Biodiversity/Conservation Exam 1

Provisioning Services

Products humans obtain directly from ecosystems (Food, timber, fuels, fiber, medicines)

Regulating Services

Benefits gained from regulation of processes within ecosystems (carbon sequestration (wetlands, forest, and grasslands) , flood control (wetlands), storm surge reduction (dunes, coral reefs, mangroves), water and air purification (wetlands, forest) Pollination (bees, butterflies, birds, bats) Pest control (bast beneficial insects)

Cultural Services

Benefits from non-consumptive interactions with ecosystems (Recreation, tourism, spiritual and religious enrichment, artistic inspiration, scientific learning opportunities)

Supporting Services

Fundamental Processes necessary for all other series; Typically large-scale and non-consumptive (Examples: nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, soil formation, water cycle)

Species Diversity

All species on earth, including bacteria, plants, fungi, and animals

Genetic Diversity

Genetic variation within species, among geographic separate populations, and among individuals in same population

Ecosystem diversity

Biological communities and their physical and chemical environment

Species

Group of individuals that are morphologically, physiologically or biochemically distinct form others. Individuals can breed among themselves

Speciation

Process of new species formation; typically takes place over many generations but can move more quickly

Alpha diversity

Numbers of species (and number individuals/species) in a community or area

Gamma diversity

Species diversity over large geographical region

Beta Diversity

Links alpha and gamma (gamma/alpha) Rate of change of species composition along environmental or geographical gradient

Keystone Species

Species that other species depend on for an ecosystem to function properly. If they are removed then the ecosystem will collapse

Diverse ecosystems

Tropical Forest & Coral Reefs

Species Richness increases with?

Decreased in elevation, increase solar radiation. and increased precipitation

Species Richness

Number of species

Species Evenness

Measure of how equally individuals of different species are represented

Diversity Indices

Means of quantifying observed differences in species diversity between communities. Based on both richness and evenness

Simpson Diversity Index

Measures the probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to the same sample

Shannon Diversity Index

Measures uncertainty with which we can predict which species will be one randomly selected from the community

Conservationist

Someone who advocates or practices the sensible and careful use of natural resources. (Forester who manages forest, hunters and fishers who do it sustainably)

Preservationist

Advocates allowing some place and creature to exist without significant human interference.

Environmentalist

Someone who is concerned about the impacts of people on environmental quality

Ecologist

A scientist who studies relationships between organisms and their environment.

Conservation Ethics

Romantic—Transcendental Preservation Ethic, Resource conservation Ethic, Evolutionary-Ecological Land Ethic

Romantic—Transcendental Preservation Ethic

Nature has uses other than human economic gain (example John Muir)

Resource Conservation Ethic

Emphasizes responsible stewardship and the avoidance of wasteful resources utilization. (Example Gifford Pinchot)

Gifford Pinchot (1865-1946)

Founder of the U.S. Forest Service -Believed natural resources should be owned or regulated by government so that they may be. around for future generations. “The greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time”

Evolutionary-Ecological Land Ethic

Aldo Leopold (1886-1948)

Conservation Biology

The applied science of maintaining the earth’s biological diversity

T & E

Threatened and Endangered species

U.S. Endangered Species Act

Put into law in 1973 by Pre Nixon -Strong bipartisan support

E T C E

E=Endangered T=Threatened C= Candidate

E=Endangered

A species in danger of extinction throughout or at a significant section of its range

T=Threatened

A species “likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range

C= Candiate

A species under consideration for official listing for which there is sufficient information to support listing

IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature: Identifying those species most vulnerable to extinction

Extinction numbers (EX)

927 species -138 plants -789 anime and most are invertebrates

Extinct in the Wild Numbers

81 Species; 46 plants and 35 animals

Critically Endangered Numbers

7,469 species; 6,230 plants and 4,161 animals

Endangered Species numbers

19,136 species; 129 fungi, 12,154 plants, 6,853 animals

Vulnerable Species numbers

17,606 species,10,277 plants, 7,095 animals, and 234 fungi

Near Threatened Species numbers

9,887 species; 110 fungi, 4,552 plants, and 5,225 animals

Least Concern Species Numbers

88,501 species, 490 fungi, 35,138 plants, 52,873 animals

CITES

Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (of fauna and flora) -Purpose is to ensure that international trade in plants and animals dose not threaten their survival in the wild. Currently employed in 180 countries

Extinction

The complete loss of species

ESA

Endangered Species Act

Endangered Species Act

Law passed in 1973 to protect and encourage population growth of threatened and endangered species

Mass Extinction Numbers

History of Earth has seen fix mass extinctions and we are not in the mix of our sixth mass extinction

Cause of Previous Mass Extinctions

Climate Change, Changes in sea level, continental drift changed ocean to land, and asteroid impact

Measuring Extinction Rates

Need to know the background extinction rate; estimated at 0.0001% per year

Current Extinction Rate

0.01% about 100 times background extinctions rate per year

Definition of Extinction of Modern Species

No individuals of a species must have been see in the wild for 50 years

IUCN

• International Union for the Conservation of Nature;

  Highly respected organization of scientist, governments and organizations. -Predicts that of the following are in danger of extinction: 11% of all plants, 12% of all birds, and 24% of all mammals

Major Causes of Extinction

Habitats loss (poses biggest risk), introduction of non-native species (invasive species), pollution, overexploitation, and climate change

Habitat Destruction

As human population increases, pressure on natural areas increases.

Species area curve

The number of species that a natural area of a given size can support

Invasive species

Non-native species introduced to a new area either purposely or accidentally. (Examples; brown tree snake in Guam killing bird species, kudus vine from Japan engulfing the south, domestic cats in Wisconsin killing 39 million birds/year

Pollution

The release of poison, toxins, excess nutrients, and other waste product. (Example, excess fertilizer runoff, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Overexploitation

When humans use of a natural resource exceeds its reproductive rate. (Some reasons; hunting for game or illegal hunting, over harvesting (fish is a big one)

Risk Factors for Extinction

Small geographic range
• Small populations/Single populations (Big Bend Gambusia)
• Long term population
declines
• Endemics on islands
• Related to an extinct
species
• Large home range (bear and wolfs)
• International migration
• Poor dispersal
• Requiring specialized
resources (Long nosed bat, Marbled Murrelet)
• Rare/extinct symbiont
• History of human
exploitation

Being Related to an extinct or endangered species

All Crocodilians, most spotted cats, and many species of whale

Human Exploitation

Fur/skin, Food, Ivory, Asian medicines

How do we preserve endanger species?

• Research, -

• Legislation to prevent take; International and National legislation

• Intervention (conservation actions)

What book, published in 1962, initiated the modern environmental movement?

Rachael Carons “Silent Spring”

What is the goal of CITIES?

To ensure that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the wild.

What did our guest speaker work for?

Fish and Wildlife Service

List and describe one section of the ESA

Section 7: “Interagency Consultation” Must state if your work as a Federal agency will or will not cause harm to wildlife or any endangered species. If they believe that their work will cause harm they are to acquire a permit to say that it is ok to do what they are doing without being sued or held liable.

Section 4 of Endangered Species Act

Determination of Endangered and Threatened Species

Section 3 of Endangered Species Act

Provides definitions for key words used throughout the act

Section 10 of Endangered Species Act

Authorizes the secretary to issue permits to carry out acutes otherwise prohibited by sections 9 of the ESA enhance the propagation of listed species. Has a mitigation requirement

Section 9 of Endangered Species Act

Prohibits the unauthorized “take” of any endanger species for any purpose

What are the five leading causes of extinction

Habitat Loss (poses greatest risk) Climate change, Invasive species, Pollution, and Overexploitation

Define biodiversity

Compare alpha, beta and gamma diversity

• Alpha: Number of species (and number ind/spp) in a community or area

• Gamma: Species diversity over large geographical region

• Beta: Links alpha and gamma; it is the rate of change of composition along environmental or geographical gradient

Why are there more species in the tropics?

• Decrease in elevation

• Increase solar radiation

• Increased precipitation

What is a biodiversity hotspot?

A biogeographic region that harbors exceptionally high species richness,

Give an example for each service

• Provision; food, timber, fuels, medicines

• Regulating services; carbon sequestration (wetlands, forest, and grasslands,) Storm surge reduction, Food control (wetlands) Water and air purification (wetlands and forest) Pest Control (bats) Pollination (bees, butterflies)

• Cultural Services; Recreation, Tourism, Spiritual and religious enrichment, artistic inspiration, and scientific learning opportunities.

• Supporting Services: Nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, soli formation, Water cycle