Conserving Biodiversity Chapters 8.1, 8.8, 9, (Botkin) Chapter 18 (Friedland)

I.Why Value Biodiversity? A.Utilitarian – provides product (e.g. wood, food, medicines) B.Public Service – provides service that is essential to life (e.g. pollination or photosynthesis) C.Ecological - species play specific roles in ecosystems that are necessary to maintain health of ecosystem and life on planet (e.g. keystone species – sea otter) D.Moral – all species have a right to exist; they are inherently valuable and we are obligated to protect them

I.Why Value Biodiversity? E.Theological F.Aesthetic G.Recreational H.Spiritual I.Creative

II.State of Biodiversity A.World has experienced 5 mass extinctions in the last 500 million years B.Humans are currently causing 6 th mass extinction C.Scientists estimate that 50,000 species go extinct every year = 0.5% of world’s species D.Rate of decline is 100 to 1000 times faster during the past 50 years than at any other time in human history E.Observing global declines in:

II.State of Biodiversity 1.Genetic diversity of wild organisms a.Populations with low genetic diversity = interbreeding depression = individuals with similar genotypes breed Why is this a problem? b.Cheetahs, African lions, Florida panthers, etc. c.High genetic diversity ensures wider range of genotypes and improves chances of surviving future environmental changes

II.State of Biodiversity 2.Genetic diversity of crops and livestock a.Many species of crops and livestock that humans depend upon are declining 1)80% of domesticated animal breeds in North America 2)Half of European livestock breeds of 1900 no longer exist 3)100 years ago farmers grew ~8,000 varieties of apple; today there is ~100

Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Saving Seeds TED Talk

II.State of Biodiversity 3.Species diversity a.International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) established 5 categories to describe status of species: 1)Data-deficient 2)Extinct (as of 1500 years ago) 3)Threatened – high risk of extinction 4)Near threatened 5)Least concern – species is still widespread and abundant

Decline of Birds, Mammals and Amphibians

II.State of Biodiversity 4.Ecosystem Function a.Provide support systems critical to humans (e.g. wetlands) b.In 2006, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was conducted by scientists from around the world 1)Analyzed food, water, pollination, nutrient cycling, etc. 2)Of 24 different ecosystem functions, 15 were found to be in decline

III.Causes of Biodiversity Loss (HIPCO) A.Habitat loss 1.Greatest cause of biodiversity decline and extinction 2.Most habitat loss is due to human development (e.g. residential, commercial, agriculture, etc.) 3.Deforestation, draining wetlands, damming of rivers, etc.

Western Burrowing Owl

III.Causes of Biodiversity Loss (HIPCO) B.Invasive Species 1.Alien species (exotic species) - species that live outside their historical range 2.When alien species spread rapidly across large areas they are called invasive a.Compete for resources and disrupt native populations b.Have no natural predators 3.Kudzu Vine, Zebra Mussel, Silver Carp, etc.

Invasive Species in OC

Invasive Species Movie

III.Causes of Biodiversity Loss (HIPCO) C.Pollution 1.Threats to biodiversity can come from toxic contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, acids, and oil spills (e.g Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico) 2.Excess nutrients in waterways

III.Causes of Biodiversity Loss (HIPCO) D.Climate Change 1.Affects temperature and precipitation around the world 2.Species that can’t adapt fast enough to changing climate may go extinct How dry will Laguna Hills’ climate change in the coming decades?

III.Causes of Biodiversity Loss (HIPCO) E.Overharvesting 1.When individuals of a species are “taken” at a rate faster than the population can replace them 2.Humans hunting, fishing, poaching, etc. 3.Dodo, American bison, passenger pigeon

IV.Endangered Species and Extinction A.Local extinction occurs when a species disappears from a part of its range but persist elsewhere B.Global extinction means a species can no longer be found anywhere C.Rate of extinctions has varied over geologic time 1.From 580 million years ago until 1800s, ~1 species per year went extinct 2.Rate of evolution of new species = or > the rate of extinction 3.Average longevity of a species 10 million years D. Other periods of “punctuated extinctions”

E. Endangered Species: Current Status 1.Number of species listed as threatened or endangered increasing 2.The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) maintains a list of threatened species - “Red List” a.Created in 1973 to control international trade of threatened plants and animals b.Illegal trade in wildlife (plants, animals, furs, body parts) about $5-20 billion/year c.

V.Single Species Conservation Legislation A. Lacey Act 1. One of the earliest laws in the U.S. to control the trade of wildlife. 2. First passed in 1900, the act prohibited the transport of illegally harvested game animals, primarily birds and mammals, across state lines.

V.Single Species Conservation Legislation B.Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) prohibits the killing of all marine mammals in the U.S. and prohibits the import or export of any marine mammal body parts.

V.Single Species Conservation Legislation C.Endangered Species Act 1.First passed in 1973, it implements CITES agreement 2.Authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which species can be listed as threatened or endangered and prohibits the harming of these species. 3.Trading these species is also illegal. 4.The act also authorizes the government to purchase habitat that is critical to the species.

VI.Ecosystem Conservation & Restoration A.Protection of entire ecosystems is the most effective way to preserve biodiversity B.When designing and managing protected areas we must consider how close to another area they should be, how large the area is, and the amount of edge habitat the area contains. C.Edge habitat- the area where two different communities come together, typically forming an abrupt transition (e.g. a grassy field meeting a forest)

Edge Effect

VII.Convention on Biological Diversity A.In 1992, nations came together and made a treaty to protect biodiversity with 3 objectives: conserve biodiversity, sustainably use biodiversity, and equitably share the benefits that emerge from the commercial use of genetic resources (e.g. pharmaceutical drugs) B.Identified the following trends from 2002 to 2010: 1.On average most species moved closer to extinction 2.¼ of all plant species are threatened with extinction 3.Natural habitats are becoming smaller and more fragmented 4.Genetic diversity of crops and livestock still declining 5.Widespread loss of ecosystem function 6.Causes of biodiversity have intensified 7.Ecological footprint of humans has increased