Today 2/13/07

Today 2/15/07

Do Now:
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Identify and explain the significance of the various components of biological diversity.
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Supply one specific example of each type of diversity in your explanation.
THINK: biological diversity genetic diversity species richness ecosystem diversity

Do Now: Answer and examples
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Variation among organisms is referred to as biological diversity.
The components of biological diversity include genetic diversity, species richness, and ecosystem diversity.
Genetic diversity takes into account the genetic variety within all populations of that species. These differences provide a broad genetic base for each species’ long-term health and survival.
*If all members of a species were genetically identical, then they would all be susceptible to the same pests and disease.
However, a corn blight fungus that ruined the corn crop in the U.S. in 1970 was brought under control by crossing the cultivated, highly uniform corn varieties with genetically diverse ancestral varieties from Mexico, making the resulting varieties resistant to the fungus.
Species richness refers to the number of species found in an ecosystem.
Species richness within an ecosystem provides the ecosystem with resilience, the ability to recover from environmental disasters. The removal of one species from a community makes an ecosystem run less smoothly.
Ecosystem diversity is the variety of interactions among organisms in natural communities, including forests, prairies, deserts, coral reefs, lakes, coastal estuaries and other ecosystems. A forest community with trees, shrubs, vines, insects, worms, animals, fungi and bacteria has greater ecosystem diversity than a cornfield.

Biological Diversity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Why We Need Organisms
Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
Genetic Reserves
Scientific Importance of Genetic Diversity
Medicinal, Agricultural, and Industrial
Importance of Organisms
Aesthetic, Ethical, and Spiritual Value of
Organisms

Biological Diversity
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Biodiversity
Species Richness
Genetic Diversity

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Biodiversity
Species Richness
Genetic Diversity
Ecosystem Diversity

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Biological diversity: the number and variety of organisms.
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Genetic diversity: variation within a species.
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Species richness: the number of species
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Ecosystem diversity: variation within an ecosystem.

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270,000 plant species
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45,000 vertebrate species
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950,000 insect species!
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10,000 new species identified each year.

Where is declining Biological Diversity the
Greatest problem?
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Drastic loss biological diversity is occurring worldwide.
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Tropical areas are more susceptible to species loss.

Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
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Why We Need Organisms
Ecosystem Services and Species Richness
Nests eventually become small islands of trees
Maintains smaller fish populations by eating gar
Gator trails clear out aquatic vegetation
Digs underwater holes used by other aquatic organisms

Ecosystem Services & Organisms
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Organisms provide essential ecosystem services.
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Ex: Florida Alligators
Bacteria and Fungi are decomposers that cleanse and recycle nutrients within an ecosystem.
Forests recharge groundwater, hold soil, act as a C sink.

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99.95 % of species that have existed are now extinct.
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~1.8 million species identified at present.
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# may range from 5-100 million species, we don’t know.

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How to avoid a
Corn Blight?
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Increased genetic variety increases the chance that
Zea mays will survive changing conditions in nature.

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Genetic Engineering
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Bacterial derived Human Insulin
Bacterial derived Human Growth Hormones
Microevolution

Medicinal, Agricultural, & Industrial
Importance of Organisms
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Penicillium fungus: Penicillin based drugs
Rosy Periwinkle: increased child leukemia survivorship 5%  95%
Sponge derived compound used in AZT (aids drug)
Beetles: Steroids
Centipedes: fungicide for crops

A. Ecosystem Services & Organisms

Salix babylonica
Aspirin
The discovery of aspirin dates back to the 5th century
B.C., when Hippocrates used a powder from the bark of a willow tree to ease minor pains, reduce fevers and to help with childbirth. The willow tree contains salicylic acid which is similar to acetylsalicylic acid
(aspirin).

Do Now:
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Define extinction and give the possible causes of mass extinction. What single human activity increases the susceptibility of a given species to extinction? Provide the ways?

Do Now: Answer
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Extinction is the irreversible elimination of a species from Earth. The causes of past mass extinctions are not well understood, however possible causes include a major climate change or a catastrophic collision of Earth and a large asteroid or comet.
Human activity disrupts or destroys the habitat of many organisms. If an organism’s habitat is altered, this impacts the organism's ability to find a mate, food sources, and territory necessary for survival and shelter.
Some species have an extremely small range and when this is disturbed, the species will perish

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Most human activities contribute to a reduction in biological diversity
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Habitat Destruction is the major cause of the current decline in biological diversity.
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This loss of habitat reduces a species biological range & ability to survive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Endangered & threatened Species
• Extinction: the permanent loss of a species, therefore a permanent loss in species diversity.
• Background extinction: continual low level extinction
• Mass extinction: numerous species disappear during a relative short period of time
• Marine organisms being temperature sensitive
• Human population growth and consequent habitat destruction of the Dusky sparrow

Endangered and threatened Species
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Background Extinction vs. Mass Extinction
Continuous, slow rate of extinction over millions of years
Numerous species disappear over geologically short time frame.

Endangered & threatened Species
• Extinction: the permanent loss of a species, therefore a permanent loss in species diversity.
• An endangered species numbers are reduced so that they are in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of their range.

Endangered and Extinct Species
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Endangered and Threatened Species
Could become extinct soon.
Population declining very fast.

Endangered & threatened Species
• Threatened species: when extinction is less imminent but its population is quite low.
• Species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future, throughout all or a significant portion of its range

Endangered & threatened Species
Protected Species 
Threatened species  endangered species 
Extinct Species

Endangered & threatened Species

Endangered & threatened Species

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Extremely small range
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Tiburon mariposa lily
Requiring large territories
California condor
Living on islands
Hawaii O-o, Moho nobilis
Low reproductive success
Blue whale
Specialized breeding areas
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Green sea turtle
Specialized feeding habits
Giant panda

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Hawai'i 'O'o Moho nobilis was only found in forest on the big island of Hawai'i, USA.
It was last collected in 1898 and last seen in 1934, with its decline to extinction presumably caused by both habitat destruction and disease.

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Bears http://www.iucn.org/ http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/13625/all

Do Now:
• What does it mean that a species is endemic? Name a species that is endemic to your bioregion.

Do Now: Answers endemic = native to a limited area and not found naturally outside that area

Endangered & threatened Species

Do Now:
• What are some Human Causes of
Species Endangerment?

Do Now:
• habitat destruction,
• fragmentation, degradation, Deforestation
• Invasive species (biotic pollution)
• competition
• Pollution
• Water, air, land, Biocide use
• Acid rain, ozone depletion, climate change
• Overexploitation,
• commercial harvesting
• Ivory, pet trade, scientific whaling

Endangered & threatened Species
• “Island” isolated habitat surrounded by unsuitable territory

Habitat fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation and how the Cow birds love it
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Not a deep woodland bird until loggers come.
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North America's most notorious brood parasite
Cowbirds have parasitized over 220 host species 150 reared by host species, with songbirds comprising the majority of hosts.
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Examples:
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Black-capped Vireo: 90% of nests parasitized in open canyon woodlands on Fort Hood, Texas (Eckrich et al.).
Bell's Vireo and Yellow-breasted Chat: 80-90% of nests parasitized in desert riparian habitat in the lower Colorado
River valley (Averill et al.).

Endangered and Extinct Species
Confirmed observation in
Arkansas in
April 2005

Endangered and Extinct Species
Where is Declining Biological Diversity the
Greatest Problem?
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In US: Hawaii and California
Worldwide: Tropical rain forests
7% of earth's surface containing almost 50% species

Endangered and Extinct Species
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Earth’s Biodiversity Hotspots

Endangered and Extinct Species
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Human Causes of Species Endangerment
#1 cause:
Habitat
Destruction,
Fragmentation, and
Degradation

Where is declining Biological Diversity the
Greatest problem?
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43% of all endangered species need wetland habitat to live.
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60,000 acres of wetlands are destroyed in the US annually.

Endangered and Extinct Species
Invasive Species

Endangered and Extinct Species
Invasive Species
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Federal Noxious Weed Act banned the importation of Caulerpa
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Blue water hyacinth
Brown tree snake introduced by the US navy and is responsible for the extinction of 9-12 species indigenous to Guan

Endangered and Extinct Species
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40% parrot species are now threatened or endangered
Wild Bird Conservation Act 1992
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Decreased poaching rates
Hyacinth /Macaw $7,000 – $12,000

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Exotic Species may compete with native species for food or habitat (niche) or may actually prey upon the endemic species.

1.
2.
Different species living in the same environment, or habitat, may require the same resources. When the resources are limited, competition occurs among the species.
Competition- is the struggle between different species for the same limited resources. The more similar the needs of the species, the more intense the competition.

3. Each species occupies a niche in the community.
A niche is the role the species plays, and includes the type of food it eats, where it lives, where it reproduces, and its relationships with other species. Ex. catfish and the Asian carp
4. When two different species compete for the same niche in a community, the weaker species is usually eliminated establishing one species per niche in a community.

NO,, I can’t compete with that!!!

Graphs showing competition between two species of Paramecium. Since each population alone prospers (top two graphs), when they are in a competition situation one species will win, the other will lose (bottom graph).

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Ruffe have steadily increased from about
10% of the catch in 1989 to nearly 90% of the catch in 1996.
Unlike ruffe, emerald shiners have declined from nearly 80% of the catch in
1989 to about 5% of the catch in 1996.
Little change has been observed for yellow perch, which have consistently made up about 10% of the catch for these three species.

http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/invspec.html
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Humans have accidentally and/or intentionally imported organisms to areas where they have no natural enemies leading to the disruption of existing ecosystems.
Examples include the
Zebra Mussel, Gypsy moth, & “Killer bees”
INVASIVE SPECIES LINK

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Kudzu smothers native trees and shrubs.
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Purple Loosestrife Environmental Impacts of
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 replaces native wetland communities eliminates food and shelter for wildlife species reduces biodiversity

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Humans have accidentally and/or intentionally imported organisms to areas where they have no natural enemies leading to the disruption of existing ecosystems.
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Examples include the Japanese beetle and the Gypsy moth.

INVASIVE SPECIES LINK

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Pollution, such as acid rain, pesticides, O
3 depleting compounds, as well as climate warming atmospheric pollutants (CO contribute to the decline of species.
2
, CH
4
)
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Major air pollutants include: carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulates.
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Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide combine with water vapor creating acid rain problems.

Exam avg= 73%, pt I=70%, pt II=76%
Grade
Range
90<
85-89
81-84
76-80
71-75
66-70
61-65
55-60
Students
5
3
7
1
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2
1
2

Endangered and Extinct Species
Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Pollution
• Acid rain
• Ozone depletion (leading to increased UV radiation
• Climate change due to CO
2 increases

Endangered and Extinct Species
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Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Overexploitation
Commercial harvest

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Overexploitation of species: the over hunting or harvesting of species without regard to their biotic potential.

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Ranchers, hunters and government agents reduced wolf and grizzly for grazing livestock
Carolina Parakeet: (extnt 1920) exterminated by farmers to protect fruits and crops
Prairie dogs and pocket gophers were poisoned
1900-1960, most disappeared from natural lands
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Predators like the Black footed ferret became endangered
1985-1986 10 ferrets left,
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1991 successfully reintroduced back to the wild black tailed prairie dogs Plague has now Wyoming
Prairie land development also negatively affect BFF populations
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.

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Uncontrolled hunting, trapping, and fishing still occur in many parts of the world.
The extinction of the dodo bird and the passenger pigeon resulted from such activities.

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
The Passenger Pigeon
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The last known individual of the species, a female named Martha, died in 1914 in the
Cincinnati Zoo and is now on display in the U.S. National
Museum of Natural
History.

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The exploitation of wildlife for their products and pet trade has led to threatened populations & ecosystem disruptions.
Examples include: the African elephant—ivory; the
Colombian parrot—pet trade;
Tropical rain forest—plywood.

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Commercial harvest is the removal of live organisms from nature. I illegal commercial trade of rare animals & plants supplies a thriving black market, but regulated commercial harvest may sustain species from an economic standpoint.

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Efforts to eradicate a pest species or predator.
MYXOMATOSIS more
Illegal commercial hunting has a great impact
(especially on larger animals. (K selected)
Kayko
Saccone
Tontawee

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
Introduction of Exotic Species
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Islands are particularly susceptible to biotic pollution. MYXOMATOSIS

Amphibian Deformities
Case-in-Point: Disappearing Frogs
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In the US, 38% of amphibian species are declining
Many deformities have been observed
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No single factor has been determined
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Trematode (flatworm) infestation
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Environmental stressors
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Habitat loss disease air/water pollution pesticide residues
High UV levels,

Do Now:
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What is a bellwether species (aka sentinel species) and which group of organisms are being considered bellwether species?

Do Now:
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 defined as organisms that are very sensitive to environmental change and provide “advance warning” of such changes amphibians are very sensitive to changes perhaps because they are very thin skinned and absorb water (and whatever is in the water) through their skins amphibian populations worldwide show decline in species and quantity

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The use of some biocides (such as pesticides) without a complete assessment of their environmental impact has contaminated the soil, atmosphere, water supply, and has disrupted food webs.
Ex: DDT http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=38/492/2017/2033&pq http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=38/492/2017/2033&pq

** 1939 discovered the effectiveness of DDT
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**DDT seemed to be the ideal insecticide it is cheap and of relatively low toxicity to mammals.
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**Extensive use of DDT began to appear in the late 1940s..
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**Linked to the RAPID decline of Raptors (birds of prey) due to the thinning of calcium layers of eggs shells.
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**The use of DDT was banned in the United States in 1973, although it is still in use in some other parts of the world.
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** The buildup of DDT in natural waters is a reversible process: the EPA reported a 90% reduction of DDT in Lake Michigan fish by 1978 as a result of the ban.

Species Preservation
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The peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
.

 http://birdcam.kodak.com/cgi-bin/asCgi.pl?node=1&app=birdcam&laf=playground

Species Preservation

Species Preservation
Former Wolf Range in the lower 48 states

Species Preservation
Present Wolf Range in the lower 48 states

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Species Preservation
Some efforts to sustain endangered species have included habitat protection
(wildlife refuges and national parks) and wildlife management (game laws and fisheries).
Animals which were once endangered are now successfully reproducing and increasing their numbers.
Examples of endangered animals which are responding to conservation efforts and beginning to make a comeback are the bald eagle
Haliaetus leucocephalus and the peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
.

Species Preservation http://www.state.ia.us/government/dnr/organiza/fwb/wildlife/pages/falconindex.htm

Aesthetic, Ethical, & Spiritual
Importance of Organisms

Do Now:
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What is the difference between Conservation and Preservation?
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Conserve/preserve

Conservation Biology
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Scientific study of how humans impact organisms and development of strategies to protect diversity.

Conservation Biology, Challenges

Conservation Biology, Challenges

Mock Trial
8 Jurors
6 Lawyers (3 per side)
10 expert witnesses (5 per side)
Ferret Expert
Wind expert
Sierra Club
Solar expert
Impact awareness
Energy specialist (debts)
Wind expert
Solar
Biologist (everything is ok)
War veteran Parent

Conservation Biology
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Restoring Damaged or Destroyed Habitats
Beginning of prairie restoration in 1935

Conservation Biology
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Restoring Damaged or Destroyed Habitats
Same area in 2004

Conservation Biology
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Zoos, Aquaria, Botanical Gardens, and
Seed Banks
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Goal?
How?

Conservation Biology
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Zoos, Aquaria, Botanical Gardens, and
Seed Banks
Ultimate goal is to reintroduce endangered species back to their natural habitats
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By artificial insemination
Embryo transfer

Conservation Biology
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Zoos, Aquaria, Botanical Gardens, and
Seed Banks
Establishing seed banks (Gene banks)

Conservation Biology
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Conservation Organizations
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IUCN, The World Conservation Union
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Many work with state & federal agencies and private landowners to promote conservation.

Conservation Policies and Laws
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Endangered Species Act

Conservation Policies and Laws
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Endangered Species Act

Conservation Policies and Laws
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Habitat Conservation Plans
1982 amendment to ESA
Landowner allowed to set aside land for endangered species, but develop other land with those species

Conservation Policies and Laws
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International Conservation Policies and
Laws
Most important: CITES (Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna)

Wildlife Management
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Differs from conservation biology in that wildlife managers focus more often on common organisms and manage those species primarily for human benefits

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Wildlife Management
Management of Migratory Animals
Example of artic snow geese impact

Wildlife Management
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Management of Aquatic Organisms
Freshwater fisheries primarily managed by state fishing regulations
Ocean fisheries commonly viewed as common property this has lead many species close to commercial extinction

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Increase Public Awareness
Support Research in Conservation Biology
Support the Establishment of an
International System of Parks
Control Pollution
Provide Economic Incentives to
Landowners and Other Local People

Human Causes of Species Endangerment
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Biotic pollution: the introduction of of a foreign species into an area where it is not native.

IV.
biology
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The scientific study & protection of biological diversity.
In situ conservation addresses loss of diversity in nature.
Includes parks, sanctuaries, refuges, & other protected areas.
Restoration ecology attempt to restore a degraded area (derelict lands) by applying ecological principles.
Species  population  community  ecosystem  biome

IV.
biology
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Ex situ conservation addresses loss of diversity in controlled settings & involve captive breeding programs & storing genetic material.
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Zoos, Aquaria, botanical gardens, and seed banks are examples of Ex situ conservation.

Species Preservation

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Conservation organizations
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Various organizations help to educate policy makers and the public about the importance of biological diversity.
Organizations also take direct action in addressing the problem.
Schoolworld
W.W.F
EarthFirst!
U.S. Fish & Wildlife
The World Conservation Union .
Greenpeace

Conservation Policies & Laws
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Endangered Species Act: this legislation authorizes the U.S.
Fish & wildlife Service to protect endangered & threatened species in the U.S. & abroad.
Other nations have similar laws.
The Endangered Species Act does not include economic considerations built in. (private property owners won’t be compensated for abiding by the law if they suffer financial loss due to protecting an at risk species.
Habitat conservation plans are intended to resolve conflicts that arise due to the Endangered Species Act on private lands.

International Policies & Laws
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The IUCN , World Wildlife
Fund , & the U.N
Environment Program developed the World
Conservation Strategy in an attempt to conserve biological diversity worldwide.

International Policies & Laws
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C.I.T.E.S

Policies & Laws
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There are laws which regulate and guide the use of natural habitats.
Ex: SEQRState Environmental
Quality Review Act
A New York State law designed to provide the opportunity for citizen review and comment of the environmental impact of any proposed development that has been determined to have significant effect on the environment.

Wildlife Management
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An applied field of conservation biology that focuses on the continued productivity of plants & animals.
Involves the regulation of hunting & fishing & the management of food, water, & other habitat components.
Wildlife programs often have different priorities than conservation biology. Traditional wildlife management tends to focus on maintaining the population of a specific species, whereas conservation biology focuses on managing a community to ensure diversity in general.

What can we do about declining biological diversity?
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Increase Public
Awareness
The general public & lawmakers must become more aware of the importance of our biological heritage.

What can we do about declining biological diversity?
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
Support research in
Conservation Biology
Funding must be found for additional research in both basic
& applied fields relating to conservation biology.

What can we do about declining biological diversity?

Support the establishment of an International System of parks with a minimum of
10% of the Earth’s land area.

What can we do about declining biological diversity?

Control pollution which damages humans as well as other organisms.

What can we do about declining biological diversity?

Provide economic incentives to landowners & other local people to manage their lands in an environmentally sustainable way.
Ex: Ecotourism in Costa
Rica

What can we do about declining biological diversity?

Developing nations that are the repositories of much of the world’s biological diversity must realize the economic value of their living resources.

What can we do about declining biological diversity?


Click here for
Disappearing
Amphibians:
Frogs and other amphibians have been disappearing on a global scale.
chytrid fungus

Genetic Reserves

Domesticated plants & animal breeding including traditional breeding
(pollination & animal husbandry) as well as genetic engineering.

The End?