CHAPTER 14 :

Ecology & Biodiversity

 What is Conservation
Biology?
Conservation Biology = to preserve and conserve
species, communities and ecosystems

Studies the causes of decline in species richness and

methods to prevent declines
Why Conservation Biology?
to prevent excessive rate of extinction

to update the status of ecosystems and their services

measures to be taken to sustain ecosystem functions

 Environmental Stress

Organism Level Population Level Community or Ecosystem

Physiological changes Change in population size Level of energy flow through
Disruption
Psychological changes Change in age structure food
Disruption
chains and of webs
energy flow
Behavior changes (old, young, and weak may die) and biogeochemical
Disruption of biogeochemical
Fewer or no offspring cycles
cycles
Survival of strains genetically
Lower species diversity
Genetic defects resistant to stress Lower sp diversity
Habitat loss or degradation
Birth defects Loss of genetic diversity Habitat
Less complexloss & webs
food
Cancers and adaptability degradation
Lower stability
Death Extinction Ecosystem
Ecosystem collapse
collapse
Less complex food webs
Lower stability

Environmental Stresses defined at 3 levels : organism, population and

Ecosystem

2004 Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning

Definition of Biodiversity

the variety of species in the

ecosystems
Levels of Biodiversity
 Genetic diversity in a vole population

Three levels of
biodiversity
Species diversity in a coastal redwood ecosystem

Community and ecosystem diversity

across the landscape of an entire region
 Genetic Diversity
Variation between distinct populations of the same
species or varieties

Brought about by genetic recombination, gene and

chromosomal mutation

The gene pool is shaped by Natural Selection

variation
reproductive fitness and
mode of inheritance
competition
 Species Diversity
The variety of species in an ecosystem or
the biosphere
Species diversity variety (diversity) of
species or species richness
Threatened species
Endangered species
Classification of organisms

Threatened Endangered
- still abundant in - individuals are few and
natural range but could become extinct over all
declining and is likely or most of its range,
to become - moves from endangered to
endangered critically endangered
 300972

Credit: Michele Burgess/Visuals Unlimited

Silversword plant at Hawaii, an endangered species.

 Credit: Arthur Morris/Visuals Unlimited 301423

Key Deer, Florida, an endangered species.

 Credit: Ken Lucas/Visuals Unlimited 178223

Museum specimen of the Passenger pigeon, North America that became extinct in 1914.
Illegal Cambodian
market with baby
Macaques, adult
Porcupine, and
Crocodile skulls.

Credit: Robert Fournier/Visuals Unlimited

 Credit: Robert Fournier/Visuals Unlimited 302744

Tiger bones in sesame oil for illegal sale in Myanmar market, folk medicine.
 Credit: Robert Fournier/Visuals Unlimited 302743

Snake skin, Sambar skull, and Elephant penis hanging in illegal market in Myanmar.
 Ecosystem Diversity
Variety of places where life exists, where there is
exchange of energy and nutrients

Each habitat is a home for multitude of species, and

species are dependent on these habitats food, mating,
protection, etc.

When habitats are destroyed, species niche are

destroyed, and species follow suit
 Cultural Diversity
Natural environment provides aesthetic,
spiritual and educational needs for tribal people
in Africa, Asia, Oceania and Americas

This relationship has allowed sustainable use

of resources and has allowed for humans and
other species to prosper together
 Biodiversity Crisis
Extinction is a natural phenomenon

The current rate of extinction due to ecosystem

degradation by a single species Homo sapien, underlie
the biodiversity crisis
Major Threats to Biodiversity
Habitat Destruction and Fragmentation
Introduction of Non Native Species
Over-exploitation/Overuse of Natural Resources
Disruption of Food Chains
Climate Change
Pollution
Predator & Pest Control
Commercial Hunting & Poaching
Sale of Exotic Pets and Decorative Plants
Species Endemism and Hot Spots
Endemic a species found naturally in only one
geographic area and no where else

E.g
Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis only found on some
islands in Indonesia
The orang utan Pongo pygmaeus only found in Borneo and
Sumatra

Hotspots area having concentration of endemic

species in SEA Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia,
Borneo, Philippines
 Earths terrestrial biodiversity hot spots

Terrestrial
biodiversity
hot spots

Equator
 How has human activity
affected Global Biodiversity?

Figure showing Major

connections between Human
Activity and earths Biodiversity
 Human Population
Size and resource use

Human Activities
Agriculture, industry, economic
production and consumption, recreation

Direct Effects
Degradation and destruction Changes in number and
of natural ecosystems distribution of species
Anthropogenic
Alteration of natural chemical Pollution of air, water, activities affecting
cycles and energy flows and soil Biodiversity

Indirect Effects
Climate Loss of
change biodiversity
The Species The Ecosystem
Approach Goal Goal Approach

Protect species from Protect populations of

premature extinction species in their natural
habitats

Strategies Strategy

Identify endangered Preserve sufficient areas

species of habitats in different Goals strategies
biomes and aquatic and tactics to
Protect their critical systems
habitats reduce
biodiversity
losses
Tactics Tactics
Legally protect Protect habitat areas
endangered species through private purchase
or government action (PA)
Manage habitat
Eliminate or reduce
Propagate endangered populations of alien
species in captivity e.g species from PA
panda
Manage PA to sustain
Reintroduce species native species
into suitable habitats e.
Restore degraded
bettong sp.
ecosystems
 Three types of Species
Extinction
Local extinction not found in local area
but elsewhere still found

Ecological extinction few members are

left & no longer play ecological roles

Biological extinction when species no

longer found anywhere on earth
Some Endangered and
Threatened species
(a) Philippine eagle

(b) Chinese river

dolphin

(c) Javan
rhinoceros
 Figure 22-7 (1)
Page 564
Florida Northern spotted Gray wolf Florida panther Bannerman's
manatee owl (threatened) turaco (Africa)

Devil's hole Snow leopard Symphonia Black-footed Utah prairie dog

pupfish (Central Asia) (Madagascar) ferret (threatened)

Ghost bat California Black lace Black rhinoceros Oahu tree

(Australia) condor cactus (Africa) snail
 Figure 22-7 (2)
Page 565

Grizzly bear Kirtland's White top Arabian oryx African elephant

(threatened) warbler pitcher plant (Middle East) (Africa)

Mojave desert Swallowtail Humpback Golden lion Siberian tiger

tortoise butterfly chub tamarin (Siberia)
(threatened) (Brazil)
 Figure 22-7 (3)
Page 565

West Virginia Giant panda Whooping Knowlton Blue whale

spring salamander (China) crane cactus

Mountain gorilla Pine barrens Swamp Hawksbill sea El Segundo blue

(Africa) tree frog pink turtle butterfly
(male)
 Characteristics of species
that are prone to ecological
and biological extinction (*)

(*) Ecological extinction few members are left & no longer play ecological roles
(*) Biological extinction when species no longer found anywhere on earth
Characteristic Examples
Low reproductive rate Blue whale, giant panda,
(K-strategist) rhinoceros

Specialized niche Blue whale, giant panda, Everglades kite

Everglades kite

Narrow distribution Many island species,

elephant seal, desert pupfish

Feeds at high trophic Bengal tiger, bald eagle,

level grizzly bear
African violet
Fixed migratory patterns Blue whale, whooping crane,
sea turtles

Rare Many island species,

African violet, some orchids

Commercially valuable Snow leopard, tiger,

California
elephant, rhinoceros,
condor
rare plants and birds

Large territories California condor, grizzly

bear, Florida panther
 How does a biologist know if a
particular species is vulnerable to
extinction?
1. Observing changes in an organisms
population size and habitat availability
2. Species whose populations are
shrinking rapidly
3. Species whose habitats are being
destroyed
4. Species that are endemic to small area
and rare
 Species-Area Curves

90% deforestation/loss of habitat causes

extinction of 50% of species

Destruction of last 10% causes extinction

of all species especially if the species
cannot move out of the area
 How do biologist estimate
extinction rates?

1. PVA Population Viability Analysis

2. MVP Minimum Viable Population

3. MDA Minimum Dynamic Area

Population Viable Analysis (PVA)
to predict if population will persist based
on:
i. Current & predicted habitat condition and resource
needs
ii. Genetic variability
iii. Interactions with other species
iv. Reproductive rates and population dynamic
 Minimum Viable Population
(MVP)

Minimum number of individuals necessary

to ensure survival of a population
Minimum Dynamic Area (MDA)

Minimum area of suitable habitat needed

to maintain the MVP
The Value of Biodiversity
Why should we care about biodiversity whats
so bad about losing it whats it value?

1. Direct Economic Value (consumable)

- nature product that are consumed directly
consumptive use value that do not pass through
markets

2. Indirect Economic Value (ecological services)

3. (Option value) Natures products that are

commercially harvested productive use value
biological resources

4. Ethical & Aesthetic Value

Why Conserve Biodiversity?
Necessity genetic codes are linked to
medicines, food production, jobs and survival

Important to Economy

Essential for Food Security

Safeguards Human Health

Recreation & Tourism

Global Concern - Losses to biodiversity can

threaten national security conflicts over water,
land, global warming

Species Extinction

Aesthetic Beauty
Underlying and direct causes of
depletion and premature
extinction of wild species
Two biggest causes

1. Habitat loss, fragmentation &

degradation

2. Introduction of nonnative species

Animal Habitat Loss
 Figure 22-13 (4)
Page 573

Former range
Range today
(34,00054,000 left)
Asian or Indian Elephant
 Characteristics of Characteristics of
Successful Ecosystems Vulnerable
Invader Species to Invader Species

High reproductive rate, Similar climate to habitat

short generation time of invader
(r-selected species)
Absence of predators on
Pioneer species
invading species
Long lived
Early successional
High dispersal rate species

Release growth- Low diversity of native

inhibiting chemicals species
into soil
Absence of fire
Generalists
Disturbed by human
High genetic variability
activities
Poaching & Hunting
 Protecting Wild Species

Wildlife Refuges, Protected Areas

Gene Banks, Botanical Gardens,
Farms
Zoos, Aquariums
An artificial corridor