Environmental Biology - Conservation Biology

Chapter 1

Environmental Biology

• understanding interactions btwn humans and earth

• develop methods to solve environmental problems

• learn how earth works

• investigate environmental problems

• draws from physical science, chemistry, and biology

Environmental science

science of interactions btwn physical, chemical, and biological components of environment and its effects

Ecology

focuses on natural world of interactions of living organisms with their natural environments

Environmentalism

concern over the changing state of the planet

Preservation

Land areas set aside in perpetuity and protected from economic development in order to preserve their habitat, natural resource, cultural or historical value

National park examples

Yellowstone and Big Bend

Conservation Biology

• scientific study of nature and status of the earth’s biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction

• applied science of maintaining the earth’s biological diversity

Romantic Transcendental Preservation Ethic

• led by John Muir, founder of Sierra Club

• communication with nature brings people closer to God

• being able to visit nature to get closer to God is more important than economic gain

Resource Conservation Ethic

• led by Gifford Pinchot, founder of U.S. Forest Service

• Nature consists of natural resources, so they should be used to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people for the longest possible time

• Natural resources should be government regulated

Evolutionary-Ecological Land Ethic

• led by Aldo Leopold, founder of Wildlife Conservation as a professional discipline

• each species has in instrumental value (unrelated to human gain) bc of its unique role in the ecosystem

Conservation Biology

• document range of biological diversity

• investigate human impact

• develop practical approaches to prevent extinction