Chp' 8: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

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Chp. 8 Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

• OrCan I get a little federal protection
  please?

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Biodiversity

• All of the different species in the world
• How many different species are there?
• Different types

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Whats in our world?
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Biodiversity

• Endemic species found one place only
• Island species high riskwhy???

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Species Extinction

• Loss of a species
• Local extinction grizzly bear in Iowa
• Ecological extinction black-footed ferret
• Biological extinction passenger pigeon

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Species Extinction

• Natural event
• 98-99 of all previous species are extinct

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Who is More Likely to Go Extinct?

• Small populations
• Restricted to certain area
• Specialized organisms

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Extinction Rates

• Natural 3-30 species per year
• Currently 1,000-10,000 species per year
• Hot Spots
• Areas with many different species
• How should
  they be
  protected?

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Human-Accelerated Extinction

• Habitat alteration
• Invasive species
• Pollution
• Population growth
• Overexploitation

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Habitat Alteration

• Greatest threat to wild species
• Tropical rainforests
• Harpy eagle, African elephant

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Habitat Alteration

• U.S. lost 85-95 of our old growth forests
• Florida more than 1200 acres lost per week

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Habitat Alteration

• U.S. lost more than 99 of our grasslands
• Many grassland species in trouble

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Invasive Species

• U.S. house sparrow, European starling,
  ring-necked pheasant, brome grass, kudzu

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Invasive Species Hawaii

• Pigs, dogs, rats, cats, mosquitoes, mongooses,
  plants
• Native species cant compete, cant avoid
  disease
• More recorded extinctions than rest of U.S.

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Pollution

• Direct or indirect poisoning
• Altered habitat from chemicals

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Population Growth

• Ultimate reason behind many threats to
  biodiversity

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Overexploitation

• Hunting poaching
• Regard species as pests
• Market for exotic and rare species
• Overfishing

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Hunting Poaching

• Illegal trade in endangered plants animals 8
  billion/year
• 622 species face extinction
• Bushmeat trade

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Regarded as Pests

• U.S. large predators, passenger pigeon,
  Carolina parakeet, prairie dogs
• Sharks, elephants, cheetahs

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Market for Exotic/Rare Species

• Exotic birds, fish, mammals, etc
• Orchids, cacti

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Overfishing

• Techniques dangerous to non-commercial species
• Economic pressure to get more fish

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Why Worry About Extinction?

• Ecosystem services
• Some species may be useful
• Some species play pivotal role
• All species have a fundamental right to exist
• Recreation (ecotourism)

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Ecotourism Costa Rica

• 25 set aside as parks
• Large part of the economy
• 1 billion/yr

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Ecotourism

• African safaris
• U.S. National Parks
• Must be sustainable

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What is the Value of Wildlife?

• Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
• 500 miles
• Established with 500,000 grant from Texas DOT
• Generates 7-8 million per year

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What is the Value of Wildlife?

• Texas whooping cranes
• 1941 15 left
• 2004 318 wild
• Entire wild flock spends winter at Aransas NWR
• 100,000 visitors/yr
• Estimated value 5 million/yr

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What is Being Done to Prevent Extinction?

• IUCN
• U.S. Endangered Species Act
• Captive breeding programs
• Formation of refuges

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IUCN World Conservation Union

• 140 countries
• 10,000 scientists
• Goal protect biodiversity and encourage people
  to live sustainably
• Maintain a redlist of species most in need of
  conservation

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U.S. Endangered Species Act

• Passed in 1973
• Listed as endangered or threatened
• Species cannot be hunted, killed, collected or
  injured in the U.S.
• Projects cannot jeopardize a protected species
  or its habitat
• Species supposed to get a plan for
  protection

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U.S. Endangered Species Act

• 1982 habitat conservation plans
• How does a species get on the list???
• USFWS NMFS
• Based solely on biology

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U.S. Endangered Species Act

• 1973 endangered threatened 92 species
  (total)
• 2007
• 1009 endangered
• 303 threatened
• 60 are plants

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Iowa Endangered Species List

• Started in 1977
• 113 endangered (64 plants)
• 125 threatened (89 plants)

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Protect Umbrella Species

• Top predators
• Large animals
• Roam great distances
• Why is it good to protect these types of species?

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Captive Breeding Programs

• Some success California condor, black-footed
  ferret, Przewalskis horse
• Problems
• Reintroduction
• Some wont breed in captivity
• Inbreeding
• Ecological extinction
• Who benefits?

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Want To Go To The Zoo???
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What Can You Do???

• Dont eat/purchase endangered species or products
  made from them
• Avoid imported beef
• Dont keep illegal pets
• Drink shade-grown coffee
• Educate others
• Vote!!!