conservation =Erhaltung, Bewahrung, Schutz, Naturschutz

Conservation Biology = Naturschutzbiologie

What is Conservation Biology?

Conservation Biology . . .

. . . is a branch of biology that is concerned with the continuing loss of biodiversity and the development of practical solutions for

protecting species, their habitats and ecosystems.

Biodiversity= the wealth of life on earth:

(all plants, animals and microorganisms),

the genes they contain, and the intricate

ecosystems they help build.

3 levels of biodiversity:

1) Species

2) Genes

3) Ecosystems

Biodiversity loss

• every day, about 100 species go extinct worldwide

• in Germany, 50% of our native plants and animals are threatened or endangered

The main causes of species extinction and biodiversity loss are:

• human population growth• habitat loss / habitat destruction• overexploitation• invasive species• pollution• climate change

Red List of Threatened Species

• is published every two years by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

• since 2011: includes about 61.000 species

• evaluates the extinction risk of thousands of species

Threatened Species

Threatened means that the population of a

species is declining at an alarming rate

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is listed as a threatened species

Endangered Species

Endangered means that a species will go extinct very soon if nothing is done to

help the population recover

So few Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are left, that it is

considered an endangered species

Conservation Biology as a interdisciplinary science:

Conservation Biology uses findings from all biological disciplines and focuses them on

nature conservation

Ecology

Genetics

Mathematics

Chemistry

Geology

Biogeography

Evolution

Botany

Zoology

Epidemology

Conservation BiologyStatistics

What do Conservation biologists do?

• they help protect species and habitats

• they create nature preserves (determine the location, size, capacity)

• they create methods for conservation measures

relocation of mangroves by a riverbed

setting up traps for a fauna survey

• they educate the public about conservation issues

• wildlife management

• they restore endangered or damaged ecosystems and habitats

planting trees in Warrumbungle National Park,

Australia

eradicating an invasive species, Lantana camara

• they examine whether a species is threatened or not

• they develop breeding programs for

endangered species (and sometimes release

them into the wild)

Conservation can be profitable!

$ 1.1 million: costs for planting and protecting about 12.000 hectares

of coastalmangroves in Vietnam

$ 7.3 million: money the Vietnamesegovernment saved on

dikemaintenance

dike maintenance = Deichunterhaltung the mangroves help stabilize riverbanks and dikes and prevent erosion

• in October 2011, the world population reached 7 billion people

• we are changing the face of the earth faster than animals can adapt to it

• we are also using natural resources faster than can be renewed

therefore, one of the main aims of Conservation Biology is to find ways how

humans can better learn to coexist with nature

Summary:

Conservation Biology . . .

. . . uses the knowledge from most biological disciplines to create effective conservation measures

. . . looks for practical solutions to protect biodiversity

. . . tries to make the public aware of their environmental responsibility

“[Conservation Biology] is a discipline focused on finding ways to make humanity

more compatible with wildlife and wild ecosystems, using the best available

science”

- Michael P. Marchetti