Biodiversity: Who cares?

Which do you like better? A B

A B

A B

A B

A B

AB

AB

What do you think biodiversity means?

Bio = Bio diversity What does “ Bio ” mean?

Diversity = Variety What does “ Diversity ” mean?

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth Scientists have identified more than 2 million species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made possible by complex interactions among all living things including microscopic species like algae and mites.

MUTUALISM

There are 3 components of biodiversity 1. Diversity of genes Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs— but they're not the same because their genes are different. Chihuahua Beagle Rottweilers

Diversity of species For example, monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all different species. Saki Monkey Golden SkimmerMeadow Beauty There are 3 components of biodiversity

Variety of ecosystems Prairies, Ponds, and tropical rain forests are all ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of species living in it. Paines Prairie Hoh Rain Forest Florida Sand hill Pond There are 3 components of biodiversity

Which is more diverse? A B

A B

A B

A B

A B Which has more cultural diversity?

Which has more biodiversity? AB

AB

Biodiversity has Value

1. Aesthetic reasons Would you rather live in a world with or without clear mountain streams, grizzly bears, and orchids?

2. Ethical reasons Do we have the right to drive other species to extinction? Do we have the right to leave the world in worse shape for our children and grandchildren than it was in when we were born?

3. Medicines Would we be better off without penicillin and other pharmaceuticals derived from nature? Would will be better off without future discoveries of organisms that will provide useful drugs and medicines?

4. Economic reasons Would we be better off without the estimated $33 trillion in ecosystem services provided by the whole-earth ecosystem? Example: soil formation, nutrient cycling, food production and much more

5. Recreation Americans spend $104 billion ever year on wildlife related recreation (we spend $81 billion dollars each year on new automobiles) Would we be better off without commercial and sport fisheries?

Estimated Annual Global Economic Values of Ecological Services Provided by Forests

Should we be concerned about biodiversity? What we know: The Earth is losing species at an alarming rate In undisturbed ecosystems extinction = 1 species per decade In undisturbed ecosystems extinction = 1 species per decade Human activity is causing 10,000 species extinction per year or 27 per day! Human activity is causing 10,000 species extinction per year or 27 per day!

Threats to biodiversity Habitat destruction Invasive Species Pollution Human Population growth Overharvesting

HIPPO Habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, population (human), and overharvesting Habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, population (human), and overharvesting

What are the main threats to biodiversity? I. Habitat destruction Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation are probably the most important causes of extinction today Logged Rainforest in Malaysia

What are the main threats to biodiversity? These hotspots of biodiversity = 1.5% of the Earth’s land, but if they were destroyed, 1/3 of Earth’s species would go extinct

Habitat Fragmentation: fragmentation of an organism's habitat

Building Roads into Previously Inaccessible Forests

Habitat Fragmentation reduce population sizes Small populations are also especially vulnerable to catastrophic events Larger land can support more individual making species 1.less vulnerable to natural disasters 2.Genetic problems (less inbreeding) 3.Demographic uncertainty (chance all members of a single generation will be of the same sex

Managers try to maintain native populations well above their minimum viable population (MVP) sizes –the necessary population size to ensure between 90 and 95 percent probability of survival of a population 100 to 1000 years into the future The threats to biodiversity generally reduce population sizes of native species

II. Invasive Species Non native species that outcompetes with native species eventually reducing biodiversity

People dumped pythons into everglades when their pets got too big pythons

Introduced in 1800’s for aesthetic reasons

What are the main threats to biodiversity? 1890: 100 Starlings were introduced in NYC European Starling

What are the main threats to biodiversity? Gift from Japan in 1876 to celebrate USA 100 th year Kudzu

U.S. Forest Invading Nonnative Insect Species and Disease Organisms

Invasive species can carry pathogens Dutch elm disease transmitted to trees by elm bark beetles. Since 1930, the disease has spread from Ohio through most of the country, killing over half of the elm trees in the northern U.S.

The direct threats of invasive species: preying on native species preying on native species out-competing native species for food or other resources out-competing native species for food or other resources causing or carrying disease causing or carrying disease Releasing toxins Releasing toxins preventing native species from reproducing or killing their young preventing native species from reproducing or killing their young

The indirect threats of invasive species Changing food webs: destroy or replace native food source The invasive species may provide little to no food value for wildlife. Changing food webs: destroy or replace native food source The invasive species may provide little to no food value for wildlife. Decreasing biodiversity: outcompete native species or destroying native species Decreasing biodiversity: outcompete native species or destroying native species Altering ecosystem conditions changing soil chemistry or the intensity of wildfires. Altering ecosystem conditions changing soil chemistry or the intensity of wildfires.

What are the main threats to biodiversity? III. Pollution: Directly and Indirectly kills plants and animals

What are the main threats to biodiversity? More people = increase in resources IV. Population The human population explosion is the root cause of the other threats Fig

What are the main threats to biodiversity? V. Overharvesting Harvesting at rates exceeding the ability of populations to rebound is not sustainable Atlantic Cod

Fishing Nets

Animals Killed because they pose a threat to humans or livestock

Pet Trades: Overharvesting

Endangered Species Management and Biodiversity Protection

1. Hunting and fishing laws protect populations NO hunting during mating season NO hunting during mating season

2. Endangered Species Act of 1973 Endangered species: imminent danger of extinction Endangered species: imminent danger of extinction Threatened species: likely to become endangered Threatened species: likely to become endangered Vulnerable species: naturally rare or locally depleted by human activity Vulnerable species: naturally rare or locally depleted by human activity

Which species do we save? 5 billion to protect all species on list 5 billion to protect all species on list Keystone species Keystone species Indicator species Indicator species Umbrella species Umbrella species Flagship species Flagship species

A. Keystone species species affect many other organisms in an ecosystem and help to determine the types and numbers of various other species in a community. species affect many other organisms in an ecosystem and help to determine the types and numbers of various other species in a community. Example: weevil preys on Eurasian Watermilfoil Without the weevil, the Eurasian Watermilfoil would overtake the plant species decreasing biodiversity Example: weevil preys on Eurasian Watermilfoil Without the weevil, the Eurasian Watermilfoil would overtake the plant species decreasing biodiversity

B. Indicator Species a species thought to be sensitive to and therefore to serve as an early warning indicator of environmental changes such as global warming a species thought to be sensitive to and therefore to serve as an early warning indicator of environmental changes such as global warming Example River otters have been used as indicators of healthy, clean river systems Example River otters have been used as indicators of healthy, clean river systems

C. Umbrella Species these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecological community of its habitat these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecological community of its habitat Example: Bees pollinate many different types of flowers and fruit bearing plants Example: Bees pollinate many different types of flowers and fruit bearing plants

D. Flagship Species species are chosen for their vulnerability or because they will appeal to the public species are chosen for their vulnerability or because they will appeal to the public example: panda bear

What cost is too much? Save Salmon or reduce cost to electricity consumers? Save Salmon or reduce cost to electricity consumers?

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Illegal to export or important animals or animal body parts Illegal to export or important animals or animal body parts

What can you do to help? Plant a tree Plant a tree Recycle paper and buy recycled paper products Recycle paper and buy recycled paper products Choose wood alternative products for decks, fencing, furniture Choose wood alternative products for decks, fencing, furniture Remove invasive plants from your garden and replace with native plants Remove invasive plants from your garden and replace with native plants Don’t transplant plants or seeds Don’t transplant plants or seeds