Biodiversity in Perspective

Starr/Taggarts Biology:
The Unity and Diversity of Life, Chapter 27
10e

Fig. 27.1,p 474

The mystery of Easter Island and its lesson for us, if we listen

Key Concepts:
Current biodiversity is the result of abrupt extinctions and slow recoveries Extinctions may have complicated causes Over past 40 years, rates of extinction have risen Human population growth threatens biodiversity Conservation biology identifies hotspots, determines how to maintain biodiversity

Mass Extinctions and Slow Recoveries

99% of species that have lived are extinct Mass extinctions reduce biodiversity on land and in the sea There have been five major extinctions

Mass extinctions are followed by recoveries that require 20-200 million years

Global Biodiversity Through Time

Era
Cenozoic

Period Quaternary 1 mya Tertiary 65 Cretaceous 145 Jurassic 213 Triassic 248 Permian 286 Carboniferous 360 Devonian 410 Silurian 440 Ordovician 505 Cambrian 544 Precambrian

Mass Extinction Under Way

With high population growth rates &cultural practices (agriculture, deforestation), humans --> major agents Mass Extinction of extinction.
Asteroid impact at K-T boundary
Mass Extinction

Mesozoic

Pangea forms. Asteroid impact? Major glaciation, huge lava flows Mass Extinction Meteorite impact, sea level decline, many marine grps go,global cooling?
Mass Extinction

Paleozoic

Second most devastating marine extinction - many inverts lost

Mass Extinction

Massive glaciation;79%of species lost

Figure 27.1 Page 476

Some Diversity Patterns

Patterns of extinction and recovery have differed for different groups

(mammalian diversity for ten families studied)

Fig. 27.2b, p. 476

Vertebrates Insects Crustaceans over 4 million

Mollusks
Roundworms Plants Fungi Protozoans 0 400 800 1,200 1,600

Number of species (x 1,000)

Current species diversity for some major taxa

Red = Known species Gold = Estimated number of species not yet discovered
Fig. 27.11, p. 486

Causes of Mass Extinctions

Not always obvious Tectonic changes, i.e. breakup of Pangea Many lineages disappeared at K-T boundary

Asteroid impact
But - biodiversity had already been declining

Two extinct species, a mosasaur and the dodo

Fig. 27.3, p. 477

Newly Endangered Species - the Sixth Major Extinction is Underway

4,500 species of mammals today

About 300 are endangered

Whales Wild cats Otters Primates

Threatened Regions

As projected from 1998 to 2018

Fig.27.4,p 478

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

Habitat loss threatens more than 90 percent of species facing extinction Fragmented habitat
Increased boundaries Patches too small to support breeding population Patches too small to provide food and other resources

Habitat Loss & Fragmentation: Black Rhino

Habitat Islands
Island species especially vulnerable to extinction-nowhere to go Island biogeography can be used to estimate future extinctions in islands such as natl parks, tropical forests, lakes MacArthur-Wilson model
Destroy 50% of habitat, drive 10% of the endemic species to extinction

Indicator Species
Provide warning of widespread loss of biodiversity Migratory songbirds
64 species surveyed 1978-1987

44 species declined in number

69% of migratory songbirds face habitat loss - deforestation of winter habitat & fragmentation of summer habitats

Other Contributing Factors

Introduced species
Highly competitive Displace endemic species

Overharvesting
Whales

Illegal wildlife trading

Whales Harvested

The great whales are on the edge of extinction

Fig.27.6b,p 479

humpback whale sperm whale

sei whale fin whale

Declining numbers of great whales other species

blue whale

Fig. 28.5, p. 489

illegal products

27.3 Case Study: Coral Reefstheir future doesnt look promising

Coral bleaching
Symbionts die when expelled, then corals do Effect of global warming? Sea temps.

Oil spills ,sewage, & other pollutants Dredging Dynamite , cyanide fishing methods

coral reef

island

lagoon

open ocean

An atoll type of coral reef

Fig. 27.7c, p. 480

Fig. 27.8, p. 481

Rachel Carson brought the effects of pesticides to public attention

27.4

The Sea Around Us-1951

Silent Spring - 1962

oceanographer and marine biologist who heavily influenced the environmental and conservation movements

Fig. 27.9, p. 482

Rachael Carsons Warning

Oceanographer, marine biologist The Sea Around Us - 1951 Silent Spring - 1962 Harmful effects of pesticides - DDT Biological magnification in food webs see pg. 872 Her work inspired the environmental movement and conservation biology

Conservation Biology
Pure and applied research
Systematic survey of range of biodiversity Attempt to understand its origins - ecological and evolutionary Identify methods that maintain and use biodiversity for human good Focus on hot spots for inventory, especially of indicator species Bioeconomic analysis; assign future value of regions Sustainable development

Tropical forest Temperate forest Northern coniferous forest Tropical grassland and savanna Temperate grassland Mountain grassland

Mediterranean shrub Desert Arctic tundra Mangrove swamp Marine ecoregion Freshwater ecoregion Fig. 27.10, p. 483

World Wildlife Funds map of the most vulnerable areas of land & sea

Biodiversity & Human Demands

To counter economic demands of human population, the future economic value of biodiversity must be determined Examples of sustainable solutions
Strip logging- sustainable forestry Rotating cattle in and out of riparian areas sustainable ranching

uncut forest cut 1 year ago

dirt road cut 3-5 years ago cut 6-10 years ago uncut forest

stream in watershed
Fig. 27.11, p. 484

Sustainable strip logging proposed for sloped forests with streams

Riparian zone before and after restoration, San Pedro River, AZ USA

Endemic species may have more of a chance to survive; most require a riparian zone for food, shelter, shade
Fig. 27.12, p. 484

In Conclusion
Global biodiversity is greater now than

ever, but a sixth extinction crisis may be underway After global mass extinctions, biodiversity recovers very slowly Human population growth is highest in regions with most vulnerable biodiversity An endangered species is an endemic species that is threatened with extinction

In Conclusion
Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, exotic

species, overharvesting, and illegal wildlife trade threaten endemic species

Island biogeography models help predict

the number of current and future extinctions

Indicator species provide early warnings

of impending biodiversity loss

In Conclusion
Humans are destroying coral reefs through

pollution, fishing, dredging, and perhaps by contributing to global warming

Conservation biology surveys the range of

biodiversity, analyzes its origins, and identifies methods to maintain and use biodiversity for the good of the human population

In Conclusion
The exponential growth of the human population works at odds with any suggested biodiversity remediation measures. And can we strike a balance between economic growth and a sustainable, healthy environment?