Conservation BiologyConservation BiologyCh 5.2Ch 5.2

Conservation BiologyConservation Biology

The study and implementation of methods to The study and implementation of methods to PROTECT BIODIVERSITYPROTECT BIODIVERSITY

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources““Parts of the environment that are useful or Parts of the environment that are useful or

necessarynecessary for living organisms” for living organisms”

1) Water

4) Air

2) Sunlight

3) Plant and Animal Resources

Legal Protection of SpeciesLegal Protection of Species

U.S. Endangered U.S. Endangered Species Act of Species Act of

19731973

U.S. Endangered Species ActU.S. Endangered Species Act

It is It is illegalillegal to to harmharm any species any species on the endangered or on the endangered or threatened species listthreatened species listIt is It is illegalillegal for federal agencies for federal agencies to fund any project that would to fund any project that would harmharm organisms on these lists organisms on these lists

Now, we stand a chance!

CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

• Established lists of species for which international trade is prohibited or controlled

• This agreement has been signed by more than 120 countries

Preserving HabitatsPreserving Habitats

One way to preserve habitats is to make One way to preserve habitats is to make them into them into national parksnational parks

Ex: Yellowstone National Park, Ex: Yellowstone National Park, Sequoia National Park, Sequoia National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Big Cypress National Preserve, Big Bend National Park Big Bend National Park

Large areas lead to greater biodiversity

Grand TetonZion Uluru (Australia)

Costa Rica

National parks

Habitat CorridorsHabitat Corridorshabitat corridorshabitat corridors: : protected strips of land that protected strips of land that allow the migration of organisms from allow the migration of organisms from wilderness area to anotherwilderness area to another

HABITAT CORRIDOR

It’s like a special road for organisms to cross

Research shows that corridors can Research shows that corridors can helphelp overcome the effects of habitat destruction and overcome the effects of habitat destruction and are are beneficialbeneficial for both plants and animals for both plants and animals

Working with PeopleWorking with People

Park Ranger

Philosophy of sustainable use

strives to enable people to use natural resources in ways that will benefit them and maintain the ecosystem

Parks hire _____________ to manage Parks hire _____________ to manage parks and ensure protectionparks and ensure protection

Some areas of the parks are Some areas of the parks are restrictedrestricted while other areas allow some access for while other areas allow some access for people to people to harvestharvest food or obtain materials food or obtain materials

Harvesting shade grown coffee

Harvesting Brazil nuts

SUSTAINABLE USE:

These methods can be sustained forever and ever and ever (at least that is what we want to believe)

Bamboo forest

Reintroduction and Species Reintroduction and Species Preservation ProgramsPreservation Programs

California Condor

Reintroduction and Species Reintroduction and Species Preservation ProgramsPreservation Programs

Black Footed Ferret Mexican Gray Wolf

Reintroduction programs: release organisms into an area where the species once lived

Establishes captive-breeding programs to then release into the wild

CaptivityCaptivity

Some species no longer exist in the wild, but a small number of individual organisms is maintained by humans

“any organism that is held by people”

Protecting Plant SpeciesProtecting Plant Species

The ideal way to protect a plant species is to The ideal way to protect a plant species is to allow it to exist in a natural ecosystem.allow it to exist in a natural ecosystem.

Seeds can be cooled and stored for long periods of time

(Because of the seeds, the species can be reintroduced if they were to become extinct)

Reintroduction of captive animals is more difficult than for plants

In addition, animals kept in captivity may lose necessary behaviors to survive