Biodiversity and Conservation

What is biodiversity?

• Bio = life• Diversity = differences among organisms

• Biodiversity = the variety of living organisms found in an area

• Where can you find biodiversity?

Biodiversity varies around the world:

Do you see a pattern?• Number of species of mammals:– Canada – 163– US – 367– Mexico – 439

• In one hectare of forest you are likely to find:– Peru – 300 tree species– US – 30 tree species or less

Where are you most likely to find the MOST biodiversity?

Why is biodiversity important?

• Organisms are adapted to live together!• Ecologists know many relationships – many

have yet to be discovered

• What could happen if lack of biodiversity leads to…– Loss of a major predator?– Breaking the relationship among symbiotic

organisms?

What is meant by the phrase “Life depends on life?”

• Animals need plants• Plants couldn’t exist without animals to

pollinate• Plants need decomposers to break down

nutrients

• Living things create niches for other living things!

Importance to People

• What does biodiversity offer to Humans?• Biodiversity gives humans:

– Oxygen– Diverse diet – Materials (clothes, furniture, buildings)– Medicinal supplies (world pharmacy)

• Penicillin cam from the mold Penicillium• Antimalarial drug came from the cinchona tree

Preserving biodiversity ensures there will be living things to use in the future!

Loss of BiodiversityExtinct Endangered Threatened

Disappearance of a species

numbers so low that extinction is possible

Population declining rapidly

Ex) Dodo Bird, Tasmanian tiger

Ex) Peregrine Falcon, Black Footed Ferret

Ex) Polar Bear, Boreal Toad

Extinct Animals and Plants

Endangered Plants/Animals

Threats to Biodiversity

• Species are usually well adapted to their habitats…

• What happens when these habitats are changed?

Threats to Biodiversity

• Habitat loss• Habitat

fragmentation• Habitat

degradation• Water/Land

pollution• Introduction of

exotics

Habitat Loss

• Habitat loss = removal/disappearance of habitat

• Effect: organism are displaced (must go somewhere else)

• Ex: – deer in your yard – bears in garbage

Habitat Fragmentation• Habitat fragmentation = obstruction (road,

development, etc) that separates a habitat into sections

• Example: Road through a forest prevents animals/plants from moving to other side

Habitat Fragmentation

• Can cause problems with– Migration– “island effect” or – smaller less biodiversity– Invasion of exotic species– Lack of reintroduction after fires– Changes is climate– Edge effect

Habitat Fragmentation

• Edge Effect= changes along ecosystem boundaries

Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat Degradation= to make a habitat unlivable

Habitat Degradation: Pollution

• Pollution can be air, water, or land• Examples:• Acid Precipitation• CFC’s in atmosphere

Acid Precipitation

CFC’s, ozone, and global climate change… oh, my!

Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species

Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species

• Do not belong in habitat

• Few/no predators in new habitat

• Reproduce/spread out of control

Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species

• Woolly Aldegid

Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species

• Kudzu

Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species

• Pythons in Everglades

Conservation of Biodiversity

• Conservation biology = a new field that studies methods and implements plans to protect biodiversity

• Effective strategies are based on ecological principles

• Many species are threatened because of people, so working with humans is a major part of conservation biology

Legal Protection• US Endangered Species Act• CITES (Convention on International Trade of

Endangered Species)

Habitat Preservation

Habitat Preservation

• What does it mean to be sustainable?

• Sustainable use = using resources wisely – waste less

• Habitat Corridors = connect pieces of land to overcome habitat fragmentation

Preservation

• What does a reintroduction program try to do?

• Example: California condors

• What does a zoo/captivity aim to do?

• What is a seed bank?

Preservation

• Captivity – under human control

• Reintroduction – putting species back in natural environment

What kinds of problems are there with reintroduction?

• Animals may lose natural instinct

• Loss of natural instincts is harder on animals than plants

• What kinds of problems might plant reintroductions have?