Wildlife management & ecological conservation

Biodiversity hotspots for conservation

Areas where high concentrations of endemic species are undergoing substantial loss of habitat.

Should we focus conservation efforts in these areas at the expense of less diverse regions?

Or should we focus efforts on currently endangered species?

Myers et al 2000

Species-level regulatory approaches

CITES: 1975 Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)

United States Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Lacey Act

Migratory Bird Conservation Act & the Migratory Bird Treaty Clean Water Act

Endangered Species

Figure 11-19Figure 11-19

Biodiversity conservation

Strategies

The science behind conservation biology

Biodiversity indicesRichnessSimpson’sShannonTaxonomic

The importance of biodiversity for resilience and stability of communities

Theory of island biogeography

Theory of Island Biogeography

Cox and Moore 1993

Area and Distance Effects

Real data

Species-area relationship for land birds of the West Indies.

Real data

Distance (from mainland of New Guinea) effects for birds of the Bismarck Archipelago.

Applications

Single Large Or Several Small?

(SLOSS debate)

Fragmentation leads to a metapopulation* divided into smaller populations

*Metapopulation= population of populations

Checkerspot butterfly example

Reserve design strategies

NATURE RESERVESmodel biosphere

reserve showing zoning

Figure 10-25Figure 10-25

NATURE RESERVESLarge and medium-sized reserves with buffer

zones help protect biodiversity and can be connected by corridors.

National parks: a reserve systemThe first National Park in the US was established in 1872:

Yellowstone.The National Park System was created by the Organic Act of

1916, signed by President Wilson.

Stresses on U.S. National Parks

Figure 10-23Figure 10-23

Marine and aquatic conservation

Laws and treaties

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (moratorium)

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

National Marine Sanctuaries Act

The primary objective of the NMSA is to protect marine resources, such as coral reefs, sunken historical vessels or unique habitats. 

Most marine sanctuaries in US waters do not actually protect marine life.

Case in point: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

© NOAA

Zoning and Marine ReservesZoning results in mixed uses of a marine protected area.

Clean Water Act 1972, 1977 Made the discharge of pollutants from a point source into navigable waters

illegal. This includes industrial and waste water discharges.

Oil Pollution ActOil Pollution Act 1990 Requires oil and drilling companies to have emergency plans in place in the event of a huge spill Sets aside funds for oil spill clean ups in case the responsible party cannot afford all of the costs.

1990 Requires oil and drilling companies to have emergency plans in place in the event of a huge spill Sets aside funds for oil spill clean ups in case the responsible party cannot afford all of the costs.

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Restoration: trying to return to a condition as similar as possible to original state.

Rehabilitation: attempting to turn a degraded ecosystem back to being functional.

Replacement: replacing a degraded ecosystem with another type of ecosystem.

Creating artificial ecosystems: such as artificial wetlands for flood reduction and sewage treatment.

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Five basic principles for ecological restoration:Identify cause.Stop abuse by eliminating or sharply reducing

factors.Reintroduce species if necessary.Protect area form further degradation.Use adaptive management to monitor efforts,

assess successes, and modify strategies.

Fig. 10-27, p. 219

• Adopt a forest.

• Plant trees and take care of them.

• Recycle paper and buy recycled paper products.

• Buy sustainable wood and wood products.

• Choose wood substitutes such as bamboo furniture and recycled plastic outdoor furniture, decking, and fencing.

• Restore a nearby degraded forest or grassland.

• Landscape your yard with a diversity of plants natural to the area.

• Live in town because suburban sprawl reduces biodiversity.

Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity

What Can You Do?