Chapter 24 Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity Chapter Objectives: Define aquatic biodiversity Define aquatic biodiversity Determine its economic and ecological.

Chapter 24Chapter 24

Sustaining Aquatic Sustaining Aquatic BiodiversityBiodiversity

Chapter Objectives:Chapter Objectives:•Define aquatic biodiversity Define aquatic biodiversity •Determine its economic Determine its economic and ecological importanceand ecological importance

•Determine the role of Determine the role of human impacts on human impacts on biodiversitybiodiversity

•Determine ways to protect Determine ways to protect and sustain diversityand sustain diversity

A. Patterns of Marine A. Patterns of Marine BiodiversityBiodiversity

•3 most diverse regions of the 3 most diverse regions of the oceans:oceans:– Reefs, Estuaries, and Ocean Reefs, Estuaries, and Ocean floorfloor

•Diversity is higher near the Diversity is higher near the coastscoasts

•Diversity increases moving Diversity increases moving south to the equatorsouth to the equator

Kelp

Hogfish

Cobia

Pacific sailfishCarrageen

Yellow jack

Batfish

MorayRed snapper

Red algae

Striped drum AngelfishBladder kelp

Sea lettuce Orange roughyChinook salmon

DevilfishGreat barracuda

Laminaria

Porcupine fish

Sockeye salmonGrouper

Dulse Chilean sea bass

Bulrush

Bluegill White bassBrook trout White waterlily

Water lettuce

Rainbow trout

Muskellunge

BowfishWater hyacinth

Rainbow darter

Bladderwort

Black crappieWhite sturgeon 

Yellow perch

Largemouth black bass

Walleyed pike

American smelt

Eelgrass Longnose garDuckweedCommon piranha

Carp

African lungfish

Egyptian white lotus

Channel catfish

Velvet cichlid

B. Environmental and B. Environmental and Ecological Importance of Ecological Importance of

Aquatic BiodiversityAquatic Biodiversity•Climate Climate

moderationmoderation•Nutrient Nutrient

recyclingrecycling•Waste dilutionWaste dilution•HabitatHabitat•Reduced storm Reduced storm

impactimpact

•FoodFood

•DrugsDrugs

•RecreationRecreation

•EmploymentEmployment

•Natural Natural resourcesresources

* Only 4% of total federal budget used in aquatic research

Economic Value of Marine Economic Value of Marine ResourcesResources

•$22.5 trillion/yr$22.5 trillion/yr

•Sea Weed is used in Sea Weed is used in pharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics ($400 million/yr)cosmetics ($400 million/yr)

•Many Species have Many Species have anticancer properties anticancer properties

•Sea Weed and Octopus Sea Weed and Octopus treat Hypertensiontreat Hypertension

•Bone Reconstruction from Bone Reconstruction from coralcoral

•Chemicals from Sponges fight Chemicals from Sponges fight HerpesHerpes

•Barnacles produce binding Barnacles produce binding adhesive for tooth fillingsadhesive for tooth fillings

C. Human Impacts on C. Human Impacts on Aquatic BiodiversityAquatic Biodiversity

1.) Species Loss and 1.) Species Loss and EndangermentEndangerment

•OverfishingOverfishing•Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction•PollutionPollution

1/3 of all fish species are 1/3 of all fish species are threatened with extinctionthreatened with extinction

2. Marine Habitat Loss and 2. Marine Habitat Loss and DegradationDegradation

•½ of the worlds ½ of the worlds coastal wetlands coastal wetlands have been have been destroyeddestroyed

•½ of the worlds mangroves ½ of the worlds mangroves have disappearedhave disappeared

•70% of beaches have 70% of beaches have serious erosion problemsserious erosion problems

•Dredging destroys bottom Dredging destroys bottom habitatshabitats

3. Freshwater Habitat Loss 3. Freshwater Habitat Loss and and

DegradationDegradation•60% of the 60% of the

worlds rivers worlds rivers are strongly are strongly fragmented fragmented by damsby dams

4. Overfishing4. Overfishing•60% of the worlds 60% of the worlds

commercially valuable fish commercially valuable fish are fished to the limit or are fished to the limit or beyondbeyond

•Overfishing leads to Overfishing leads to Commercial ExtinctionCommercial Extinction–Unravels food chainsUnravels food chains

•Extinction of unintentionally Extinction of unintentionally caught species (Sea Turtles caught species (Sea Turtles and Dolphins)and Dolphins)

Global freshwater

Year

Mea

n t

rop

hic

lev

el

1950 1960 1970 1980 19902.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

3.0

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

Species at risk<5%

5–9.9%

10–19.9%

20–29.9%

> 30% Fig. 24.6, p. 634

Freshwater Species at Risk

5. Nonnative 5. Nonnative SpeciesSpecies•Species Species

deliberately or deliberately or accidentally accidentally introducedintroduced

ExamplesExamples: : Asian Swamp EelAsian Swamp EelZebra MusselsZebra MusselsAsian CarpAsian CarpSnakeheadSnakehead

Snakehead Fish

Asian Carp

6. Pollution6. Pollution•OilOil•AcidAcid•Oxygen demanding wastesOxygen demanding wastes•Toxic Chemicals (Cyanide and Toxic Chemicals (Cyanide and

DDT)DDT)•Coastal developmentCoastal development•SedimentationSedimentation

7. Global Warming7. Global Warming•Alters migration patternsAlters migration patterns•Destroys Coral ReefsDestroys Coral Reefs•Raise water levelsRaise water levels

Pollution of OceansPollution of Oceans

Pollution of FreshwaterPollution of Freshwater

D. Protecting and D. Protecting and Sustaining Marine Sustaining Marine

BiodiversityBiodiversityWhy is it difficult to protect Why is it difficult to protect

marine biodiversity?marine biodiversity?

•Much of the damage is not Much of the damage is not visiblevisible

•Most of the ocean is outside Most of the ocean is outside the jurisdiction of an one the jurisdiction of an one nationnation

•No effective international No effective international agreements agreements

How can we protect and How can we protect and sustain Biodiversity?sustain Biodiversity?

•Protect endangered and Protect endangered and threatened speciesthreatened species

•Establish protected areasEstablish protected areas

•Regulate and prevent Regulate and prevent ocean pollutionocean pollution

•Manage marine fisheriesManage marine fisheries

Problems for the Sea Problems for the Sea Turtles…Turtles…•3 out of 8 major turtle 3 out of 8 major turtle

species are endangeredspecies are endangeredDue to…Due to…•Loss or degradation of Loss or degradation of

habitathabitat•Legal and illegal taking of Legal and illegal taking of

eggseggs•Increased use for food, Increased use for food,

pharmaceuticals and jewelrypharmaceuticals and jewelry•Unintentional captureUnintentional capture

Seal

Bowhead whale

HumpbackwhaleNorthern right

whale

Fin whaleHawksbillturtle

Hawaiianmonk seal

Hawksbillturtle

Greenturtle Leatherback

turtle

Greenturtle

Humpbackwhale Fin whale

Humpbackwhale

Hawksbillturtle

Greenturtle

HawksbillturtleKemp'

sridley turtle

Leatherbackturtle

Olive ridleyturtle

Fin whale

Humpbackwhale

Bowhead whale

Bowhead whale

Northern rightwhale Mediterranean

monk seal

Leatherbackturtle

Hawksbillturtle

Oliveridleyturtle

Leatherbackturtle

Humpbackwhale

Fin whale

Leatherbackturtle

Greenturtle

Oliveridleyturtle

Japanesesea lion

Bowhead whale

Hawksbillturtle

Saimaa seal

Fig. 24.10, p. 637

A Mammal Pushed to A Mammal Pushed to Extinction due to fishing By-Extinction due to fishing By-

CatchCatch

One of the last known baiji, photographed in captivity before its death in 2002. Nobody eats baiji, but it became

a bycatch of other fishing.

Loggerhead119 centimeters

Olive ridley76 centimeters

Leatherback188 centimeters

Hawksbill89 centimeters

Green turtle124 centimeters

Kemp's ridley 76 centimeters

Black turtle99 centimeters

Australian flatback

99 centimeters

Major Species of Sea Turtles

Turtle Exclusion Devices Turtle Exclusion Devices (TED)(TED)•Until recently Until recently

55,000 turtles 55,000 turtles were killed a were killed a year by shrimp year by shrimp trawlingtrawling

•US Government US Government requires requires shrimp shrimp trawlers to use trawlers to use TEDTED

Shrimp trawler

Area enlarged right

Fig. 24.13, p. 640

TED allows shrimp to be captured while letting the Turtles pass through a trap door.

SHARK SHARK FINNINGFINNING

Humans Kill 100 million

sharks a year by finning

Many are killed to make Shark-

Fin Soup

WhalingWhaling

WhalingWhaling::•Easy to Kill:Easy to Kill:

•Large size and the need to Large size and the need to get to the surface to breatheget to the surface to breathe

•Fast ships, harpoon guns, Fast ships, harpoon guns, inflation lances and inflation lances and explosives.explosives.

WhalingWhaling

The Peril of the Blue WhaleThe Peril of the Blue Whale

IWC (International IWC (International Whaling Commission)Whaling Commission)

•Set annual quotasSet annual quotas•Had no power to enforce the Had no power to enforce the

regulationsregulations•USA stopped whaling in USA stopped whaling in

19701970•Japan, Norway, Iceland and Japan, Norway, Iceland and

Russia are attempting to Russia are attempting to overthrow the overthrow the IWCIWC and and CITES TreatyCITES Treaty

National and International National and International Laws to Protect Marine Laws to Protect Marine

Species…Species…**CITES TreatyCITES Treaty::•1975 Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species

•Protects endangered species by a series of permits

•Includes plants or animals, Dead or alive.

Examples of Other Laws and Examples of Other Laws and TreatiesTreaties

•1979 Global Treaty on Migratory Species

•1972 US Marine Mammal Protection Act

•1973 US Endangered Species Act

•1976 US Whale Conservation and Protection Act

•1995 International Convention on Biological Diversity

B. Establish protected areasB. Establish protected areas

Antarctica: 1991 Ban on…Antarctica: 1991 Ban on…

• Mineral and oil explorationMineral and oil exploration

• Wildlife protection, marine Wildlife protection, marine pollution and pollution and environmental monitoringenvironmental monitoring

• Oceans around Antarctica Oceans around Antarctica are not coveredare not covered

Other Areas of Other Areas of Concern…Concern…•United Nations wants to United Nations wants to establish the following establish the following regionsregions

•Black SeaBlack Sea•Persian GulfPersian Gulf•Red SeaRed Sea•South PacificSouth Pacific

Integrated Coastal Integrated Coastal ManagementManagement

Community-based attempt to use Community-based attempt to use resources in sustainable mannerresources in sustainable manner

Fishers, Scientists, business, Fishers, Scientists, business, politicianspoliticians

1)1) Identify shared problems and Identify shared problems and and establish goalsand establish goals

2)2) Agree to workable and cost-Agree to workable and cost-effective solutions that preserve effective solutions that preserve biodiversity.biodiversity.

ChesapeakChesapeake Baye Bay

Reclaiming an Industrial Site Reclaiming an Industrial Site on Lake Michigan on Lake Michigan (SHOW VIDEO – Video Downloads (SHOW VIDEO – Video Downloads

folder)folder)

Beach ErosionBeach Erosion•70% of the worlds beaches are 70% of the worlds beaches are

eroding due to natural and eroding due to natural and human causeshuman causes

•Main problem is rising sea Main problem is rising sea levels due to climate increaseslevels due to climate increases

•Since 1965 the U.S. has spent Since 1965 the U.S. has spent over $4 billion on replenishing over $4 billion on replenishing beachesbeaches

TsunamiTsunami

Engineered Methods to Engineered Methods to Reduce Beach ErosionReduce Beach Erosion

Only temporary solutionsOnly temporary solutions

Many ecologists oppose Many ecologists oppose these methodsthese methods

It is felt that some of these It is felt that some of these methods increase the methods increase the problemproblem

CurrentGroinGroin

-Structures that extend into water, help to trap sand from the current.

-Accumulate sand on upper side, but it is decreased on lower side

SeawallSeawall-Barrier in front of property

-Increase wave energy/erosion to the sides and front of wall

Importing Importing SandSand

-Sand brought in from offshore dredging

-Very disruptive to aquatic biodiversity and very expensive

Drainage Drainage systemsystem

Dischargepipe

Standpipe

Pump

Drain pipe

-Water soaks through sand into pipes that allow it to be pumped back in the ocean.

-Expensive and still in testing stages

Beachsaver Beachsaver modulemodule

Watercurtain

Beachsaver module

Sand carriedback to shore

-Placed offshore to channel water upward and to block sand loss

-Expensive and still being tested

Insuring the CoastsInsuring the Coasts• Proponents feel its necessary Proponents feel its necessary

to stimulate the economyto stimulate the economy• Some feel that gov’t susidized Some feel that gov’t susidized

coastal flood insurance should coastal flood insurance should be eliminatedbe eliminated

1.1. Individuals should pay if they Individuals should pay if they choose to live in the high risk choose to live in the high risk zoneszones

2.2.Ban wetland destructionsBan wetland destructions

Moving The Lighthouse

Regulating and preventing Regulating and preventing Ocean pollution Ocean pollution

-Industrial waste dumping -Industrial waste dumping off U.S. coasts has stoppedoff U.S. coasts has stopped

-London Dumping -London Dumping Convention of 1972Convention of 1972

-1983 permanent ban on -1983 permanent ban on dumping radioactive dumping radioactive wastes at sea wastes at sea

Radioactive waste being dumped into the open ocean

Sustainable Sustainable management of management of marine fisheriesmarine fisheries

-Reduce Overfishing-Reduce Overfishing

-Better -Better measurement of fish measurement of fish populations populations

-Controlling fishing -Controlling fishing methods and access methods and access to fisheriesto fisheries

Means of Projecting Fishery Means of Projecting Fishery PopulationsPopulations

1.1.Maximum sustained yield (MSY)Maximum sustained yield (MSY)

-maximum number of fish that -maximum number of fish that can be harvested annually from can be harvested annually from a fish stock.a fish stock.

2.2.Optimum sustained yield (OSY)Optimum sustained yield (OSY)

-Modification of the MSY -Modification of the MSY -Accounts for interactions with -Accounts for interactions with

other species other species -Provides room for error in -Provides room for error in

estimatesestimates

Individual Transfer Individual Transfer QuotasQuotas

•Permit to catch a certain Permit to catch a certain # of fish# of fish

•Permits can be sold and Permits can be sold and tradedtraded

•Discuss Pros and ConsDiscuss Pros and Cons

Protecting, Sustaining Protecting, Sustaining and Restoring Wetlandsand Restoring Wetlands

•In USA a federal permit is In USA a federal permit is required to fill any wetland required to fill any wetland larger than 3 acreslarger than 3 acres

•Has cut losses by 75% since Has cut losses by 75% since 19691969

Current U.S. Wetland Current U.S. Wetland Policy:Policy:

Zero Net LossZero Net Loss

•Mitigation BankingMitigation Banking::

•Allows destruction of a Allows destruction of a wetland as long as an wetland as long as an equal equal areaarea of the of the same typesame type is is created or restoredcreated or restored

Problems With Created Problems With Created Wetlands…Wetlands…

•Most new wetlands Most new wetlands fail to replace the fail to replace the lost oneslost ones

•Most created don’t Most created don’t resemble the real resemble the real onesones

•ExpensiveExpensive

Plans to Protect and Plans to Protect and Restore WetlandsRestore Wetlands

•Land use planning (steer Land use planning (steer developers away from developers away from wetlands)wetlands)

•Have the created Have the created wetlands inspected wetlands inspected before the original is before the original is destroyeddestroyed

•Prevent the invasion of Prevent the invasion of non-native speciesnon-native species

( )

( )

GULF OFMEXICO Naples

Fort Myers

FLORIDA

Florida Bay

EvergladesNational

Park

Key Largo

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Miami

FortLauderdale

WestPalmBeach

LakeOkeechobee

Unchannelized

Channelized

FLORIDA

Area ofdetail

Agricultural area

Treatment marshWater conservation areaCanal

miles

kilometers

0

0

20

20

40

40 60

60

KissimmeeRiver

Fig. 24.16, p. 651

Can We Save The Everglades ?Can We Save The Everglades ?

Once 60 miles wide, knee deep from lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay

Problems with the Problems with the EvergladesEverglades•US Army Corp of Engineers US Army Corp of Engineers

transformed 103mi Kissimmee transformed 103mi Kissimmee river into a 50 mi canalriver into a 50 mi canal

•Drained the wetlands in the Drained the wetlands in the northnorth

•In the south vast farmland was In the south vast farmland was planted and runoff has changed planted and runoff has changed the plant life of the areathe plant life of the area

•The Everglades are ½ their The Everglades are ½ their original sizeoriginal size

•Not as much freshwater flows Not as much freshwater flows into the Bay (getting salty) into the Bay (getting salty)

Everglades National ParkEverglades National Park•Established in 1947 (20% of Established in 1947 (20% of

the Everglades)the Everglades)

•It is the Most Endangered It is the Most Endangered National ParkNational Park

The Worlds Largest The Worlds Largest Ecological Restoration Ecological Restoration

ProjectProject•US Corp of Army Engineers (2000-2038)US Corp of Army Engineers (2000-2038)•Replumb south Florida ($7.8 billion shared Replumb south Florida ($7.8 billion shared

between USA and State)between USA and State)Goals:Goals:•Restore the curving flow of the Kissimmee Restore the curving flow of the Kissimmee

RiverRiver•Remove 250 mi of canalsRemove 250 mi of canals•Buy and Flood farmlandBuy and Flood farmland•Tap into aquifersTap into aquifers

Protecting, Restoring Protecting, Restoring and Sustaining Lakes and Sustaining Lakes

and Riversand RiversGreatest Threats to Lakes:Greatest Threats to Lakes:

• Pollution, Invasive Species Pollution, Invasive Species and Low water levelsand Low water levels

Greatest Threats to Rivers:Greatest Threats to Rivers:

•Pollution, Disruption of Flow Pollution, Disruption of Flow and Overfishingand Overfishing

National Wild and Scenic National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - 1968Rivers Act - 1968

•Kept free of developmentKept free of development•Can’t be …Can’t be …•Widened, straightened, dredged, Widened, straightened, dredged,

filled, dammedfilled, dammed

•Only uses…Only uses…•Camping, swimming, sport Camping, swimming, sport

fishing, non-motorized boatsfishing, non-motorized boats

Protecting the Oceans Protecting the Oceans ResourcesResources

3.3.Multispecies managementMultispecies management

– – Studies relationships Studies relationships between species and how between species and how they interact within a food they interact within a food web.web.

4.4.Large marine systemsLarge marine systems

– – Areas of the oceans are Areas of the oceans are controlled and regulated by controlled and regulated by multinational organizations.multinational organizations.

5.5.Precautionary principlePrecautionary principle

– – Better safe than sorryBetter safe than sorry