1. Biodiversity

2. BIODIVERSITY
Includes a variety of factors
Genetic Diversity
Species Diversity
Species Richness - Total number of species in a community.
Diversity vs. abundance
Ecological Diversity

3. Factors That Increase Biodiversity
Diverse habitat
Moderate environmental disturbance
Small variations in environmental conditions
Middle stages of succession
Evolution

4. Factors That Decrease Biodiversity
Environmental Stress
Large environmental disturbance
Extreme environmental conditions
Introduction of alien species
Geographic isolation
Severe limitation of essential resources

5. How Many Species Are There ?
Currently 1.7 million species identified.
Estimates range between 3-50 million.
May be 30 million insect species.
Invertebrates make up 70% of all known species
Tropical rainforests and coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots.
NA and Europe only contain 10-15%.

6. Biodiversity Hotspots

7. BENEFITS OF BIODIVERSITY
Food
As many as 80,000 edible wild plant species
Drugs and Medicines
> ½ of all prescriptions contain some natural product.

8. Benefits of Biodiversity
Ecological Benefits
Soil formation, waste disposal, air and water purification, nutrient cycling, solar energy absorption, pollination, control of pest species, etc.
Aesthetic and Cultural Benefits
USFWS estimates Americans spend $104 billion annually on wildlife-related recreation.
Ecotourism
Intrinsic value

9. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Extinction
Natural causes vs. Man-made
Habitat Destruction
Biggest reason for current increase in extinction
Northern Spotted Owl

10. Habitat Fragmentation
Northwestern US and Canada

11. Human-Caused Reductions in Biodiversity
Alien Species
Thrive in new territories
free of:
have adaptations to deter predators
diseases
resource limitations that limited them in original habitat.

12. Human-Caused Reductions in Biodiversity
Pollution
Pesticides
Lead
Population
Resource Use
Overharvesting

13. Human-Caused Reductions in Biodiversity
Commercial Products and Live Specimens
Wildlife smuggling is very profitable.
Leopard fur / Rhinoceros horns
U.S. Annual pet trade in wild species:
2 million reptiles
1 million amphibians and mammals
500,000 birds
128,000,000 tropical fish

14. Human-Caused Reductions in Biodiversity

15. Human-Caused Reductions in Biodiversity
Predator and Pest Control
Animal control costs $20 million in federal and state funds annually.
700,000 birds and mammals annually.

16. Solutions to Protecting Wild Species
Endangered Species Act-1973
Conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found
Endangered
Threatened

17. Endangered Species Act
Regulates the following activities involving endangered species:
Taking (harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, shooting, killing, capturing, or collecting) either accidentally, or on purpose.
Selling
Importing into or exporting out of the U.S.
Possessing
Transporting or Shipping

18. Endangered Species Act
Currently, U.S. has 1,300 species on its Endangered and Threatened lists, and about 250 candidate species waiting for consideration.
Number reflects more about human interests than actual status.
Invertebrates make up 75% of all species, but only 9% of T/E list.
Listing process is extremely slow.

19. Recovery Plans
Once listed, USFWS proposes a recovery plan
Total cost of all current plans = $5 billion.
Some have been very successful.
Opponents have continually tried to require economic costs and benefits be incorporated into planning.

20. Solutions to Protecting Wild Species
International treaties
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
Bans hunting, capturing and selling of endangered and threatened species
Egg pulling
Captive breeding
Wildlife Management
Population management plans
Saving critical habitat especially for migratory species