A4.1.2 Conservation of Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Variety of life found in an area

Where can biodiversity be studied

Ecosystems

Species

Genetics

Ecosystem Diversity

Considers diversity from largest overall viewpoint

Great Barrier Reef

Most ecologically diverse location

Each reef has its own ecosystem and high levels of biodiversity

Benefits of Diversity

Stability in the area

Generates a great amount of species and genetic diversity

Individual ecosystems

Varying degrees of species diversity or richness

Species Richness

# of different species in a community

Species Evenness

Measure of relative abundance of each of the species in a community

Gene Pool

All gene types / alleles found in a population

Benefits of greater genetic diversity

This leads to a more stable population which can withstand environmental pressures

Not one random individual is more likely to survive but some of the population is more likely to survive

Larger populations have larger genetic diversity

Lower levels of organisms

They fall to low levels and the gene pool becomes very small

Genetic diseases contained are more likely to be expressed

Rate of extinction

Rate of extinction is currently very high and there are less species alive today then 100 years ago

Human activities

Reason for the loss of diversity

Evolutionary theory

Explains why more species are alive today then ever before

Speciation lead to the creation of new species

High total number of species

When speciation is greater than the extinction rate

Anthropogenic Species Extinction

The term anthropogenic refers to an environmental or ecological change caused, directly or indirectly, by human activity

Highest rate of anthropogenic extinction then ever before

North Island Giant Moa

Lived in new Zealand until 1300CE

Large Herbivorous birds

No wings

Hunted to extinction within 100 years of human arrival

Caribbean Monk Seal

Declared extinct in 2008

Docile animals killed for oil, lamps and food

Easy target as they were docile animals

Mixed Dipterocarp forest in Southeast Asia

Family of hardwood, tropical species comprising of 500 species

Once dominated Southeast Asia, rich and varied ecosystems

Land clearing for palm oil trees due to increasing palm oil dependence

IUCN Red List

International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List

List of extinct creatures updated in 1964

IPBES

Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem services

Significant and reliable data

Wide range of habitats and local sources

Data sampled regularly

Increasing Population

When the birthrate exceeds the death rate

Increasing since 1960s

Human population link with biodiversity crisis

Increasing population leads to increase needs for resources and increased population, therefore increased ecosystem damage and decreasing biodiversity

Human Activities leading to Biodiversity Crisis

Overexploitation of resources

hunting of elephants

Deforestation leading to monoculture

Pollution

Increased Pest Species

Invasive Species

Urbanization

Spreading of Diseases

NGO’s

Dedicated to conserving biodiversity

In Situ Conservation Efforts

Within a natural area of environment

Examples include

Establishment of national parks

Establishments of nature Reserves

Rebuilding of areas damaged by human intervention

Reclamation of degraded landscapes

National Parks

Area of land established by nations and dedicated to preserving geology, and wildlife of that area

Ex Situ Conservation Efforts

Taking a species out of natural areas to conserve them

Breeding Programs by Zoos

Botanic Garden

Seed Banks

Animal tissue banks

Artificial Insemination

Produces offspring from animals in 2 different zoos to promote genetic diversity within a captive population

Careful choices to promote genetic diversity

Animal Husbandry

Facilities to promote continuation of species threatened and endangered

Germoplasm Animal tissue banks

sperm, eggs, and embryos

Reproductive tissue

Challenge includes collecting germoplasm in the wild population in order to have cells

Tissue stored cryogenically

Somatic Animal tissue banks

Non Reproductive tissue banks

Useful for DNA research and possible cleaning

EDGE of Existence Program

2007 global program with the goal of selecting evolutionary distinct and globally endangered species

Hypertonic

Any external solution that has a high solute concentration meaning that the water will move outside of the cell

Isotonic

When the concentration is equal

Hypotonic

When the concentration is more inside of the less so the water moves inside