Conserving Biodiversity - The Species Approach Chapter 9

Concerns Why be concerned about losing species? Instrumental values – Resources Services Regulation Economic Intrinsic values – Inherent value Precautionary principle

Species Extinction Types of extinction Commercial - Local - Ecological - Biological - is forever ~99.9% of species ever in existence are extinct. ~0.5% extinction rates currently

Global Declines in Genetic Diversity Populations with low genetic diversity are not well suited to surviving environmental change Inbreeding depression Inbreeding may produce offspring with decreased ability to survive and reproduce Higher genetic diversity reduces the probability of receiving harmful mutations from parents E.g.: Florida panther (80-100 individuals remain), mountain lion, cougar, cheetahs

Who is affected?

Causes of Extinction Just remember HIPPOC: Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Population growth, Pollution, Over-fishing/Over- hunting, Climate Change

Habitat Loss From human development that remove natural habitat and replaces with homes, industry, agriculture, malls and roads which restricts a species distribution and range Habitats have distinct characteristics that allow species to thrive and alteration of this threatens species lives and therefore the complex food webs of that system. Habitat fragmentation is also an issue as it increases edges (and thus edge effects) reduce the types of species that can live near the disturbance.

Aquatic Habitat loss Loss of coastal zones 2-10 x of tropical forest 58% of seagrass beds, 20% of coral reefs, 85% of oyster beds Sea level rise Trawling Dams Excessive water withdrawals Diversions Over 50% of wetlands have been drained for agricultural land, development, or to eliminate breeding grounds of mosquitoes

Invasive species Alien and exotic species are either introduced accidentally (shipping containers) or intentionally (pets) and compete for limited resources. Invasive species out-compete for limited resources. Asian mite and bee colonies Asian pine beetle in Rocky Mountain National Forest Python in Everglades Zebra barnacle –the Great lakes Kudzu vine –in the south Silver carp –accidently introduced into the Mississippi river and have expanded to Lake Michigan Lion fish Nile perch in Lake Victoria

Pollution Threats to biodiversity come from pesticides, heavy metals, acids and oil spills Bald eagle and DDT (bioaccumulation and biomagnification) 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill which killed sea turtles, dolphins, pelicans, fish and shellfish Dispersants used to break up the oil are also toxic to many species Eutrophication/Dead zones from fertilizers mainly nitrates Plastics

Population As the human population continues to grow exponentially, we are increasing our consumption of natural resources 80% of people live along or near coastlines Recreation Construction Oil rigs Poverty is another factor to consider

Climate Change Evolution cannot keep pace with rapid environmental change Loss of glacial caps, desertification are altering ecosystems Sea level rise Ocean acidification

Overharvesting Hunting, fishing, harvesting Overharvesting is removing species at a faster rate than the population can be replaced. Passenger pigeon (extinct 1914) Giant ground sloths, Mammoths, American camels, Moa birds, Dodo bird were all hunted to extinction The American bison almost suffered the same fate

Overfishing Maximum Sustainable Yield Optimum sustainable yield (OSY) Max number harvestable Difficult to assess Skewed numbers from fishermen Food web connections Difficult to enforce Optimum sustainable yield (OSY) MSY with more room for error Multispecies management Food - web connections Precautionary Principle

Overharvesting – Plant and Animal Trade Legal and illegal trade of species threaten many species U.S. Lacey Act 1900 – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 1973 – controls the trade of threatened plants and animals.

How should we prioritize We need to set aside areas to conserve biodiversity and the most efficient way is through conservation of hotspots. Hotspots are regions where most of the world’s biodiversity is concentrated. This regions are of high concern because of the high numbers of endemic species (native) that live nowhere else. As of 2010, Conservation International has identified 34 hotspots, which represent 2.3% of the worlds land area, 50% of all plant species and 42% of vertebrate species.

Florida Everglades Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Restore: Water quality Water quantity

How should we manage and sustain fisheries?

Conservation via Single Species Conservation Legislation U.S. Lacey Act of 1900 Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 Convention of Biological Diversity (1992) Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 CITES

Should We save the Panda?