Aquatic Biodiversity

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Aquatic Biodiversity
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What is Biodiversity?

• Sum of
• a. Genetic Diversity
• b. Species Diversity
• c. Ecological Diversity

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Why is Biodiversity Important?

• Diversity is the sum of species addition
  (evolution and immigration) and species loss
  (extinction and emigration
• Diversity is related to the organization we find
  in nature - species interaction, function and
  structure.

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Marine Biodiversity

• 63 of know fish species
• Greatest biodiversity in coral reefs and ocean
  floor
• Biodiversity higher near coasts
• Top-level keystone predators dominate
  biodiversity in many marine systems

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Freshwater Biodiversity

• 41 of known fish species
• Layers in lakes
• Headwaters to oceans in streams

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Economic Value

• Important life sustaining functions
• Up to 22.5 trillion per year
• Up to 6 of total protein
• Up to 16 of animal protein

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Economic Value

• Important life sustaining functions
• Fish and other aquatic life
• Sustainability of planet
• Up to several trillion per year in aquatic
  resources

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Human Impacts

• Extinctions
• 1200 species lost in marine systems over past
  hundred years
• Many freshwater species at risk
• Habitat loss and degredation
• Beach erosion
• Trawlers
• Dams and Flooding

Species at risk
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Overfishing

• Global fishing industry spends 125 billion/year
  to catch 70 billion of fish
• Government subsidies
• Decreased chances for recovery
• Collapse of fishery

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Overfishing

• 60 of commercial fish overfished or fished to
  limit
• Commercial extinction
• Impacts on non-target species
• Turtles
• Dolphins

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Pollution

• Invasions by other species
• Purple loosestife
• Asian swamp eel
• Runoff from impervious surface
• Atmosphere
• Shipping and gas production

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Protecting Biodiversity

• Protecting endangered and threatened species
• Establishing protected areas
• Integrated coastal management
• Sustainable fisheries management

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Endangered Species

• Loss of habitat
• Poaching
• Eggs
• Food
• Medicines
• Jewelry
• Unintentional loss through fishing

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Commercial Whaling

• International waters - Tragedy of the Commons
• 8 of 11 major species at commercial extinction
• Blue whales at brink of biological extinction
• Ignoring international bans on whaling

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Protecting Endangered Species

• 55,000 turtles killed per year by shrimpers
• TEDs Turtle exclusion device required by US
  trawlers
• Fear loss of shrimp
• Shrimp catches are increasing
• Opposed by industry
• Many countries want WTO to ban TEDs due to unfair
  trade balance

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TED in Action
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Protected Sanctuaries

• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
• National Seashores
• National Estuarine Research Reserve System
• Marine Parks

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Sapelo Island Georgia
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Integrated Coastal Management

• Zoning coastal areas for management and
  protection
• Chesapeake Bay
• Controlling beach erosion
• Sea walls
• Groins
• Importing Sand

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Fisheries Management

• Harvesting regulations - seasons and equipment
• Harvest quotas - limitations on number taken
• Population management plans
• Population census
• Stock and recruitment models
• Multi-species management

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Maximum Sustainable Yield

• Yield increases with effort to a maximum
• Declines with continued effort
• Maximizing catch per unit effort

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Protecting Wetlands

• Managing Land Use
• Canals and water diversion replumbing
• Mitigation Banking
• Control of Invasive Plants
• Everglades

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Protecting Lakes and Rivers

• Managing Habitats
• Dams and reservoirs endangered native salmon
• Supplemental stocks
• Fish ladders
• Stream restoration
• Dam removal
• Designations
• Wild and scenic rivers
• Currently only 0.2 of nations rivers
• None in Virginia