This document discusses biodiversity, including the variety of living things, different habitats and species interactions, and genetic diversity. It notes the benefits of biodiversity, such as ecosystem functions, services, and resources. Threats to biodiversity include extinction, habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and invasive species. Methods to protect biodiversity discussed include sustainable management of natural resources, establishing protected areas like parks and preserves, and enacting laws such as the Endangered Species Act.

1. Biodiversity
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2. Biodiversity
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• Variety of living things,
number of kinds
• Ecological diversity
– different habitats, niches,
species interactions
• Species diversity
– different kinds of
organisms, relationships
among species
• Genetic diversity
– different genes &
combinations of genes
within populations

3. Benefits of Biodiversity
• Ecosystem functions
• Ecosystem services
• Cleaning water,
• Cleaning air,
• Habitat & breeding
areas for wildlife, …
• Aesthetic and
cultural benefits
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4. Natural Resources
• Vital economic natural resources
– Renewable
• Forests (plants, wildlife)
• Soils
• Fresh water (lakes, rivers)
• Wildlife and fisheries
• Rangeland
– Nonrenewable
• Minerals
• Fossil Fuels
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5. Natural Resources
• Management of natural
resources
– Assure availability of
resources for the future
– Three “philosophies”
• Maximum sustained yield
• Ecosystem-based
management
• Adaptive management
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6. Benefits of Biodiversity
• New food sources
– Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish
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7. Benefits of Biodiversity
• Medicines
• Plants
• Jellyfish & sea
anemones
• Nudibranchs
• Marine slugs
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8. Biodiversity
• How much biodiversity
1.7—2.0 million species
Estimates to 100 million
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9. Biodiversity
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• Where is the biodiversity
– Everywhere
• Every continent and habitat
has unique life forms
– Concentrated in the
tropics
• Panama: > 500 species of
breeding birds
• Arctic: 50-100 species
– Dense concentrations

10. Threats to Biodiversity
• Extinction and population
reductions
– Hunting and overharvesting
• Tiger
• Dodo
• Whales
• Sharks
– Habitat loss
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11. Threats to Biodiversity
• Extinction and
population reductions
– Pollution
– Climate change
– Invasive species
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12. Protecting Biodiversity
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• How can we protect
biodiversity
– Stop overharvesting
• Sustainable yield
• Hunting & fishing laws
(every state ?)
– in developing nations ?
– Protect habitat
• Refuges, parks, preserves
– Endangered Species Act

13. Protecting Biodiversity
• Refuges, parks, preserves
– How big should refuges be?
– Where should they be?
– McArthur & Wilson “Theory of Island
Biogeography”
• colonization rate
• extinction rate (local)
• predicts number of species
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14. Protecting Biodiversity
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• Effect of island size • Effect of island distance

15. Protecting Biodiversity
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• McArthur & Wilson
“Theory of Island
Biogeography”
– colonization rate
– extinction rate (local)
– predicts number of
species

16. Protecting Biodiversity
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• Island Biogeography
– Island size predicts number of species

17. Protecting Biodiversity
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• Island Biogeography
– Everyplace is an island
– Habitat fragmentation
• Smaller fragments hold
fewer species

18. Protecting Biodiversity
• Endangered Species Act (1973)
– Goal to “recover” species so they no longer need protection under ESA
– Implements U.S. participation in CITES
• “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species”
• Prohibits trade in listed species
– whole organisms
– parts: skins, bones, teeth, flowers, leaves, etc.
• Other laws:
– Marine Mammal Protection Act
– Migratory Bird Treaty Act
– Anadromous Fish Conservation Act
– etc.
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19. Protecting Biodiversity
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• Endangered Species Act
(1973)
– Listing of “endangered” and
“threatened” species
– Restricts development of
habitats
– Captive breeding programs
• Release of captive bred
stocks to enhance or
recover wild populations.
• http://www.fws.gov/endang

20. Protecting Biodiversity
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• Biodiversity “hotspots”
– Protection of habitat