Available at http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl

Biodiversity

Why is it important?

BCB 705:Biodiversity

The question asked on the title slide assumes that biodiversity is important, is it?

Biodiversity has been subject to huge losses (mass extinctions) before. Why should we worry about it?

Is our anthropocentric view of biodiversity the only valid view?

“What sort of world do we want to live in?” (p. 87 Gaston & Spicer 1998).

“What sort of world are we prepared to pay to live in?” (p. 87 Gaston & Spicer 1998)

If biodiversity is important, how do we use it sustainably?

Some Things to ConsiderSome Things to Consider

This does not only consider monetary value.

Non-use Values

Use Values

Indirect

Direct

Intrinsic Value

Ways of Assigning Value to Ways of Assigning Value to BiodiversityBiodiversity

Option Value

Bequest Value

Existence Value

Aesthetic Value

Non-use ValueNon-use Value

Food

Disturbance Control

Carbon Se-questration

Waste Treatment

Air Puri-fication

Erosion Control

Gas Re-gulation

+ Abiotic = Habitat

Biological Control

Water Re-gulation

Indirect Use ValueIndirect Use Value

Climate Regulation

Nutrient Cycling

Trophic Levels

Decom-position

Soil Fertility

Soil Forma-tion & Main-tenance

Natural Organisms form Ecosystems

Water Pu-rification

Pollination

Certain plant species serve as reliable indicators of desired environmental conditions.

Some plant species have affinities to certain metals.

Direct Use – Indicator of Environmental ResourcesDirect Use – Indicator of Environmental Resources

Indicator of Environmental Resources – Indicator of Environmental Resources – Dependence and EffectDependence and Effect

The use of plants as indicators of environmental resources is dependent on autecological knowledge of the plant species. Such knowledge depends on studies of the species in its natural habitat which requires all the ecosystem services to maintain it.

Unfortunately the use of the resources indicated by the plant species tends to be detrimental to the continued existence of the species in that area.

Most of what we eat is produced by living organisms – either through agriculture or harvesting from the wild.

Subsistence farmers particularly benefit from biodiversity.

Food additives

Aids to food production – e.g. pesticides, insecticides, fungicides & fertilizers.

Genetic improvement of domesticated species.

Non-Use Value = Source of new species for agricultural use.

Direct Use – Food ProductionDirect Use – Food Production

The survival of species harvested from the wild is threatened.

Wild harvesting is dependent on all the different ecosystem services to sustain the production of the harvested species.

Agriculture is dependent on biological control of soil organisms, nutrient cycling, pollination, soil formation and maintenance, soil fertility and water purification for plant production and all of the above with the addition of food sources for animal production.

Food Production – Effects and DependenceFood Production – Effects and Dependence

Cropland uses space.

The direct use of a natural enemy to control a pest organism.

See the Invasion Biology course (Chapter 8) for more detail.

Direct Use – Biological ControlDirect Use – Biological Control

Biological Control – DependenceBiological Control – Dependence Biological control makes direct use of the natural biological

control exerted by ecosystems in an unnatural context.

The biological control agent is dependent on all ecosystem services that support its host, e.g. nutrient cycling and habitat. The maintenance of a habitat involves all the other ecosystem services.

Commercial production of plants for the extraction of medicines or direct commercial production of biodiversity derived medicines.

Traditional medicines (see picture).

Animals for product testing

Non-Use Value = Source of new medicines

Direct Use – MedicineDirect Use – Medicine

Animal testing of medicines requires food for the animals.

Wild harvesting for traditional or other use is dependent on all the different ecosystem services to sustain the production of the harvested species.

Chemical production of medicines is dependent on the water and air purification and waste treatment services of ecosystems.

Medicine – DependenceMedicine – Dependence

Many primate species are used to test drugs.

Raw materials for industrial use include timber, rattans, fibers, oils, fats, resins, waxes, dyes, fuels, cellulose, latex, cork, lubricants, poisons, scales, bones, hides and rubber.

Products include cosmetics, scents, clothing, paper, etc.

Some plants may serve as tools for the extraction of minerals.

Non-Use Value = Source of new materials for industrial use.

Direct Use – IndustryDirect Use – Industry

Harvesting Rubber Lumber

For farmed raw materials (e.g. timber) the same dependence occurs as in agriculture: biological control of soil organisms, nutrient cycling, pollination, soil formation and maintenance, soil fertility and water purification for plant production and all of the above with the addition of food sources for animal production.

Wild harvesting is dependent on all the different ecosystem services to sustain the production of the harvested species.

All industry is dependent on natural systems for water and air purification and waste treatment.

Industry – DependenceIndustry – Dependence

Bioremediation is the use of biological organisms or their products (enzymes) to remove or detoxify contaminants from hazardous waste and contaminated soil or water.

A species of bacteria can breakdown chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Poplar trees (see picture) are used to clean contaminated industrial sites.

Direct Use – BioremediationDirect Use – Bioremediation

Bioremediation – DependenceBioremediation – Dependence Bioremediation depends directly on the

ecological services of waste treatment and water purification.

Changes in the levels of biodiversity or individual species ranges may be used to indicate changes in the ecology.

Lichen species serve as indicators of air quality (see picture).

Direct Use – Indicator of Ecological ChangeDirect Use – Indicator of Ecological Change

Indicator of Ecological Change – Indicator of Ecological Change – DependenceDependence

Changes in biodiversity reflect changes in the ecosystem that have changed the balance of ecosystem services. This use of biodiversity relies directly on the organisms to indicate the condition of the ecosystem of which they are a part.

Ornamental plants including geophytes, orchids and succulents.

Pets

Animals for laboratory use, recreation and ecotourism.

Direct Use – Live TradeDirect Use – Live Trade

Live Trade – DependenceLive Trade – Dependence

Farmed organisms for live trade require the same inputs as for agriculture.

Wild harvesting of both plants and animals is dependent on all the ecosystem services to sustain the organisms for harvesting.

Crassula coccinea

People pay to view biodiversity in the natural environment. This is termed ecotourism.

Recreation

Gardening

Camping

Hiking and Mountain Biking

Sport

Fishing

Hunting

Falconry

Direct Use – Ecotourism and RecreationDirect Use – Ecotourism and Recreation

Ecotourism is dependent on all ecological services.

Recreational activities such as gardening rely on nutrient cycling, soil fertility and soil formation and maintenance.

Camping, hiking and mountain biking in natural areas rely on all ecological services to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the environment.

Sports such has fishing, hunting and falconry rely on prey species and the ecological services that sustain them – food sources and habitats which require all the ecological services to maintain them.

Ecotourism and Recreation – DependenceEcotourism and Recreation – Dependence

Various ‘wild’ animal species have been trained to aid man.

Asian elephants are trained as draught animals.

Fishing in China and Southeast Asia

Direct Use – Working AnimalsDirect Use – Working Animals

Working Animals – DependenceWorking Animals – Dependence

Farmed working animals require the same inputs as for agriculture.

Wild harvesting of animals is dependent on all the ecosystem services to sustain the organisms for harvesting.

Biodiversity serves as a source of inspiration for art, poetry and literature and influences philosophy, language and religion in many societies.

Biodiversity may also supply the medium in which the art is expressed – e.g. canvas for painting and wood for sculptures.

Direct Use – CulturalDirect Use – Cultural

Cultural – DependenceCultural – Dependence In as much as any aspect of biodiversity may provide inspiration,

cultural diversity is reliant on all ecological services to maintain the source of inspiration.

Materials for use in art are the products of industry so the ecological services needed by industry apply – air and water purification and waste treatment as well as supports for production.

Each species provides unique information that is lost if the species becomes extinct. Species, species interactions and intact ecosystems are important research areas.

Biodiversity provides clues on evolution, past and present.

Biodiversity presents insights into how life functions.

Direct Use – KnowledgeDirect Use – Knowledge

Knowledge – DependenceKnowledge – Dependence All ecosystem services are needed to develop

understanding of biodiversity.

Market values do not reflect the impacts of use on society and biodiversity.

Short term vs. long term benefits

Money may increase faster than the resource reproduces.

The rarity of a species increases the monetary value of the product though the costs of obtaining it also increase.

The development of products takes time.

Ownership. If I do not use this, someone else will.

Who benefits? Informal vs. formal markets – political hierarchy.

Problems with Monetary Values and Problems with Monetary Values and Societal ControlSocietal Control

Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Biodiversity: what is it?Biodiversity: what is it?

Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The evolution of biodiversityThe evolution of biodiversity

Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Biodiversity: why is it important?Biodiversity: why is it important?

Chapter 4 Chapter 4 ……

I hope that you found chapter 3 informative and that you will enjoy chapter 4.