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Transcript
Chapter 18
Conservation of Biodiversity
The
th
6
Mass Extinction

Extinction- when
there are no longer
any of the species
in the world.

We are currently
losing
approximately
50,000 species per
year.
Characteristics of organisms that
make them susceptible to extinction









Specialized feeding or food source
Requires a large territory
Preys on livestock/people
Competes with humans
Low reproductive rate
Exploited for economic value
Large size and slow speed
Limited range of tolerance
Small population linked to low genetic
biodiverstiy
Arguments in favor of preserving
biodiversity








Ecosystem function and/or stability based on
organisms role
Future medical resources
Future food resources
Economic potential(ecotourism, future products)
Good for recreation (hunting, fishing, hiking)
Scenic or aesthetic value
Intrinsic value/ethical reasons
Provides resources for indigenous people
Genetic Diversity


Scientists want to conserve genetic diversity so
that the species can survive environmental
change and inbreeding will not occur.
Inbreeding occurs when individuals with similar
genotypes, generally relatives, breed with each
other. This concentrates harmful genes and
leads to harmful defects.
Categories of Endangerment




Extinct- no known species exist today
Threatened- species with a high risk of
extinction in the future
Near-threatened- species that are likely to
become threatened in the future
Least concern- species are widespread and
abundant
HIPPCO
H- Habitat Loss
 I- Invasive Species
 P- Population Growth
 P- Pollution
 C- Climate Change
 O- Overharvested

Habitat Loss


For most species the greatest cause of decline and
extinction is habitat loss.
Most habitat loss is due to human development
Invasive Species



Alien species (exotic species)- species that live
outside their historical range.
Invasive species- when alien species spread
rapidly across large areas.
Ex- Kudzu Vine, Zebra Mussel, Silver Carp
Population Growth

Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Pollution,
Climate change, and overharvesting are all
problems caused by human population which is
not declining.
Pollution

Threats to biodiversity can come from toxic
contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals,
acids, and oil spills.
Climate Change

The concern is how climate change will affect
temperature and precipitation around the world,
and how this will impact biodiversity.
Overharvesting


When individuals of a species are removed at a rate
faster than the population can replace them.
Ex- Dodo, American bison, passenger pigeon.
Plant and Animal Trade

For some species, legal and illegal trade in
plants and animals represent a serious
threat to their ability to persist in nature.
Lacey Act
One of the earliest laws in the U.S. to
control the trade of wildlife.
 First passed in 1900, the act prohibited the
transport of illegally harvested game
animals, primarily birds and mammals,
across state lines.

CITES



Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Developed in 1973 to control the international
trade of threatened plants and animals.
Today, CITIES is an international agreement
between 175 countries of the world.
Red List


The International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) keeps a list of threatened species,
known as the Red List.
Each country has its own way to monitor and
regulate the import and export of animals on the
list. Ex. US Fish and Wildlife Service.
How to conserve Biodiversity?


Single Species Approach: When a species
declines to threatened or endangered, the
populaiton is encouraged to rebound by
improving conditions in which it lives. Ex:
remove contaminant or increase habitat.
Ecosystem Approach: A type of natural
resource planning and management, or
treatment that ensures consideration of the
relationship between all organisms (including
humans) and their environment.
Conservation Legislation

Marine Mammal Protection Act 1972- prohibits
the killing of all marine mammals in the U.S.
and prohibits the import or export of any marine
mammal body parts.
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.
Trading these species is also illegal.
The act also authorizes the government to
purchase habitat that is critical to the species.
Convention on Biological
Diversity



In 1992, nations came together and made a treaty
to protect biodiversity internationally.
The treaty had three objectives: conserve
biodiversity, sustainably use biodiversity, and
equitably share the benefits that emerge from
the commercial use of genetic resources such as
pharmaceutical drugs.
2002 developed a plan to achieve a substantial
reduction in biodiversity loss by 2010. In 2010
they concluded the goal had not been met.
Convention on Biological Diversity







Trends found from 2002 to
2010:species at risk of extinction have moved
On average
closer to extinction.
¼ of all plants are still threatened with extinction.
Natural habitats are becoming smaller and more
fragmented.
The genetic diversity of crops and livestock is still
declining.
There is a widespread loss of ecosystem function
The causes of biodiversity loss are the same or
increasing.
The ecological footprint of humans has increased.
Changes in
protected
land
worldwide.
Size, Shape and Connectedness



Theory of island Biogeography – How the size of
a habitat and distance from others affects species
richness.
When designing and managing protected areas
we must consider how close to another area they
should be, how large the area is, and the amount
of edge habitat the area contains.
Edge habitat- the area where two different
communities come together, typically forming
an abrupt transition. Ex. A grassy field meeting
a forest.
Biosphere Reserves

Protected
areas
consisting of
zones that
vary in the
amount of
permissible
human
impact.