Protecting Biodiversity

Global Biodiversity Global Biodiversity ~2 million named species (estimates range from 5-100 million) In Nature, biodiversity is enhanced by community interactions competition and resource partitioning control of dominant prey species adaptations that enhance reproduction, safety, food supply) Environmental Disturbances Increase # of niches due to patches of a community in different successional stages Terrestrial (primary and secondary) and aquatic succession However, competition and disturbance by humans reduces biodiversity

How do we protect biodiversity?

Group Investigations: Research your assigned method to preserve biodiversity. Explain how your method works to preserve biodiversity, what agency/agencies are involved, any advantages/disadvantages. Provide at least one real-life example of preservation by this method or using this legislation. Provide appropriate images and bulleted information explaining your method in a mini poster. Be ready to present and share with the class.

Protecting biodiversity Captive Breeding Programs and Preserving Species Preserving Genetic Material (germplasms) Endangered Species Act and Habitat Conservation Plan CITES U.S. Wilderness Act International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Captive Breeding Preserving One Species at a Time How it works: Breeding a species in captivity with the hope of releasing it into the wild. Disadvantage: It is not guaranteed that a released species will survive or reproduce. Example: California Condor Habitat loss, poaching and lead poisoning caused all but 9 individual birds to die. In 1986 a captive breeding program was started. By 2005, 121 Condors existed in the wild. Long-term survival remains doubtful.

Zoos, Parks, & Aquariums Preserving One Species at a Time How it works: These areas often house the few remaining members of a species in a protected environment. Disadvantages: Zoos, etc. can only preserve a small fraction of the world’s biodiversity. Genetic bottlenecks are still likely. Often species could no longer survive in their native habitats.

Preserving Genetic Material Preserving One Species at a time How it works: We can save genetic material from reproductive cells that can be later used for research or recovery programs. Eggs, seeds, DNA Disadvantage: Genetic Bottlenecks can occur if we rely on the genetic material for recovery. Sharp reduction in the size of the population; reduces genetic variation Science of creating living organisms from genetic material is not easy, fast or cheap.

US and International Protection of Biodiversity at the Habitat and Species Levels

Biogeography and Habitat Preservation Biogeography is the study of large scale geographic patterns in the distribution of species. But now due to humanity for land use Ecotone Overlap of communities or breeding areas   Ecosystems have been fragmented into biodiversity “islands” and in addition, land set aside for biodiversity protection are “islands”

Studied biodiversity on mangrove islands Developed a model to describe observed variation in species richness among the islands Variable extinction rates and immigration rates based on island size and distance from the mainland Extinction rate varies depending on island size Immigration rate varies depending on distance from the mainland THINK! Is biodiversity lower/higher for smaller islands or bigger? For closer or farther from the mainland?

Newmark WD. 1995. Conservation Biology. 9(3): 512-526 “Island Biogeography” Model Can Be Applied to “Terrestrial Islands” Extinction of Mammal Populations in Western North American National Parks U of M grad student William Newmark Hypothesized that island biogeography could apply to mainland “islands” of diversity Published a paper while at UCSD 14 Parks Studied modern and historic records of wildlife sightings to determine species disappearance over time Found biodiversity loss over time Greatest in the smallest parks Concept of conservation using ecosystem approach born of this study Greatest biodiversity conservation requires largest pieces of land and/or wildlife corridors among the “islands. Newmark WD. 1995. Conservation Biology. 9(3): 512-526 Bryce Canyon Crater Lake Glacier-Waterton Lakes Grand Canyon Kootenay-Banff-Jasper-Yoho Lassen Volcanic Manning Provincial Mount Rainier Olympic Rocky Mountain Sequoia-Kings Canyon Yellowstone-Grand Teton Yosemite Zion

Newmark WD. 1995. Conservation Biology. 9(3): 512-526 Extinction of Mammal Populations in Western North American National Parks Newmark WD. 1995. Conservation Biology. 9(3): 512-526

www.fws.gov/endangered/species/us-species.html

National Marine Fisheries Jurisdiction www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/esa/

Conservation International Biodiversity Hotspots www.conservation.org

UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves 580 sites in 114 countries; Implement ecosystem approach to protect biodiversity www.unesco.org

Biosphere reserves.  Biosphere reserves ideally consist of core areas that have minimal human impact and outer zones that have increasing levels of human impacts.

www.ucnredlist.org

www.cites.org/eng/disc/species.php