1. Chapter 18 Conservation of Biodiversity

2. We are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.

4. “Here we are, the most clever species that has ever lived
“Here we are, the most clever species that has ever lived. So how is it that we can destroy the only planet we have?” Jane Goodall

6. The Sixth Mass Extinction
Extinction: when there are no longer any individuals of a particular species on the Earth.
Key Idea#1: Understand how genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem function are changing over time. 6

7. The Sixth Mass Extinction
We are currently losing approximately 50,000 species per year.
That means 0.5% of all species now alive go extinct each year.

8. Genetic Diversity
Scientists want to conserve genetic diversity so that inbreeding will not occur and species can more likely survive environmental change, diseases, increasing beneficial traits

9. Genetic Diversity
Inbreeding occurs when individuals with similar genotypes, generally relatives, breed with each other.
Populations with low genetic diversity are likely to suffer inbreeding depression. (this leads to harmful mutations)

10. American Panther (inbreeding)

12. Artificial Selection of domestic species can endanger domestic native species if they mingle.
Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep endangered by domestic sheep

13. Inbreeding Depression
Inbred individuals are more likely to express harmful mutations.
Such individuals are ultimately less likely to survive and reproduce.
King Charles II of Spain

14. Categories of Endangerment
Extinct: no individuals of the species are known to exist today.
Threatened: species with a high risk of becoming extinct in the future.

15. Categories of Endangerment
Near-threatened: species that are likely to become threatened in the future.
Least concern: species that are widespread and abundant in numbers.

16. The Decline of Birds, Mammals, and Amphibians
Amphibians are often most susceptible to humans because they live in water that may be polluted and lay their eggs there. They show mutations very quickly.
If there are 1200 species of amphibians, How many amphibians are not a concern? species

17. Declining biodiversity has many causes.
Key Idea #2: Identify the causes of declining biodiversity. 17

18. Declining Biodiversity
Declining global biodiversity can be explained by reference to the five HIPCO Factors…

19. HIPCO H Habitat Loss I Invasive Species P Pollution C Climate Change
O Overharvested

20. Habitat Loss
For most species the greatest cause of decline and extinction is habitat loss.
Most habitat loss is due to human impacts.

21. Habitat Alteration Can cause species to become endangered
Colorado River

22. Changing Forests
In our rainforests

23. Invasive Species
2nd greatest cause of species endangerment…1st is habitat loss
Alien species (exotic species): species that live outside their historical range.
Invasive species: when alien species spread rapidly across large areas.
For example, kudzu vine, zebra mussel, silver carp, gypsy moth, starlings in North America.

24. Kudzu was introduced in the south to control soil erosion and nothing eats it to control its growth.

25. If we lose bees and pollinators, we lose our crops

26. Pollution
Threats to biodiversity from pollution can come from toxic contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, acids, and oil spills.
Oil spills may damage entire ecosystems in ways not fully apparent for decades.

27. Climate Change
How will climate change affect temperature and precipitation around the world?
How will this impact biodiversity?

28. Overharvesting
Overharvesting: individuals of a species are removed at a rate faster than the population can replace them.
For example, dodo, American bison, passenger pigeon.

30. Overharvesting
Well into the early 1800s, there were over 50 million American bison on the western plains.
By the end of that century, fewer than 1,000 remained.

31. The conservation of biodiversity often focuses on single species.

32. California Condor was brought back from extinction by captive breeding, while the Northern spotted owl is endangered now because of logging

33. Habitat corridors
Allow for promotion of gene flow between fragmented populations.

36. Did you know that plants have the largest number of endangered species?
MAUNA KEA SILVERSWORD   
'AHINAHINA is endangered because of habitat loss and decrease in pollinators. It also only blooms every few years.

37. Lacey Act
Lacey Act: one of the earliest laws in the United States enacted to control the trade in wildlife.
First passed in 1900, the act prohibited the transport of illegally harvested game animals, primarily birds and mammals, across state lines.
Key Idea #3: Describe the single-species approach to conserving biodiversity, including the major laws that protect species. 37

38. CITES
CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Developed by the United Nations in to control the international trade of threatened plants and animals.
Created a “RED” list for organisms that were most likely to be endangered due to trade

39. CITES
Today, CITIES is an international agreement between 175 countries across the world.

40. Red List
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains a list of threatened species, known as the Red List.
Each member country has its own way to monitor and regulate the import and export of animals on the list.
Sadly, laws are often not enforced due to lack of funding or local support 40

41. Rwanda, cannot protect the gorilla due to poor funding.
Bush meat is eaten by locals who also fear the gorilla and the body parts (hands, feet, teeth, skull are sold as trinkets and charms

42. Conservation Legislation
Marine Mammal Protection Act: prohibits the killing of all marine mammals in the United States and prohibits the import or export of any marine mammal body parts.

43. Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act: first passed in 1973, it authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which species can be listed as threatened or endangered and prohibits the harming of these species.

44. Endangered Species Act
Trading in threatened or endangered species is also illegal.
Significantly, the act also authorizes the government to purchase habitat that is critical to the species.

45. Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity: In 1992, world nations came together and created a treaty to protect biodiversity.
It recognized that biodiversity is an international concern.

46. Convention on Biological Diversity
The treaty had three objectives:
conserve biodiversity
sustainably use biodiversity
equitably share the benefits that emerge from commercial use of genetic resources (e.g., pharmaceutical drugs)

47. Debt for Nature Swap
Countries will forgive debt of economically under privileged countries in exchange for preserving habitat

48. The conservation of biodiversity sometimes focuses on protecting entire ecosystems.
Key Idea #4: Explain the ecosystem approach to conserving biodiversity and how size, shape, and connectedness affect the number of species that will be protected. 48

49. Size, Shape, and Connectedness
When designing and managing protected areas we must consider several points, including:
closeness to another area
how large the area is
the amount of edge habitat the area contains 49

50. Size, Shape, and Connectedness
Edge habitat: the area where two different communities come together, typically forming an abrupt transition
For example, where a grassy field meets a forest
Some species specialize in living at “the edge” 50

51. Biosphere Reserves
Protected areas consisting of zones that vary in the amount of permitted
human impact

52. Biosphere Reserves Today there are 564 biosphere reserves worldwide.
Of these, 47 are located in the United States, including Big Bend National Park in Texas.
Many of these reserves are in developing countries with little money or stable government 52

53. Single Large or Several Small (SLOSS)

54. TV naturalist Chris Packham said pandas might not be worth saving
TV naturalist Chris Packham said pandas might not be worth saving. He believes the tens of millions being spent to save one species could be better spend buying an entire rainforest which would save hundreds of species at risk due to habitat loss.

55. Review Questions
What is meant by “we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction”?
Why is global genetic diversity declining?
What is inbreeding depression?
What is an endangered species? 55

56. Review Questions What is a threatened species?
Which of these three groups has the largest number of threatened species: birds, mammals, or amphibians?
About how many species are being lost to extinction every year? 56

57. Review Questions What does “HIPCO” stand for?
Why is habitat loss so serious an issue in a species survival?
Is habitat loss confined to the land?
Distinguish an alien from a native species. 57

58. Review Questions
What are invasive species? Give one plant and one animal example.
Overharvesting has driven which species to extinction or near-extinction?
What is the Red List? 58

59. Review Questions What is the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972?
What is the Endangered Species Act? It is a national (USA) implementation of what international agreement? 59

60. Review Questions
Why is the “size, shape, and interconnectedness of protected areas” important?
In the end, why should humans care about preserving species diversity? 60