1. Biodiversity
Why is it important?
BCB 705:
Biodiversity

2. Some Things to Consider
The question asked on the title slide assumes that biodiversity is important, is it?
Biodiversity has been subject to huge losses (mass extinctions) before. Why should we worry about it?
Is our anthropocentric view of biodiversity the only valid view?
“What sort of world do we want to live in?” (p. 87 Gaston & Spicer 1998).
“What sort of world are we prepared to pay to live in?” (p. 87 Gaston & Spicer 1998)
If biodiversity is important, how do we use it sustainably?

3. Ways of Assigning Value to Biodiversity
This does not only consider monetary value.
Non-use Values
Use Values
Indirect
Direct
Intrinsic Value
Extract from Wikipedia ~ Deep ecology is a recent philosophy or ecosophy based on a shift away from the anthropocentric bias of established environmental and green movements. The philosophy is marked by a new interpretation of "self" which de-emphasizes the rationalistic duality between the human organism and its environment, thus allowing emphasis to be placed on the intrinsic value of other species, systems and processes in nature. This position leads to an ecocentric system of environmental ethics. Deep ecology describes itself as "deep" because it asks complex and spiritual questions about the role of human life in the ecosphere.
Proponents of deep ecology believe that the world does not exist as a resource to be freely exploited by humans. The ethics of deep ecology holds that a whole system is superior to any of its parts. They offer an eight-tier platform to elucidate their claims:[2]
The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves (synonyms: intrinsic value, inherent value). These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes.
Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves.
Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital human needs.
The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of nonhuman life requires such a decrease.
Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.
Policies must therefore be changed. These policies affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present.
The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of inherent value) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great.
Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to try to implement the necessary changes.

4. Non-use Value Option Value Bequest Value Existence Value
Aesthetic Value

5. Indirect Use Value Nutrient Cycling Food Decom-position
Waste Treatment
+ Abiotic = Habitat
Gas Re-gulation
Carbon Se-questration
Trophic Levels
Soil Fertility
Air Puri-fication
Climate Regulation
Biological Control
Soil Forma-tion & Main-tenance
Natural Organisms form Ecosystems
Disturbance Control
Pollination
Water Re-gulation
Erosion Control
Water Pu-rification

6. Direct Use – Indicator of Environmental Resources
Certain plant species serve as reliable indicators of desired environmental conditions.
Some plant species have affinities to certain metals.
Indicator of Environmental Resources – Dependence and Effect
The use of plants as indicators of environmental resources is dependent on autecological knowledge of the plant species. Such knowledge depends on studies of the species in its natural habitat which requires all the ecosystem services to maintain it.
Unfortunately the use of the resources indicated by the plant species tends to be detrimental to the continued existence of the species in that area.

7. Direct Use – Food Production
Most of what we eat is produced by living organisms – either through agriculture or harvesting from the wild.
Subsistence farmers particularly benefit from biodiversity.
Food additives
Aids to food production – e.g. pesticides, insecticides, fungicides & fertilizers.
Genetic improvement of domesticated species.
Non-Use Value = Source of new species for agricultural use.

8. Food Production – Effects and Dependence
The survival of species harvested from the wild is threatened.
Wild harvesting is dependent on all the different ecosystem services to sustain the production of the harvested species.
Agriculture is dependent on biological control of soil organisms, nutrient cycling, pollination, soil formation and maintenance, soil fertility and water purification for plant production and all of the above with the addition of food sources for animal production.
Cropland uses space.

9. Direct Use – Biological Control
The direct use of a natural enemy to control a pest organism.
See the Invasion Biology course (Chapter 8) for more detail.
Biological Control – Dependence
Biological control makes direct use of the natural biological control exerted by ecosystems in an unnatural context.
The biological control agent is dependent on all ecosystem services that support its host, e.g. nutrient cycling and habitat. The maintenance of a habitat involves all the other ecosystem services.

10. Direct Use – Medicine
Commercial production of plants for the extraction of medicines or direct commercial production of biodiversity derived medicines.
Traditional medicines (see picture).
Animals for product testing
Non-Use Value = Source of new medicines

11. Medicine – Dependence
Animal testing of medicines requires food for the animals.
Wild harvesting for traditional or other use is dependent on all the different ecosystem services to sustain the production of the harvested species.
Chemical production of medicines is dependent on the water and air purification and waste treatment services of ecosystems.
Many primate species are used to test drugs.

12. Direct Use – Industry
Raw materials for industrial use include timber, rattans, fibers, oils, fats, resins, waxes, dyes, fuels, cellulose, latex, cork, lubricants, poisons, scales, bones, hides and rubber.
Products include cosmetics, scents, clothing, paper, etc.
Some plants may serve as tools for the extraction of minerals.
Non-Use Value = Source of new materials for industrial use.
Harvesting Rubber Lumber

13. Industry – Dependence
For farmed raw materials (e.g. timber) the same dependence occurs as in agriculture: biological control of soil organisms, nutrient cycling, pollination, soil formation and maintenance, soil fertility and water purification for plant production and all of the above with the addition of food sources for animal production.
Wild harvesting is dependent on all the different ecosystem services to sustain the production of the harvested species.
All industry is dependent on natural systems for water and air purification and waste treatment.

14. Direct Use – Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of biological organisms or their products (enzymes) to remove or detoxify contaminants from hazardous waste and contaminated soil or water.
A species of bacteria can breakdown chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Poplar trees (see picture) are used to clean contaminated industrial sites.
Bioremediation – Dependence
Bioremediation depends directly on the ecological services of waste treatment and water purification.

15. Direct Use – Indicator of Ecological Change
Changes in the levels of biodiversity or individual species ranges may be used to indicate changes in the ecology.
Lichen species serve as indicators of air quality (see picture).
Indicator of Ecological Change – Dependence
Changes in biodiversity reflect changes in the ecosystem that have changed the balance of ecosystem services. This use of biodiversity relies directly on the organisms to indicate the condition of the ecosystem of which they are a part.

16. Live Trade – Dependence
Direct Use – Live Trade
Ornamental plants including geophytes, orchids and succulents.
Pets
Animals for laboratory use, recreation and ecotourism.
Live Trade – Dependence
Crassula coccinea
Farmed organisms for live trade require the same inputs as for agriculture.
Wild harvesting of both plants and animals is dependent on all the ecosystem services to sustain the organisms for harvesting.

17. Direct Use – Ecotourism and Recreation
People pay to view biodiversity in the natural environment. This is termed ecotourism.
Recreation
Gardening
Camping
Hiking and Mountain Biking
Sport
Fishing
Hunting
Falconry
Extract from Miller (2002) pp. 562, A11: Ideally, ecotourism (1) should not cause ecological damage, (2) should provide income for local people to motivate them to preserve wildlife, and (3) should provide funds for the purchase and maintenance of wildlife preserves and conservation programs. However, most nature tourism does not meet these goals and excessive and unregulated ecotourism can destroy or degrade fragile areas and promote premature species extinction.
Evaluating Ecotours Before embarking on an ecotour, seek answers in writing to the following questions: What precautions are taken to reduce the tour’s impact on local ecosystems? How much time is spent in the field, versus in the city or traveling in a vehicle? What happens to the tour’s garbage? What percentage of the people involved in planning, organizing, and guiding tours are local? Are the guides trained naturalists? Will you stay in locally owned hotels or other facilities, or will you be staying in accommodations owned by national or international companies? Does the tour operation respect local customs and cultures? If so, how? What percentage of the tour’s gross income goes into the salaries and businesses of local residents? What percentage of the tour’s gross income does the tour company donate to local conservation and social projects?

18. Ecotourism and Recreation – Dependence
Ecotourism is dependent on all ecological services.
Recreational activities such as gardening rely on nutrient cycling, soil fertility and soil formation and maintenance.
Camping, hiking and mountain biking in natural areas rely on all ecological services to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the environment.
Sports such has fishing, hunting and falconry rely on prey species and the ecological services that sustain them – food sources and habitats which require all the ecological services to maintain them.

19. Direct Use – Working Animals
Various ‘wild’ animal species have been trained to aid man.
Asian elephants are trained as draught animals.
Fishing in China and Southeast Asia
Working Animals – Dependence
Farmed working animals require the same inputs as for agriculture.
Wild harvesting of animals is dependent on all the ecosystem services to sustain the organisms for harvesting.

20. Direct Use – Cultural Cultural – Dependence
Biodiversity serves as a source of inspiration for art, poetry and literature and influences philosophy, language and religion in many societies.
Biodiversity may also supply the medium in which the art is expressed – e.g. canvas for painting and wood for sculptures.
Cultural – Dependence
In as much as any aspect of biodiversity may provide inspiration, cultural diversity is reliant on all ecological services to maintain the source of inspiration.
Materials for use in art are the products of industry so the ecological services needed by industry apply – air and water purification and waste treatment as well as supports for production.

21. Knowledge – Dependence
Direct Use – Knowledge
Each species provides unique information that is lost if the species becomes extinct. Species, species interactions and intact ecosystems are important research areas.
Biodiversity provides clues on evolution, past and present.
Biodiversity presents insights into how life functions.
Knowledge – Dependence
All ecosystem services are needed to develop understanding of biodiversity.

22. Problems with Monetary Values and Societal Control
Market values do not reflect the impacts of use on society and biodiversity.
Short term vs. long term benefits
Money may increase faster than the resource reproduces.
The rarity of a species increases the monetary value of the product though the costs of obtaining it also increase.
The development of products takes time.
Ownership. If I do not use this, someone else will.
Who benefits? Informal vs. formal markets – political hierarchy.

23. Chapter 1 Biodiversity: what is it?
Chapter 2 The evolution of biodiversity
Chapter 3 Biodiversity: why is it important?
Chapter 4 …
I hope that you found chapter 3 informative and that you will enjoy chapter 4.