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Welcome to Conservation Biology (Con Bio) 2010

Dive into the urgent responses to declining biodiversity, ecosystem disruptions, and climate change, examining examples like the Steller’s Sea Cow and the impact of pollution on species. Learn the ethical principles guiding Conservation Biology. Discover how human population growth affects conservation efforts. Uncover the importance of recognizing the intrinsic value of biological diversity. Explore the world of Conservation Biology with this comprehensive guide.

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Welcome to Conservation Biology (Con Bio) 2010

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  1. Welcome to Conservation Biology (Con Bio) 2010

  2. Society for Conservation Biology • >10,000 members (=Ecological Society of America) • New in 2007: Auburn University Chapter! • President: Andrew Hopkins (awh0001@tigermail.auburn.edu) • Next meeting Aug. 31, 6-7 pm! Webpage link to AU SCB

  3. What is Conservation Biology? Ch. 1: An overview

  4. “Crisis Discipline”Response to: • Biodiversity loss

  5. Declining Biodiversity Examples • Steller’s Sea Cow • Bering Strait (Alaska) • 35 feet long, 3.5 tons • Hunted extinct by 1768

  6. Declining Biodiversity Examples • Bachman’s Warbler • Neotropical migrant • Bred SE US, wintered Cuba • Last seen 1989. Print by Audubon

  7. Declining Biodiversity Examples • Franklin tree • Altamaha River, Georgia • Last seen in wild: 1803 • Maintained in gardens/arboreta. Print by Audubon

  8. Declining Biodiversity Examples • Carolina Parakeet: Only parrot native Eastern US • Declared pest, affected by deforestation • Extinct 1920.

  9. Declining Biodiversity Examples • Passenger Pigeon • Maybe most abundant bird on planet?? • One flock estimated 2 billion birds Passenger Pigeon

  10. Declining Biodiversity Examples • Hunted heavily • Forests destroyed • Extinct by 1914. Stuffed specimens: one sold on eBay for $6500 (2006)

  11. Declining Biodiversity Examples • Xerces Blue Butterfly • Sand dunes near San Francisco, CA • First N. American butterfly extinct (1941) by humans • Habitat destruction

  12. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation • International group based in Oregon

  13. “Crisis Discipline”Response to: • Biodiversity loss • Disruption of ecosystem functions

  14. Ecosystem Disruption: Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” Note ORANGE Terms! • Nutrient inputs: algal blooms • Dead algae sink, decompose • Oxygen levels drop (hypoxia: low oxygen)

  15. “Dead Zones” • Aerobic sea life (fish, shrimp, crabs, etc.) dies • Worldwide count: 405 (Aug. 2008)

  16. “Crisis Discipline”Response to: • Biodiversity loss • Disruption of ecosystem functions • Climate change

  17. Example: Bobolink • Breeds summer N. US & Canada • Migrates Argentina in winter.

  18. Climate Change and Species Distributions Climate Envelope: Area of suitable climate for a species Will shift as global climate changes.

  19. Special Risk: “Island” species • Ex, Alpine “Islands” Orange is range of high-elevation species Lower climate limit

  20. Special Risk: “Island” species • Ex, Alpine “Islands” New lower limit after climate change Extinct population Lower climate limit

  21. “Crisis Discipline”Response to: • Biodiversity loss • Disruption of ecosystem functions • Climate change • Invasive species

  22. Example: Who am I?

  23. Example: Brown Tree Snake • Introduced Guam (between 1945 and 1952) • Extirpated native forest vertebrates (9 of 11 native birds extinct)

  24. Example: Brown Tree Snake • Shorted power grids (1 outage every 4 days!) • Bite mildly venomous: danger to small children Snake that “closed the circuit”!

  25. “Crisis Discipline”Response to: • Biodiversity loss • Disruption of ecosystem functions • Climate change • Invasive species • Overharvest commercial species

  26. Overharvest of Atlantic Cod • Grand Banks Fishery off Newfoundland in North Atlantic

  27. Overharvest of Atlantic Cod • Overfishing caused crash • Area closed 1992 • May never re-open.

  28. “Crisis Discipline”Response to: • Biodiversity loss • Disruption of ecosystem functions • Climate change • Invasive species • Overharvest commercial species • Pollution impacts on species/ecosystems

  29. Pollution • May not be visible • Biomagnification may occur: concentration of pollutant increases up food chain • Ex, DDT.

  30. Pollution • Ex, DDT biomagnification

  31. Pollution • Ex, DDT • Caused eggshells to break, nest success dropped • Exs: bald eagle, peregrine falcon. Bald Eagle Peregrine falcon

  32. Pollution • Ex, DDT • Bald eagle federally threatened, peregrine falcon endangered • DDT use banned in U.S. • Recovery efforts: de-listing of peregrine falcon (1999), de-listing of bald eagle (2007).

  33. Pollution • Lesson, don’t trust advertising…. (Time Magazine, 1947). • World Health Organization estimates DDT saved 25 million lives for its antimalarial uses.

  34. “Crisis Discipline”Response to: • Biodiversity loss • Disruption of ecosystem functions • Climate change • Invasive species • Overharvest commercial species • Pollution impacts on species/ecosystems • And, #1………..Human population growth!

  35. Human Population Growth

  36. The New Field of Conservation Biology

  37. ConBio’s 5 Ethical Principles • 1. Preserve diversity • 2. Prevent extinction • 3. Maintain ecological complexity • 4. Allow evolution to continue • 5. Recognize intrinsic value (value because they exist) of biological diversity

  38. ConBio’s 5 Ethical Principles • 5. Recognize intrinsic value of biological diversity…... Biophilia (E.O. Wilson): genetic predisposition of humans to value biological diversity.

  39. Some ConBio History • European view anthropocentric (human-centered) • Nature created by God for humans • Result: exploitation for immediate profit/use

  40. Some ConBio History • Early conservation! • Poland 1564: reserve to protect last aurochs (ancestor domestic cattle). Aurochs as cave art in Europe

  41. Some ConBio History • Went extinct anyway! (1627) • Breed re-created by German scientist from European domestic cattle Who am I?

  42. Some ConBio History • Reserve did save wisent (European bison)! A “vee-zunt”…..

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