1. Conservation of Biodiversity
Chapter 18
Conservation of Biodiversity

2. Modern Conservation Legacies
Biodiversity of world is rapidly declining
Result of human activities
Protect habitats as…
–215 million acres of marine habitats around the northwestern Hawaiian Islands and other US Pacific islands
Area of great biodiversity, but diversity has been declining
Protected area solution?
Marine reserves – newer idea
But worldwide – Russia, UK, Australia, Canada, Belize

3. The 6th Mass Extinction
Extinction- when there are no longer any of the species in the world
Earth has had ______ major extinctions
Currently experiencing 6th major extinction
Losing ~50,000 species per year
First since humans have been on planet

4. Genetic Diversity
Conserve genetic diversity important - increases species survival
Inbreeding depression –
Examples:
Cheetahs – natural process
Panther (aka mountain lion, cougar) – human induced process
Genetic diversity being lost due to artificial selection as well

5. Categories of Endangerment
Extinct
Endangered
Threatened
Near-threatened
Least concern
Problems with evaluating status of plant and animal species:

6. Decline of birds, mammals and amphibian

7. Characteristics of Endangered Species From Environment, 6th Edition
Extremely small (localized) range
Requiring a large territory
Living on an island
Having a low reproductive success
Small population size
Low reproductive rates
Requiring specialized breeding areas
Having specialized feeding habitats

8. Endangered and Extinct Species From Environment, 6th Edition

9. Endangered and Extinct Species From Environment, 6th Edition

10. Why are species populations declining? HIPCO – Remember this!!!!
H- Habitat Loss
I- Invasive Species
P- Pollution
C- Climate Change
O- Overharvested/Overexploitation

11. Habitat Loss
The greatest cause of decline and extinction for most species
Most habitat loss is due to human development
Effects of habitat loss contributing to species decline:
Areas of concern:

12. Changing Forests

13. Non-Native Species
Alien species (exotic species) – species that live outside their historical range
Invasive species- when alien species spread rapidly across large areas
Ex- Kudzu Vine, Zebra Mussel, Silver
It’s even happening in Clinton! Pond Mussel Invasion in Clinton, NJ

14. Researchers prepare to examine the insides of a 17-foot, 7-inch Burmese python found in Florida's Everglades. The python, weighing some 164 pounds, was carrying 87 eggs in its oviducts, they found.

15. Pollution
Threats to biodiversity can come from toxic contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, acids, and oil spills
Others:

16. Climate Change
Concern is how climate change will affect temperature and precipitation around the world, and how this will impact biodiversity
Will talk more about in Ch 19

17. Overharvesting/Overexploitation
When individuals of a species are removed at a rate faster than the population can replace them
Via hunting, fishing, poaching, commercial harvest, efforts to control #s
Ex- dodo, American bison, passenger pigeon

18. Lacey Act
One of the earliest laws in the U.S. to control the trade of wildlife
First passed in 1900
Prohibited the transport of illegally harvested game animals, primarily birds and mammals, across state lines

19. CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Developed in 1973
Goal?
Today…

20. Red List List of threatened species
Each country has its own way to monitor and regulate the import and export of animals on the list
Does not stop illegal trade though!

21. Black Rhinos in Southern Africa
Black Rhino Killings Up

22. Family of 12 elephants slain by poachers in Kenya

23. Conservation Legislation
2 approaches to conserving biodiversity:
Single-species approach
May include reestablishment in wild
Ecosystem approach
Especially biodiversity hotspots
Factors taken into consideration:

24. Marine Mammal Protection Act Single Species Approach
1972
Prohibits the killing of all marine mammals in the U.S. and prohibits the import or export of any marine mammal body parts

25. Endangered Species Act Single Species Approach
First passed in 1973, amended several times since
Authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which species can be listed as threatened or endangered and prohibits the harming of these species
Controversy!

26. Convention on Biological Diversity Single Species Approach
1992 – nations came together and made a treaty to protect biodiversity
The treaty had three objectives:
2002 – strategic plan to achieve a substantial reduction in worldwide rate of biodiversity loss by 2010
2010 – convention determined goal not met:

27. Size, Shape and Connectedness Ecosystem Approach
As previously noted:
Edge habitat - the area where two different communities come together, typically forming an abrupt transition.
Ex. A grassy field meeting a forest
Must be taken into account when using an ecosystem approach

28. Biosphere Reserves An Ecosystem Approach
Protected areas consisting of zones that vary in the amount of permissible human impact
Image
564 biosphere reserves worldwide
47 in US – most well known is Big Bend National Park in TX

29. The rest of the slides come from Environment, 6th Edition

30. Conservation Biology Involves: (overview) Protecting habitats
Restoring damaged or destroyed habitats
Zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens
Seed banks

31. Protecting Habitats

32. 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

33. Restoring Damaged Habitats
Left: (1935) Early stages of prairie restoration
Right: (current day) restored prairie

34. 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
Problems?
Bongo Calf and its surrogate mother, a female eland

35. 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