Biodiversity

16 June 2010

Biodiversity.ppt

Biodiversity
Variety of living things, number of kinds Ecological diversity
different habitats, niches, species interactions

Species diversity
different kinds of organisms, relationships among species

Genetic diversity
different genes & combinations of genes within populations

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Biodiversity.ppt

Benefits of Biodiversity
Ecosystem functions Ecosystem services
Cleaning water, Cleaning air, Habitat & breeding areas for wildlife,

Aesthetic and cultural benefits

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Biodiversity.ppt

Natural Resources
Vital economic natural resources
Renewable
Forests (plants, wildlife) Soils Fresh water (lakes, rivers) Wildlife and fisheries Rangeland

Nonrenewable
Minerals Fossil Fuels
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Natural Resources
Management of natural resources
Assure availability of resources for the future Three philosophies
Maximum sustained yield Ecosystem-based management Adaptive management

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Biodiversity.ppt

Benefits of Biodiversity
New food sources
Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish

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Biodiversity.ppt

Benefits of Biodiversity
Medicines
Plants Jellyfish & sea anemones Nudibranchs
Marine slugs

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Biodiversity.ppt

Biodiversity
How much biodiversity
1.72.0 million species Estimates to 100 million

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Biodiversity.ppt

Biodiversity
Where is the biodiversity
Everywhere
Every continent and habitat has unique life forms

Concentrated in the tropics

Panama: > 500 species of breeding birds Arctic: 50-100 species
Dense concentrations

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Biodiversity.ppt

Threats to Biodiversity
Extinction and population reductions
Hunting and overharvesting
Tiger Dodo Whales Sharks

Habitat loss

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Threats to Biodiversity
Extinction and population reductions
Pollution Climate change Invasive species

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Protecting Biodiversity
How can we protect biodiversity
Stop overharvesting
Sustainable yield Hunting & fishing laws (every state ?)
in developing nations ?

Protect habitat
Refuges, parks, preserves

Endangered Species Act

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Protecting Biodiversity
Refuges, parks, preserves
How big should refuges be? Where should they be? McArthur & Wilson Theory of Island Biogeography
colonization rate extinction rate (local) predicts number of species

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Protecting Biodiversity
Effect of island size Effect of island distance

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Protecting Biodiversity
McArthur & Wilson Theory of Island Biogeography
colonization rate extinction rate (local) predicts number of species

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Protecting Biodiversity
Island Biogeography
Island size predicts number of species

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Protecting Biodiversity
Island Biogeography
Everyplace is an island Habitat fragmentation
Smaller fragments hold fewer species

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Protecting Biodiversity
Endangered Species Act (1973)
Goal to recover species so they no longer need protection under ESA Implements U.S. participation in CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Prohibits trade in listed species
whole organisms parts: skins, bones, teeth, flowers, leaves, etc.

Other laws:
Marine Mammal Protection Act Migratory Bird Treaty Act Anadromous Fish Conservation Act etc.
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Protecting Biodiversity
Endangered Species Act (1973)
Listing of endangered and threatened species Restricts development of habitats Captive breeding programs Release of captive bred stocks to enhance or recover wild populations.

http://www.fws.gov/ endangered/

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Protecting Biodiversity
Biodiversity hotspots
Protection of habitat

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