M.L.

Anderson, 2009

Biodiversity also provides us with a community of life, with which we share planet Earth, and the opportunity to practice thoughtful stewardship.

Why is biodiversity important?

Biodiversity also serves recreation and tourism, and supports the ecosystems which provide us with many services.

Contents

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Importance Intrinsic Value Extinctions What is Biodiversity? Genetic Biodiversity Species Biodiversity Ecosystem Biodiversity Ecosystem Function Marine Biodiversity Caribbean Diversity Extinctions Threats to Biodiversity Protection & MPAs

We Live in a most Fantastic Place !

Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the number and variety of life forms found within a specified geographic region. This includes the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form. This living wealth is the product of hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary history.

Why is biodiversity important?

Human beings are dependent for their health, wellbeing and enjoyment of life on basic biological systems and processes.

People get food and many medicines and industrial products from the wild and domesticated components of biological diversity.

Biodiversity is important to people because we depend on other species and the ecosystems they create. Biodiversity provides ecosystem services, food, medicines and natural products, economic benefits and natural beauty.

Intrinsic Value
Biodiversity also has value in its own right, and is not something that should simply be viewed for its usefulness to humans. Human responsibility toward other living things, and obligations to future generations, provide strong reasons for conservation.

Many species keep us alive! How?

purifying water n fixing nitrogen n recycling nutrients and waste n pollinating crops
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Plants and bacteria carry out photosynthesis, which produces the oxygen we breathe. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas given off by human activities.

3 Types of Biodiversity
A. Genetic diversity B. Species diversity C. Ecosystem diversity

A. Genetic Diversity
Genetic diversity is the variation in the genetic composition of individuals in a population, community or species Evolves as a result of many different processes: e.g. chromosomal/sequence mutation, and physical or behavioural isolation of populations Allows individuals to adapt to different conditions. Thus, high genetic diversity increases ability of populations and species to survive major changes in their environment (e.g. climate change)
Gene is a packet of information (DNA) that codes for a particular protein that has a specific function. DNA makes up genes and stores the information that is interpreted by genes for a function. 4 chemicals organized into 3 letter words make up the different amino acids in the DNA. The 3 letter words can spell a total of 20 different amino acids.

B. Species Diversity
Species diversity is the variety of species (group of interbreeding organisms) in a particular habitat or ecosystem. About 1.75 million species described. Total number estimated at approx 12.5 million, but could be anything from 5-100 million. There may be 10 million und-escribed species in the deep sea alone!
(Convention on Biological Diversity)

The diversity of the smaller organisms (e.g. phytoplankton, the plants of sea) is less well known than the larger organisms (e.g. mammals such as dolphins and whales).

C. Ecosystem Diversity
Ecosystem diversity describes the variation in all living and non-living things in a particular geographic or ecological region. Ecosystems comprise unique combinations of animals, plants, micro-organisms and physical characteristics that define a location. Novel marine ecosystems continue to be discovered. In the ocean, hydrothermal vents, extremely distinct habitats with many endemic species, were discovered less than 25 years ago!

Pelagic Ecosystems
Shallow open seas including entire depth of water column Environment patchy in resources with upwellings, fronts, and gyres providing sufficient nutrients for high biological production Wide diversity of plankton supports fish and invertebrate species, which feed large predatory fish and mammals.

Pelagic Ecosystems

Main threats to biodiversity are: commercial

fishing disease eutrophication chemical contamination habitat invasion and damage

Shallow Tropical Ecosystems

Shallow continental shelves, banks, oceanic islands, atolls, archipelagos Coral reefs potentially occur in all of these locations. Environment rich in resources but generally low in nutrients: Deserts of the Sea. Specialized adaptations result in high biological production.

Shallow Tropical Ecosystems

Main threats to biodiversity are: Commercial fishing

and aquarium trade. Disease Eutrophication Chemical contamination Habitat invasion and damage Coastal development Groundings and overuse

Shallow Marine Exposed Tropical Habitats

Mangroves Beaches Tide pools Areas of the shore that are alternately exposed during low tides and submerged during high tides.
Photo: MA 2002

Shallow Marine Exposed Tropical Habitats

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Can be affected by wet and dry seasons and other seasonal changes (hurricanes & winter storms). Important habitats as nurseries for marine species, and for diversity of bird species, both residential and migratory.

Photo: MA 2002

Ecosystem Functioning
Ecosystem functioning is a term that comprises both the ecological and evolutionary processes (e.g. food webs, competition) and the individual components (e.g. herbivores, predators) within a system.

Many scientists believe that ecosystems with a high variety in processes and components are more resilient to change than ecosystems with fewer functional roles

Why is Marine Biodiversity Important ?

Adaptation Knowledge Food Raw materials Aesthetic and cultural value Climate Economics

Biodiversity allows the environment to adapt to changing conditions. How rapidly can the marine environment adapt? Preserving genetic diversity is paramount if marine organisms are going to adapt to rapidly changing environments. Food fish, invertebrates, algae are especially important for developing countries. Raw materials - The potential for discovery is enormous and includes medicines (biochemical diversity is high), agriculture (seaweeds as feedstock), building materials, human supplements.

Marine Biodiversity Facts

Important facts:
The Ocean covers > 70% of earth Over 50% of humans live in the coastal zone and draw 90% of our marine-living resources from this region Life evolved in the ocean 2.7 billion years before terrestrial life. All except one phyla (33) occur in the ocean while only half exist on land (high phyletic diversity) 15 phyla are exclusively marine. Ocean creatures contain a diversity of survival strategies not found on land so exhibit high functional diversity.

Why is Marine Biodiversity Important ?

Climate Biogeochemical cycling of cases is controlled by living organisms (esp. ocean life). Marine plants and animals control carbon dioxide and are a biological pump. Knowledge New marine ecosystems have been discovered with many endemic and new species. Aesthetic & Cultural Value human spirit, tourism, recreation. Economics & Employment (e.g. fisheries, tourism)

There exists 34 animal phyla globally

32 are found on living coral reefs n Contain 25% of all marine species n 9 are found in tropical rainforests Only 10% or fewer of the species contained in

reefs have been described

Example: Cayman Islands Biodiversity

28 species of whales and dolphins occur in surrounding waters. 30 species of mosquito have been recorded. 150 species of marine algae 23 species of common sponges 381 species of salt-water fish (including 16 species of sharks) 8 species of fresh-water fish.

Caribbean Marine Life

An amazing diversity of marine life including corals, sponges, fish, turtles, invertebrates and other creatures. Corals provide the home for thousands of different creatures.

Extinction Rates

Extinction has usually progressed at what scientists call a natural or background rate. Today the tempo is far faster.

Many scientists believe this is the sixth great wave - the sixth mass extinction to affect life on Earth.
We (humans) have more than doubled our numbers in half a century, and that is the most obvious reason why there is less room for any other species.

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We are taking their living room to grow our food, their food to feed ourselves. We are exploiting them, trading in them, squeezing them to the margins of existence - and beyond.

Five Mass Extinctions

Cretaceous (About 65 million years ago) 2) Triassic (About 208 million years ago) 3) Permian (About 245 million years ago) 4) Devonian (About 360 million years ago) 5) Ordovician (About 438 million years ago)
1)

6.

Occurring Now?

Threats to Marine Biodiversity

Habitat Degradation

Eutrophication (Red Tides) Effects of contaminants (especially estrogenic mimic hormones) Habitat degradation, fragmentation and destruction Fishing and especially trawling Climate Change

Threats to Marine Biodiversity

Reclamation (= coastal habitat destruction)

Threats to Marine Biodiversity; Trawling

Threats to Marine Biodiversity; Trawling

Above: Before Trawling; Below: After Trawling

A full trawl
Picture from Greenpeace Web site www.greenpeace.org

The value of undisturbed coastal systems (Costanza et al 1997 Nature)

Estuaries Seagrass & algal beds Tidal Marshes/mangroves Swamps floodplains Coral Reefs Continental shelf

US$ 22,832 ha-1 yr-1 US$ 19,004 ha-1 yr-1 US$ 9,990 ha-1 yr-1 US$ 19,580 ha-1 yr-1 US$ 6,075 ha-1 yr-1 US$ 1,610 ha-1 yr-1

Total value of coastal services US$ 12,568 yr-1 x 109

Biodiversity Hotspots
(Myers et al 2000 Nature)

Endemic species
(Myers et al 2000 Nature)

Biodiversity Losses = Loss of Services & Potential Helpful Products

Cone snail from the Pacific Ocean.

Tropical cone snails contain toxins which show promise for treating some forms of cancer and heart irregularities. One toxin may be a thousand times more potent than morphine for pain relief.

But millions of cone snails are now killed

annually for their shells, and their habitats are under pressure.

How can we prevent biodiversity loss?

Research Legislation Education/Awareness Sustainable use of habitats and fisheries Integration/Co-ordination

Marine Protection Areas (MPAs) are used to..

Nationally / internationally to conserve biodiversity. Manage natural resources. Protect endangered species. Reduce user conflict.

Provide educational and research opportunities.

Enhance commercial and recreational activities.

What is a Marine Protected Area?

Varying definitions based on level of protection provided by MPA.
Any area of the intertidal or subtidal terrain together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.

Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas are used as management tools to protect, maintain, or restore natural and cultural resources in coastal and marine waters.

Kinds of Marine Protected Areas

1. National marine sanctuaries. 2. Fishery management zones. 3. National seashores. 4. National parks/ monuments. 5. Critical habitats. 6. National Wildlife refuges. 7. National estuarine research reserves. 8. State conservation areas. 9. State reserves.

Varying levels of protection in MPAs

Closed to public access. Permit access but no consumptive use.

Use of specific types fishing gear restricted. Multiple-use areas.

No-take zones.

What do MPAs protect?

Sea Turtle nesting areas. Endangered Species

Habitat important to valuable fisheries

Aggregations

What do MPAs protect?

Coral reef habitats

Shipwrecks

The End