Conservation Biology Fall 2007 What is Conservation Biology? Applied, interdisciplinary science developed in response to rapid modern loss of species & habitats. 3 goals: o Document diversity of organisms on Earth o Study human impact on species and habitats o Develop methods to preserve those species and their habitats Conservation Biology…. The study of Biological Diversity Semester Summary The semester was built around these 4 questions about Biodiversity: Biological Diversity: What is it, & how do scientists study it? How did it get here? What threatens it today? How can we preserve it, as much as possible? What is Biological Diversity? Bacteria Archaebacteria Protists Fungi Plants Animals Levels of Biological Diversity – Diversity at different scales: 1) Genetic Diversity 2) Species Diversity 3) Habitat Diversity What are the Origins of Biological Diversity? Biodiversity Origins Genetic diversity: what it is, how it works Species diversity: what is a species, how do they arise? Evolution: how has the diversity of organisms come to be here on Earth? o Artificial selection vs. natural selection Ecosystem diversity: food webs & how they work What are the Threats to Biological Diversity? Biodiversity Threats History of Life & Mass Extinctions Dangers of small population sizes History of human impacts Modern threats… o Habitat loss, fragmentation & degradation o Invasion of exotic species o Global climate change What are some Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis? Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis Saving Species: Minimum viable populations Habitat size 3 levels of intervention to save species (habitat improvement, captive breeding, off-site conservation)… in situ vs. ex situ preservation Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis Saving Habitat: Island Biogeography theory & what it tells us about designing habitat reserves Ideal design of habitat reserves What has been done in U.S.? US Legislation to preserve biodiversity o Focused on species, habitats? (both?) o Article “Bred for Success” – relate to above question Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis Sustainability & Sustainable Development: Video: The Shaman’s Apprentice Guest Lecture: Jim Dyer on sustainable farming & ranching (farms as habitat) Debate: What is our best hope for encouraging preservation of biodiversity? Closing: EO Wilson & the biodiversity bottleneck… Saving “The Creation” What will it take to preserve biological diversity? Getting through the “Bottleneck” o Wilson, pg. 311 quote What are the best arguments for preservation? Pragmatism first: o Use biodiversity o Economics, technology (Wilson ch. 13) o How many species do we rely upon for food today? (p 287) o In diversity, often more stability (or resilience) Most biodiversity housed in most impoverished nations – how can we help? (Frontiers article) What agenda does Wilson propose to get diversity through the bottleneck? List his 5 points: o What are they? o What is a problem associated with or addressed by each point? o What is an example of success he mentions for each point? Report to class But, of course, the only real hope for preservation must go beyond pragmatism Biophilia: o The inherent awe, connection and respect humanity feels for the rest of nature o When we have enough food & shelter, we can remember this sense of love & wonder we all have for the natural world – the world we were born of Wilson – ch. 15 – quote, o P. 343-344 (4 paragraphs) o Read this!!!!! So, what can we do? What can YOU do…? My heart is moved by all I cannot save: So much has been destroyed I have cast my lot with those who, age after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power reconstitute the world. ---Adrienne Rich