1. Conservation Chapter 14

2. Wildlife Resources  What is happening to the wildlife and plant resources around us today?

3. U.S. Species Diversity

4. Decreasing Biodiversity  10-20% of species alive in 1975 were extinct in 2000  Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropical rain forests (many undescribed species)  40% of all species live in tropical areas  Disappear along with forests

5. Extinction Not New  99% of all species have gone extinct  Gradual environmental changes have been responsible for most extinctions  Rapid environmental changes from asteroids, etc. also have been important in many extinctions

6. Extinction Rates  Background (natural) rate of extinction  Mass extinction

7. Why Should We Care About Extinctions and Biodiversity? 1) economics 2) aesthetics 3) ecological 4) ethics

8. Cinchona Cinchona ledogeriana, South America Quinine for malaria treatment

9. Rauvolfia Rauvolfia sepentina, Southeast Asia Tranquilizer, high blood pressure medication

10. Foxglove Digitalis purpurea, Europe Digitalis for heart failure

11. Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia, Pacific Northwest Ovarian cancer

12. Human Impacts on Biodiversity

13. Flathead Lake, Montana

14. Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild Species

15. Human Activities That May Cause Extinctions  Habitat disturbance/destruction  Commercial hunting  Predator and pest control  Collecting for pets, zoos, research  Pollution  Introductions of exotic species

16. Habitat Disturbance and Destruction California Condor

17. Commercial Hunting Black Rhino Range in 1700 Range today (about 2,400 left)

18. Predator and Pest Control African Elephant Probable range 1600 Range today (300,000 left)

19. Collecting for Pets, Zoos, Research

20. Pollution Bald Eagle - DDT

21. Species Introductions Dodo Bird Zebra Mussel

22. Threats from Nonnative Species

23. Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity  Species approach  Ecosystem approach

24. Protecting Wild Species: The Legal Approach  International Treaties: CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species  National Laws:ESA - Endangered Species Act

25. Protecting Wild Species: The Sanctuary Approach  Wildlife refuges and protected areas - e.g. whooping cranes  Zoos and Aquariums - captive breeding programs  Gene banks, botanical gardens, and farms

26. The Ecosystem Approach  Biosphere reserves  U.S. has >30 reserves - Yellowstone National Park - Great Smoky Mtns. National Park  Other countries have similar reserves

27. The Ecosystem Approach

28. Bird Success Stories California Condor Whooping Crane Peregrine Falcon Canada Goose Wild Turkey