Welcome to Conservation
Biology (Con Bio) 2005
website
webpage1
webpage2
What is Conservation Biology?
An overview
“Crisis Discipline”
Response to:
• Biodiversity loss
Declining Biodiversity Examples
• Steller’s Sea Cow
• Lived in Bering Strait
(Alaska)
• Grew to 35 feet long,
3.5 tons
• Slow-moving, docile
• Hunted to extinction by
1768, less than 30 years
after it was discovered.
Declining Biodiversity Examples
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Bachman’s Warbler
Neotropical migrant
Bred in southeastern US
Wintered in Cuban
tropical forests
• Deforestation in Cuba for
cane fields caused major
decline in numbers
• Last seen 1989.
Print by Audubon
Declining Biodiversity Examples
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Print by Audubon
Franklin tree
Altamaha River, Georgia
Last seen in wild: 1803
Maintained in
gardens/arboreta.
Declining Biodiversity Examples
• Only parrot native to
Eastern US
• Lived in large flocks in the
SE US
• Foraged on grains/fruits
• Declared a pest: killed in the
thousands by hunters and
farmers
• Affected by deforestation as
well
• Extinct by 1920.
Carolina Parakeet
Declining Biodiversity Examples
• Abundant bird in eastern
US (Canada to Gulf)
• Flocks of billions of birds
described (darkened sky)
• Hunted heavily in 1800s
• Forests destroyed
• Extinct by 1914.
Passenger Pigeon
Declining Biodiversity Examples
• Xerces Blue Butterfly
• Inhabited sand dunes near San Francisco, CA
• First North American butterfly to become extinct due to
human disturbance
• Habitat destruction as city developed was main probable
cause.
“Crisis Discipline”
Response to:
• Biodiversity loss
• Disruption of ecosystem functions
Ecosystem Disruption: The Gulf
of Mexico “Dead Zone”
• Runoff from agricultural fields fertilizers
(and other sources) in Mississippi drainage
contains nutrients
• Excessive nutrients delivered by Mississippi
River to Gulf cause algal bloom
• Dead algae die, sink, decompose.
The Gulf of Mexico
“Dead Zone”
• Oxygen levels drop
(hypoxia: low oxygen)
• Aerobic sea life (fish,
shrimp, crabs, etc.) dies
• Bottom area affected is
size of New Jersey
(7,700 sq miles).
“Crisis Discipline”
Response to:
• Biodiversity loss
• Disruption of ecosystem functions
• Climate change
Example: Bobolink
• Breeds in
summer in
Northern US
and Canada
• Migrates to
Argentina in
winter.
Climate Change and Species
Distributions
Climate
Envelope: Area
of suitable
climatic
conditions for a
species
Will shift as
global climate
changes.
Special Risk: “Island” species
• Ex, Alpine “Islands”
Orange is range of
high-elevation species
Lower climate limit
Special Risk: “Island” species
• Ex, Alpine “Islands”
Extinct population
New lower limit after
climate change
Lower climate limit
“Crisis Discipline”
Response to:
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Biodiversity loss
Disruption of ecosystem functions
Climate change
Invasive species
Example: Brown Tree Snake
• Accidentally introduced to
Guam (between 1945 and
1952)
Example: Brown Tree Snake
• Accidentally introduced to
Guam (between 1945 and
1952)
• Snake population exploded
• Extirpated by predation most
native forest vertebrates
• Shorted power grids
• Human hazard of snake bite
(mildly venomous: danger to
small children).
Example: Purple Loosestrife
Wetland species
Introduced from Eurasia in
early 1800s to northern US
Since 1930s, has
aggressively expanded
range westward and
crowded out other wetland
species.
Example: Purple Loosestrife
• Change from 1968 to 1978. Loosestrife crowds
out other wetland plants (central NY).
“Crisis Discipline”
Response to:
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Biodiversity loss
Disruption of ecosystem functions
Climate change
Invasive species
Overharvest of commercial species
Overharvest of Atlantic Cod
• Grand Banks Fishery off
Newfoundland in North
Atlantic
• Overfishing and
environmental fluctuation
caused major population
crash
• Harvest declined from
800,000 tons in 1968 to
140,000 tons in 1978
• Area closed to fishing in
1992
• May never re-open.
“Crisis Discipline”
Response to:
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Biodiversity loss
Disruption of ecosystem functions
Climate change
Invasive species
Overharvest of commercial species
Pollution impacts on species/ecosystems
Pollution
• May not be visible
• Biomagnification may occur: concentration of
pollutant increases up food chain
• Ex, DDT.
Pollution
• Ex, DDT
biomagnification
Pollution
• Ex, DDT
• Caused eggshells to break, nest success dropped
• Exs, bald eagle, peregrine falcon.
Bald Eagle
Peregrine falcon
Pollution
• Ex, DDT
• Bald eagle became federally threatened,
peregrine falcon endangered
• DDT use banned in U.S.
• Recovery efforts have resulted in de-listing of
peregrine falcon, proposed de-listing of eagle.
Pollution
• Lesson, don’t trust advertising…. (Time
Magazine, 1947).
“Crisis Discipline”
Response to:
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Biodiversity loss
Disruption of ecosystem functions
Climate change
Invasive species
Overharvest of commercial species
Pollution impacts on species/ecosystems
And, #1………..Human population growth!
Human Population Growth
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3 Goals of Conservation Biology
• Document biological diversity on Earth
3 Goals of Conservation Biology
• Document biological diversity on Earth
• Investigate human impacts on species,
communities, and ecosystems
3 Goals of Conservation Biology
• Document biological diversity on Earth
• Investigate human impacts on species,
communities, and ecosystems
• Develop ways to prevent extinction,
maintain genetic diversity, and protect or
restore communities and ecosystems.
The New Field of Conservation
Biology
• Conservation Biol.
• Resource Mgt.
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Agriculture
Fisheries
Forestry
Wildlife Mgt.
Park mgt.
Field Experience
New Ideas &
Approaches
• Ecology
• Genetics
• Evolutionary
biology
• Taxonomy
• Environmental
Studies
• Anthropology
ConBio’s 5 Ethical Principles
• Preserve diversity of species/communities
ConBio’s 5 Ethical Principles
• Preserve diversity of species/communities
• Prevent extinction of populations/species
ConBio’s 5 Ethical Principles
• Preserve diversity of species/communities
• Prevent extinction of populations/species
• Maintain ecological complexity
ConBio’s 5 Ethical Principles
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Preserve diversity of species/communities
Prevent extinction of populations/species
Maintain ecological complexity
Allow evolution to continue
ConBio’s 5 Ethical Principles
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Preserve diversity of species/communities
Prevent extinction of populations/species
Maintain ecological complexity
Allow evolution to continue
Recognize the intrinsic value of biological
diversity.
ConBio’s 5 Ethical Principles
• Recognize the intrinsic value
of biological diversity…...
Biophilia (E.O. Wilson):
genetic predisposition of
humans to prefer and
promote biological diversity.
Some ConBio History
• European view was anthropocentric
• Nature created by God for humans to use
• Resulted in massive exploitation for
immediate profit/use
Some ConBio History
• European view was anthropocentric
• Nature created by God for humans to use
• Resulted in massive exploitation for
immediate profit/use
• However, there were some surprisingly
early conservation efforts!.
Some ConBio History
• Poland 1564
• Reserve established to
protect the last
population of the
aurochs
• Ancestor of domestic
cattle.
Some ConBio History
• Poland 1564
• Went extinct anyway!
• Breed re-created by
German scientist from
European domestic
cattle.
Some ConBio History
• Poland 1564
• But reserve did save
wisent (European
bison) from
extinction!.
American ConBio History
• John Muir
• Founder of Sierra Club
• (US conservation
organization)
• Preservationist ethic: set
aside areas from human
impact and development
• Emphasized value of
wilderness for spiritual and
artistic uses.
American ConBio History
• Gifford Pinchot
• First head of US Forest Service
in early 1900s
• Resource conservation ethic: use
resources wisely for all society.
American ConBio History
• Gifford Pinchot
• First head of US Forest Service
in early 1900s
• Resource conservation ethic: use
resources wisely for all society
• Quote: “greatest good of the
greatest number in the long run”
• Legacy is “multiple use”
philosophy for government lands.
American ConBio History
• Aldo Leopold
• Evolutionary-ecological land
ethic:
• Management should maintain
ecological processes and
ecosystem health
• Humans part of ecosystems
rather than apart from them
• Proper management can
enhance diversity even beyond
that of natural communities.
American ConBio History
• Aldo Leopold
• Evolutionary-ecological land
ethic:
• Recent “spin” on this is
“reconciliation ecology”
(Rosenzweig 2001)
• Seeks how to modify humandominated habitats to allow
humans to share our range
with other species.
ConBio Today
• Well-established in science and government
ConBio Today
• Well-established in science and government
• Needs more attention by public
• 2001-2002 was International Biodiversity
Observation Year
ConBio Today
• Well-established in science and government
• Needs more attention by public
• 2001-2002 was International Biodiversity
Observation Year
• Needs more young and enthusiastic
minds…yours??