The Biodiversity Crisis

1
The Biodiversity Crisis

• Chapter 55

2
Types of biodiversity

• Genetic diversity
• Genetic differences within a single population
  and among geographically separate populations
• Species diversity
• All the different species on our planet
• Ecosystem diversity
• The variety of interactions within and among
  Earths different ecosystems

3
Loss of biodiversity

• Extinction is a natural biological process
• The rate of extinction is now 50-500 times the
  natural rate
• Other mass extinctions have occurred in Earths
  history
• This one is different in that it is
• due to human activities
• compressed into a short time frame
• happening much faster than new species evolution
  can occur

4
Ways to protect biodiversity

• Protection of habitats
• Habitat loss/degradation is the number one cause
  of threatened and endangered species in the U.S.
• Most of these species are specialists species
  that occupy a narrow niche and have specific
  requirements
• Habitat fragmentation makes it worse
• Degradation of habitat through pollution can also
  cause problems

5
Ways to protect biodiversity

• Control invasive species
• Biotic pollution introduces a non-native species
  into an area
• It may prey on native species or compete for food
  or habitat
• There may not be any natural controls in that
  ecosystem such as predators or disease to
  limit their population

6
Ways to protect biodiversity

• Control other human activities
• Pest eradication practices
• Overhunting
• Poaching
• Commercial harvesting

7
Conservation Biology

• In situ conservation
• Preservation of ecosystems
• Biodiversity hotspots areas in critical need of
  help
• Restoration ecology try to return an ecosystem
  to its former state
• Ex situ conservation
• Preservation of the individual species
• Artificial insemination
• Host mothering

8
Legal protections

• U.S. Endangered Species Act
• Species listed must be protected
• Species are listed without regard for economic
  impact of the listing
• Convention of International Trade in Endangered
  Species (CITES)
• Enforcement varies from country to country