1. Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach
G. Tyler Miller’s
Living in the Environment
14th Edition
Chapter 9

2. Key Concepts Human effects on extinction rates
Understanding biodiversity and extinction
How human activities endanger wildlife
Preventing extinction
Reconciliation ecology

3. Species Extinction Local extinction Ecological extinction
Biological extinction

4. Endangered and Threatened Species
Endangered species
Threatened (vulnerable) species
Florida manatee
Northern spotted owl (threatened)
Gray wolf
Florida panther
Bannerman's turaco (Africa)
© 2004 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning
From Fig p. 227

5. Florida Manatee

6. Hawksbill Sea Turtle

7. Golden Lion Tamarin

8. Northern Spotted Owl

9. White Top Pitcher Plant

10. Giant Panda

11. Extinction Rates Background (natural) rate of extinction
Mass extinction
Extinction
spasm
Fig. 5-9 p. 96

12. Characteristics of Extinction Prone Species
Fig p. 228

13. Extinction 99.9% of all species that ever lived are now extinct
Great Auk
Flightless sea bird that lived in colonies
Existed in Iceland, British Isles, Scotland, Scandinavia, and Canada
It’s feathers, fat (oil), eggs, and meat became desirable and so the bird was hunted to extinction
The last known pair was found and killed in Iceland in 1844
No efforts were made to save the population of the birds

14. Problems Estimating Extinction Rates
Extinction not easily documented over time
Many species remain unidentified
Little is known about most identified species

15. Estimated Extinction Rates
Species Area Relationship
Population viability analysis (PVA)
Minimum Viable Population (MVP)
Minimum Dynamic Area (MDA)

16. Estimating Extinction Rates
Species-area relationships
Population viability analysis (PVA)
Minimum viable population (MVP)
Minimum dynamic area (MDA)

17. Causes of Depletion of Wild Species
Human population growth
Increasing per capita resource use
Endangered centers of biodiversity
Environmental destruction
Spread of opportunistic species

18. Causes of Extinction Habitat alteration Invasive species Pollution
Population
Overharvesting

19. Habitat Loss Elimination of Species through… Tropical Deforestation
Destruction of the Coral Reef and wetlands
Plowing grasslands
Pollution of freshwater streams, lakes, and marine habitats

20. Habitat Fragmentation
Creates 3 Problems
Decrease in sustainable population size
Increase in surface area or edge
Creation of barriers

21. Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild Species
Fig p. 231

22. Importance of Wild Species
Rebuilding biodiversity is slow
Instrumental value
Genetic information
Eco-tourism
Ecological value
Intrinsic value

23. Habitat Loss and Degradation
Greatest threat to species
“HIPPO”
Habitat destruction
Invasive species
Population (humans) growth
Pollution
Overharvesting

24. Threats from Nonnative Species
Fig p. 238
Arrival
Roles of non-
native species
Prevention
Examples
(p. 235)
See Case Study
p. 237
Fig p. 238

25. Nonnative Species Beneficial Harmful
Argentina Fire Ants- Southern States
Brown Tree Snake- Guam

26. Solutions Improving inspection of goods into a country
Identifying major nonnative invaders and passing laws to prevent their entry into countries
Requiring ships to take more precautions when entering a port

27. Other Extinction Threats
Hunting and Poaching
Predators and Pest Control
Exotic Pets and Decorative Plants
Climate Change and Pollution

28. Protecting Wild Species: The Research and Legal Approaches
International Treaties: CITES and CBD
U.S. National Laws: Lacey Act Endangered Species Act
Habitat recovery plans

29. Endangered Species Act
Private versus public poverty rights
Win-win compromises
Weaken or strengthen the Act?

30. Protecting Wild Species: The Sanctuary Approach
Wildlife refuges and protected areas
Gene banks, botanical gardens, and farms
Zoos and Aquariums

31. Reconciliation Ecology
Establishing and maintaining new habitats
Being good neighbors to wildlife
Reward voluntary conservation efforts
See Case Study p. 248

32. Conservation: What Can I Do?
Fig p. 249