TOPIC 5 - Conservation of Biodiversity

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

interdisciplinary science focused on understanding and preserving Earth's biodiversity

Conservation biology

the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity, with the aim of protecting species , their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and erosion of biotic interactions.

Document Biodiversity

Understand Human Impact

Develop Conservation Strategies

Restore Natural Systems

[enumerate] Key Goals of Conservation Biology

Document Biodiversity

Identify and catalogue species, genetic diversity, and ecosystems.

Understand Human Impact

Study how human activities affect biodiversity.

Develop Conservation Strategies

Create methods to prevent extinction, maintain genetic variation, and protect ecosystems

Restore Natural Systems

Rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and reintroduce species.

Species Conservation

Habitat Conservation

Genetic Diversity

Ecological Processes

[enumerate] Major Components of Conservation Biology

Species Conservation

Focuses on endangered species and their protection.

Habitat Conservation

Protects natural environments and ecosystems

Genetic Diversity

Maintains variation within species for adaptability and resilience.

Ecological Processes

Preserves interactions (e.g., predator-prey, pollination) essential to ecosystems

GENETIC DIVERSITY

SPECIES DIVERSITY

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

[enumerate] LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY

GENETIC DIVERSITY

refers to the variety of genes within a species

It includes the differences in DNA among individuals of the same species

SPECIES DIVERSITY

the variety and number of different species found in a specific area

It includes both the number of species and how evenly individuals are spread among them

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

the variety of different ecosystems within a region, such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, and oceans.

Overexploitation of organisms

Threatened and endangered species

Introduction of exotic/foreign species

Alternation and loss of habitat

[enumerate] Problems Affecting Biodiversity

Overexploitation of organisms

refers to the unsustainable extraction or harvesting of natural resources at rates exceeding their ability to replenish.

Overexploitation of organisms

the second most common threat to terrestrial species and had the second largest relative negative impact on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems (preceded only by land-use change).

Industrialized fishing

Animals hunted for trade or sport

Animals sold into the pet trade

Logging mature natural forests

Excessive plant harvest

[enumerate] examples of overexploitation

Species Extinction

Disruption of Ecosystem Balance

Habitat Degradation

Loss of Genetic Diversity

Economic Impact

Threat to Indigenous Communities

[enumerate] Effects of overexploitation on biodiversity

Endangered species

contribute to biodiversity by playing unique roles in their ecosystems, such as pollinators, predators, and prey

Endangered

means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Threatened

means a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.

Habitat loss and habitat degradation

The spread of introduced species

The growing influence of global warming and chemical pollution

Unsustainable hunting

Disease

[enumerate] Causes of Endangerment

Tamaraw

Philippine Crocodile

Philippine Mouse Deer

Tarsier

Philippine Eagle

[enumerate] 5 endangered species in the Philippines

exotic/foreign species

also known as "invasive" species, "alien" , " non-native" , or " introduced" species.

is an organism that has been moved by human activity, intentionally or accidentally, to a new area outside of its native range.

it is a non-native species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

Rapid reproduction and growth rate

high dispersal ability

tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions

lack of natural predators, parasites, or diseases in the new environment

competitive advantage over native species for resources

[enumerate] CHARACTERISTICS OF INVASIVE SPECIES:

Water Hyacinth

Hagonoy

Brown Tree Snake

Golden Apple Snail

[enumerate] EXAMPLES OF EXOTIC/FOREIGN SPECIES

Habitat

refers to the natural environment where an organism lives, providing all the necessary resources for its survival.

Habitat alternation

involves changes to the quality or characteristics of a habitat, making it less suitable for the species that originally lived there.

Habitat loss

is the complete destruction or removal of a habitat, rendering it incapable of supporting the original species.

Urbanization and Infrastructure Development

Deforestation

Pollution

Mining and Resource Extraction

Climate Change

Invasive Species

Dams and Water Diversion

[enumerate] Causes of Habitat Alternation and Loss:

Biodiversity Loss

Ecosystem Fragmentation

Disruption of Ecosystem Services

Increased Human-Wildlife Conflict

Economic Impacts

[enumerate] Consequences of Alternation and Loss

Habitat Destruction

Climate Change

Pollution

[enumerate] Threats to Biodiversity

Habitat Destruction

Deforestation, urbanization, mining, and agricultural expansion reduce or eliminate the natural habitats of countless species.

This leads to population decline and species extinction, especially for those that cannot adapt or migrate

Climate Change

Rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, altered rainfall patterns, and ocean acidification affect migration, reproduction, and food availability for many organisms.

Coral bleaching, species range shifts, and increased extinction rates are some visible impacts.

Pollution

Contaminants like plastics, pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial waste can poison wildlife, disrupt reproductive systems, and degrade ecosystems

Extinction of Species

Broken Foodchains

Climate Change

Flooding and Droughts

[enumerate] ECOSYSTEM REPERCUSSIONS

Extinction of Species

When habitats like forests or tundras are destroyed, plants and animals lose their source of food, shelter, and safety.

Without these, they cannot survive or reproduce properly.

Over time, their numbers decrease, and some species may completely die out, leading to extinction.

Broken Foodchains

If one species disappears, especially one that plays a key role in the food chain, it can cause a chain reaction that affects many other species

This leads to an imbalance in the food web. Even a single extinction can weaken the entire ecosystem, making it harder for the environment to function properly and support life.

Climate Change

Some ecosystems, such as the tundra or rainforest, play a major role in regulating the Earth's temperature.

They do this by absorbing carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) and reflecting sunlight.

For example, plants and frozen soil help trap carbon, which prevents it from entering the atmosphere.

This leads to more heat being trapped in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise, which further harms ecosystems around the world.

Flooding and Droughts

Healthy ecosystems play a crucial role in managing the water cycle.

Forests, wetlands, tundras, and other natural areas help absorb rainwater, store it in the soil, and slowly release it into rivers and groundwater systems.

However, when these ecosystems are destroyed or damaged, they lose their ability to absorb and store water properly.

Biodiversity Indices

is a mathematical tool used to measure species diversity within a community.

It offers a more comprehensive understanding of community composition compared to simply counting the number of species present (species richness).

Alpha

Beta

Gamma

[enumerate] How do we measure Biodiversity?

Alpha

This refers to the diversity of species found within a specific location or ecosystem, often referred to as a site or habitat.

Beta

This quantifies the difference in species composition or diversity between ecosystems or habitats

Gamma

This refers to the total species richness or diversity found within a larger geographic area, encompassing multiple ecosystems or habitats.

Species richness

Simpson's Index

Shannon-Wiener Index

Evennes

[enumerate] Types of Biodiversity Indices

SPECIES RICHNESS

It is the number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape or region.

Species richness is simply a count of species, and it does not take into account the abundances of the species or their relative abundance distributions.

SIMPSON'S DIVERSITY INDICES

It is the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different species or categories.

Simpson's Index (D)

Simpson's Index of Diversity (1-D)

Simpson's Reciprocal Index (1/D)

[enumerate] SIMPSON'S DIVERSITY INDICES CATEGORIES

Simpson's Index (D)

Measures probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to the same species (or some category other than species).

Simpson's Index of Diversity (1-D)

The value of this index also ranges between 0 and 1, but now, the greater the value, the greater the sample diversity. In this case, the index represents the probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to different species.

Simpson's Reciprocal Index (1/D)

The value of this index starts with 1 as the lowest possible figure. This figure would represent a community containing only one species. The higher the value, the greater the diversity. The maximum value is the number of species (or other category being used) in the sample. For example if there are five species in the sample , then the maximum value is 5.

True

[True or False] An SDI of 0.71 means there is a 71% chance that 2 individual selected at a random community would be from a different species.

SHANNON-WIENER INDEX

A diversity index that combines:

➤ Species Richness (how many species)

➤Species Evenness (how balanced species are)

Indicates uncertainty in predicting species identity in a sample

EVENNESS

Measures how equal species populations are