Chapter 55 Conservation Biology

Threats to Biodiversity Human Alteration of Habitats single greatest threat to biodiversity agriculture, urban development, forestry, mining, and environmental pollution 93% of the oceans coral reefs have been damaged

Threats to Biodiversity (con’t) Overexploitation of Wildlife excessive commercial harvest, sport fishing, and hunting whales, American Bison, Galapogas tortoises.. illegal trade of rare and exotic animals African Elephant...

Threats to Biodiversity (con’t) Competition of exotic (nonnative) and native species displacement of endemic species to other parts of the world causing causing ecosystem shake-ups fire ants

Conservation at the Population and Species Levels Endangered species - in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Threatened species - in danger of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Protected Areas Database

What do the GAP codes mean? Gap 1 An area having permanent protection from conversion of natural land cover and a mandated management plan in operation to maintain a natural state within which disturbance events (of natural type, frequency, intensity, and legacy) are allowed to proceed without interference or are mimicked through management. Examples: National Parks, Nature Preserves, Wilderness Areas

Gap 2 An area having permanent protection from conversion of natural land cover and a mandated management plan in operation to maintain a primarily natural state, but which may receive uses or management practices that degrade the quality of existing natural communities, including suppression of natural disturbance. Examples: State Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and National Recreation Areas

Gap 3 An area having permanent protection from conversion of natural land cover for the majority of the area, but subject to extractive uses of either a broad, low-intensity type (e.g., logging) or localized intense type (e.g., mining). It also confers protection to federally listed endangered and threatened species throughout the area. Examples: National Forests, most Bureau of Land Management Land, and Wildlife Management Areas