Conservation Biology Fall 2007. What is Conservation Biology? Applied, interdisciplinary science developed in response to rapid modern loss of species.

Conservation Biology

Fall 2007

What is Conservation Biology?

Applied, interdisciplinary science developed in response to rapid modern loss of species & habitats.

3 goals:o Document diversity of organisms on Eartho Study human impact on species and habitatso Develop methods to preserve those species

and their habitats

Conservation Biology….The study of Biological

Diversity

Semester Summary

The semester was built around these 4 questions about

Biodiversity:

Biological Diversity:

What is it, & how do scientists study it?

How did it get here?What threatens it today?How can we preserve it, as much as

possible?

What is Biological Diversity?

Bacteria

Archaebacteria

Protists Plants

Fungi Animals

Levels of Biological Diversity – Diversity at different scales:

1) Genetic Diversity

2) Species Diversity

3) Habitat Diversity

What are the Origins of Biological Diversity?

Biodiversity Origins

Genetic diversity: what it is, how it works

Species diversity: what is a species, how do they arise?

Evolution: how has the diversity of organisms come to be here on Earth?o Artificial selection vs. natural selection

Ecosystem diversity: food webs & how they work

What are the Threats to Biological Diversity?

Biodiversity Threats

History of Life & Mass ExtinctionsDangers of small population sizesHistory of human impactsModern threats…

o Habitat loss, fragmentation & degradation

o Invasion of exotic specieso Global climate change

What are some Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis?

Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis

Saving Species:Minimum viable populationsHabitat size3 levels of intervention to save

species (habitat improvement, captive breeding, off-site conservation)… in situ vs. ex situ preservation

Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis

Saving Habitat:Island Biogeography theory & what it

tells us about designing habitat reserves

Ideal design of habitat reservesWhat has been done in U.S.?US Legislation to preserve biodiversity

o Focused on species, habitats? (both?)o Article “Bred for Success” – relate to

above question

Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis

Sustainability & Sustainable Development:

Video: The Shaman’s ApprenticeGuest Lecture: Jim Dyer on sustainable

farming & ranching (farms as habitat)Debate: What is our best hope for

encouraging preservation of biodiversity?

Closing: EO Wilson & the biodiversity bottleneck…

Saving “The Creation”

What will it take to preserve biological diversity?

Getting through the “Bottleneck”o Wilson, pg. 311 quote

What are the best arguments for preservation?

Pragmatism first:o Use biodiversityo Economics, technology (Wilson ch. 13)o How many species do we rely upon for food

today? (p 287)o In diversity, often more stability (or resilience)

Most biodiversity housed in most impoverished nations – how can we help? (Frontiers article)

What agenda does Wilson propose to get diversity through the bottleneck?

List his 5 points:o What are they?o What is a problem associated with or

addressed by each point?o What is an example of success he

mentions for each point?Report to class

But, of course, the only real hope for preservation must go

beyond pragmatism

Biophilia:o The inherent awe, connection and

respect humanity feels for the rest of nature

o When we have enough food & shelter, we can remember this sense of love & wonder we all have for the natural world – the world we were born of

Wilson – ch. 15 – quote,o P. 343-344 (4 paragraphs)o Read this!!!!!

So, what can we do? What can YOU do…?

My heart is moved by all I cannot save: So much has been destroyed I have cast my lot with those who, age after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power reconstitute the world.

---Adrienne Rich