Biodiversity

Biodiversity

16 June 2010 1Biodiversity.ppt

Biodiversity

16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 2

• Variety of living things, number of kinds

• Ecological diversity– different habitats, niches,

species interactions• Species diversity

– different kinds of organisms, relationships among species

• Genetic diversity– different genes &

combinations of genes within populations

Benefits of Biodiversity

• Ecosystem functions• Ecosystem services

• Cleaning water,

• Cleaning air,

• Habitat & breeding areas for wildlife, …

• Aesthetic and cultural benefits


Natural Resources

• Vital economic natural resources– Renewable• Forests (plants, wildlife)

• Soils

• Fresh water (lakes, rivers)

• Wildlife and fisheries

• Rangeland

– Nonrenewable• Minerals

• Fossil Fuels


Natural Resources

• Management of natural resources– Assure availability of

resources for the future

– Three “philosophies”• Maximum sustained yield

• Ecosystem-based management

• Adaptive management


Benefits of Biodiversity• New food sources

– Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish


Benefits of Biodiversity

• Medicines• Plants

• Jellyfish & sea anemones

• Nudibranchs • Marine slugs


Biodiversity• How much biodiversity

1.7—2.0 million speciesEstimates to 100 million


Biodiversity


• Where is the biodiversity– Everywhere

• Every continent and habitat has unique life forms

– Concentrated in the tropics• Panama: > 500 species of

breeding birds

• Arctic: 50-100 species– Dense concentrations

Threats to Biodiversity

• Extinction and population reductions– Hunting and overharvesting

• Tiger

• Dodo

• Whales

• Sharks

– Habitat loss


Threats to Biodiversity

• Extinction and population reductions– Pollution

– Climate change

– Invasive species


Protecting Biodiversity


• How can we protect biodiversity– Stop overharvesting

• Sustainable yield

• Hunting & fishing laws (every state ?)– in developing nations ?

– Protect habitat • Refuges, parks, preserves

– Endangered Species Act


• Refuges, parks, preserves– How big should refuges be?

–Where should they be?

–McArthur & Wilson “Theory of Island Biogeography”• colonization rate

• extinction rate (local)

• predicts number of species




• Effect of island size • Effect of island distance



• McArthur & Wilson “Theory of Island Biogeography”– colonization rate

– extinction rate (local)

– predicts number of species



• Island Biogeography– Island size predicts number of species



• Island Biogeography– Everyplace is an island

– Habitat fragmentation• Smaller fragments hold

fewer species


• Endangered Species Act (1973)– Goal to “recover” species so they no longer need protection under ESA

– Implements U.S. participation in CITES

• “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species”

• Prohibits trade in listed species– whole organisms

– parts: skins, bones, teeth, flowers, leaves, etc.

• Other laws:– Marine Mammal Protection Act

– Migratory Bird Treaty Act

– Anadromous Fish Conservation Act

– etc.




• Endangered Species Act (1973)– Listing of “endangered” and

“threatened” species

– Restricts development of habitats

– Captive breeding programs

• Release of captive bred stocks to enhance or recover wild populations.

• http://www.fws.gov/endangered/

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/



• Biodiversity “hotspots”– Protection of habitat

Biodiversity

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