Conservation Biology and Biodiversity

Conservation Biology

Considers all aspects of biodiversity

General goal is conserving natural resources for this and future generations

Primary goal is the management of biodiversity for sustainable use by humans

Conservation Biology and Biodiversity

Conservation Biology

Conservation biology supports certain ethical principles

Biodiversity is desirable for the biosphere
Extinctions due to human actions are undesirable

Ecosystem interactions supporting biodiversity are desirable

Biodiversity brought about by evolutionary change has value in and of itself

Value of Biodiversity Direct Value

Medicinal Value

Conservation Biology

Agricultural Value
- Crops - Biological Pest Controls - Pollinators

Consumptive Use Value

- Wood - Skins

Value of Biodiversity

Conservation Biology

Indirect Value
Biogeochemical Cycles Waste Disposal Provision of Fresh Water Prevention of Soil Erosion Regulation of Climate

Ecotourism

Causes of Extinction

Conservation Biology

Habitat Loss
Occurs in all ecosystems Recent concern focused on tropical rain forests and coral reefs

Habitat Fragmentation

Alien Species

Conservation Biology

Nonnative species that move, or are moved, into a new ecosystem

Often have competitive edge against native species Avenues of Human Introduction
- Colonization - Horticulture and Agriculture - Accidental Transport

Overexploitation

Conservation Biology

When the harvest is so great that the population becomes severely reduced in numbers

The market forces driving the harvest:

Exotic Pets

Hunting / Poaching
Over-Harvesting Fisheries

Conservation Techniques Habitat Preservation

Keystone Species
Population Viability Analysis

Conservation Biology

- Determine how much habitat a species requires to maintain itself

Conservation Techniques Landscape Preservation

Conservation Biology

Landscape protection for one species benefits other wildlife in the same space Edge Effect
The edge around a patch of habitat has conditions different from the patch interior

Edge does not count as effective habitat for species requiring the conditions of the interior

Conservation Techniques

Conservation Biology

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Habitat Restoration - Three Principles

Begin as soon as possible before remaining fragments are lost Once natural history is understood, use biological techniques to mimic natural processes Goal is sustainable usage