Conservation Biology Fred Pinto, Nipissing University Lesson 1 Presentation 1

What is Conservation Biology? “Study of wise use of living things”

Why study conservation biology? Unprecedented assault on life on earth Extinction Change in abundance Change in life processes Has impacts to humans Has moral/ethical dimensions

Causes Habitat destruction Due to pollution, over harvest, change in landuse Exotic introductions Over consumption Apathy Climate change

Goal of conservation biology Understand impact of human activity on life on this planet Prevent negative consequences Restore ecosystems Develop appropriate management

Past focus Resource management How to obtain and sustain supply of products for human use Rapid adoption of changes in harvest or land conversion technology & marketing of resources Impacts often not considered

Current Focus Impacts increasing Impacts affecting people More people better educated More people live in democracies Research has improved our understanding of connections and processes in nature.

Past Resource Mgt. vs Conservation Mgt. Old MgtConser. Mgt Scale Local, single sp.Various Targets Exploited spp.All spp & processes Problem ExploitationMultiple User Harvester (e.g. hunter) Everyone Education Practical, narrowEvolutionary, broad

Lake trout example Old management Conser. mgt Problem How do we increase trout population Why is reproduction and recruitment low Approach Increase populationStudy ecology Solution Stock fishControl development, limit harvest

Conservation Biology Long time frames Multidisciplinary Multiple spatial scales All life forms have intrinsic value Interconnectedness

Questions? There is no dumb question!