M.L.

Anderson, 2009
Biodiversity also
provides us with
a community of
life, with which
we share planet
Earth, and the
opportunity to
practice
thoughtful
stewardship.
Why is biodiversity important?
 Biodiversity also
serves recreation
and tourism, and
supports the
ecosystems which
provide us with
many services.
Contents n
n
Importance
Intrinsic Value
n Extinctions
n What is Biodiversity?
n Genetic Biodiversity
n Species Biodiversity
n Ecosystem Biodiversity
n Ecosystem Function
n Marine Biodiversity
n Caribbean Diversity
n Extinctions
n Threats to Biodiversity
n Protection & MPA’s
 We Live in a most Fantastic Place !

 Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the

number and variety of life forms found within a
specified geographic region.
 This includes the different plants, animals and
microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the
ecosystems they form.
 This living wealth is the product of hundreds of
millions of years of evolutionary history.
 Why is biodiversity important?
 Human beings are dependent for their health, well-
being and enjoyment of life on basic biological
systems and processes.

 People get food and many medicines and industrial

products from the wild and domesticated components
of biological diversity.
 Biodiversity is
important to
people because
we depend on
other species and
the ecosystems
they create.
Biodiversity provides
ecosystem
services, food,
medicines and
natural products,
economic benefits
and natural beauty.
 Intrinsic Value
 Biodiversity also has value in its own
right, and is not something that should
simply be viewed for its usefulness to
humans.
 Human responsibility toward other living
things, and obligations to future
generations, provide strong reasons for
conservation.
Many species keep us alive! How?
n purifying water
n fixing nitrogen
n recycling nutrients and waste
n pollinating crops

Plants and bacteria carry out

photosynthesis, which produces the
oxygen we breathe. Trees absorb carbon
dioxide, the main greenhouse gas given off
by human activities.
 3 Types of Biodiversity
A. Genetic diversity
B. Species diversity
C. Ecosystem diversity
 A. Genetic Diversity
Genetic diversity is the variation in the genetic
composition of individuals in a population,
community or species

• Evolves as a result of many different processes:

e.g. chromosomal/sequence mutation, and
physical or behavioural isolation of populations

• Allows individuals to adapt to different conditions.

Thus, high genetic diversity increases ability of
populations and species to survive major
changes in their environment (e.g. climate
change)
Gene is a packet of information (DNA) that codes for a particular protein that has a specific function.
DNA makes up genes and stores the information that is interpreted by genes for a function. 4 chemicals
organized into 3 letter words make up the different amino acids in the DNA. The 3 letter words can
spell a total of 20 different amino acids.
 B. Species Diversity
• Species diversity is the variety of species (group of
interbreeding organisms) in a particular habitat or
ecosystem.
• About 1.75 million species described. Total number
estimated at approx 12.5 million, but could be
anything from 5-100 million. There may be 10
million und-escribed species in the deep sea alone!
(Convention on Biological Diversity)
• The diversity of the smaller organisms (e.g.
phytoplankton, the plants of sea) is less well known
than the larger organisms (e.g. mammals such as
dolphins and whales).
 C. Ecosystem Diversity

• Ecosystem diversity describes the variation in all

living and non-living things in a particular
geographic or ecological region. Ecosystems
comprise unique combinations of animals, plants,
micro-organisms and physical characteristics that
define a location.
• Novel marine ecosystems continue to be
discovered. In the ocean, hydrothermal vents,
extremely distinct habitats with many endemic
species, were discovered less than 25 years ago!
Pelagic Ecosystems
• Shallow open seas
including entire depth of
water column
• Environment patchy in
resources with upwellings,
fronts, and gyres providing
sufficient nutrients for high
biological production
• Wide diversity of plankton
supports fish and
invertebrate species, which
feed large predatory fish
and mammals.
Pelagic Ecosystems
• Main threats to
biodiversity are:
• commercial
fishing
• disease
• eutrophication
• chemical
contamination
• habitat invasion
and damage
Shallow Tropical Ecosystems
• Shallow continental
shelves, banks, oceanic
islands, atolls, archipelagos
• Coral reefs potentially occur
in all of these locations.
• Environment rich in
resources but generally low
in nutrients:
‘Deserts of the Sea’.
• Specialized adaptations
result in high biological
production.
Shallow Tropical Ecosystems
• Main threats to biodiversity
are:
• Commercial fishing
and aquarium trade.
• Disease
• Eutrophication
• Chemical
contamination
• Habitat invasion and
damage
• Coastal development
• Groundings and
overuse
 Shallow Marine –
Exposed Tropical Habitats
Mangroves
Beaches
Tide pools

Areas of the shore that

are alternately
exposed during low
tides and submerged
during high tides.
Photo: MA 2002
Shallow Marine –
Exposed Tropical Habitats
n Can be affected by
wet and dry seasons
and other seasonal
changes (hurricanes
& winter storms).
n Important habitats as
nurseries for marine
species, and for
diversity of bird
species, both
residential and
migratory.

Photo: MA 2002
 Ecosystem Functioning
• Ecosystem functioning is a term that comprises
both the ecological and evolutionary processes
(e.g. food webs, competition) and the individual
components (e.g. herbivores, predators) within
a system.

• Many scientists believe that ecosystems with a

high variety in processes and components are
more resilient to change than ecosystems with
fewer functional roles
Why is Marine Biodiversity Important ?
Adaptation Food Raw materials Climate
Knowledge Aesthetic and cultural value Economics

• Biodiversity allows the environment to adapt to

changing conditions. How rapidly can the marine
environment adapt? Preserving genetic diversity is
paramount if marine organisms are going to adapt to
rapidly changing environments.
• Food – fish, invertebrates, algae are especially
important for developing countries.
• Raw materials - The potential for discovery is
enormous and includes medicines (biochemical
diversity is high), agriculture (seaweeds as
feedstock), building materials, human supplements.
Marine Biodiversity Facts
Important facts:
• The Ocean covers > 70% of earth
• Over 50% of humans live in the coastal
zone and draw 90% of our marine-living
resources from this region
• Life evolved in the ocean 2.7 billion years
before terrestrial life.
• All except one phyla (33) occur in the
ocean while only half exist on land (high
phyletic diversity)
• 15 phyla are exclusively marine.
• Ocean creatures contain a diversity of
survival strategies not found on land so
exhibit high functional diversity.
Why is Marine Biodiversity Important ?

• Climate – Biogeochemical cycling of cases is

controlled by living organisms (esp. ocean life).
Marine plants and animals control carbon dioxide
and are a biological pump.
• Knowledge – New marine ecosystems have been
discovered with many endemic and new species.
• Aesthetic & Cultural Value – human spirit,
tourism, recreation.
• Economics & Employment (e.g. fisheries,
tourism)
There exists 34 animal phyla globally
 32 are found on living coral reefs
n Contain 25% of all marine species
n 9 are found in tropical rainforests
 Only 10% or fewer of the species contained in
reefs have been described
Example: Cayman Islands’ Biodiversity
 28 species of whales and dolphins occur in
surrounding waters.
 30 species of mosquito have been recorded.
 150 species of marine algae
 23 species of “common” sponges
 381 species of salt-water fish (including 16
species of sharks)
 8 species of fresh-water fish.
 Caribbean Marine Life
 An amazing diversity of marine life
including corals, sponges, fish, turtles,
invertebrates and other creatures.
 Corals provide the home for thousands of
different creatures.
 Extinction Rates
•
• Extinction has usually progressed at what scientists call a
natural or background rate. Today the tempo is far faster.
• Many scientists believe this is the sixth great wave - the
sixth mass extinction to affect life on Earth.
• We (humans) have more than doubled our numbers in half
a century, and that is the most obvious reason why there is
less room for any other species.

n We are taking their living room to grow our food, their

food to feed ourselves.
n We are exploiting them, trading in them, squeezing
them to the margins of existence - and beyond.
 Five Mass Extinctions
1) Cretaceous (About 65 million years ago)
2) Triassic (About 208 million years ago)
3) Permian (About 245 million years ago)
4) Devonian (About 360 million years ago)
5) Ordovician (About 438 million years ago)

6. Occurring Now?
Threats to Marine Biodiversity
Habitat Degradation  Eutrophication (Red
Tides)
 Effects of contaminants
(especially estrogenic
mimic hormones)
 Habitat degradation,
fragmentation and
destruction
 Fishing and especially
trawling
 Climate Change
Threats to Marine Biodiversity

Reclamation (= coastal habitat destruction)

Threats to Marine Biodiversity;
Trawling
 Threats to Marine
Biodiversity; Trawling

Above: Before Trawling;

Below: After Trawling

A full trawl
Picture from Greenpeace Web site
www.greenpeace.org
The value of undisturbed coastal systems
(Costanza et al 1997 Nature)

 Estuaries US$ 22,832 ha-1 yr-1

 Seagrass & algal beds
 Tidal Marshes/mangroves
 Swamps floodplains
 Coral Reefs
 Continental shelf
US$ 19,004 ha-1 yr-1
US$ 9,990 ha-1 yr-1
US$ 19,580 ha-1 yr-1
US$ 6,075 ha-1 yr-1
US$ 1,610 ha-1 yr-1

Total value of coastal services US$ 12,568 yr-1 x 109

Biodiversity Hotspots
(Myers et al 2000 Nature)
Endemic species
(Myers et al 2000 Nature)
Biodiversity Losses = Loss of Services
& Potential Helpful Products

Tropical cone snails contain toxins

Cone snail from the Pacific
Ocean.
which show promise for treating
some forms of cancer and heart
irregularities. One toxin may be a
thousand times more potent than
morphine for pain relief.

But millions of cone snails are now killed

annually for their shells, and their habitats are
under pressure.
How can we prevent biodiversity loss?

•Research
•Legislation
•Education/Awareness
•Sustainable use of habitats
and fisheries
•Integration/Co-ordination
Marine Protection  Provide educational and
research opportunities.
Areas (MPA’s) are
used to…..
 Nationally /
internationally to conserve
biodiversity.  Enhance commercial and
 Manage natural recreational activities.
resources.
 Protect endangered
species.
 Reduce user conflict.
What is a Marine Protected Area?
Varying definitions based on level of protection
provided by MPA…….

“Any area of the intertidal or

subtidal terrain together with
its overlying water and
associated flora, fauna,
historical and cultural
features, which has been
reserved by law or other
effective means to protect
part or all of the enclosed
environment.”
Marine Protected
Areas

 Marine Protected
Areas are used as
management tools to
protect, maintain, or
restore natural and
cultural resources in
coastal and marine
waters.
Kinds of Marine 1. National marine
sanctuaries.
Protected Areas 2. Fishery management
zones.
3. National seashores.
4. National parks/
monuments.
5. Critical habitats.
6. National Wildlife refuges.
7. National estuarine
research reserves.
8. State conservation areas.
9. State reserves.
Varying levels of protection in MPA’s
 Closed to public
access.
 Permit access but
no consumptive use.
 Use of specific
types fishing gear
restricted.
 Multiple-use areas.
 No-take zones.
 What do MPA’s protect?
Sea Turtle nesting areas. Endangered Species

Habitat important to
valuable fisheries

Aggregations
 What do MPA’s
protect?

Coral reef habitats Shipwrecks

The End