1. Conservation Biology BIO 4422 & 5422
Dr. Eric Linder

2. Conservation Biology
“In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we only understand what we are taught”
Baba Dioum

3. Conservation Biology What is Conservation Biology (not)
Environmentalism
Philosophy and social movement
Game Management
Biological Preservation

4. Conservation Biology What is Conservation Biology?
It is largely a response by biologists to the current biodiversity crisis
This crisis is largely a result of the dramatic population growth AND the increased ‘standard of living’ desired by so many
More later…

5. Conservation Biology
Con Bio is a synthetic field that applies principles of ecology, biogeography, population genetics, economics, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and other theoretically based disciplines
Started in the 1980’s
But didn’t people practice conservation before then?
YES

6. Conservation Biology Three important distinctions
1) includes, and has been partially led by, major contributions from theoretically oriented academicians
2) previous motivation was largely to maintain high yields of desired products
3) recognizes and embraces the contributions of nonbiologists

7. Conservation Biology What is the goal?
Understanding natural ecosystems will enough to maintain their diversity in the face of known (and unknown) threats
E.g. intelligent and informed management decisions

8. Conservation Biology What is the goal?
Maintain diversity (genes, populations, species, habitats, ecosystems, landscapes, and ecological processes)
What are Ecological Processes?
E.g. natural selection, biogeochemical cycling, photosynthesis, energy transfer, hydrologic cycles

9. Conservation Biology In summary…
Con Bio attempts to keep normal evolutionary processes working within a functioning ecological setting

10. Conservation Biology Another paradigm…
Hutchinson described the natural world as an “ecological theater” serving as the stage for an “evolutionary play”
Thus, Con Bio wishes to retain the actors (species) in the evolutionary play and the ecological stage on which it is performed

11. Conservation Biology Historical Perspective Conservation in the US
Compared to European landscapes, North America was relatively pristine
However, many extinctions had already occurred reducing the megafauna diversity

12. Conservation Biology
Early colonists cleared the extensive eastern hardwood forests for timber (ships, raw timber, and charcoal) and agriculture
Later forests again exploited for railroads and buildings
After several hundred years, concept began to emerge

13. Conservation Biology
Romantic-transcendental Conservation Ethic (based upon writings of RW Emerson and HD Thoreau) in the 1850’s
Nature had a quasi-religious aspect
Later John Muir used this argument to establish National Park system

14. Conservation Biology Resource Conservation Ethic
Popularized by Gifford Pinchot at the turn of the 20th century
“greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time”
Nature was a combination of useful, useless and noxious items
USFS (and BLM) and multiple-use concept

15. Conservation Biology Evolutionary-ecological Land Ethic
Aldo Leopold – although trained in resource-based conservation, saw it as inadequate and scientifically inaccurate
Furthermore, the development of ecology and evolution demonstrating the nonrandomness of processes and patterns

16. Conservation Biology
We can see each of these three views in various organizations (e.g. USFS, Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy)
Current conservation efforts represent a more balanced view than the extremes

17. Conservation Biology
Early 1980’s many edited books came out demonstrating the losses of biodiversity and habitat
In 1985 the Society for Conservation Biology was formed and established the journal ‘Conservation Biology’
Some universities have established ‘conservation biology’ majors and graduate program emphasis

18. Conservation Biology Guiding Principles of Conservation Bio
Principle 1: Evolution is the basic axiom that unites all biology
Principle 2: the ecological world is dynamic and largely nonequilibrial
Principle 3: human presence must be included in conservation planning
Table 1.1

19. Conservation Biology
Principle 1: Evolution is the basic axiom that unites all biology
Con Bio must take evolution into account when trying to develop solutions to ecological problems
E.g. the genetic composition of populations is dynamic. Thus, it is not the goal to stop the changes, but rather ensure they have the ability to change and adapt

20. Conservation Biology
Principle 2: the ecological world is dynamic and largely nonequilibrial
If the world were in equilibrium and static, Con Bio would be easy
At some spatial or temporal scale, all systems become dynamic
Exercise: think of a ecosystem and then think of a natural disturbance

21. Conservation Biology
It is important to remember that just because systems are in nonequilibrium, that does not mean species are either unpredictable or ephemeral

22. Conservation Biology
Principle 3: human presence must be included in conservation planning
Any conservation efforts that do not account for humans (either as the cause of the problem or part of the solution) are doomed to fail

23. Conservation Biology Benefits to acknowledging people
First, can incorporate ‘indigenous knowledge’
Second, areas must be user-friendly
Allow some limited multiple use
Educate users on scientific rationale
Third, aboriginal people have a right to their traditional lands

24. Conservation Biology E.O. Wilson’s four postulates
1) diversity of organisms is good
2) ecological complexity is good
3) evolution is good
4) biotic diversity has intrinsic value

25. Conservation Biology Common Aspects of Conservation Biology
A discipline responding to an immense crisis
By definition, information is frequently incomplete and sometimes missing
Typically is politically and economically charged
Asked to provide quick, clear, unambiguous and scientifically defensible
Is this realistic?

26. Conservation Biology
Fig 1.9

27. Conservation Biology Common Aspects of Conservation Biology
An Inexact Science
The nature of ecological systems is complexity and variability
“Uncertainty is inherently part of ecology and conservation, and probabilistic, rather than prescriptive answers to problems are the norm”

28. Conservation Biology Common Aspects of Conservation Biology
An Inexact Science
Consequently, Con Bio scientists rely largely on quantitative approaches
Unfortunately, this can result in a credibility gap…
Simple ecosystems are incredibly complex!!
WHY?

29. Conservation Biology Common Aspects of Conservation Biology
Consequently, Con Bio should think in terms of the ‘precautionary principle’…or ‘First, do no harm”

30. Conservation Biology Common Aspects of Conservation Biology
A value-laden science
Science is value-free
Should scientists lend their expertise to the debate (whatever it is)
However, objectivity should never be compromised, or all credibility is lost

31. Conservation Biology Common Aspects of Conservation Biology
A science with an evolutionary time scale
Traditional resource management typically attempts to maximize the current yield…
The goal is to simply retain the diversity of structure and function, forever
think north Atlantic fisheries

32. Conservation Biology Common Aspects of Conservation Biology
A Science of Eternal Vigilance
Even protected areas may not remain protected
Think of ANWR

33. Conservation Biology the big problem…
Expanding human demands
Why is the environment is such trouble?
Simply the collective impact of 6B+ people and their desire to live a good life

34. Conservation Biology the big problem…

35. Conservation Biology the big problem…
Hectares needed to support current lifestyle

36. Conservation Biology the big problem…
Humans continue to co-opt more and more of the worlds primary productivity
For example, 35% of ocean shelf and 60% of freshwater production are for human use
Overall, somewhere between 20-32%

37. Conservation Biology the big problem…
The ‘ecological footprint’ is not equal across countries or within countries
Fig 1.4

39. Conservation Biology the big problem…
Remember, humans are part of the problem, but we are also part of the solution (a better one for us)
Optimistic view
1) world’s growth rate slowing (education is key)
2) can change our consumption patterns
Consider U.S. and Germany (or the UK)

40. Conservation Biology Questions for Discussion
1) how would you explain the significance of human population growth and human ecological footprint for biodiversity conservation?

41. Conservation Biology Questions for Discussion
2) what would conservation practice be like if we primarily followed the principles of Pinchot’s Resource Conservation Ethic? How would it differ from the present day focus of Conservation Biology? Is the present focus of conservation biology preferable to the Romantic-Transcendental Conservation Ethic? How?

42. Conservation Biology Questions for Discussion
3) How would you answer a conservation skeptic who asserted that because ecological processes are non-equilibrial, conservation of current communities is misguided since they are destined to change?

43. Conservation Biology Questions for Discussion
4) Why are multiple disciplinary perspective important in conservation biology?

44. Conservation Biology Questions for Discussion
5) How are the views of conservation biology and conservation practice similar among the four essayists featured in this chapter similar? How are the different?