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?