1. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. PowerPoint Lectures for Biology: Concepts & Connections, Sixth Edition Campbell, Reece, Taylor, Simon, and Dickey Chapter 38 Conservation Biology Lecture by Brian R. Shmaefsky

2. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Introduction: Saving the Tiger  Conservation biology is a goal-oriented science –It seeks to counter the biodiversity crisis –It can focus on a single species –It can also protect many species at once by preserving habitats and ecosystems  Conservation biology touches all levels of ecology –From a single tiger –To the forest it roams

6. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS

7. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.1 Biodiversity is a vital resource that is being lost  Scientists estimate that the Earth has anywhere from 1.8 to 200 million species –It is difficult to estimate species loss –Species loss may be 1,000 times higher than in the past 100,000 years

8. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Scientists are concerned about the ecological changes that underlie biodiversity loss –Ecologists point out the “services” provided by the biodiversity of ecosystems 38.1 Biodiversity is a vital resource that is being lost

10. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.2 Biodiversity includes genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity  Biodiversity has three levels –Genetic diversity –Species diversity –Ecosystem diversity

12. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Endangered species –One that is “in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range” –Protected by Endangered Species Act  Threatened species –Those likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future 38.2 Biodiversity includes genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity

13. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  93% of coral reefs were damaged by human activities  40–50% of the reefs are home to one-third of marine fish species  These fish could be lost in the next 30 to 40 years 38.2 Biodiversity includes genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity Video: Coral Reef

15. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.3 Habitat destruction, invasive species, and overexploitation are major threats to biodiversity  Human alteration of habitats poses the greatest threat to biodiversity  Habitation alteration is caused by –Agriculture –Urban development –Forestry –Mining –Environmental pollution

16. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Invasive species rank behind habitat destruction as a threat to biodiversity  Invasive species –Compete with native species –Prey on native species –Parasitize native species 38.3 Habitat destruction, invasive species, and overexploitation are major threats to biodiversity

18. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Overexploitation is the third major threat to biodiversity –Overharvesting has threatened –Rare trees –Fish –Bison  Hunting of wild animals for bushmeat is depleting biodiversity worldwide 38.3 Habitat destruction, invasive species, and overexploitation are major threats to biodiversity

20. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.4 CONNECTION: Pollution of the environment compounds our impact on other species  The global water cycle can transport pollutants –Pesticides used on land –Sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted into the atmosphere  Gradually thinning ozone layer –Release of chlorofluorocarbons from aerosol cans and manufacturing  Nutrient pollution from fertilizer and wastes –Linked to summer “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico

21. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Pollutants in a food chain can lead to biological magnification 38.4 CONNECTION: Pollution of the environment compounds our impact on other species

22. Concentration of PCBs Herring gull eggs 124 ppm Lake trout 4.83 ppm Smelt 1.04 ppm Zooplankton 0.123 ppm Phytoplankton 0.025 ppm

23. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.5 CONNECTION: Rapid warming is changing the global climate  The scientific debate about global warming is over –Global temperature has risen –0.8°C in the last 100 years –0.6°C of that increase occurred in the last three decades –2 to 4.5°C increases are likely by the end of the 21st century  Global warming most evident in arctic –Shrinking sea ice –Thinning ice sheets –Melting permafrost

24. –2 –1.6 –1.2 –.8–.4 –.2.2.4.81.6 1.2 2.1

25. 2005 1981 1938

26. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.6 CONNECTION: Human activities are responsible for rising concentrations of greenhouse gases  Atmospheric CO 2 did not exceed 300 ppm for 650,000 years  Atmospheric CO 2 is approximately 385 ppm today  High levels of methane and nitrous oxide also trap heat

27. 1500 10002000 Year 1000 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 800 600 500 0 250 400 350 300 Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Methane (CH 4 ) Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) CO 2 (ppm), N 2 O (ppb) CH 4 (ppb)

28. Atmosphere Ocean Photosynthesis Fossil fuel

29. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.7 Global climate change affects biomes, ecosystems, communities, and populations  Terrestrial biomes determined by temperature and rainfall –Changing as a consequence of global warming –Distributions of populations and species also changing –Disappearance of many species being caused by changing climate –Climate change affects seasonal events in some plants and animals

32. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.8 EVOLUTION CONNECTION: Global climate change is an agent of natural selection  Global climate change drives natural selection of some organisms –Most of this selection is attributed to phenotypic plasticity –Altering phenotype in response to environmental conditions –Within the normal range of genetic expression –Can involve genetic shifts that change a species –Prevents extinction of some species

34. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Red squirrels in Canada –Natural selection to coordinate breeding time with food availability 38.8 EVOLUTION CONNECTION: Global climate change is an agent of natural selection

36. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND RESTORATION ECOLOGY

37. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.9 Protecting endangered populations is one goal of conservation biology  Habitat loss –Population fragmentation –A harmful effect of habitat loss –Splitting and isolation of portions of populations –Can lead to extinctions

40. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Proactive conservation strategies attempt to stop declines in populations –Recovery of the red-cockaded woodpecker –From near-extinction to sustainable populations –Results from providing its key habitat factors 38.9 Protecting endangered populations is one goal of conservation biology

42. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.10 Sustaining ecosystems and landscapes is a conservation priority  Conservation biology priority –Past efforts –Saving individual species –Today –Biodiversity of ecosystems  Landscape ecology –Dynamics of a collection of ecosystems

45. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Edges can fragment ecosystems  Fragmentation is corrected with movement corridors 38.10 Sustaining ecosystems and landscapes is a conservation priority

47. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.11 Protected areas are established to slow the loss of biodiversity  Conservation biology focuses on biodiversity hot spots –Have a large number of endangered and threatened species –Have a concentration of endemic species  Hot spot designation favors the most noticeable organisms

48. Equator

49. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Migratory species pose a special problem for conservationists –Monarch butterflies occupy many areas –Sea turtles travel great distances  Reserves are set up to protect biodiversity –7% of world’s land is in various forms of reserves 38.11 Protected areas are established to slow the loss of biodiversity

51. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.12 Zoned reserves are an attempt to reverse ecosystem disruption  Zoned reserve –Extensive region of land with one or more areas undisturbed by humans –Contributes to sustainable development –Long-term prosperity of human societies and the ecosystems –Provide an economic base for people living there

52. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.  Zoned reserves are used in Costa Rican conservation 38.12 Zoned reserves are an attempt to reverse ecosystem disruption

53. National parkland Buffer zone Pacific Ocean Caribbean Sea Nicaragua Panama Costa Rica

55. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.13 CONNECTION: The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative seeks to preserve biodiversity by connecting protected areas  Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative –Created a string of parks and reserves –3,200-km wildlife corridor –Alaska across Canada to northern Wyoming –Included introduction of wolf populations –Sparked angry protests from ranchers

56. NORTHWEST TERRITORIES ALBERTA YUKON TERRITORY BRITISH COLUMBIA MONTANA WASHINGTON OREGON IDAHO WYOMING Jackson Bozeman Spokane Calgary Vancouver R O C K Y M O U N T A I N S C O L U M B I A M O U N T A I N S Pacific Ocean M A C K E N Z I E M O U N T A I N S Whitehorse

59. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.14 CONNECTION: The study of how to restore degraded habitats is a developing science  Restoration ecology –Uses ecological principles to restore environments  Restoring environments –Bioremediation –Using organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems –Replanting native vegetation –Repairing waterways and wetlands

60. Widened canal Water control structure remaining Lake Kissimmee River Floodplain Lake Okeechobee Atlantic Ocean Gulf of Mexico Kissimmee River FLORIDA Detail Miles 010 Water control structure removed River channel restored Canal backfilled Phase 1 completed Water control structure to be removed in Phase 2

61. Former canal

62. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. 38.15 Sustainable development is an ultimate goal  Biosphere is made of complex interconnections –Sensible decisions needed to conserve these networks –Must work for a sustainable future –Sustainable development depends on continued research and application

64. Habitat destruction Invasive speciesOverexploitation

65. Conservation biology may involve seeks to conserve ecosystems and landscapes attempt to restore may be protected in which uses nature reserves restoration projects may be need to identify and support detoxify or replenish degraded ecosystems to sustainable development which support (e) minimum viable population size (d) (c) (b)(a)

66. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. You should now be able to 1.Explain why biodiversity must be protected 2.Describe the three components of biodiversity 3.Explain the major factors that threaten biodiversity 4.Explain the consequences of global climate change 5.Describe major strategies used in conservation biology 6.Explain the principles of sustainable conservation practices