Chapter 15 Biological Resources

1
Chapter 15 Biological Resources
2
What Is A Species?

• Group of distinct organisms
• Breed only with each other
• 1.8 million have been named
• 5 - 100 million species ??
• New species still
  being identified
  today

3
Biodiversity

• Three components
• Genetic diversity
• Species richness
• Ecosystem diversity

What ecosystems display the greatest
biodiversity? Least?
4
Why Do We Need Biodiversity?

• 1. Ecosystem services provided by the diversity
  of organisms supports all life (including our
  own) soil formation, waste disposal, air
  water purification, solar energy absorption and
  storage, etc.

Can a system function without all its integral
parts ?

• Biodiversity adds stability
• to the biosphere,
• preserving the future.

5

• 2. Food
• Approximately 80,000 edible wild plants
• Crop plants bred for uniformity
• Increases susceptibility to disease, pests
• Wild plants needed to provide genetic diversity
  for crop plants
• Insects, birds bats important pollinators

6

• 3. Medicines - more than half of all
  prescriptions contain some natural product
  (penicillin, cortisone, etc.)
• Chemical produced by Rosy periwinkle treats
  childhood leukemia
• AZT to treat AIDS derived from a sponge

7

• 4. Countless other valuable products, many yet
  to be discovered
• Oils, lubricants
• Perfumes, dyes
• Natural insect repellents
• Adhesives

8

• 5. Intrinsic value of nature
• Recreation, inspiration, spiritual solace
• Drawings, paintings, photography
• All species have a moral right to exist

Americans spend 104 billion annually on
wildlife- related recreation. Ecotourism can
provide sustainable economic development.
9
Extinction - Death of a life form

• Natural event
• 99 of all previous species are extinct
• Currently a mass
• extinction is occurring
• due to human activities
• 100-1000 times
• natural rate

10
Endangered Threatened Species

• Endangered Species
• Facing threats that may lead to extinction
• Numbers severely reduced - when genetic
  variability too limited, inbreeding -gt
  extinction
• Threatened Species
• Declining population
• Could become endangered
• Species of Special Concern
• Populations starting to drop,
• but many still left

11
Examples of Floridas Endangered, Threatened,
Species of Special Concern
Florida Panther
Schauss Swallowtail Butterfly
American Crocodile
12
Florida Manatee
Gopher Tortoise
White Crowned Pigeon
13
Human-caused reductions in biodiversity 1.
HABITAT LOSS

• Destruction, fragmentation, degradation
• Largest threat to species - worldwide problem
• Why is so much land being altered?

14
2. POLLUTION

• Acid precipitation
• Ozone depletion
• Climate change
• Direct or indirect poisoning
• Altered habitat from chemicals

15
3. INVASIVE SPECIES

• Foreign species that cause economic or
  environmental harm - often introduced by humans
  how?

FL exotic invasives Trees Melaleuca,
Brazilian pepper, Australian pine Vines Old
world climbing fern, air potato Aquatic
weeds Hydrilla water hyacinth Animals
muscovy ducks, pythons, iguanas Diseases (West
Nile virus)
16
4. OVEREXPLOITATION

• Large predators viewed as dangerous to humans and
  livestock
• Unregulated hunting,
• fishing poaching
• Commercial harvest
• (Zoos, laboratories,
• circuses, pet stores)

17
SOLUTIONSConservation Biology

• Study human impacts on organisms
• Develop ways to protect biodiversity
• Two techniques
• preserving biodiversity in nature
• conserving biodiversity in human-controlled
  settings

18
1. Protecting Habitats

• Most cost effective long-lasting way to
  preserve biodiversity
• 3000 protected areas worldwid
• Wildlife corridors (greenways, landscape
  linkages) help connect protected areas form
  larger preserves that support greater
  biodiversity
• Protecting private land essential (gt80 of
  habitat for listed species on private property)
• Conservation Easements

19
Preserve Biodiversity Hotspots

• Relatively small areas of land
• Contain many endemic species
• At high risk from human activities

20
National Wildlife Refuge System, National Parks,
National Forests- all major U.S. ecosystems
represented
21
2. Restoration Ecology

• Study historical condition of human-damaged
  ecosystem
• Goal return it to former state
• Creates habitat
• Very expensive

22
3. Conserving Species

• Zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens
• Collecting eggs, seeds
• Captive breeding
• Conservation organizations
• Education
• Provide financial support
• Research
• Purchasing land
• Political activism

23
4. Conservation Policies Laws

• Endangered Species Act
• World Conservation Strategy (UN)
• CITES

24
5. Individual Choices that support sustaining
species diversity(Example thoughtful purchases)

• Shade-grown coffee
• Forests not cut down
• Provides habitat
• Hand-picked
• Look for organic, fair-trade brands

25
What other actions can an individual take to help
preserve biodiversity?

• The End!