “listed” no one is permitted to Once a species is “listed” no one is permitted to negatively impact individuals of that species or negatively impact individuals of that species or their surrounding habitattheir surrounding habitat

• Conservation biologists participate in many Conservation biologists participate in many initiatives to help a species increase in numberinitiatives to help a species increase in number– 1. captive breeding1. captive breeding– 2. habitat restoration2. habitat restoration– 3. creation of corridors3. creation of corridors– 4. reintroduction programs4. reintroduction programs– 5. general research5. general research

What is Conservation Biology What is Conservation Biology cont’dcont’d

• Conservation biologists can attempt to preserve an entire ecosystem or a specific species from an ecosystem

• Usually, conservation efforts focus on individual species

• Conservation of a species generally involves a combination of in situ and ex situ work with the breeding program occurring ex situ

What is Conservation Biology What is Conservation Biology cont’dcont’d

• Once a species has been brought back from the brink of extinction, if funding is available, it is very important to continue to monitor said species for as long as possible after the conservation program was conducted

• An ecologist’s and conservation biologist’s work is never done