AB Which do you like better? Circa 1910 AB Which do you like better? Sugar cane.

A B

Circa 1910

A B

Sugar cane

Bio =

BioBiodiversitydiversity

What does “Bio” mean?

BioBiodiversitydiversity

Diversity = Variety

What does “Diversity” mean?

- “The variety of life in all its forms, levels and

combinations”

- Includes:ecosystem diversity, species diversity,

and genetic diversity

• Scientists have identified more than 2 million species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown

•The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made possible by complex interactions among all living things.

Main idea: Biodiversity maintains a healthy biosphere and provides direct and indirect value to humans.

Objectives:Describe three types of biodiversity.Explain the importance of biodiversity.Summarize the direct and indirect value of

biodiversity.

There are 3 components of biodiversity 1. Diversity of genes

Chihuahuas, Greyhound and Newfies are all dogs—but they're not the same because their genes are different.

ChihuahuaChihuahua NewfoundlandNewfoundlandGreyhoundGreyhound

Genetic Diversity The variety of genes or inheritable

characteristics that are present in a population comprises its genetic diversity.

Genetic diversity within an interbreeding population increases the chances that some species will survive during changing environmental conditions or during the outbreak of disease.

Diversity of speciesDiversity of species. .

Hoary Bat

There are 3 components of There are 3 components of biodiversity biodiversity

Iwi Kahuli

Species DiversitySpecies Diversity

The number of different species and the relative abundance of each species in a biological community is called species diversity.

Biodiversity provides us with: Natural Resources (food, water,

wood, energy, and medicines) Natural (Ecosystem) Services

including: air and water purification, soil fertility, waste disposal, pest control)

Aesthetic pleasure

Variety of ecosystemsVariety of ecosystemsEach one is different, with its own set of Each one is different, with its own set of species living in it.species living in it.

Desert Tropical Rain Forest tiaga

Biodiversity has Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic Value = Something that has value in and of itself

Source: Burmbaugh © AMNH-CBC

Biodiversity also has Utilitarian Value

Utilitarian Value = the value something has as a means to another’s end.

Utilitarian values include:• Goods• Services• Information

What do we get from biodiversity?

OxygenFoodClean WaterMedicineAesthetics Ideas

Direct Use Value: GoodsFoodBuilding MaterialsFuelPaper ProductsFiber (clothing,

textiles)Industrial

products (waxes, rubber, oils)

MedicineSource: © AMNH-CBC

Food

Today, most people rely on ~20 types of plants, and only 3 to 4 are staple crops.

Diversity is critical for developing new strains and breeds, i.e. that suit a particular environment or are resistant to pests or disease and as a source of new crops

Source: © AMNH-CBC

Building Materials, Paper Products, and Fuel

Sourc

e:

© A

MN

H-C

BC

Source: USDA Photo b Ken Hammond 

Source: USDA Cotton Program

Originating plant or animal Product/End useCork oak (Quercus suber) CorkPARē RUBBER TREE (HEVEA

BRASILIENSIS)Rubber

Lac insect (Laccifer spp.) shellacCARNAUBA PALM (COPERNICIA CERIFERA) CARNAUBA WAX

Wax plant (Euphorbia antisyphilitica) candelilla waxJojoba plant (Simmondsia chinensis) jojoba oilCochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus) CARMINE DYE*

MedicineAbout 80% of the

people in developing countries use plants as a primary source of medicine.

57% of the 150 most-prescribed drugs have their origins in biodiversity

Source: © AMNH-CBC

Drug

Source Use

Barbaloin, aloe-emodin Aloe (Aloe spp.) antibacterial, skin conditions, purgative

Atropine Belladonna (Atopa belladonna)

Relaxant, sedative

Codeine Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Painkiller

Colchicine Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)

Anticancer agent

Digitoxin Common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Cardiac stimulant

Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine

Joint fir (Ephedra sinica)

Asthma, emphysema, bronchiodilator, hay fever

L-Dopa Velvet bean (Mucuna deeringiana)

Parkinson’s disease

Menthol Mint (Menta spcs.) Nasal congestion Morphine Opium poppy

(Papaver somniferum) Painkiller

Quinine Yellow cinchona (Cinchona ledgeriana)

Malaria

Reserpine Indian snakeroot (Rauvolfia serpentina)

Hypertension

Scopolamine Thornapple (Datura metel)

Sedative

Taxol Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia)

Anticancer

Vinblastine, vincristine Rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

Leukemia

Indirect Use Values: Services Regulating global processes,

such as atmosphere and climate

Soil and water conservationNutrient cyclingPollination and seed dispersalControl of agricultural pestsGenetic library Inspiration and informationScientific and educationalTourism and recreationCultural, spiritual, and

aestheticCommunity ResilienceStrategic

Source: © AMNH-CBC

Global Processes : Atmospheric Regulation

Photosynthetic biodiversity created an oxygenated atmosphere, and also has the potential to moderate the rising amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide linked to global climate change

Source: Frey © AMNH-CBC

Global Processes: Climate RegulationForests and other vegetation modify climate: by

affecting sun reflectance, water vapor release, wind patterns and moisture loss.

Forests help maintain a humid environment, for example, half of all rainfall in Amazon basin is produced locally from forest-atmosphere cycle

Source: Bain © AMNH-CBC

•Filters excess nutrients and traps sediments that would otherwise impact neighboring marine and aquatic areas

Other services:•Minimizes damage from waves and floods•Serves as a nursery for juvenile commercial fish •Provides habitat for many birds, fish, and shellfish

Source: Ersts © AMNH-CBC

Example: Coastal wetlands and mangroves

Nutrient CyclingBiodiversity is critical to nutrient

cycling and soil renewalDecomposers such as algae, fungi, and bacteria

Source: Snyder © AMNH-CBC

Pollination and Seed DispersalMany flowering plants depend on animals

for pollination to produce food.

30% of human crops depend on free services of pollinators; replacement value estimated billions of rupees/year in India alone

Source: Spector© AMNH-CBC

Source of Inspirationor Information

Biomimicry

Applied Biology

Medical Models

Education and Scientific Research Source: Brumbaugh © AMNH-CBC

Medical Models

Hibernating bears may improve the treatment of:

trauma patientskidney diseaseosteoporosis

Source: New Jersey Fish and Wildlife

Spiritual and Cultural ValuesThe survival of natural areas and species are

important to different cultures around the world.

Thousands of cultural groups in the world, each have distinct traditions and knowledge for relating to natural world

Source: Projecto Gato Andino Bolivia, Villalba & Bernal, 1998

Source: Brumbaugh © AMNH-CBC

Ecological Value: Does Diversity Make Communities More Resilient?

Resilient ecosystems are characterized by:Constancy (Lack of fluctuation)Inertia (Resistance to perturbation)Renewal (Ability to repair damage)

Not all species are critical to an ecosystems function; many fill redundant roles; basis for community resilience and integrity

If too many species or keystone species are lost, eventually it leads to the failure of ecosystem function

Source: Brumbaugh © AMNH-CBC

http://research.amnh.org/biodiversity/crisis/index.html

Non-Use or Passive Values

Existence value

Bequest value

Potential or Option value

Biodiversity

Collections

Accreditation criteria

Apply to campus tree collections

Homework: go to a ‘Collection’

In situ conservation Setting up wild life reserves is not just a matter of building a fence around an area and letting it grow “wild”

Without grazing animals heathlands which contain a number of rare species will revert to woodland

Nature reserves and national parks First the area that is suitable for the creation of a

reserve has to be identified and delimited

This requires surveys to collect data on key species

Property may have to be expropriated

A legal framework may need to be set up to control human activities in the area and in it’s immediate surroundings

Policing the area may also be necessary

IUCN Red ListIUCN Red ListInternational Union for Conservation of Nature

Nine categories:ExtinctExtinct in the WildCritically EndangeredEndangeredVulnerableNear ThreatenedLeast ConcernData DeficientNot evaluated Yellow-crested cockatoo (Critically Endangered)

less than 7000 individuals remain

Which conservation organisations do you know?WWFConservation InternationalFlora and Fauna InternationalWildlife Conservation SocietyBirdlife InternationalThe Nature Conservancy

Biodiversity HotspotsBiodiversity HotspotsConservation International use

two factors to determine which areas qualify as a global biodiversity hotspot:

Number of endemic vascular plant species (those found nowhere else)

Amount of original habitat lost

Biodiversity HotspotsBiodiversity Hotspots

Each hotspots contains over 1,500 endemic vascular plants species

This represents over 0.5% of the world’s total vascular endemic plant species

Biodiversity HotspotsBiodiversity HotspotsDegree of threat was determined by the percentage of

remaining habitat within a region, with each hotspot retaining less than 30 percent of its original natural habitat

Some of the hotspots have less than 10 percent of the original natural habitat

Biodiversity HotspotsBiodiversity Hotspots

Overall, the 34 hotspots once covered 15.7% of Earth’s land surface

86% of the hotspots’ habitat has already been destroyed

Intact remnants of the hotspots now only cover 2.3% of the Earth’s land surface

Hold at least 150,000 endemic plant speciesContain 11,980 endemic terrestrial vertebrate

species

EducationResearchSpecies

distributionsSpecies

classificationConservation and recovery programs

Role of Biodiversity Collection

Should we be concerned about biodiversity?

What we know: The Earth is losing species at an alarming rate

Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions

occur each year. when species of plants and animals go extinct, many

other species are affected.

Threats to biodiversity

HHabitat Loss

IIntroduced Species

PPollution

PPopulation Growth

OOver-consumption

HIPPO Dilemma

Habitat loss/destruction Habitat loss is the greatest reason for biodiversity loss. Habitat loss is due to:•Conversion of natural

areas to farms, houses, etc

•Fragmentation of ecosystems by human activities, housing, transportation, agriculture etc.

•Simplification of genetic diversity and complex ecosystems by planting/selecting monocultures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lacanja_burn.JPG

Invasive / Exotic Species

•Invasive, exotic species introduced from elsewhere outcompete native species because they:

•Have no natural predators•Colonize disturbed habitats quickly•Have a high biotic potential (r-species)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta,_Georgia.jpg

Pollution

Pollution (Oil spills, human agricultural waste, fertilization, pesticides, acid

deposition, greenhouse gases etc) caused by human activities has a negative effect

on biodiversity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AlfedPalmersmokestacks.jpg

Population, Human overpopulation that is.

6.8 Billion and counting. The expansion of human population and affluence, especially in

the developing world harms natural ecosystems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_population.svg

Overharvesting, Overuse, Overexploitation

Overhunting, overfishing, destructive harvesting practices (cyanide, dynamite),

illegal trade, exotic pet industry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fishing_down_the_food_web.jpg

HumanPopulation

Increase

IncreasingEconomic

Activity

Increased use of technology

Social, politicaland cultural

factors

Land use change(Habitat loss)

IncreasingEconomic

Activity

Increased use of technology

Social, politicaland cultural

factors

Indirect (Underlying

causes)

Directcauses

DecliningBiological Diversity

Raven, Berg, and Hassenzahl put it this way

Characteristics shared by many endangered species include:

• Low reproductive rate (biotic potential)• Feed at high trophic levels (apex predator)• Large body size• Specialist

Specialized feeding habitsSpecialized nesting and/or breeding areasFixed migratory patternsFound in one place or region

• Rare • Commercially valuable• Negative human interactions including attacks on

people or livestock

Why should we worry about conservation? Ethics = we know what we are doing

and its negative effects is it right to continue this?

Aesthetics = the natural world is more beautiful than strip malls and roads should we keep it around?

Genetic resources = end result of millions of years of evolution – unique gene combinations for disease resistance, chemical production, etc

Commercial = many of the products we rely on result from the biotic component of the planet

- opportunity cost value of the next best alternative forgone as a result of making a choice-implies choice of results that are mutually exclusive

Life support = plants produce the oxygen we need to survive, soil provides the means for growing food, organisms/processes cycle and purify the water we need

Ecosystem support = the interactions of the world are all connected effect one effect it all

BiodiversityCollection

AccreditationOrganization

State Agency orPrivate Organization

Community Visitor Industry

CommunityVolunteers

HistoricalAgreements