BiodiversityBiodiversityLife on Earth, and How

We’re Losing It…

The Biosphere

• The sum of Earth’s ecosystems, the Biosphere encompasses all parts of the planet inhabited by living things.

• In 2002 about 1.7 million species had been discovered and identified by biologists, although estimates of the true number of species on earth range from 3.6 to over 10 million (Wilson 2002).

• For at least 3.8 billion years, a complex web of life has been evolving here on Earth.

Terrestrial Biomes

The term biome refers to a major type of terrestrial ecosystem that typifies a broad geographical region.

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity - short for biological diversity - is the variety of all living organisms and their interactions. Scientists often speak of three levels of diversity - species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity.

Species

Genetic

Ecosystem

751000

30800

248400

26900

69000

5800

281000

Insects

Protozoa

Higher plants

Algae

Fungi

Bacteria &virusesOther animals

What makes up What makes up Earth’s Earth’s

Biodiversity?Biodiversity?

Global Distribution of Global Distribution of BiodiversityBiodiversity

Greatest in areas where NPP is greatestGreatest in areas where NPP is greatest Terrestrial: toward Equator - Terrestrial: toward Equator - Why?Why? Aquatic: near shore, marine upwellings – Aquatic: near shore, marine upwellings – Why?Why?

Importance of Biodiversity

Reasons human cultures value biodiversity:

The rich variety of species in biological communities gives us food, wood, fibers, energy, raw materials, industrial chemicals, and medicines, all of which pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the world economy each year.

Moreover, people have a natural affinity for nature, a sense of “biophilia,” wherein they assign a non-utilitarian value to a tree, a forest, and wild species of all kinds (E. O. Wilson).

Importance of Biodiversity

Pollination For every third bite you take, you can thank a pollinator.

Air and Water PurificationBiodiversity maintains the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Climate ModificationBy giving off moisture through their leaves and providing shade,

plants help keep us and other animals cool.

Drought and Flood ControlPlant communities, especially forests and wetlands, help control

floods.

Cycling of NutrientsThe elements and compounds that sustain us are cycled endlessly

through living things and through the environment.

Importance of Biodiversity

HabitatNatural ecosystems provide habitat for the world’s species

(forests, wetlands, estuaries, lakes, and rivers – the world’s nurseries).

FoodAll of our food comes from other organisms.

Natural Pest Control ServicesNatural predators control potential and disease-carrying

organisms in the world.

Drugs and MedicinesLiving organisms provide us with many drugs and medicines.

Factors Leading to Biodiversity Loss

Multiple forces entrained by human activity reinforce one another and force species down. These factors are summarized by conservation biologists under the acronym HIPPO + G (Wilson 2002).

• Habitat Destruction

• Invasive Species

• Pollution

• Population

• Overharvesting

• Global Warming

Habitat Destruction

Estimates predict that a full one-fifth of the species in the world could become extinct within the next 100 years due to deforestation in Southeast Asia alone (Brook 2003).

Invasive Species

The Nile perch has been the principal contributor to the extinction of over 200 endemic fish species since its introduction to Lake Victoria in 1954 (ISSG Database).

Invasive Species

• A species that is not native to a region

• Threaten native species by taking over resources

• Ex. Tallow tree, nutria

Human Population Explosion

• The current threat to biodiversity, and thus to the biosphere as we know it, stems primarily from expanding human populations and increased human consumption of natural resources.

THE WORLD POPULATION HAS TRIPPLED IN THE LAST 70 YEARS.

Based on the present rate of population growth. One could conservatively predict the population to be by

the year: 2,050 AD 12 Billion ???2,100 AD 24 Billion ???2,150 AD 48 Billion ???2,200 AD 96 Billion ???

2,250 AD 192 Billion ??? 2,300 AD 384 Billion ???

http://www.edu.ue-foundation.org/worldpop.html

Pollution

There has been widespread death of thousands of seals in recent years, likely due to the accumulation of chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT, PCB’s) and dioxins in fat (Cunningham, Cunningham 2003).

Over-harvesting

Over-harvesting has triggered the Red-Listing of 14% of threatened mammals and 11% of birds globally (Rosser 2002).

Global Warming

Global Warming has already caused one species level extinction, that of Costa Rica’s golden toad (Pounds 1999).

A conservative estimate states 24% of the world’s species will become extinct within the next 50 years due to global warming (Thomas 2004).

The Reality

•During the past 150 years, humans have directly impacted and altered close to 47% of the global land area (Groombridge 2002).

•An area of 76,000 km2 of tropical rainforest is being cleared annually – an area the size of West Virginia or Costa Rica (FAO 2000).

•Current extinction rates are estimated at 100-1000 times greater than pre-human rates (Pimm, 1995).

•We have caused the extinction of 5-20% of the species in many groups of organisms (Chapin 2000).

•According to Wilson, should world conditions remain the same, at least one-fifth of the world’s species will become extinct by 2030 (Wilson 2002).

HuntingHunting

Unregulated Unregulated hunting – ex. hunting – ex. Passenger Passenger pigeon in early pigeon in early 1900’s1900’s 2 billion legally 2 billion legally

hunted to hunted to extinctionextinction

Dodos extinct on Dodos extinct on MauritiusMauritius

Hunting RegulationsHunting Regulations Hunting Hunting

organizations & organizations & gov. agencies work gov. agencies work to make sure only to make sure only a certain a certain percentage of percentage of game animals are game animals are killed each yearkilled each year

PoachingPoaching illegal hunting, esp. in developing countries ($)illegal hunting, esp. in developing countries ($) Can mean the difference between starvation and Can mean the difference between starvation and

survivalsurvival Very hard to preventVery hard to prevent

Ex. African Elephant and White Rhino in KenyaEx. African Elephant and White Rhino in Kenya

Each species is always Each species is always dependent on other speciesdependent on other species

Keystone speciesKeystone species - a species - a species which is CRITICAL to the which is CRITICAL to the functioning of an ecosystem functioning of an ecosystem Many different species are Many different species are

dependent on itdependent on it If lost, the entire ecosystem is If lost, the entire ecosystem is

destroyeddestroyed

Sea Otter – Keystone Sea Otter – Keystone speciesspecies

Otters lived in kelp Otters lived in kelp beds, ate sea urchinsbeds, ate sea urchins

Otters were hunted for Otters were hunted for pelts; disappearedpelts; disappeared

Sea urchins multiplied; Sea urchins multiplied; ate all kelpate all kelp

1937, small group of 1937, small group of otters foundotters found

Otter numbers grew; Otter numbers grew; sea urchins declined sea urchins declined

Kelp beds restored!!Kelp beds restored!!

Uses of Various SpeciesUses of Various Species(Economic Services)(Economic Services)

Mass extinctions represent Mass extinctions represent the loss of potential the loss of potential usesuses

Ex. Medicinal products - Ex. Medicinal products - ~40% of all prescription ~40% of all prescription drugs were originally made drugs were originally made from living thingsfrom living things

Rosy periwinkle = leukemiaRosy periwinkle = leukemia

Cinchona = malariaCinchona = malaria

pineapple = tissue pineapple = tissue inflammationinflammation

foxglove = cardiac foxglove = cardiac stimulantstimulant

Development of future Development of future medicines?medicines?

Loss of Loss of rainforests, etc. rainforests, etc. means loss of means loss of plant speciesplant species

Possible cures or Possible cures or treatments for treatments for AIDS, Alzheimer’s, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, etc.Cancer, etc.

Future food source?Future food source? World relies on 3 things: Rice, Wheat, World relies on 3 things: Rice, Wheat,

CornCorn What happens if a parasite or virus What happens if a parasite or virus

strikes?strikes? Ex. Potato famine in IrelandEx. Potato famine in Ireland Biodiversity helps keep some Biodiversity helps keep some genetic genetic

varietyvariety in the gene pool in the gene pool

AestheticsAesthetics Once its gone, it can no longer be Once its gone, it can no longer be

looked at, touched, or appreciated…looked at, touched, or appreciated…

Endangered Species Endangered Species ActAct First went into effect in 1973First went into effect in 1973

Designed to Designed to identifyidentify and and protectprotect any plant or any plant or animal in danger of extinction (currently c. animal in danger of extinction (currently c. 1,350)1,350)

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for the oceansresponsible for the oceans

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is responsible for all othersresponsible for all others

Four ProvisionsFour Provisions 1. Compile list of endangered or threatened species1. Compile list of endangered or threatened species 2. These species must not be caught or killed2. These species must not be caught or killed 3. Gov. may not carry out projects that jeopardize 3. Gov. may not carry out projects that jeopardize

their long-term survivaltheir long-term survival 4. Species recovery plan for those in danger of 4. Species recovery plan for those in danger of

extinctionextinction

Endangered speciesEndangered species – – numbers have fallen so low it numbers have fallen so low it is likely to become extinctis likely to become extinct

Threatened species – Threatened species – likely likely to become endangered if not to become endangered if not protectedprotected

Developers vs. Developers vs. EnvironmentalistsEnvironmentalists

Making money vs. Making money vs. saving speciessaving species

Construction of Construction of roads, drilling for roads, drilling for oil in the Arctic, etcoil in the Arctic, etc

Compromises are Compromises are usually reachedusually reached

Fear of government Fear of government restrictions can restrictions can deter people from deter people from reporting reporting endangered spp. endangered spp. on their property!!on their property!!

Worldwide Efforts to Worldwide Efforts to Prevent ExtinctionsPrevent Extinctions

World Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife Fund Nature ConservancyNature Conservancy Friends of the EarthFriends of the Earth Greenpeace Greenpeace

InternationalInternational International Union International Union

for the Conservation for the Conservation of Nature and of Nature and Natural Resources Natural Resources (IUCN)(IUCN)

Convention on International Trade in Convention on International Trade in Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species (CITES)(CITES) Slowed the poaching of Elephants by Slowed the poaching of Elephants by

making ivory trade illegalmaking ivory trade illegal Restricts trade of animal parts for use in Restricts trade of animal parts for use in

Chinese medicineChinese medicine Earth Summit & Biodiversity Treaty – Earth Summit & Biodiversity Treaty –

encourages wealthy countries to give $$encourages wealthy countries to give $$$ to poorer countries for the protection $ to poorer countries for the protection of individual speciesof individual species

Saving SpeciesSaving Species

Captive-breeding Captive-breeding programsprograms in zoos in zoos and wild animal and wild animal parksparks

Wild individuals are Wild individuals are captured and bred captured and bred for later releasefor later release Ex. California condorEx. California condor Ex. Black-Footed Ex. Black-Footed

FerretFerret

Botanical GardensBotanical Gardens – – storehouses of genetic diversitystorehouses of genetic diversity

Store around 90,000 species of Store around 90,000 species of plants, many of which are plants, many of which are threatenedthreatened

Germ-Plasm BanksGerm-Plasm Banks – store – store germ plasm, (genetic material germ plasm, (genetic material in reproductive cells), in case in reproductive cells), in case the species become extinctthe species become extinct Plants = seedsPlants = seeds Animals = sperm/eggsAnimals = sperm/eggs

The Future of Biodiversity The Future of Biodiversity ConservationConservation

Protect Protect entire ecosystemsentire ecosystems instead of instead of individual species onlyindividual species only Save most of the species in the ecosystem not Save most of the species in the ecosystem not

just those on the endangered listjust those on the endangered list Health of the entire biosphere relies on Health of the entire biosphere relies on

preservation of individual ecosystemspreservation of individual ecosystems Protect Protect “Biodiversity Hotspots”“Biodiversity Hotspots”

Look for the places where most of the species Look for the places where most of the species are found, and preserve them…are found, and preserve them…