Topic 14: Conservation Biology

Upon successful completion of this topic, students will be able to:

Describe the levels of biodiversity.
Describe the roles of COSEWIC and the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
Compare extirpation and extinction.
Summarize the major threats to biodiversity.
Identify factors that put populations at risk of extirpation/extinction.
Explain the extinction vortex.
Describe how effective population size and minimum viable population are used in conservation.
Outline strategies that can help conserve species and ecosystems.
Define sustainable development.
Summarize efforts that can be made by individuals to help.

Question: How can we protect species threatened by human activities?
Ways to Protect Diversity of Life Include:
  - Restoring or preserving habitats that threatened species need for survival.
  - Establishing protected areas.
  - Ending the overharvesting of species in decline.
  - Combating climate change and other types of human-caused global environmental change.
  - Establishing regional networks of protected areas.
  - Protecting biodiversity "hot spots" which are relatively small areas with high biodiversity.

Conservation biology integrates multiple fields:
- Ecology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary biology to conserve biodiversity.
Classification of Biodiversity:
  - Genetic Diversity:
    - Comprises genetic variation within and between populations.
    - Associated with adaptations to local conditions; loss of genetic variation can contribute to extinction.
  - Species Diversity:
    - Variety of species within an ecosystem or across the biosphere.
    - Extirpation: Loss of a species in a local area.
    - Extinction: Loss of a species from the entire biosphere; mass extinction is simultaneous loss of many species.
  - Ecosystem Diversity:
    - Variety of ecosystems in the biosphere; altered by human activities.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
- Assesses conservation status and maintains a Red List of threatened species.
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC):
- Panel of Canadian scientists assessing species' status and recommending protections under SARA.

Assessments Utilized by COSEWIC:
- Declining abundance, limited distribution, small population sizes, etc.
Classification of Species:
  1. Extinct: Global extinction (species is gone entirely).
  2. Extirpated: Locally extinct from specific regions.
  3. Endangered: At imminent risk of extinction.
  4. Threatened: Possibly at risk of extinction.
  5. Special Concern: Risk of becoming threatened.

Biodiversity contributes to human happiness (biophilia) and an ecosystem's essential functions:
  - Ecosystems provide critical services such as purifying water, detoxifying waste, and supporting life.
  - Future generations' well-being.
  - Economic benefits through provision of resources (food, fiber, medicine).
Examples of Importance:
- Madagascar rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) contains anti-cancer alkaloids.
- Taq polymerase from Thermus aquaticus aids in PCR processes.

Major contributors include agricultural and urban development, industry, and climate change.
  - 73% of species facing extinction are due to habitat loss.
  - Statistics illustrate severity:
    - 98% tropical dry forests in Central America gone.
    - 1% Asian rainforests are lost annually.

Aquatic System Impact:
- Coral reefs (habitats for marine fish) and freshwater habitats degrade due to various human activities.
Introduced Species:
- Non-native species can become invasive, harming local ecosystems.
- Example: Brown tree snake in Vietnam leading to extinction of native birds.
Overharvesting:
- Wild organisms harvested faster than natural populations can rebound.

Small-Population Approach:
- Focuses on small populations vulnerable to genetic drift and inbreeding leading to extinction vortices.
- Example: Greater Prairie chicken’s conservation success through reintroduction.
Minimum Viable Population (MVP):
- Minimum size of a population needed for long-term survival.
- Effective population size (Ne) involves breeding individuals.

Declining Population Approach:
- Focuses on trends even above MVP; investigates the causes of decline.
Example: Rufa red knot population decline due to habitat loss and food shortages.

Edges of ecosystems display distinct ecological properties, influencing biodiversity.
Fragmentation Effects:
- Species adapted to the center of ecosystems have a higher risk of decline compared to edge species.
- Artificial Corridors: Can mitigate habitat fragmentation but may spread diseases and increase predation risks.

Establishing protected lands is crucial.
- Current statistics: 7% of global land and 10% of Canadian land in protected areas.
- Biodiversity hot spots, regions with high endemism, have priority for protection.

Acid Precipitation:
- Caused by burning fossil fuels; leads to species loss and ecosystem damage.
Nutrient Enrichment and Toxic Contamination:
- Excess nutrients can cause eutrophication.
- Chemicals bioaccumulate in organisms and magnify in top-tier consumers.

Definition:
- Meeting the economic needs of the present without compromising future generations.
Case Study: Costa Rica:
- National initiatives for ecotourism and biodiversity conservation have increased quality of life and employment.

The integrated effort of individuals, governments, and organizations is needed to ensure the future conservation of biodiversity.

Reference to the Lorax emphasizes personal responsibility in conservation efforts.