1. Global warming Conservation biology challenges Habitat destruction
Extinctions (loss of biodiversity)
Overexploitation (harvest)
Exotic species
loss of genetic diversity

2. What is the basic unit of conservation?
(what are we trying to conserve?)

3. Levels of genetic diversity
ATTGACTTAAGCGTAG
TAACTGAATTCGCATC
loci chromosomes individuals populations species

4. What is a species?

5. What is a species? = X lake trout brook trout
(Salvelinus namaycush) (Salvelinus fontinalis) =
splake

6. What is a species? = X X lake trout brook trout
(Salvelinus namaycush) (Salvelinus fontinalis) = X
splake
lake trout =
‘backcross’

7. Problems with defining/differentiating species What do these plants
have in common?
cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
cauliflower, collard greens, kohlrabi
they are all Brassica oleraceae

8. Problems with defining/differentiating species for conservation

9. easy example: geographic separation…
Eurasian yellow perch (Perca fluviatilis)
Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

10. more challenging – sympatric groups
Smelt (Osmerus mordax) – normal race
Smelt (Osmerus mordax) – giant race

11. Problems with defining/differentiating species
cryptic species (look the same, actually different)
grey tree frog
Hyla versicolor (4N) Hyla chrysoscelis (2N)

12. Problems with defining/differentiating species cryptic species
morphological differences (look different, actually the same)
phenotypic plasticity
zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis)

13. Are these fish in the same family? Genus? Species? How do you know?

14. Problems with defining/differentiating species cryptic species
morphological differences
life history differences within species
Freshwater, landlocked Marine, anadromous
rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

15. Problems with defining/differentiating species cryptic species
morphological differences
life history differences
taxonomic decisions - lumpers vs. splitters
Lampsilis cardium
(pocketbook mussel)
Lampsilis ovata
(pocketbook mussel)

16. Problems of incorrect taxonomic classification
Endangered species may not be recognized, protected (tiger, tuatara)
Resources may be wasted by conserving common species, or hybrids (red wolf)
Genetic pollution due to incorrect transplantation or augmentation of populations (ibex)
Resources for improving fitness of inbred populations may be missed (dusky seaside sparrow)
(credit to K. Dasmahapartra)

17. Evolutionary Unit (EU) ~ Evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) (Waples 1991):
population of organisms that is considered distinct for purposes of conservation
“a group of organisms that represents a segment of biological diversity that shares evolutionary lineage and contains the potential for a unique evolutionary future.”

18. Defining evolutionarily significant units:
Current geographic separation, or
Genetic differentiation at neutral markers among related ESUs caused by past restriction of gene flow,
Locally adapted phenotypic traits caused by differences in selection.

19. Why genetics??? Taxonomic identification and errors
Importance of genetic diversity for evolutionary potential
Population fragmentation and loss of gene flow
Issues of small population size (inbreeding, drift)
Captive population management (selection, reintroduction)
Forensics