A Biodiversity Journey

Biodiversity Biodiversity is about SPECIES Here are some of Scotland's

Biodiversity Biodiversity is about COMMUNITIES Species live together in groups called communities

Biodiversity Biodiversity is about Living things are inter- dependant Damage one community and others are affected

from The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, The Collapse of the Newfoundland Fishery

Lack of large sandeels in the diet Typical year 2004 North Sea seabird disaster 2004 What has happened in Newfoundland may be happening here in Scotland

Long term decline in sandeel size Year Length (cm) Adult 0 group  40% decline in energy content Wanless et al. (2004) and updated

Scottish Seabirds, Scottish Seabird Populations from Scottish Biodiversity Indicators, 2007.

2004 Typical year North Sea seabird disaster 2004 Massive chick mortality

North Sea seabird disaster 2004 Widespread chick neglect Lowest breeding success on record Typical year 2004

June 2008

Biodiversity Biodiversity is about the future of Scotland's economy

Why should I care? Food production – extraction of food from natural ecosystems Raw materials – use of biodiversity as raw materials Waste treatment – natural removal and breakdown Biological control – natural population regulation Genetic resources – use of wild species as genetic source Gas Regulation – natural control of atmospheric composition Climate regulation – biologically mediated climate processes Water regulation – ecosystem responses, eg storm protection Erosion control – natural retention of soil and sediment Nutrient cycling – storage, processing and acquisition What living things do for Scotland – pick three

How much Biodiversity is worth to Scotland Provide Biodiversity Services worth - £68 - £82 billion per year Scotland's business and industry provide services (GDP) worth £58 billion per year