Which do you like better?

Which do you like better?

Which do you like better?

Which do you like better?

Which do you like better?

Which do you like better?

Which do you like better?

Values are Subjective: Perspectives and Scales

Land developer Local communities

Oil company

Government agency

Source: Sterling/Frey AMNH-CBC

Aquaculture company

Environmental group

The Value of Biodiversity

Intrinsic/inherent value
Extrinsic/utilitarian/ instrumental value

Source: Burmbaugh AMNH-CBC

Intrinsic/inherent value
The value of something independent of its value to anyone or anything else A philosophical concept

Source: Frey AMNH-CBC

Direct Use Value: Goods

Food Building Materials Fuel Paper Products Fiber (clothing, textiles) Industrial products (waxes, rubber, oils) Medicine

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

Medicine
About 80% of the people in developing countries use plants as a primary source of medicine. 57% of the 150 mostprescribed drugs have their origins in biodiversity

Source: AMNH-CBC

Traditional Medicine:Basis of Many Drugs

Drug Barbaloin, aloe-emodin Atropine Codeine Colchicine Digitoxin Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine L-Dopa Menthol Morphine Quinine Reserpine Scopolamine Taxol Vinblastine, vincristine Source Aloe (Aloe spp.) Belladonna (Atopa belladonna) Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) Common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) Joint fir (Ephedra sinica) Velvet bean (Mucuna deeringiana) Mint (Menta spcs.) Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) Yellow cinchona (Cinchona ledgeriana) Indian snakeroot (Rauvolfia serpentina) Thornapple (Datura metel) Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) Rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) Use antibacterial, skin conditions, purgative Relaxant, sedative Painkill er Anticancer agent Cardiac stimulant Asthma, emphysema, bronchiodilator, hay fever Parkinsons disease Nasal congestion Painkill er Malaria Hypertension Sedative Anticancer Leukemia

Indirect Use Values: Services

Regulating global processes, such as atmosphere and climate Soil and water conservation Nutrient cycling Pollination and seed dispersal Control of agricultural pests Genetic library Inspiration and information Scientific and educational Tourism and recreation Cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic Community Resilience Strategic
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

What is BIODIVERSITY ?
Refers to the numbers, variety and variability of living organisms and ecosystem. Includes all terrestrial, marine and other aquatic organisms. Covers diversity within species, between species as well as variations among ecosystems.

Factors determining Degree of Diversity

Habitat stress Geographical isolation Dominance by one species Availability of ecological niches Edge effect Geological history

Types of Biodiversity
Genetic diversity - Diversity of genes within a species. i.e. genetic variability among the populations and the individuals of the same species. Species diversity- Diversity among species in an ecosystem. Biodiversity hotspots are excellent examples of species diversity. Ecosystem diversity- Diversity at a higher level of organization, the ecosystem. To do with the variety of ecosystems on Earth.

Importance of Biodiversity.
Biodiversity has contributed in many ways to the development of human culture, and, in turn, human communities have played a major role in shaping the diversity of nature at the genetic, species, and ecological levels.

Important Role of Biodiversity

Ecological Role..

Economic Role..
Scientific Role..

Ecological Role of Biodiversity

All species provide at least one function in an ecosystem. Each function is an integral part of regulating the species balance, species diversity and species health: all aspects which are intrinsic for the ecosystem as a whole to survive and prosper

Economic Role of Biodiversity .

Food: Crop Biodiversity or agrobiodiversity. Goods: Various things like timber,paper,medicines. Recreation: Wildlife tourism, trekking nature photography,birdwatching.

Scientific Role of Biodiversity

Genetic resources:Biotechnology and genetic enginnering use the genes of organisms to make new crops and medicines. Each species can give scientist some clue as to how life evolved and will continue to evolve.

Causes of Biodiversity losses

At least 40 per cent of the worlds economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change. The Convention about Life on Earth, Convention on biodiversity website.

Habitat loss and degradation. Habitat fragmentation.

Habitat and Degradation

Destruction of biodiversity rich areas like tropical forests. Destruction of coral reefs and Wetlands. Ploughing of grasslands. Aquatic ecosystem is threatened. Pollution of freshwater streams, lakes, and marine habitats.

Threats to Reefs
10% of the coral reefs around the world are already dead. Coral bleaching is another manifestation of the problem and is showing up in reefs across the planet.

source:www.oceansalive.org

Other causes of decline

Pollution of wetlands.
Over-exploitation of resources. Construction of large dams. Commercial hunting and poaching.

BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA
Himalayas - This majestic range of mountains is the home of a diverse range of flora and fauna. Eastern Himalayas is one of the two biodiversity hotspots in India.

Chilika - This wetland area is protected under the Ramsar convention.

Sunder bans - The largest mangrove forest in India.

Western Ghats - One of the two biodiversity hotspots in India.

Thar desert - The climate and vegetation in this area is a contrast to the Himalayan region.

Source: earthtrends.wri.org

244/18664 88/390 72/458 25/521 03/231 09/5749

Source: www.earthtrends.wri.org/2002-03

IS THE BIODIVERSITY OF INDIA UNDER THREAT?

10% of Indias plant species are under threat. More than 150 medicinal plants have disappeared in recent decades. About 10% of flowering plants,20% of mammals and 5% of the birds are threatened. From 30000 to 12 ???

Impact of loss of Biodiversity

Increased vulnerability of species extinction
Ecological imbalance

Reduced sources of food, structural materials, medicinal and genetic resources

Cost increase to the society

Valuing Biodiversity
Biodiversity is one of Earths greatest natural resources. When biodiversity is lost, significant value to the biosphere and to humanity may be lost along with it. Biodiversitys benefits to society include contributions to medicine and agriculture, and the provision of ecosystem goods and services.

Biodiversity and Medicine

Wild species are the original source of many medicines. For example, a foxglove plant contains compounds called digitalins that are used to treat heart disease. These plant compounds are assembled according to instructions coded in genes. The genetic information carried by diverse species is like a natural library from which we have a great deal to learn.

Biodiversity and Agriculture

Most crop plants have wild relatives. For example, wild potatoes in South America come in many colorful varieties.

These wild plants may carry genes we can usethrough plant breeding or genetic engineeringto transfer disease or pest resistance, or other useful traits, to crop plants.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

The number and variety of species in an ecosystem can influence that ecosystems stability, productivity, and value to humans. Sometimes the presence or absence of a single keystone species, like the sea otter, can completely change the nature of life in an ecosystem. When the otter population falls, the population of its favorite prey, sea urchins, goes up. Population increases in sea urchins cause a dramatic decrease in the population of sea kelp, the sea urchins favorite food.

Threats to Biodiversity
What are the most significant threats to biodiversity?

Threats to Biodiversity
What are the most significant threats to biodiversity? Humans reduce biodiversity by altering habitats, hunting, introducing invasive species, releasing pollution into food webs, and contributing to climate change.

Threats to Biodiversity
Human activity today is causing the greatest wave of extinctions since dinosaurs disappeared. The current rate of species loss is approaching 1000 times the typical rate. As species disappear, the potential contribution to human knowledge that is carried in their genes is lost.

Threats to Biodiversity
Species diversity is related to genetic diversity. The more genetically diverse a species is, the greater its chances of surviving disturbances. So as human activity reduces genetic diversity, species are put at a greater risk for extinction. Species diversity is also linked to ecosystem diversity. As ecosystems are damaged, the organisms that inhabit them become more vulnerable to extinction. Humans reduce biodiversity by altering habitats, hunting, introducing invasive species, releasing

Altered Habitats
When natural habitats are eliminated for agriculture or for urban development, the number of species in those habitats drops, and some species may become extinct. Development often splits ecosystems into pieces, a process called habitat fragmentation, leaving habitat islands. A biological island can be any patch of habitat surrounded by a different habitat.

Altered Habitats
For example, deforestation for housing developments in Florida has led to forest islands.

The smaller a habitat island, the fewer the species that can live there and the smaller their populations. Both changes make habitats and species more vulnerable to other disturbances.

Hunting and the Demand for Wildlife Products

Humans can push species to extinction by hunting. Some animals are hunted for meat or for their valuable hides or skins. Others, like green parrots, are hunted to be sold as pets.

Hunting and the Demand for Wildlife Products

Hunted species are affected even more than other species by habitat fragmentation because fragmentation increases access for hunters and limits available hiding spaces for prey. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) bans international trade in products from a list of endangered species.

Introduced Species
Organisms introduced to new habitats can become invasive and threaten biodiversity. One European weed, leafy spurge, infests millions of hectares across the Northern Great Plains. Leafy spurge displaces grasses and other food plants, and it can sicken or kill cattle and horses.

Pollution
Many pollutants threaten biodiversity. DDT, for example, prevents birds from laying healthy eggs. Acid rain places stress on land and water organisms.

Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is dissolving in oceans, making them more acidic, which threatens biodiversity in marine ecosystems.

Climate Change
Organisms are adapted to their environments and have specific tolerance ranges to temperature and other abiotic conditions. If conditions change beyond an organisms tolerance, the organism must move to a more suitable location or face extinction.

Climate Change
Species in fragmented habitats, such as these forest islands in Florida, are particularly vulnerable to climate change because if conditions change they may not be able to move easily to a suitable habitat.

Conserving Biodiversity
How do we preserve biodiversity?

Conserving Biodiversity
How do we preserve biodiversity? To conserve biodiversity, we must protect individual species, preserve habitats and ecosystems, and make certain that human neighbors of protected areas benefit from participating in conservation efforts.

Protecting Individual Species

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) oversees species survival plans (SSPs) designed to protect threatened and endangered species. In the AZA captive breeding program, mating pairs of animals are carefully selected to ensure maximum genetic diversity. The ultimate goal of an SSP is to reintroduce individuals to the wild.

Preserving Habitats and Ecosystems

Global conservation efforts today strive to protect not just individual species but entire ecosystems. The goal is to preserve the natural interactions of many species at once. Governments and conservation groups work to set aside land as parks and reserves. The United States has national parks, forests, and other protected areas. Marine sanctuaries are being created to protect coral reefs and marine mammals.

Preserving Habitats and Ecosystems

To make sure that conservation efforts are concentrated in the most important places, conservation biologists have identified ecological hot spots. An ecological hot spot is a place where significant numbers of species and habitats are in immediate danger of extinction. By identifying these areas, ecologists hope that scientists and governments can better target their efforts to save as many species as possible.