Conservation Biology and the Biology of Conservation

1
Conservation Biology and the Biology of
Conservation

• Alan Journet
• Department of Biology Environmental Science
  Program Southeast Missouri State University
• E-mail ajournet_at_semo.eduWeb
  http//cstl-csm.semo.edu/journet
• Whats New?

2
Postulates of Conservation Biology

• i.e. We hold these truths to be self-evident
• Diversity is good extinction is bad biophilia
  (not biophobia).
• Ecological complexity is good simplification is
  bad.
• Evolution is good.
• Biotic Diversity ( Biodiversity) has intrinsic
  value.

3
Characteristics of Conservation Biology

• A crisis discipline
• A multidisciplinary Science
• An inexact science
• Precautionary Principle
• A value-laden science
• Science with an evolutionary time scale
• Science of eternal vigilance
• Application of ecology to stewardship

4
And

• The practice of Conservation Biology involves
  advocacy.
• Most species lack a voice, lack immediate
  economic value, and thus lack representation.
• If we (as biologists / ecologists) dont speak
  for / stand up for biodiversity who will?

5
Interdisciplinary
6
What Do We Mean By Biodiversity?

• Genetic
• Species
• Habitat/Community/Ecosystem/Landscape---(Biome-Li
  fe ZoneEco-region)

7
Why Do We Value Biodiversity

• Instrumental Value Anthropocentric or
  Utilitarian Value

• Goods
• Services
• Information
• Psycho-spiritual

8
The Value of Biodiversity
2. Intrinsic Value Biocentric View

• Most people acknowledge the intrinsic value of
  human life whether they are religious or not.
• i.e. it has more than simple economic value.
• What about other species, communities, ecological
  systems?
• Question Where is the ethical boundary?

9
The Ethical Boundary
Noss Expanding Moral Obligations
Where Is Your Boundary?
10
I Patterns of Rarity
Conservation Biology Messages

• Conservation concerns about Rare Endangered
  Species must recognize that being common is the
  exception.
• Geographic Range
• Typical Local Population Size
• Habitat Specialization

11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
Weeds, Exotic invasive species, Often early
successional pioneer species.
15
ParadoxicallyRareness is the Common
Condition.
Molles, MC,2008, EcologyConcepts and
Applications, 4th Edition
16
II Species Richness Area
Species Richness as Area Increases
Arithmetic Scale
17
Species Abundance Curves
High S.R.
These curves varydepending on maximumlocal
Species Richness.
Low S.R.
18
A logarithmic transformation straightens the line
S.R. cAZ
Where S.R. Species Richness A Area c
Constant z Slope
19
If area drops S.R. drops
20
Species Area Curves
z ranges 0.2 to 0.35
A 90 decrease in area ? 37.5 50 loss in S.R
Starting S.R. z 0.35
Starting S.R. z 0.20
21
Comparison of S.R. on islands with
equivalentcontiguous land mass sample areas.
Reptiles on islands off coastal S. Australia
cf. mainland.
22
Equilibrium Number of Species on Islands
Large / Near
Near Large Islands
Far, Small Islands
Small / Distant
23
Equilibrium Number of Species on Islands
Small
SmallIslands
Large Islands
Large
24
Equilibrium Number of Species on Islands
SmallIslands
Near Large Islands
Rate ofExtinction
Large Islands
Far, Small Islands
It is impossible to miss the relevance of this
idea to our conservation efforts.
Reserve success (f) size and distance to
colonizers
25
III Patch Quality
Fragment size and the edge effect.
Smaller patches have a higher proportion of edge
unusable for some spp.
26
As patch size increases, the proportion of
interior or core habitat increases.
27
Patches may belarge, but effectively absent
if they are 100 edge.
28
While some species are generalists and
insensitive to patch size,
29
and some are actually specialist edge occupants,
30
others require large core habitat areas
to maintain viable populations.
31
IV Floral / Faunal Succession
32
S.R. Patterns During Succession Pioneers ? Later
Competitors
Late competition
Early competition
33
Dominant plant types during succession
Pioneer Herbs Ruderal
Competitors
Stress Tolerators
34
Biomass of Species During Secondary SuccessionR
Ruderal or Pioneer Species C Competitor
Species S Stress Tolerant Species
35
Overall Pattern in S.R. During Secondary
Succession
Early successionspecialists
Late successionspecialists
36
Romance versus Reality
V Static vs Dynamic Systems

• 19th C view of natural stasis
• If left unmolested natural communities are
  stable.
• Emerson, Thoreau, Muir
• Current view of Dynamic Systems
• Landscapes are a mosaic of sub-units exhibiting
  varying stages of recovery from disturbances.

37
Disturbances / Perturbations are Natural and
Variable

• INTENSITY HOW SEVERE?
• FREQUENCY HOW OFTEN?
• DURATION HOW LONG?
• EXTENT HOW WIDESPREAD?

38
The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Maximum S.R.
S.R.
? High Disturbance Frequency Low ? ? Soon
Time Since Disturbance Long ? ? Large
Disturbance Scale Small ?
39
But What is the PrevailingHuman Impact?

• S.R. seems optimally supported by a landscape
  mosaic representing stages of recovery,
• But we have already dramatically adjusted the
  historic successional pattern and disturbance
  frequency on the landscape....
• Indeed, almost everything humans do produces
  disturbed early successional stages,
• Little surprise because its in early succession
  that agricultural and forestry productivity are
  highest.

40
MESSAGE

• Management conservation priority should be to
  promote mid ? late successional patches in the
  mosaic

41
BOTSP an island ina sea of agricultural
cropland.
M.R.
Supports Rare Species Small patch Extensive edge
effect Frequent flood disturbance Surrounded by
early succession
N
St. James Bayou
BOTSP
New MadridFloodway
Park Road
42
Suggestions fromIsland Biogeography theory and
habitatfragmentation studiesfor wildlife
reserve size and shape.
43
Missouris Climate Future
Higher Average Temperature w/o more rain ? ?
Courtesy Pat Guinan, University of Missouri-
Columbia
44
Future Temperature Range
There is much doubt depends on what we do.
The last Ice Age (20,000YBP)
http//epa.gov/climatechange/science/futuretc.html
45
What Determines Biomes?

• Ave.Temperature.
• Ave. Rainfall.

46
Response to Climate Change?

• Promote Adaptation to climates that we predict
  will be present.
• How certain can we be of what climate will be
  present and where?
• Can we manage communities well enough to do it
  successfully, even if we knew?
• Will other factors prevent it (e.g. edaphic)?
• Maintain what we have by promoting Resistance to
  climate change.
• Will changes be too severe to permit such
  strategy?
• Maintain what we have by promoting Resilience to
  climate change.
• Ditto

47
Whichever

• Well probably need not only the dominant or
  common species in our communities, but also those
  that are not so common -
• The R E components (whether officially so
  designated or just naturally / intrinsically R
  E).
• As resource managers, our task is to keep all the
  players on the stage.