Chapter 17 Biological Resources

1. Chapter 17Biological Resources

2. Biological Diversity Biological Diversity Number, variety and variability of Earth’s organisms 3 Kinds of Biological Diversity: Genetic diversity Species richness Ecosystem diversity

3. Why We Need Organisms Example contributions to human life: Food Clothing Shelter Pollination of crops Antibiotics and medicines Biological processes (nitrogen fixation) Ethical/aesthetic Biological Diversity represents an untapped resource for future uses

4. Examples of Contributions: • Cinchona Tree • Treatment for malaria from 1600’s until 1940’s • Also for arthritis, lupus, and other diseases

5. Examples of Contributions • Aspirin Coca leaves

6. Ecosystem Services and Species Richness All organisms are interrelated Ecosystem services Removal of a species from a community can __________ ecosystem services

7. Scientific Importance of Genetic Diversity Genetic Engineering Provided: New vaccines More productive farm animals Agricultural plants with desirable characteristics Depends on genetic diversity (cannot create genes) Important to protect this diversity

8. Medical Importance of Organisms Genetic Resources are important to pharmaceutical industry Rosy Periwinkle – Cancer drug Aquatic sponge – AIDS drug

9. Importance of Organisms Agricultural Importance Numerous species that are nutritionally superior to the food we eat Industrial Importance Industry depends on products from organisms Oils and lubricants Paper and lumber Ethical and Aesthetic Importance

10. Extinction 5 great mass extinctions mark boundaries of geologic time periods NOW- 6th great mass extinction Background extinction

11. Main Causes of Species Decline • E. O. Wilson uses the acronym HIPPO to list them: • Consider the words of Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2004), Ms. WangariMaathai of Kenya: “Protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace”

12. Major drivers of endangerment From Wilcove 1996

13. Endangered and Threatened Species Earth’s biological diversity is disappearing at an unprecedented rate Endangered Species Species that faces threats that may cause it to become extinct within a short period Threatened Species Species whose population has declined to the point that it may be at risk of extinction

14. Endangered & Extinct Species

15. Endangered & Extinct Species

16. Species with highly specific resource requirements are particularly vulnerable to habitat alterations Endemic species A species confined to the limited area in which it evolved, often by resource requirements Current Threats to Species

17. Labrador duck - from North Atlantic coast; • disappeared between 1850 and 1870; disappeared • as a result of changes to coastal habitat • Heath hen - an eastern prairie grouse; lived in • woodland clearings from New England to the • Carolinas; killed for high market value; most gone • by 1915 and last sighted on Martha’s Vineyard (an • island off the Mass. coast) in 1932 • Great Auk - big penguin-like bird of islands and • coast of North Atlantic; killed for meat then as • prized rare specimens; last pair killed in 1844 • Carolina parakeet - only member of parrot family in U.S.; in rivers and swamps of SE U.S.; killed and • trapped because of destruction to orchards; last • died in Cincinnati Zoo in 1914 (same as pigeon)

18. Passenger Pigeon-extinct MARTHA Last of her species, died at 1 p.m.,1 September 1914, age 29, in theCincinnati Zoological Garden.EXTINCT

19. American Bison-

20. Characteristic of Endangered Species Extremely small (localized) range Requiring a large territory Living on an island Having a low reproductive success Small population size Low reproductive rates Requiring specialized breeding areas Having specialized feeding habitats

21. California Condor Scavenger bird Requires large, undisturbed territory 1983 - 22 birds 1987–1992 - no longer found in nature 1992 - reintroduced to nature from zoos Currently - 200 condors in nature

22. Where is Declining Biological Diversity the Greatest Problem? Concern throughout the US US- Most serious in: Hawaii (63% of species at risk) California (29% of species at risk) Globally - Most serious in tropical rain forests South and Central America Central Africa SE Asia

23. Earth’s Biodiversity Hotspots

24. Causes of Declining Biodiversity

25. Human Cause - Land Use Change Destruction, fragmentation or degradation of habitats Little habitat remains for many endangered species Is there anything strange about our state flag?? Last one shot in CA 1922

26. Human Cause - Invasive Species

27. 9 of the 11 species of native forest-dwelling birds have been extirpated from Guam.  Five of these were endemic at the species Introduced Snake on Guam

28. Human Cause- Overexploitation Left: Illegal Trade in Products Made From Endangered Species Right: Illegal Animal Trade - Green Parrots from the Amazon Rainforest

29. Human Cause - Pollution Examples: Acid rain, ozone depletion, climate warming, excessive fertilizer, industrial wastes

30. Case-In-PointDisappearing Frogs Amphibians are indicator species 168 Amphibian species have gone extinct in last 2 decades No single cause has been identified Deformities have also been identified (right)

31. Conservation Biology Scientific study of how humans impact organisms and the development of ways to protect biodiversity Involves: Protecting habitats Restoring damaged or destroyed habitats Zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens Seed banks

32. Challenges in Conservation Management

33. Fragmented Habitats Habitat separated by roads or other human development Habitat corridors - allow animals to move from one fragment to another safely

34. Restoring Damaged Habitats Restoration ecology Study of the historical condition of a human-damaged ecosystem Goal is to return it to its former state Benefits Creates biological habitats Regeneration of soil damaged by agriculture or mining Disadvantages Expensive Take a long time to restore an area

35. Restoring Damaged Habitats Left: (1935) Early stages of prairie restoration Right: (current day) restored prairie

36. Zoos, Aquaria and Botanical Garden Save organisms from extinction Artificial insemination Embryo transfer Surrogate mothers (right) Goal is to reintroduce organisms back to their natural habitat

37. Seed Banks Stored seeds are safe from habitat destruction, climate warming, etc. reintroduce extinct plant species Some seeds cannot be stored

38. Conservation Policies and Laws • Endangered Species Act (ESA) 1973 • Authorized protection of endangered and threatened species • Currently 1300 species are listed in US Left: Endangered Species, the Florida Panther

39. Conservation Policies and Laws Endangered Species Act (continued) Species are designated as endangered or threatened based on biological grounds Controversial Legislation No compensation for private property owners who suffer financial loss Was not reauthorized in 1992 as scheduled Private property rights vs. conservation

40. Conservation Policies and Laws Habitat Conservation Plans 1982 Amendment to ESA Resolved conflicts between development interests and species protection International Conservation: World Conservation Strategy (1980) Convention on Biological Diversity Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) (1975)

41. Wildlife Management Application of conservation principles to manage wild species and their habitats for human benefit or for the welfare of other species Different priorities than conservation biology Wildlife managers concerned with common species Conservation biologist concerned with threatened or endangered species

42. Wildlife Management Migratory Animals Ex: Artic Snow Geese - increase in population has damaged much of Arctic fragile coastal ecosystem (below)

43. Wildlife Management Aquatic Organisms Must be managed to ensure they are not overexploited Freshwater fishes Laws regulate time of year, size of fish and maximum allowable catch Ocean fishes Ocean fisheries often viewed as common property