2. Biodiversity
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 2
• 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
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 3
5. Natural Resources
• Management of natural
resources
– Assure availability of
resources for the future
– Three “philosophies”
• Maximum sustained yield
• Ecosystem-based
management
• Adaptive management
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 5
6. Benefits of Biodiversity
• New food sources
– Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 6
8. Biodiversity
• How much biodiversity
1.7—2.0 million species
Estimates to 100 million
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 8
9. Biodiversity
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 9
• 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
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 10
11. Threats to Biodiversity
• Extinction and
population reductions
– Pollution
– Climate change
– Invasive species
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 11
12. Protecting Biodiversity
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 12
• 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
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 13
15. Protecting Biodiversity
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 15
• McArthur & Wilson
“Theory of Island
Biogeography”
– colonization rate
– extinction rate (local)
– predicts number of
species
17. Protecting Biodiversity
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 17
• 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.
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 18
19. Protecting Biodiversity
16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 19
• 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/
endangered/
