1. Chapter 17 Biological Resources
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2. Overview of Chapter 17 Biological Diversity
Extinction and Species Endangerment
Endangered and Threatened Species
What courses species endangerment
Conservation Biology
Conservation Policies and Laws
Wildlife Management
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3. I. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Number, variety and variability of Earth’s organisms
Consists of three components:
Genetic diversity (below)
Species
richness
Ecosystem
diversity
Genetic diversity: allows populations to adapt to changing environments.
Species richness: the number of species present. Provides the ecosystem with resilience.
Ecosystem diversity: variety of ecosystems in a given area.
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4. Genetic Reserves
Broad genetic base is critical for each species’ long-term health and survival.
Genetic uniformity results in increased susceptibility to pests and disease.
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5. Why We Need Organisms Example contributions to human life:
Food
Clothing
Shelter
Pollination of crops
Antibiotics and medicines
Biological processes (nitrogen fixation)
Aesthetic, ethical, and spiritual value
Biological diversity represents an untapped resource for future uses
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6. Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
All organisms are interrelated
Ecosystem services
Important environmental benefits that ecosystems provide to people
Removal of a species from a community can decrease ecosystem services
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7. Biological Diversity Why We Need Organisms
Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
Nests eventually become small islands of trees
Maintains smaller fish populations by eating gar
Digs underwater holes used by other aquatic organisms
Gator trails clear out aquatic vegetation
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8. Scientific Importance of Genetic Diversity
Genetic Engineering
Incorporation of genes from one organism into a different species
Provided:
New vaccines
More productive farm animals
Agricultural plants with desirable characteristics
Depends on genetic diversity (cannot create genes)
Important to protect this diversity
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9. Medical Importance of Organisms
Genetic Resources are important to pharmaceutical industry
Examples
Rosy Periwinkle – Cancer drug (right)
Aquatic sponge – AIDS drug
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10. Importance of Organisms
Agricultural Importance
Numerous species that are nutritionally superior to the food we eat
Industrial Importance
Industry depends on products from organisms
Oils and lubricants
Paper and lumber
Ethical and Aesthetic Importance
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11. II. EXTINCTION AND SPECIES ENDANGERMENT
Elimination of species from earth
Irreversible
Eventual fate of all species
Background extinction
Mass extinction
5 have occurred (some think we are in the 6th)
Background extinction: the normal rate of extinction (before human intervention).
Mass extinction: a relatively sudden, global decrease in the diversity of life forms.
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12. Endangered and Threatened Species
Earth’s biological diversity is disappearing at an unprecedented rate
Endangered Species
Species that faces threats that may cause it to become extinct within a short period
Threatened Species
Species whose population has declined to the point that it may be at risk of extinction
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13. Characteristics of Endangered Species
Extremely small range (endemic)
Tiburon mariposa lily
Requiring large territories
California condor
Living on islands
Hawaii ‘O’ o
Low reproductive rates
Elephants
Endemic species, or animals and plants that are restricted to a relatively small area, such as an island, are inherently vulnerable to extinction. Fill in a marsh for building a hotel and the endemic species have no where else to go.

14. Low reproductive success Small population size
Blue whale
Small population size
Specialized breeding areas
Green sea turtle
Specialized feeding habits
Giant panda
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15. Endangered & Extinct Species
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16. Endangered & Extinct Species
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17. California Condor Scavenger bird Requires large, undisturbed territory
only 22 birds
1987– no longer found in nature
reintroduced to nature from zoos
Currently condors in nature
9 foot wingspan
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18. Where is Declining Biological Diversity the Greatest Problem?
US- Most serious in:
Hawaii (63% of species at risk)
California (29% of species at risk)
Globally - Most serious in tropical rain forests
South and Central America
Central Africa
SE Asia
Biodiversity hotspots:
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19. Biodiversity Hotspots
Biologically rich and deeply threatened.
Endemic species not found anywhere else.
Refers to 35 biologically rich areas around the world.
Amounts to just 2.3 percent of the land surface of the planet, yet supports nearly 60 percent of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species.
35% of the ecosystem services that human populations depend on.
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20. Earth’s Biodiversity Hotspots
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21. California Biodiversity Hotspots
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22. Causes of Declining Biodiversity
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23. Human Cause - Land Use Change
Destruction, fragmentation or degradation of habitats
Little habitat
remains for
many
endangered
species
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24. Human Cause - Invasive Species
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25. Human Cause- Overexploitation
Left: Illegal Trade in Products Made From Endangered Species
Right: Illegal Animal Trade - Green Parrots from the Amazon Rainforest
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26. Human Cause - Pollution
Examples: Acid rain, ozone depletion, climate warming, excessive fertilizer, industrial wastes
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27. Littering is VERY painful
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28. Case-In-Point Disappearing Frogs
Amphibians are indicator species
168 Amphibian species have gone extinct in last 2 decades
No single cause has been identified
Deformities have also been identified (right)
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29. III. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Scientific study of how humans impact organisms and the development of ways to protect biodiversity
Involves:
Protecting habitats
Restoring damaged or destroyed habitats
Zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens
Seed banks
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30. Challenges in Conservation Management
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31. Fragmented Habitats
Habitat separated by roads or other human development
Habitat corridors - allow animals to move from one fragment to another safely
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32. Habitat Fragmentation
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33. Why We Should Care
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34. Edge of Habitats
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36. Corridors
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37. Restoring Damaged Habitats
Restoration ecology
Study of the historical condition of a human-damaged ecosystem
Goal is to return it to its former state
Benefits
Creates biological habitats
Regeneration of soil damaged by agriculture or mining
Disadvantages
Expensive
Take a long time to restore an area
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38. Restoring Damaged Habitats
Left: (1935) Early stages of prairie restoration
Right: (current day) restored prairie
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39. Zoos, Aquaria and Botanical Garden
Save organisms from extinction
Artificial insemination
Embryo transfer
Surrogate mothers (right)
Goal is to reintroduce organisms back to their natural habitat
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40. Seed Banks
Stored seeds are safe from habitat destruction, climate warming, etc.
Can use seed banks to reintroduce extinct plant species
Some seeds cannot be stored
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41. Seed Bank Storage Bins
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42. IV. CONSERVATION POLICIES AND LAWS
"Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed." -President Nixon, upon signing the Endangered Species Act
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43. Endangered Species Act
ESA: To protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
Less than 1% of the more than 2,000 plants and animals protected by the Act worldwide have ever been formerly delisted due to extinction.
90% of species are recovering at the rate specified by their recovery plan.
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44. Conservation Policies and Laws
Endangered Species Act (ESA) 1973
Authorized protection of endangered and threatened species.
Currently 1215 species are listed as endangered and threatened.
Left: Endangered Species, the Florida Panther
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45. Successes American peregrine falcon DDT
324 breeding pairs in 1975 to 3,005 pairs as of 2006
Delisted 1999
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46. Bald Eagle
416 pairs in 1963 to 11,052 in 2007 when the eagle was removed from the endangered list.
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47. Conservation Policies and Laws
Habitat Conservation Plans
1982 Amendment to ESA
Resolved conflicts between development interests and species protection
International Conservation:
World Conservation Strategy (1980)
Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) (1975)
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48. V. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
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49. Wildlife Management
Application of conservation principles to manage wild species and their habitats for human benefit or for the welfare of other species
Different priorities than conservation biology
Wildlife managers concerned with common species
Conservation biologist concerned with threatened or endangered species
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50. Wildlife Management Migratory Animals
Ex: Artic Snow Geese - increase in population has damaged much of Arctic fragile coastal ecosystem (below)
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51. Wildlife Management Aquatic Organisms Freshwater fishes Ocean fishes
Must be managed to ensure they are not overexploited
Freshwater fishes
Laws regulate time of year, size of fish and maximum allowable catch
Ocean fishes
Ocean fisheries often viewed as common property
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