Chapter 55 ~ Conservation Biology

Biodiversity crisis

Extinction ~ natural phenomenon, however, rate is of concern…..

50% loss of species when 90% of habitat is lost

Major Threats:

Habitat destruction ~ single greatest threat; cause of 73% of species designation as extinct, endangered, vulnerable, rare; 93% of coral reefs

Competition by exotic (non-native) species ~ cause of 68% of species designation as extinct, endangered, vulnerable, rare; travel

Overexploitation ~ commercial harvest or sport fishing; illegal trade

Biodiversity: Human welfare

25% of all medical prescriptions

Genetic variability

Aesthetic and ethical reasons

Species survival

Conservation biology focus

Preservationism : setting side select areas as natural and underdeveloped

Resource conservation : public lands to meet the needs of agriculture and extractive industries, i.e., ”multiple use”

Evolutionary / ecological view : natural systems result from millions of years of evolution and ecosystem processes are necessary to maintain the biosphere

Geographic distribution of biodiversity

Energy availability ~ solar radiation

Habitat heterogeneity ~ environmental patchiness

Niche specialization ~ narrow resource range specialization

Population interactions ~ complex population interactions

Population & species level conservation

Biodiversity hot spot : small area with an exceptional concentration of species

Endemic species : species found nowhere else

Endangered species : organism “in danger of extinction”

Threatened species : likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future

Bioremediation : use of living organisms to detoxify polluted systems