20. Conservation Biology

Humans Species. def.

Hominins, the clase that includes Homo sapiens and extinct ‘humans’, arose arround 5.5. MYA

Age Phylogeny - of humans and chmpanzees

Fossil-calibrated molecular clock data suggest that the human & chimpanzee lineages split 5.5. to 7 million years ago (MYA) 

When did Homo sapiens come to be

By ~ 0.2 million years ago (200,000) anatomically modern humans existed

Spread of humans came from where?

Africa

Humans are now…

everywhere

Modern humans now devide in mostly but some what?

Mostly sedentary societies, but a few nomadic groups

Human population growth map

Very slow increase up until after the Industrial Revolution 

Human Population size now and projected

8,228,984,100

Projected 9.4 billion by 2050

What allowed such a huge population growth?

advances in food production, technology, sanitation, med, etc

increase max pop size that can be supported by the env. 

Different human societies have different environmentl impacts due to 

Lifestyle, agriculture, consturction, urban vs rural, food, etc. 

What resources do humans needs?

O2, freshwater, and nutrients

Main crops in the world

• corn (maize)

• wheat

• rice

• potato

• soybean

• oat

• cotton

• sugar cane

• canola

Main animal species consumed by humans

• pig

• caw (beef, veal)

• Chicken (poultry) 

• sheet

• Goat

• Fish

• Buffalo

• Tuna, tilapia, slamon

Animals also consume what else on top of “food”

trees, and agriculutre aka deforsitation

Trend in areas used by humans

• habitat transformation deforestation land clearing

• air pollution of freshwater and marine ecosystems

• disruption of biogeochecmical cycle soverharvesting of animals and plants

• introduction of exotic species

• climate change

• Extinctions

Europeans exploration

European exploration really lead to the boom of the world and degradation of vast resources by the region colonized from the 1600s and onwards

(needs of the natives and traditional ways were largely disgraced) 

European Origins

The elements of conservation developed in Europe (18th/19th centuries) based on experiences of scientific officers trained to make observations on biology, natrual history, geography, and anthropology of the colonial regions

Origins of Conservation in the U.S>

Opponents to a materialistic society

“People need far fewer possessions than they seek”

“Nature has intrinsic value apart from its value to humanity” 

Role of American presidents in Conservation

Yellowstone National Park

First park establish by the U.S. in 1872 by Ulysses S. Gran

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)

establish the first national wildlife refuge & expanded federal lands for conservation 

What is Conservation Biology? (def)

Integrated, multidisciplinary scientific field that had developed in response to the challenge of preserving species & ecosystems

“the applied science of maintaining the earth’s biological diversity in response to human impacts” 

“field that seeks to study and protect the living world and its biologically diveristy: 

What does conservation biology do/merge?

Merges applied & theoretical biology & incorporates ideas & expertise from a broad range of fields towards the goal or preserving biodiveristy

Conservation Biology goals

1. To document the full range of biological diversity on Earth

2. To investigate human impacts on species, genetic variation, communities, & ecosystems

3. To develop practical approaches to prevent the extinction of species, and protect and restore biological communities and their associated ecosystems functions

Conservation Biology’s Ethical Principles

• the diversity of species and ecosystems should be preserved

• the untimely extinction of populations and species should be prevented

• ecological complexity should be maintained

• Evolution should continue 

• Biodiversity has intrinsic value