Chapter 16Chapter 16Preserving Earth’s Biological Preserving Earth’s Biological DiversityDiversity

Questions of the day:Questions of the day:

o 1. Why do we need organisms? Why do 1. Why do we need organisms? Why do we need biological diversity?we need biological diversity?

African Rhino poachingAfrican Rhino poaching

o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZxgHik8uI0&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

o Tonight- Read article.Tonight- Read article.o http://www.smithsonianmag.com/scienc

e-nature/Defending-the-Rhino.html

Overview of Chapter 17Overview of Chapter 17

o Biological DiversityBiological Diversity• Why we need organismsWhy we need organisms

o Endangered and Extinct SpeciesEndangered and Extinct Species• Where is Declining Diversity the Greatest Where is Declining Diversity the Greatest

ProblemProblem• Human Causes of Species EndangermentHuman Causes of Species Endangerment

o Conservation BiologyConservation Biology• Protecting and Restoring HabitatsProtecting and Restoring Habitats

o Conservation Policies and LawsConservation Policies and Lawso Wildlife ManagementWildlife Management

Biological DiversityBiological Diversity

o Biological DiversityBiological Diversity• Number, variety and variability of Earth’s Number, variety and variability of Earth’s

organismsorganisms

o Consists of three components: Consists of three components: • Genetic diversity (right)Genetic diversity (right)• Species richnessSpecies richness• Ecosystem diversityEcosystem diversity

Why We Need OrganismsWhy We Need Organisms

o Example contributions to human life:Example contributions to human life:• FoodFood• ClothingClothing• ShelterShelter• Pollination of cropsPollination of crops• Antibiotics and medicinesAntibiotics and medicines• Biological processes (nitrogen fixation)Biological processes (nitrogen fixation)

o Biological Diversity represents an Biological Diversity represents an untapped resource for future usesuntapped resource for future uses

Ecosystem Services and Species Ecosystem Services and Species RichnessRichness

o All organisms are interrelatedAll organisms are interrelated• Linked to each other and the physical Linked to each other and the physical

environmentenvironment

o Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services• Important environmental benefits that Important environmental benefits that

ecosystems provide to peopleecosystems provide to people• Clean airClean air• Clean waterClean water• Fertile soilFertile soil

o Removal of a species from a community Removal of a species from a community can decrease ecosystem servicescan decrease ecosystem services

Scientific Importance of Genetic Scientific Importance of Genetic DiversityDiversity

o Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering• Incorporation of genes from one organism Incorporation of genes from one organism

into a different speciesinto a different species• Provided:Provided:

• new vaccinesnew vaccines• More productive farm animalsMore productive farm animals• Agricultural plants with desirable characteristicsAgricultural plants with desirable characteristics

o Depends on genetic diversity from which Depends on genetic diversity from which it obtains genes (cannot create genes)it obtains genes (cannot create genes)• Important to protect this diversityImportant to protect this diversity

Medical Importance of Medical Importance of OrganismsOrganisms

o Genetic Resources are important to Genetic Resources are important to pharmaceutical industrypharmaceutical industry

o Ex: Rosy Periwinkle (right)Ex: Rosy Periwinkle (right)• Produces Produces

chemicals chemicals effective against effective against certain types of certain types of cancercancer

o Ex: aquatic Ex: aquatic spongesponge• Produces Produces

derivative for the derivative for the drug AZT used to drug AZT used to treat AIDStreat AIDS

Agricultural and Industrial Agricultural and Industrial Importance of OrganismsImportance of Organisms

o Agricultural ImportanceAgricultural Importance• Numerous species that are nutritionally Numerous species that are nutritionally

superior to the food we eatsuperior to the food we eat

o Industrial ImportanceIndustrial Importance• Depends on products from organismsDepends on products from organisms

• Oils and lubricantsOils and lubricants• Perfumes and fragrancesPerfumes and fragrances• DyesDyes• Paper and lumberPaper and lumber• PoisonsPoisons

Extinct SpeciesExtinct Specieso ExtinctionExtinction

• Elimination of a species from EarthElimination of a species from Earth

Extinct SpeciesExtinct Species

Endangered and Threatened SpeciesEndangered and Threatened Species

o Earth’s biological diversity is Earth’s biological diversity is disappearing at an unprecedented ratedisappearing at an unprecedented rate

o Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species• Species that faces threats that may cause Species that faces threats that may cause

it to become extinct within a short periodit to become extinct within a short period

o Threatened SpeciesThreatened Species• Species whose population has declined to Species whose population has declined to

the point that it may be at risk of extinctionthe point that it may be at risk of extinction

Characteristic of Endangered Characteristic of Endangered SpeciesSpecies

o Extremely small (localized) rangeExtremely small (localized) rangeo Requiring a large territoryRequiring a large territoryo Living on an islandLiving on an islando Having a low reproductive successHaving a low reproductive successo Small population size Small population size o Low reproductive ratesLow reproductive rateso Requiring specialized breeding areasRequiring specialized breeding areaso Having specialized feeding habitatsHaving specialized feeding habitats

Day 2Day 2

o Rhinos questions Rhinos questions

Success stories:Success stories:

o American Bald EagleAmerican Bald Eagle

o Brown Pelican- but faces new threats Brown Pelican- but faces new threats from BP oil spillfrom BP oil spill

o Gray Wolf-Northern Rockies April 2009Gray Wolf-Northern Rockies April 2009

o Northern Flying Squirrel –VA Aug. 2008Northern Flying Squirrel –VA Aug. 2008

California CondorCalifornia Condor

o Scavenger birdScavenger birdo Requires large, Requires large,

undisturbed territoryundisturbed territoryo 1983- only 22 birds1983- only 22 birdso 1987-1992- no longer 1987-1992- no longer

found in naturefound in natureo 1992- reintroduced to 1992- reintroduced to

nature from zoosnature from zooso Currently- 200 Currently- 200

condors in naturecondors in nature

Where is Declining Biological Where is Declining Biological Diversity the Greatest Problem?Diversity the Greatest Problem?

o Concern throughout the USConcern throughout the USo US- Most serious in:US- Most serious in:

• Hawaii (63% of species at risk)Hawaii (63% of species at risk)• California (29% of species at risk)California (29% of species at risk)

o Globally- Most serious in tropical rain Globally- Most serious in tropical rain forestsforests• South and Central AmericaSouth and Central America• Central AfricaCentral Africa• SE AsiaSE Asia

InvadersInvaders

o Video clip about Lake Victoria and Video clip about Lake Victoria and HawaiiHawaii

People helping to fight against People helping to fight against invasive speciesinvasive species

Earth’s Biodiversity HotspotsEarth’s Biodiversity Hotspots

Human Causes of Species Human Causes of Species EndangermentEndangerment

Human Cause- Land Use ChangeHuman Cause- Land Use Change

o Destruction, fragmentation or Destruction, fragmentation or degradation of habitatsdegradation of habitats

o Little habitat remains for many Little habitat remains for many endangered speciesendangered species

Human Cause- Invasive SpeciesHuman Cause- Invasive Species

Human Cause- OverexploitationHuman Cause- Overexploitation

Human Cause- PollutionHuman Cause- Pollutiono Examples: Acid rain, ozone depletion, Examples: Acid rain, ozone depletion,

climate warming, excessive fertilizer, climate warming, excessive fertilizer, industrial wastes, pollution-trashindustrial wastes, pollution-trash

Case-In-Point Disappearing FrogsCase-In-Point Disappearing Frogs

o Amphibians are Amphibians are indicator speciesindicator species• In US 38% of amphibian In US 38% of amphibian

species are decliningspecies are declining• No single cause has been No single cause has been

identifiedidentified

o Deformities have also Deformities have also been identified (right)been identified (right)

Conservation BiologyConservation Biology

o Scientific study of how humans impact Scientific study of how humans impact organisms and the development of organisms and the development of ways to protect biodiversityways to protect biodiversity

o Involves:Involves:• Protecting habitatsProtecting habitats• Restoring damaged or destroyed habitatsRestoring damaged or destroyed habitats• Zoos, aquaria, botanical gardensZoos, aquaria, botanical gardens• Seed banksSeed banks

Protecting HabitatsProtecting Habitats

Restoring Damaged HabitatsRestoring Damaged Habitats

o Restoration ecologyRestoration ecology• Study of the historical condition of a Study of the historical condition of a

human-damaged ecosystemhuman-damaged ecosystem• Goal is to return it to its former stateGoal is to return it to its former state

o BenefitsBenefits• Creates biological habitatsCreates biological habitats• Regeneration of soil damaged by Regeneration of soil damaged by

agriculture or miningagriculture or miningo DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• ExpensiveExpensive• Take a long time to restore an areaTake a long time to restore an area

Restoring Damaged HabitatsRestoring Damaged Habitats

Left: (1935) Early Left: (1935) Early stages of prairie stages of prairie restorationrestoration

Right: (current Right: (current day) restored day) restored prairieprairie

Zoos, Aquaria and Botanical Zoos, Aquaria and Botanical GardenGarden

o Save organisms Save organisms from extinctionfrom extinction• Artificial Artificial

inseminationinsemination• Embryo transferEmbryo transfer• Surrogate mothers Surrogate mothers

(right)(right)o Goal is to Goal is to

reintroduce reintroduce organisms back to organisms back to their natural their natural habitathabitat

Seed BanksSeed Banks

o Stored seeds are Stored seeds are safe from habitat safe from habitat destruction, climate destruction, climate warming, etc.warming, etc.

o Can use seed Can use seed banks to banks to reintroduce extinct reintroduce extinct plant speciesplant species

o Some seeds cannot Some seeds cannot be storedbe stored

Conservation Policies and LawsConservation Policies and Laws

o Endangered Endangered Species Act Species Act (ESA)(ESA)• 19731973• Authorized Authorized

protection of protection of endangered endangered and and threatened threatened speciesspecies

Conservation Policies and LawsConservation Policies and Laws

o Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act• Species are designated as endangered or Species are designated as endangered or

threatened based on biological groundsthreatened based on biological grounds• Controversial LegislationControversial Legislation

• Does not provide compensation for private Does not provide compensation for private property owners who suffer financial lossproperty owners who suffer financial loss

o Was not reauthorized in 1992 as Was not reauthorized in 1992 as scheduledscheduled• Private property rights vs. conservationPrivate property rights vs. conservation• Financial cost of lawFinancial cost of law

Conservation Policies and LawsConservation Policies and Laws

o Habitat Conservation PlansHabitat Conservation Plans• 1982 Amendment to ESA1982 Amendment to ESA• Way to resolve conflicts between Way to resolve conflicts between

development interests and protection of development interests and protection of endangered speciesendangered species

o Landowner may take a rare speciesLandowner may take a rare species• IF taking does not threatened the survival IF taking does not threatened the survival

of recovery of the species on that propertyof recovery of the species on that property• Landowner must set aside land for speciesLandowner must set aside land for species

Conservation Policies and LawsConservation Policies and Laws

o International Conservation:International Conservation:• World Conservation Strategy (1980)World Conservation Strategy (1980)• Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological Diversity• Convention on International Trade and Convention on International Trade and

Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) (1975)Fauna (CITES) (1975)

Wildlife ManagementWildlife Management

o Application of conservation principles to Application of conservation principles to manage wild species and their habitats manage wild species and their habitats for human benefit or for the welfare of for human benefit or for the welfare of other speciesother species

o Different priorities than conservation Different priorities than conservation biologybiology• Wildlife managers concerned with common Wildlife managers concerned with common

speciesspecies• Conservation biologist concerned with Conservation biologist concerned with

threatened or endangered speciesthreatened or endangered species

Wildlife ManagementWildlife Managemento Migratory AnimalsMigratory Animals

• Ex: Artic Snow Geese- increase in Ex: Artic Snow Geese- increase in population has damaged much of Arctic population has damaged much of Arctic fragile coastal ecosystem (below)fragile coastal ecosystem (below)

Wildlife ManagementWildlife Management

o Aquatic OrganismsAquatic Organisms• Must be managed to ensure they are not Must be managed to ensure they are not

overexploited to the point of extinctionoverexploited to the point of extinctiono Freshwater fishesFreshwater fishes

• Laws regulate time of year, size of fish and Laws regulate time of year, size of fish and maximum allowable catchmaximum allowable catch

o Ocean fishesOcean fishes• Ocean fisheries often viewed as common Ocean fisheries often viewed as common

propertyproperty• Many whale species have been harvested Many whale species have been harvested

to point of commercial extinctionto point of commercial extinction

You Can Make A DifferenceYou Can Make A Difference

o Increase public awareness of the Increase public awareness of the importance of biological diversityimportance of biological diversity

o Join and actively support conservation Join and actively support conservation organizationorganization

o Inform state and national politicians of Inform state and national politicians of desire to have conservation research desire to have conservation research funded with tax dollarsfunded with tax dollars

o Establish parks by writing to national Establish parks by writing to national lawmakerslawmakers

o Control pollutionControl pollution