CONSERVATION BIOLOGY & BIODIVERSITY

Conservation Biology  A branch of biology that studies the biological diversity with conservation as its main focus  Balances human needs for available resources & maintaining biodiversity

Visit For up to the minute population growth

LDC vs MDC & Resource consumption?

Value of Biodiversity  Agricultural Value Genetic resources Biological control Many insects are pollinators of flowering plants  Source of Food Food from wild animals, fishes, plants, & algae Medicinal Value

Indirect Value of Biodiversity  Biogeochemical value  Waste disposal  Provision of fresh water  Prevention of soil erosion  Regulation of climate  Ecotourism

Causes of Extinction  Habitat loss due to human activities Brazilian rain forest loses 2 million hectare/yearhectare/year 60% of coral reefs have been destroyeddestroyed 45% of mangrove ecosystems were lostwere lost  Accidental introduction of alien species (purple loosestrife)purple loosestrife  Pollution (acid rain, eutrophication, ozone depletion, global warming)eutrophication  Overexploitation (overfishing, hunting, illegal collection of decorative plants)

Study case: in U.S spp. were threatened and endangered because of habitat loss, invasion, pollution, & diseases

Agents of Habitat Loss Importance of various forms of habitat loss. (Stein, et al, 2000, pg. 245)

Coral

Mangr ove Mangrove estuary (Kenya) showing prop roots (roots from stem that help anchor the plant) Photo by Nico Koedam

Effect of Invasive Species See next slide for the effect of invasive species

America’s least wanted: Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Striga asiatica (witchweed) A parasitic plant of cereals like corn. Accidentally introduced in the States with great consequences Seeds corn witchweed sorghum

Eutrophication

Lake Neatahwanta, Fulton NY The Post-Standard, June 4, 2004: Lake algae may be Killing Animals