m




Biodiversity also
provides us with
a community of
life, with which
we share planet
Earth, and the
opportunity to
practice
thoughtful
stewardship.
R


 


Biodiversity also
serves recreation
and tourism, and
supports the
ecosystems which
provide us with
many services.
 n Importance
!  n 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
 R   
R   

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.
 R


 


½uman 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.
 ©


Biodiversity also has value in its own

right, and is not something that should
simply be viewed for its usefulness to
humans.

½uman responsibility toward other living

things, and obligations to future
generations, provide strong reasons for
conservation.
m
    
m
    

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.
 








ë
 

 

  

 ë    


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.
  !   


‡ 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).
 ! "
  


‡ Ecosystem diversity describes the variation in all

living and non-
non-living things in a particular
geographic or ecological region. Ecosystems
comprise unique combination
combinationss of animals, plants,
micro--organisms and physical characteristics that
micro
define a location
location..
‡ Novel marine ecosystems continue to be
discovered.. In the ocean, hydrothermal vents,
discovered
extremely distinct habitats with many endemic
species, were discovered less than 25 years ago!ago!
 #"
 
 #"
 
‡ Shallow open seas
including entire depth of
water column
‡ Environment patchy in
resources with upwelling
upwellingss,
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.
 #"
 
‡ Main threats to
biodiversity are:
‡ commercial
fishing
‡ disease
‡ eutrophication
‡ chemical
contamination
‡ habitat invasion
and damage
! 
 "
 
‡ 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:
µDeserts of the Sea¶.
‡ Specialized adaptations
result in high biological
production.
! 
 "
 
‡ Main threats to biodiversity
are:
‡ Commercial fishing
and aquarium trade.
‡ Disease
‡ Eutrophication
‡ Chemical
contamination
‡ ½abitat invasion and
damage
‡ Coastal development
‡ Groundings and
overuse
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‡ 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)
tourism
There exists 34 animal phyla globally
à 32 are found on living coral reefs
n Contain 25% of all marine species
n 9 are found in tropical rainforests
à Only 10% or fewer of the species contained in
reefs have been described
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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 has usually progressed at what scientists call a
natural or background rate. Today the tempo is far `
.

.
‡ 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.
  m"%
' (  (About 65 million years ago)
' ) (About 208 million years ago)
' * (About 245 million years ago)
+' ,  (About 360 million years ago)
' -  (About 438 million years ago)

6. Occurring Now?

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½, 
Eutrophication (Red
Tides))
Tides

Effects of contaminants
(especially estrogenic
mimic hormones)
hormones)

½abitat degradation,
fragmentation and
destruction

Fishing and especially
trawling

Climate Change
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Above: Before Trawling;

Below: After Trawling

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Estuaries US
US$$ 22,832 ha-1 yr-1

Seagrass & algal beds US$ 19,004 ha-1 yr-1

Tidal Marshes/mangroves US$ 9,990 ha-1 yr-1

Swamps floodplains US$ 19,580 ha-1 yr-1

Coral Reefs US$ 6,075 ha-1 yr-1

Continental shelf US$ 1,610 ha-1 yr-1

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?  millions of cone snails are now killed

annually for their shells, and their habitats are
under pressure.


   

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>Varying definitions based on level of protection
provided by MPA««.

³Any 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.´
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> Marine Protected

Areas are used as
management tools to
protect, maintain, or
restore natural and
cultural resources in
coastal and marine
waters.
rm
  1. National marine
sanctuaries.

  ë
 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.


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> Closed to public
access.
> Permit access but
no consumptive use.
> Use of specific
types fishing gear
restricted.
> Multiple
Multiple--use areas.
> No
No--take zones.
 R më'
 
Sea Turtle nesting areas. Endangered Species

½abitat important to
valuable fisheries

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Coral reef habitats Shipwrecks

 "