BIODIVERSITY BIODIVERSITY
EXTINCTION: 40.000 pr. YEAR!? EXTINCTION: 40.000 pr. YEAR!?
WHAT IS BIODIVERSITYEffect of climate on biodiversity
Disturbance and biodiversity
The VALUE of BIODIVERSITY The VALUE of BIODIVERSITY
IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?!
IndividualIndividual
Populations; breeding individualsPopulations; breeding individuals
CommunitiesCommunities
Landscapes “Ecosystems” Landscapes “Ecosystems”
Bioms, e.g. rainforestBioms, e.g. rainforest
BiosphereBiosphere
landscapes
Communities
Populations
Individual
Fig. 4.2, p. 72
SPECIESSPECIES
Bio-organizational hierarchy
Bio-organizational hierarchy
What is biodviresityWhat is biodviresity
• SPECIES RICHNESS = NUMBER OF SPECIES IN A GIVEN AREA (measurable & comparable)
• TURNOVER OF SPECIES IN LANDSCAPES = LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY
• NUMBER OF RARE OR ENDEMIC SPECIES• NUMBER OF SPECIES WITH FEW REALTIVES =
ISOLATED LINAGES
• DIFFRENCES BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS WITHIN POPULATIONS (GENE DIVERSITY)
BIODIVERSITY IS NOT BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES BIODIVERSITY IS NOT BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
• 2 ISLANDS WITH DIFFERENT DIVERSITY
30 SPECIES NON
ARE EDIBLE
5 SPECIES 4 ARE
EDIBLE
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?
POTENTIAL RESOURCE
SPECIES NOT USEFUL TODAY CAN BE USEFUL FOR HUMANS IN THE FUTURE
POTENTIAL RESOURCE
SPECIES NOT USEFUL TODAY CAN BE USEFUL FOR HUMANS IN THE FUTURE
Biomes: Latitude and Altitude Elevation
Biomes: Latitude and Altitude Elevation
MontaneMontaneConiferouConiferou
ssForestForest
DeciduousDeciduousForestForest
AlpineAlpineTundraTundra
TropicalTropicalForestForest
Tropical ForestTropical Forest Temperate Deciduous Temperate Deciduous ForestForest
Northern Coniferous Northern Coniferous ForestForest
Arctic TundraArctic Tundra
LowLowHighHigh Temperature & Moisture AvailabilityTemperature & Moisture Availability
lowlow
highhigh
Elevation
Elevation
Fig. 6.18, p. 133
Temperature & Moisture availability
Biodiversity: equator to the polesBiodiversity: equator to the poles
LatitudeLatitudeS
pe
cie
s d
ive
rsit
yS
pe
cie
s d
ive
rsit
y
100100
00
200200
90˚N90˚N 6060 3030 00 30˚S30˚S 6060
LatitudeLatitude
1,0001,000
100100
1010
80˚N80˚N 6060 4040 2020 00
LatitudeLatitude
Fig. 8.3, p. 175
Biodiversity: elevation gradient Biodiversity: elevation gradient
Low land ---- high land
Species richness
agriculture
Common: latitude & elevation gradient Common: latitude & elevation gradient
AltitudeAltitude
Latitude
Temperature
Production
Growing season
Increasing BiodiversityIncreasing Biodiversity
Many physically diverse habitats Landscape diversity
Many physically diverse habitats Landscape diversity
Moderate environmental disturbanceModerate environmental disturbance
Short unfavorable seasons, tropicalShort unfavorable seasons, tropical
Middle stages of ecological successionMiddle stages of ecological succession
AREAAREA
Ecological Succession: Communities in TransitionEcological Succession: Communities in Transition
Primary successionPrimary succession
Secondary successionSecondary succession
Pioneer speciesPioneer species
Successional speciesSuccessional species
Primary Succession & species richnessPrimary Succession & species richness
Small herbsand shrubs
Heath mat
Jack pine,black spruce,
and aspen
Balsam fir,paper birch, and
white spruceclimax community
Exposedrocks
Lichensand mosses
Fig. 8.15, p. 188
Species richness
biomass
time
Secondary Succession & species richnessSecondary Succession & species richness
Annualweeds
Perennialweeds and
grasses
ShrubsYoung pine forest
Mature oak-hickory forest
Species richness
time
biomass
Biodiversity: succession Biodiversity: succession
Number of species= species richnessNumber of species= species richness
Successional time
Biodiversity and biomass Biodiversity and biomass
species richnessspecies richness
Increasing biomass
Biodiversity and disturbancedisturbance = reduced biomass Biodiversity and disturbancedisturbance = reduced biomass
species richnessspecies richness
Increasing disturbance
Biodiversity, succession and disturbance Biodiversity, succession and disturbance
species richnessspecies richness
increasing biomass
increasing disturbance
Tropical forest are rich in species because of large area + many strataTropical forest are rich in species because of large area + many strata
Indirect: i.e., small plants growing in shade of larger plants
Indirect: i.e., small plants growing in shade of larger plants
More strata= more surface=more species
mft
10
50
20
30100
Tropicalrain forest
Coniferousforest
Deciduousforest
Thornforest
Tall-grassprairie
Short-grassprairie
Desertscrub
Thornscrub
Community Structure: Appearance and Species DiversityCommunity Structure: Appearance and Species Diversity
Stratification
Species richness
Specie area curveSpecie area curve
Log (species number) Log (species number)
Log(area)
EXTINCTION estimate: how did the 40.000 species pr year appear? Myers 1979EXTINCTION estimate: how did the 40.000 species pr year appear? Myers 1979
>100 species pr. year including known and unknown species guess 1 million species extinct in 25 years = 40,ooo pr year
50 % reduction in rainforest leads 20 % reduction in species (Lovjoy 1980)
vegetationvegetation
Origins of LifeOrigins of Life
Chemical evolutionChemical evolution
Biological evolutionBiological evolution
Formationof the
earth’searly
crust andatmosphere
Small organic
moleculesform in
the seas
Large organic
molecules(biopolymers)
form inthe seas
First protocells
form inthe seas
Chemical EvolutionChemical Evolution(1 billion years)(1 billion years)
Single-cellprokaryotes
form inthe seas
Single-celleukaryotes
form inthe seas
Variety ofmulticellularorganismsform, first
in the seas and lateron land
Biological EvolutionBiological Evolution(3.7 billion years)(3.7 billion years)
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
Origins of lifeOrigins of life
Evolutionary processesEvolutionary processes
Species formationSpecies formation
Species extinctionSpecies extinction
Species ExtinctionSpecies Extinction
Local extinctionLocal extinction
Regional extinctionRegional extinction
Biological or total extinctionBiological or total extinction
Ex-situ conservatione.g. wild relatives of crop plants
Ex-situ conservatione.g. wild relatives of crop plants
ExtinctionExtinction
Background extinctionBackground extinction
Mass extinctionMass extinction
Extinction RatesExtinction Rates
Background (natural) rate of extinctionBackground (natural) rate of extinction
Massextinction
Massextinction
Nu
mb
er o
f fa
mili
esN
um
ber
of
fam
ilies
of
mar
ine
anim
als
of
mar
ine
anim
als
Geological PeriodsGeological Periods
Millions of years agoMillions of years ago
Mass extinctions800800
600600
400400
200200
00570570 505505 438438 360360 286286 208208 144144 6565 00
CambrianCambrianOrdovicianOrdovician
SilurianSilurianDevonianDevonian
CarboniferousCarboniferous
PermianPermianTriassicTriassic
JurassicJurassicCretaceousCretaceous
TertiaryTertiaryQuaternaryQuaternary
?
408408 245245 22
Realistic figuresRealistic figures
• 95 % of earlier species are extinct
• 1.6 million known species
• 10 to 80 million unknown species
• Natural extinction 2 pr. 10 year
• Known extinction 25 pr. 10 year
since 1600 AD
Extinction rate ca. 0.7 % , but since total number of species is unknown the percentage is not a good expression
Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?
Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?
SpeciationSpeciation
SpeciationSpeciation Geographic isolationGeographic isolationReproductive isolationReproductive isolation
Early foxpopulation
Adapted to heatthrough lightweightfur and long ears, legs, and nose, whichgive off more heat.
Adapted to coldthrough heavierfur, short ears,short legs, shortnose. White furmatches snowfor camouflage.
Gray Fox
Arctic Fox
Different environmentalconditions lead to differentselective pressures and evolutioninto two different species.
Spreadsnorthwardandsouthwardandseparates
Southernpopulation
Northernpopulation
Fig. 5.8, p. 113
A thin layer of life in a big void:app. 20 kmA thin layer of life in a big void:app. 20 km
BiosphereBiosphereAtmosphere
Vegetation and animals
Soil
Rock
Biosphere
Crust
core
MantleLithosphere
Crust
Lithosphere(crust, top of upper mantle)
Hydrosphere(water)
Atmosphere(air)
Biosphere(Living and dead
organisms)
Crust(soil and rock)
Diversity in the biospere is good and
’a must’ for evolution to continue
Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?
Instrumental valueInstrumental value
Intrinsic valueIntrinsic value
Value of Nature
Instrumental Intrinsic
Utilitarian Nonutilitarian
(human centered) (species orecosystemcentered)
Goods
Ecological services
Information
Option
Recreation
Existence
Aesthetic
Bequest
Nice mammals & ugly creeps:Have all species equal value?Nice mammals & ugly creeps:Have all species equal value?
Many small species and few big speciesMany small species and few big species
• Why is it dangerous to be big?
• Why is it safe to be small?
number
size
Reproductive Patterns and SurvivalReproductive Patterns and Survival
Asexual reproduction Asexual reproduction Sexual reproduction Sexual reproduction
r-selected species r-selected species K-selected species K-selected species
r-Selected Species
cockroach dandelion
Many small offspringLittle or no parental care and protection ofoffspringEarly reproductive ageMost offspring die before reaching reproductive ageSmall adultsAdapted to unstable climate and environmental conditionsHigh population growth rate (r)Population size fluctuates wildly above and below carrying capacity (K)Generalist nicheLow ability to competeEarly successional species
Fewer, larger offspringHigh parental care and protection of offspringLater reproductive ageMost offspring survive to reproductive ageLarger adultsAdapted to stable climate and environmental conditionsLower population growth rate (r)Population size fairly stable and usually close to carrying capacity (K)Specialist nicheHigh ability to competeLate successional species
elephant saguaro
K-Selected Species
Broad and Narrow NichesBroad and Narrow Niches
Generalist speciesGeneralist species
Specialist speciesSpecialist species
Endangered and Threatened SpeciesEndangered and Threatened Species
Endangered speciesEndangered speciesThreatened (vulnerable) speciesThreatened (vulnerable) speciesRare speciesRare species
Florida manatee
Northern spotted owl (threatened)
Gray wolf Florida panther Bannerman's turaco (Africa)
Fig. 22.7a, p. 556
FLAGSHIP SPECIES, BIG MAMMALS & BIRDS
FLAGSHIP SPECIES, BIG MAMMALS & BIRDS
PLANTE GEOGRAFIPLANTE GEOGRAFI
PLANTE GEOGRAFIPLANTE GEOGRAFI
• LOKALT SJELDEN
• I UTKANTEN AV UTBREDELSE OMRÅDET
• GLOBALT SJELDEN
• SJELDEN NATURTYPE I NORGE= SAND DYNER STRENDER
Sjelden i Norge: SilkenellikSjelden i Norge: Silkenellik
I UTKANTEN AV UTBREDELSES OMRÅDET
I UTKANTEN AV UTBREDELSES OMRÅDET
Sodaurt
PLANTE GEOGRAFIPLANTE GEOGRAFI
• SJELDEN NATURTYPE I NORGE
• F. EKS SAND DYNER med fugle og plante liv
Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild SpeciesCauses of Premature Extinction of Wild Species
Habitat degradation
Habitat degradation
Introduction of non-native species
Introduction of non-native species
Overfishing
HabitatHabitatlossloss
Habitatdegradation
IntroducingIntroducingnonnativenonnativespeciesspecies
Commercialhunting
andpoaching
Sale ofexotic pets
anddecorative
plants
Predatorand
pest control
Pollution
Climatechange
Basic CausesBasic Causes• Population growthPopulation growth• Rising resource Rising resource
useuse• No environmental No environmental
accountingaccounting• PovertyPoverty
Fig. 22.13, p. 564
Why Mountains are importantWhy Mountains are important
Mimic latitudeMimic latitude
“Islands” = isolation= speciation = endemics
“Islands” = isolation= speciation = endemics
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gasesGreenhouse gases
Rays of sunlight penetrate Rays of sunlight penetrate the lower atmosphere and the lower atmosphere and warm the earth's surface.warm the earth's surface.
The earth's surface absorbs much of The earth's surface absorbs much of the incoming solar radiation and the incoming solar radiation and degrades it to longer-wavelength degrades it to longer-wavelength infrared radiation (heat), which rises infrared radiation (heat), which rises into the lower atmosphere. Some of into the lower atmosphere. Some of this heat escapes into space and some this heat escapes into space and some is absorbed by molecules of is absorbed by molecules of greenhouse gases and emitted as greenhouse gases and emitted as infrared radiation, which warms the infrared radiation, which warms the lower atmosphere.lower atmosphere.
As concentrations of greenhouse As concentrations of greenhouse gases rise, their molecules gases rise, their molecules absorb and emit more infrared absorb and emit more infrared radiation, which adds more heat radiation, which adds more heat to the to the lower atmosphere.lower atmosphere.
(a)(a) (b)(b) (c)(c)
Fig. 6.13, p. 128
Elevation gradient and climate change: 1750 ADElevation gradient and climate change: 1750 AD
1000 m elevation = decrease 5 0C
1000 m elevation = decrease 5 0C
20 10 0
Temperature niche
Alpine plant
No. of individuals
0C
Elevation gradient and climate change: 2100 AD + 10 degreesElevation gradient and climate change: 2100 AD + 10 degrees
30 20 10
Temperature niche disappear
Alpine species goes locally extinct
No. of individuals
critical thinking critical thinking
• Realised versus fundamnetal niche
Fundamental niche =
only climate
Realised niche
Biotic control
30 20 10
20 10 01750
2100
Land Use in the WorldLand Use in the World
Tundra and Tundra and wetlands 9%wetlands 9%
Desert 20%Desert 20%
Cropland 11%Cropland 11%
RangelandRangelandand pastureand pasture26%26%
ForestForest32%32%
Urban 2%Urban 2%
Fig. 23.2, p. 586
Forest StructureForest StructureEmergent
Canopy
Understory
Floor
Subsoil
Birds, invertebrates,bats
Birds, reptiles,amphibians,lichens, mosses
Shade-tolerant plants, birds, squirrels,lizards, chipmunks
Rotting debris,worms, insects,bacteria
Nematodes,microrganisms
Bole
Snag
Symbiotic Species Interactions: CommensalismSymbiotic Species Interactions: Commensalism
Indirect: i.e., small plants growing in shade of larger plants
Indirect: i.e., small plants growing in shade of larger plants
Direct: i.e., epiphytes, remoras
Direct: i.e., epiphytes, remoras
Endangered and Threatened SpeciesEndangered and Threatened Species
Endangered speciesEndangered species
Threatened (vulnerable) speciesThreatened (vulnerable) species
Rare speciesRare species
Florida manatee
Northern spotted owl (threatened)
Gray wolf Florida panther Bannerman's turaco (Africa)
Nuclear threat!!!!Nuclear threat!!!!
Mass extinction
VALUE of species
VALUE of species
ExtinctionExtinction
Background extinctionBackground extinction
Mass extinctionMass extinction