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Biodiversity 1 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 2 Benefits of Biodiversity • Ecosystem functions • Ecosystem services • Cleaning water, • Cleaning air, • Habitat & breeding areas for wildlife, … • Aesthetic and cultural benefits 3 Natural Resources • Vital economic natural resources – Renewable • • • • • Forests (plants, wildlife) Soils Fresh water (lakes, rivers) Wildlife and fisheries Rangeland – Nonrenewable • Minerals • Fossil Fuels 4 Natural Resources • Management of natural resources – Assure availability of resources for the future – Three “philosophies” • Maximum sustained yield • Ecosystem-based management • Adaptive management 5 Benefits of Biodiversity • New food sources – Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish 6 Benefits of Biodiversity • Medicines • Plants • Jellyfish & sea anemones • Nudibranchs • Marine slugs 7 Biodiversity • How much biodiversity 1.7—2.0 million species Estimates to 100 million 8 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 9 Threats to Biodiversity • Extinction and population reductions – Hunting and overharvesting • • • • Tiger Dodo Whales Sharks – Habitat loss 10 Threats to Biodiversity • Extinction and population reductions – Pollution – Climate change – Invasive species 11 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 12 Protecting Biodiversity • Refuges, parks, reserves – How big should refuges be? – Where should they be? – McArthur & Wilson “Theory of Island Biogeography” • colonization rate • extinction rate (local) • predicts number of species 13 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. 14 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. 15 Protecting Biodiversity • Biodiversity “hotspots” – Protection of habitat 16