Conservation of Biodiversity

Module 59: The Sixth Mass Extinction

Decline in Genetic Diversity of Wild Species

• Causes:
  • Population bottlenecks
  • Geographic isolation
  • Inbreeding
  • Invasive species
  • Exotic wildlife diseases
• Habitat Destruction:
  • Damming/disruption of waterways
  • Deforestation
  • Wetland destruction
  • Fragmentation
  • Ocean acidification
  • Natural disasters
  • Pollution
  • Illegal poaching
  • Urbanization
  • Climate change impact

Decline in Genetic Diversity of Domesticated Species

• Livestock: buffalo, cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, sheep, pigs
• Birds: chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys
• Causes:
  • Overgrazing
  • Nonsustainable aquaculture and farming practices
  • Pesticide overuse
  • Pollution
  • Selective breeding
• Genetic Banks:
  • Svalbard seed storage facility in Norway

Global Biodiversity in Decline

• IUCN Red List: Codes like NE (Not Evaluated), DD (Data Deficient), and listing progression LC, NT, VU, EN, CR, EW, EX.
• Species Concern:
  • Least Concern (LC): abundant and widespread
  • Near-Threatened (NT): likely to be threatened soon
  • Threatened (T): high risk of extinction

Ecosystem Values

• Biological Wealth:
  • Natural capital = Resources
  • Ecosystem basis = Biota
  • Sustainability requires biodiversity
• Human Dependence:
  • Co-evolution with human culture
  • Loss of species impacts food, medicine, industrial products
  • Degradation of ecosystems affects services

Types of Value of Species

• Instrumental Value: Agriculture, medicine, recreation
• Intrinsic Value: Right to exist, religious respect
• Ecosystem Services:
  • Provisioning: Goods from ecosystems
  • Regulating: Climate, disease, flood control
  • Support System: Soil, pollination, oxygen
  • Cultural: Recreational, aesthetic

Hunting and Animal Issues

• Game Animals: Antelope, bear, elk, moose
• Main Types of Hunting: Upland-game, waterfowl, big-game
• Pests: Coyotes, crows
• Pros and Cons of Hunting:
  • CONS: Suffering, lead poisoning
  • PROS: Humane population control

Module 60: Causes of Declining Biodiversity

Habitat Loss

• Terrestrial:
  • Deforestation
  • Low species diversity in reforestation
• Aquatic:
  • Ocean acidification
  • Water pollution
  • Overfishing
• Physical Alteration:
  • Urbanization
  • Fragmentation

Exotic and Invasive Species

• Invasive Plants: Purple loosestrife, Kudzu
• Invasive Animals: Nutria, Zebra mussel

Overharvesting

• Harvesting faster than replacement
• Legal hunting/fishing seasons
• Illegal poaching

Pollution

• Land and Water: Pesticides, oil spills
• Air: NOx, SOx, GHGs

Climate Change

• Major driver of biodiversity loss
• Biodiversity helps mitigate effects

Module 61: The Conservation of Biodiversity

Legislation

• Lacey Act: Prohibits illegal trade
• Endangered Species Act (ESA): Protects habitats, prohibits taking listed species
• Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA): Protects marine mammals
• CITES: Regulates international trade to protect species

Ecosystem Protection

• IUCN: Publishes Red List
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Sustainable development focus
• SLOSS Debate: Single large vs. several small protected areas
• Theory of Island Biogeography: Applied to conservation

Restoration Ecology

• Florida Everglades:
  • CERP: Restoration Plan
  • Water management for ecosystem revival
  • Challenges: Eutrophication, invasive species

Controversies

• Peregrine Falcon: Recovery from DDT impact
• Whooping Crane: Management of migratory flocks
• Northern Spotted Owl: Timber industry conflict
• Klamath River Salmon: Water flow issues