Preserving Earths Biological Diversity

1
Preserving Earths Biological Diversity
Chapter 17
2
Biological Diversity

• Biodiversity

3
Biological Diversity

• Biodiversity

4
Biological Diversity

• Why We Need Organisms
• Ecosystem Services and Species Richness

5
Biological Diversity

• Why We Need Organisms
• Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
• Genetic Reserves

• Scientific Importance of Genetic Diversity

• Medicinal, Agricultural, and Industrial
  Importance of Organisms

6
Biological Diversity

• Why We Need Organisms
• Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
• Genetic Reserves

• Scientific Importance of Genetic Diversity

• Medicinal, Agricultural, and Industrial
  Importance of Organisms

• Aesthetic, Ethical, and Spiritual Value of
  Organisms

7
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Background Extinction vs. Mass Extinction

8
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Endangered and extinct species

9
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Endangered and Threatened Species

10
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Characteristics of Endangered Species
• Extremely small range
• Requiring large territories
• Living on islands
• Low reproductive success
• Specialized breeding areas
• Specialized feeding habits

Tiburon mariposa lily
California condor
Hawaii O o
Blue whale
Green sea turtle
Giant panda
11
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Common problem habitat fragmentation

12
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Where is Declining Biological Diversity the
  Greatest Problem?
• In US Hawaii and California
• Worldwide Tropical rain forests

13
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Earths Biodiversity Hotspots

14
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Human Causes of Species Endangerment

15
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Human Causes of Species Endangerment
• Invasive
• Species

16
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Human Causes of Species Endangerment
• Pollution

• Acid rain
• Ozone depletion (leading to increased UV
  radiation
• Climate change due to CO2 increases

17
Endangered and Extinct Species

• Human Causes of Species Endangerment
• Overexploitation

18
Endangered and Extinct Species
Case-in-Point Disappearing Frogs

• In the US, 38 of amphibian
• species are declining

• No single factor has been
• determined

• Many deformities have been observed

19
Conservation Biology

• Scientific study of how humans impact organisms
  and development of strategies to protect
  diversity.

20
Conservation Biology

• Protecting Habitats

21
Conservation Biology

• Restoring Damaged or Destroyed Habitats

22
Conservation Biology

• Restoring Damaged or Destroyed Habitats

Same area in 2004
23
Conservation Biology

• Zoos, Aquaria, Botanical Gardens, and Seed Banks

24
Conservation Biology

• Zoos, Aquaria, Botanical Gardens, and Seed Banks
• Ultimate goal is to reintroduce endangered
  species back to their natural habitats

25
Conservation Biology

• Zoos, Aquaria, Botanical Gardens, and Seed Banks
• Establishing seed banks

26
Conservation Biology

• Conservation Organizations
• Many work with state federal agencies and
  private landowners to promote conservation.

27
Conservation Policies and Laws

• Endangered Species Act

28
Conservation Policies and Laws

• Endangered Species
• Act

29
Conservation Policies and Laws

• Habitat Conservation Plans
• 1982 amendment to ESA
• Landowner allowed to set aside land for
  endangered species, but develop other land with
  those species

30
Conservation Policies and Laws

• International Conservation Policies and Laws
• Most important CITES (Convention on
  International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
  Flora and Fauna)

31
Wildlife Management

• Differs from conservation biology in that
  wildlife managers focus more often on common
  organisms
• and manage those species primarily for human
  benefits

32
Wildlife Management

• Management of Migratory Animals

33
Wildlife Management

• Management of Aquatic Organisms
• Freshwater fisheries primarily managed by state
  fishing regulations
• Ocean fisheries commonly viewed as common
  property
• this has lead many species close to commercial
  extinction

34
What Can We Do About Declining Biological
Diversity?

• Increase Public Awareness
• Support Research in Conservation Biology
• Support the Establishment of an International
  System of Parks
• Control Pollution
• Provide Economic Incentives to Landowners and
  Other Local People