Welcome to ENVR 242

1. Welcome to ENVR 242 Vertebrate Biology & Ecology Instructor: Annette Dehalt PPT Presentations: Ted Davis & Annette Dehalt

2. Biological Diversity What is “biodiversity”? The value of biodiversity The loss of biodiversity B.C. Biodiversity Threats to Biodiversity

3. Biodiversity (biological diversity) “…the totality of hereditary variation in life forms, across all levels of biological organization, from genes and chromosomes within individual species to the array of species themselves and finally, at the highest level, the living communities of ecosystems such as forests and lakes.” – E. O. Wilson (1994:359)

4. Biodiversity is NOT just species diversity! Species diversity is NOT just number of species! • Species diversity = • Species richness + relative abundance • Species richness = number of species • Relative abundance = proportion of each species in the community

5. Three levels of biodiversity

6. Coastal Ecosystem Diversity Mountains Forest Ocean

7. Diverse components of biodiversity (genes…ecosystems) are structurally and functionally integrated in various ways, providing additional levels of diversity and complexity:

8. How the parts are organized The parts How the parts function

9. Biodiversity What is “biodiversity”? The value of biodiversity The loss of biodiversity B.C. Biodiversity Threats to Biodiversity

10. Value of biodiversity Intrinsic value – value in and of itself without regard for human needs.

11. Value of biodiversity Intrinsic value – value in and of itself without regard for human needs. Direct value – products directly consumed by people.

12. Value of biodiversity Intrinsic value – value in and of itself without regard for human needs. Direct value – products directly consumed by people. Indirect value – benefits that do not involve the consumption of resources.

13. Indirect value: recreation and education

14. Indirect value: ecosystem services

15. Ecosystem services: The conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems sustain life, including human life.

16. Ecosystem services • production of ecosystem goods • purification of air and water • mitigation of floods and droughts • decomposition of wastes • renewal of soil and soil fertility • crop pollination • control of agricultural pests • seed dispersal • nutrient transport • climate stabilization

17. Ecosystem services Global GNP = $18 trillion Ecosystem services: $33 trillion/year

18. Catskill watershed $6-$8 billion for a new water treatment plant

19. Catskill watershed $1.5 billion to buy land and introduce water protection measures

20. Biodiversity What is “biodiversity”? The value of biodiversity The loss of biodiversity B.C. Biodiversity Threats to Biodiversity

21. The loss of biodiversity • The current loss of biodiversity is unprecedented. Because of human activities, extinction rates are 100X – 1000X greater than the background extinction rate.

22. Percent of Described Species Globally Threatened (IUCN 2011) Fishes insuff. data Amphibians 41% Reptiles insuff. data Birds 13% Mammals 25% Vertebrates ~10-20%

23. The loss of biodiversity • The current loss of biodiversity is unprecedented. • The threats to biodiversity are driven by the growth and size of the human population, the technologies we use, and the amount of natural resources we consume. Human population growth

24. The loss of biodiversity • The current loss of biodiversity is unprecedented. • The threats to biodiversity are driven by the growth and size of the human population, the technologies we use, and the amount of natural resources we consume. • Many of the threats to biodiversity are synergistic. • 4. What is bad for biodiversity is bad for humans.

25. Biodiversity What is “biodiversity”? The value of biodiversity The loss of biodiversity B.C. Biodiversity Threats to Biodiversity

26. BC Biodiversity The most biologically diverse province or territory in Canada

27. BC Biodiversity 3169 native vascular plants 781 species of mosses ~1600 species of lichens ~520 species of sea weeds ~10,000 species of fungi ~35,000 species of Invertebrates (mostly insects)

28. BC Biodiversity 1257 species of vertebrates 504 species of fish 22 species of amphibians 22 species of reptiles 529 species of birds 180 species of mammals

29. BC Biodiversity (2011)

30. Taxonomy corn • Common names • Not standardized • Don’t indicate relationships bear robin

31. Scientific names Canis lupus (Grey Wolf) Peromyscus maniculatus (Deer Mouse)

32. Scientific names Canis lupus (Grey Wolf) Canis latrans (Coyote) Canis mesomelas (Black-backed Jackal) Canis dingo (Dingo)

33. Alces alces (Moose)

34. Scientific names Canis lupus Canis Lupus Grey wolf canis lupus Canis lupus

35. Panthera pardus Species Panthera Genus Felidae Family Carnivora Order Mammalia Class Chordata Phylum Animalia Kingdom Eukarya Domain Hierarchical classification

36. ZOOLOGICAL BOTANICAL Kingdom Kingdom Phylum Division (-phyta) Subphylum Subdivision (-phytina) Superclass Class Class (-opsida) Subclass Subclass (-idae) Order Order (-ales) Suborder Suborder (-ineae) Superfamily (-oidea) Family (-idae) Family (-aceae) Subfamily (-inae) Subfamily (-oideae) Tribe (-eae) Genus Genus species species

37. ENVR 242 Taxonomy Phylum Chordata Subphylum Urochordata (tunicates) (Subphylum Cephalochordata-lancelets: 0 in BC) Subphylum Vertebrata Superclass Agnatha – jawless fishes Class Myxini (hagfish) Class Petromyzontida (lampreys) Superclass Gnathostomata – jawed vert’s Class Chondrichthyes - cartilagenous fishes Class Actinopterygii – ray-finned fishes (Class Sarcopterygii – lobe-finned fishes: 0 in BC) Class Amphibia - amphibians Class Reptilia - reptiles Class Aves - birds Class Mammalia – mammals

38. Biodiversity What is “biodiversity”? The value of biodiversity The loss of biodiversity B.C. Biodiversity Threats to Biodiversity

39. Threats to biodiversity • Climate change • Habitat destruction • Habitat fragmentation • Habitat degradation • Overexploitation • Introduction of exotic species • Disease • (details to follow)