Ch 10 BiodiversityCh 10 Biodiversity

What Biodiversity MeansWhat Biodiversity Means

Variety of organisms Variety of organisms in a given areain a given area

Genetic variation Genetic variation within a population within a population

Variety of species in a Variety of species in a communitycommunity

Variety of Variety of communities in an communities in an ecosystem.ecosystem.

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Certain areas contain Certain areas contain extraordinary variety extraordinary variety of species.of species.

Need to understand Need to understand and preserve and preserve biodiversity for our biodiversity for our own survivalown survival

BiodiversityBiodiversity

about 1.7 million spp about 1.7 million spp (species) most of (species) most of which are insects. which are insects.

Actual number is Actual number is unknown.unknown.

Estimate of greater Estimate of greater than 10 million total # than 10 million total # of speciesof species

Exist in remote Exist in remote wilderness, deep wilderness, deep ocean & even citiesocean & even cities

Unknown DiversityUnknown Diversity

Species Are Connected to Species Are Connected to EcosystemsEcosystems

Species play an Species play an important role in any important role in any ecosystem.ecosystem.

Every species is Every species is dependent on or dependent on or depended upon by at depended upon by at least 1 other spp.least 1 other spp.

1 species disappears, 1 species disappears, a strand in a food web a strand in a food web is removed. is removed.

keystone specieskeystone species

critical to functioning of critical to functioning of ecosystem in which it ecosystem in which it liveslives

Affects survival and Affects survival and abundance of many abundance of many other species in its other species in its communitycommunity

Pacific Coast Kelp Pacific Coast Kelp →Sea Urchins →Sea →Sea Urchins →Sea OtterOtter Prairie Dogs aerate soil in grasslands

Genetic diversity within populationsGenetic diversity within populations

Critical factor in Critical factor in species survivalspecies survival

Increases chances for Increases chances for survival in survival in environmental environmental changeschanges

Small and isolated Small and isolated populations are less populations are less likely to survive such likely to survive such pressures.pressures.

Bottleneck EffectBottleneck Effect

Population Population decreases, decreases, genetic diversity genetic diversity decreasesdecreases

Bottleneck EffectBottleneck Effect Even if population is able Even if population is able

to to again, an inbreeding again, an inbreeding within a smaller variety of within a smaller variety of genes will occur.genes will occur.

Population members may Population members may be more likely to inherit be more likely to inherit genetic diseasesgenetic diseases

Benefits of BiodiversityBenefits of Biodiversity

Medical – DrugsMedical – Drugs Industrial – ChemicalsIndustrial – Chemicals AgriculturalAgricultural

Hybrid crops resistant Hybrid crops resistant to diseaseto disease

EthicsEthics Aesthetics & Aesthetics &

recreationrecreation Pets, wildlife viewing, Pets, wildlife viewing,

nature enjoymentnature enjoyment

Biodiversity at RiskBiodiversity at Risk

Sec. 10-2Sec. 10-2

Current ExtinctionsCurrent Extinctions

Midst of another mass Midst of another mass extinction.extinction.

Rate is estimated to Rate is estimated to have have by a multiple by a multiple of 50 since 1800of 50 since 1800

25% of all species 25% of all species on Earth becoming on Earth becoming extinct 1800 - 2100extinct 1800 - 2100

Different from past b/c Different from past b/c humans are primary humans are primary cause of extinctions.cause of extinctions.

Amphibians extremely sensitive to environmental change

Species at RiskSpecies at Risk

Migrating spp Migrating spp Those that require Those that require

large or special large or special habitatshabitats

Those exploited by Those exploited by humanshumans Not illegal to hunt Not illegal to hunt

polar bears in Canadapolar bears in Canada

Endangered speciesEndangered species

In danger of extinction In danger of extinction throughout all or a throughout all or a significant part of its significant part of its rangerange

Is under protection by Is under protection by regulations or regulations or conservation conservation measuresmeasures

Threatened speciesThreatened species

species that has been species that has been identified to be likely identified to be likely to become to become endangered in the endangered in the foreseeable futureforeseeable future

983 species of plants 983 species of plants and animals that are and animals that are threatened or threatened or endangered (2002)endangered (2002)

How Do Humans Cause How Do Humans Cause Extinctions?Extinctions?

human population human population growth has accelerated growth has accelerated and so has the rate of and so has the rate of extinctionsextinctions

Major causes:Major causes: destruction of habitatsdestruction of habitats Introduction of nonnative Introduction of nonnative

speciesspecies PollutionPollution Overharvesting of Overharvesting of

speciesspecies

How Do Humans Cause How Do Humans Cause Extinctions?Extinctions?

Habitat Destruction and Habitat Destruction and FragmentationFragmentation

Humans build and Humans build and harvest resourcesharvest resources

Destroy & fragment Destroy & fragment habitats of other spp.habitats of other spp.

75% of extinctions are 75% of extinctions are due to habitat lossdue to habitat loss

Cougars – Florida Cougars – Florida PantherPanther <80 left east of MI <80 left east of MI

RiverRiver

Invasive Exotic SpeciesInvasive Exotic Species

Not native to a Not native to a particular areaparticular area

Familiar organisms Familiar organisms are exotic if brought are exotic if brought into area not normally into area not normally found – cats & ratsfound – cats & rats

Non-native: alien, Non-native: alien, exotic, foreign, non-exotic, foreign, non-indigenous, invasiveindigenous, invasive

Threaten native spp.Threaten native spp.Non-native sword fern in Hawaii rainforests – facilitates fire

Imported SpeciesImported Species

Aggressive & spread over Aggressive & spread over large areaslarge areas

Disrupt ecosystemDisrupt ecosystem Interfere with human Interfere with human

activityactivity One of the biggest threats One of the biggest threats

to endangered species & to endangered species & biodiversitybiodiversity

Bio-InvasionBio-Invasion –rapid –rapid expansion of species by expansion of species by direct or indirect human direct or indirect human activities, to areas where activities, to areas where they did not previously they did not previously existexist

BirdsBirds

StarlingsStarlings Congregate in large Congregate in large

flocksflocks Make lots of noise & Make lots of noise &

messmess Drive away song Drive away song

birds by competing birds by competing for foodfor food

Some feed on farm Some feed on farm cropscrops

PlantsPlants

Intentional/accidental Intentional/accidental importationimportation

Purple loosestrifePurple loosestrife Accidentally by a ship Accidentally by a ship

from Europefrom Europe Displacing food supply Displacing food supply

of many wild animalsof many wild animals Reduces carrying Reduces carrying

capacity (the number capacity (the number of species it can of species it can sustain) of wetlands it sustain) of wetlands it invadesinvades

PlantsPlants

Water HyacinthWater Hyacinth Considered a Considered a weed weed – a – a

plant that grows in an plant that grows in an unwanted locationunwanted location

Turning waterways into Turning waterways into wetlands & choking life wetlands & choking life out of wetlandsout of wetlands

Crabgrass/Crabgrass/dandelions/crown dandelions/crown vetchvetch weedsweeds

PlantsPlants

KudzuKudzu Imported from Japan in Imported from Japan in

1876 for 1001876 for 100thth celebration in celebration in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

Used to help prevent Used to help prevent erosionerosion

Vines destroy forests by Vines destroy forests by competing for sunlightcompeting for sunlight

May take up to 10 yrs to May take up to 10 yrs to killkill

KudzuKudzu

Kudzu – introduced to SE United States grows rampant, overtaking trees. In its native China, cold winters cause it to die back in cold weather, and several insects are natural predators

InvertebratesInvertebrates

Zebra MusselZebra Mussel Native to Caspian Sea Native to Caspian Sea

in Soviet Unionin Soviet Union 11stst Spotted in US in Spotted in US in

1988 in Lake St. Clair 1988 in Lake St. Clair (between Lake (between Lake Huron/Erie)Huron/Erie)

Accidental arrival on Accidental arrival on European freighter European freighter around ’85 – ’86 caused around ’85 – ’86 caused pop. explosionpop. explosion

InvertebratesInvertebrates

Zebra MusselZebra Mussel Colonizing rock Colonizing rock

bottoms where fish bottoms where fish spawnspawn

Filter feeders may Filter feeders may make water too clean make water too clean for fish by eating all for fish by eating all the algaethe algae

Clog industries’ intake Clog industries’ intake pipespipes

Harvesting, Hunting, and PoachingHarvesting, Hunting, and Poaching

Thousands are Thousands are harvested & sold as harvested & sold as pets, houseplants, pets, houseplants, wood, food, or herbal wood, food, or herbal medicine.medicine.

PoachingPoaching is the is the illegal harvesting of illegal harvesting of fish, game, or other fish, game, or other species.species.

PollutionPollution

Pesticides, cleaning Pesticides, cleaning agents, drugs, and agents, drugs, and other chemicals into other chemicals into food webs food webs

Long term effects Long term effects may not be clear for may not be clear for after many yearsafter many years

PollutionPollution

Bald eagle was Bald eagle was endangered because endangered because of a pesticide known of a pesticide known as DDTas DDT

Now illegal to use in Now illegal to use in the U.S.the U.S.

Still manufactured Still manufactured here & used around here & used around world.world.

Areas of Critical BiodiversityAreas of Critical Biodiversity Areas where a large Areas where a large

number of number of endemic endemic species existspecies exist native to and only native to and only

found in a particular found in a particular place place

Endemic plant Endemic plant species as indicator species as indicator species: are sensitive species: are sensitive to environmental to environmental changeschanges

Giant Sand Treader Camel Cricket found in CO, NM & UT

Tropical Rain ForestsTropical Rain Forests

Home to over half of Home to over half of world’s species world’s species Despite covering only Despite covering only

7% of Earth’s land 7% of Earth’s land surfacesurface

Most have never been Most have never been described described

Unknown # are Unknown # are disappearing as forests disappearing as forests are cleared for farming are cleared for farming or cattle grazingor cattle grazing

Coral Reefs & Coastal EcosystemCoral Reefs & Coastal Ecosystem

Provide millions of Provide millions of people with foodpeople with food

Tourism revenue,Tourism revenue, Coastal protectionCoastal protection Sources of new Sources of new

chemicalschemicals Poorly studied Poorly studied Not as well protected Not as well protected

by laws as terrestrial by laws as terrestrial areas areareas are

Coral Reefs & Coastal EcosystemCoral Reefs & Coastal Ecosystem

swamps, marshes, swamps, marshes, shores, and kelp beds shores, and kelp beds

Threatening human Threatening human ActivitiesActivities PollutionPollution Development along Development along

waterwayswaterways OverfishingOverfishing

IslandsIslands

Limited # of mainland Limited # of mainland spp colonize new spp colonize new islandisland

In turn evolve into In turn evolve into new spp – very new spp – very distinct & limiteddistinct & limited

Become endangered Become endangered b/c of invasive sppb/c of invasive spp Hawaiian Hawaiian

honeycreeperhoneycreeper

Biodiversity HotspotsBiodiversity Hotspots

most threatened most threatened areas of high species areas of high species diversitydiversity tropical rainforests, tropical rainforests,

coastal areas, and coastal areas, and islandsislands

Have lost at least Have lost at least 70% of natural 70% of natural vegetationvegetation

Biodiversity HotspotsBiodiversity Hotspots

The Future of BiodiversityThe Future of Biodiversity

Sec 10-3Sec 10-3

Captive-Breeding ProgramsCaptive-Breeding Programs

breeding species in breeding species in captivitycaptivity

But the question But the question remains whether or remains whether or not these restored not these restored populations will ever populations will ever reproduce in the wildreproduce in the wild

California CondorCalifornia Condor

Preserving Genetic MaterialPreserving Genetic Material

Germ plasmGerm plasm chromosomes and geneschromosomes and genes Contained in protoplasm of Contained in protoplasm of

germ cellsgerm cells Seeds, sperm, eggs, or pure Seeds, sperm, eggs, or pure

DNADNA

Germ-plasm banks store Germ-plasm banks store material in controlled material in controlled environments for future environments for future use in research or species-use in research or species-recovery efforts.recovery efforts.

Zoos, Aquariums, Parks, and Zoos, Aquariums, Parks, and GardensGardens

are living museums of are living museums of the world’s the world’s biodiversitybiodiversity

species’ last hope for species’ last hope for survivalsurvival

rarely have enough rarely have enough resources or resources or knowledge to knowledge to preservepreserve

Preserving Habitats and Preserving Habitats and EcosystemsEcosystems

Small plots of land for Small plots of land for single population is single population is usually not enoughusually not enough

protecting habitats of protecting habitats of endangered and endangered and threatened species threatened species means preserving or means preserving or managing large areasmanaging large areas

Conservation StrategiesConservation Strategies

Protect entire Protect entire ecosystem rather ecosystem rather than individual than individual speciesspecies

save most species in save most species in an ecosystem instead an ecosystem instead of only ones been of only ones been identified as identified as endangeredendangered

Conservation StrategiesConservation Strategies

1.1. identify areas of identify areas of native habitat that native habitat that can be preserved, can be preserved, restored, and linked restored, and linked into large networks.into large networks.

2.2. promote products promote products that have been that have been harvested with harvested with sustainable sustainable practicespractices

Legal Protection for SpeciesLegal Protection for Species

US Congress – 1973US Congress – 1973 Endangered Species Endangered Species

ActAct is designed to is designed to protect any plant or protect any plant or animal species in animal species in danger of extinctiondanger of extinction

Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

1.1. list of all endangered list of all endangered and threatened and threatened speciesspecies

2.2. Protection from human Protection from human harmharm

3.3. Prevention of Federal Prevention of Federal Govt projects that Govt projects that harmharm

4.4. Recovery plan for Recovery plan for each sppeach spp

Protect or restore Protect or restore habitathabitat

Habitat Conservation PlansHabitat Conservation Plans

land-use plan land-use plan attempts to protect attempts to protect

threatened or threatened or endangered species endangered species across a given areaacross a given area

Allows some tradeoffs Allows some tradeoffs between harm to species between harm to species and additional and additional conservation conservation commitments among commitments among cooperating partiescooperating parties

International CooperationInternational Cooperation

International Union for International Union for the Conservation of the Conservation of Nature and Natural Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)Resources (IUCN)

Facilitates efforts to Facilitates efforts to protect species and protect species and habitatshabitats

Red ListsRed Lists of species in of species in danger of extinction danger of extinction around the worldaround the world

Private Conservation EffortsPrivate Conservation Efforts

advises governments advises governments on ways to manage on ways to manage natural resourcesnatural resources

works with groups like works with groups like the World Wildlife the World Wildlife Fund to sponsor Fund to sponsor projectsprojects attempting to stop attempting to stop

poaching in Ugandapoaching in Uganda

CITES-Convention on International CITES-Convention on International Trade in Endangered SpeciesTrade in Endangered Species

Stop slaughter of Stop slaughter of African elephants for African elephants for tuskstusks

worldwide ban on all worldwide ban on all sales, imports, and sales, imports, and exportsexports

Private Conservation EffortsPrivate Conservation Efforts

World Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife Fund encourages the sustainable use of resources and encourages the sustainable use of resources and

supports wildlife protectionsupports wildlife protection

The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy helped purchase millions of hectacres of habitat helped purchase millions of hectacres of habitat

preserves in 29 countriespreserves in 29 countries

Conservation InternationalConservation International ID biodiversity hotspotsID biodiversity hotspots

Greenpeace InternationalGreenpeace International Organizes direct and sometimes confrontational Organizes direct and sometimes confrontational

actionsactions