Biodiversity Flashcards
term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms
biodiversity
This we see today is the product of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans
biodiversity
forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend.
biodiversity
is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms.
biodiversity
so far, this amount of species have been identified which are mostly small creatures such as insects
1.7 million species
– scientists consider that there are actually this much species but a range of 3 to 100 million is given
13 million species
refers to variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part;
biodiversity
Includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems
biodiversity
father of Biodiversity
E.O. Wilson
E.O means
Edward Osborne Wilson
“the variety of life at every hierarchical level and spatial scale of biological organizations: genes within populations, population within species, species within communities, communities within landscapes, landscapes within biomes, and biomes within the biospehere”
who said this
E.O. Wilson
defines biodiversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”
the convention of biological diversity
living things could be assigned a hierarchical position on this metaphorical ladder that would represent their degree of perfection
scala naturae
a descriptive or anecdotal treatise on various real or mythical kinds of animals, especially a medieval work with a moralizing tone.
bestiary
refers to the variation of genes within a species
genetic diversity
enables a population to adapt to its environment and to respond to natural selection
genetic diversity
Variety of genetic material within a species or population
genetic diversity
amount of this is the basis of speciation
genetic variation
genetic diversity within a species often increases with this
environmental variablity
refers to the variety of species within a region
species diversity
regarded as distinct units of diversity each playing a specific role in the ecosystem
species
The number and kind of species, and the number of individuals per species vary, leading to greater diversity
species diversity
The number of abundance of species present in different communities
species diversity
refers to the variety of biotic communities, habitats, and ecological processes
community and ecosystem diveristy
within-community diversity of community and ecosystems
alpha diversity
between-communities diversity of community and ecosystem
beta diversity
diversity of the habitats over the total landscape or geographical area
gamma diversity
Levels of biodiversity
genetic
species
ecosystem
functional
variety of genetic material within species/population
genetic
variety of species in different communities
species
variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
ecosystem
The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth
ecosystem
the biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter recycling needed for the survival of species, communities, and sand ecosystems
functional diversity
has the highest number of endemic species of plants and animals
Philippines
is considered a mega-diversity country rivaled only by a few countries in the world when it comes to variety of ecosystems, species and genetic resources
Philipines
hosts more than 52,177 described species of which more than half is found nowhere else in the world
Philippines
considered a biodiversity hotspot, as it continues to experience an alarming rate of destruction of these important resources brought about by overexploitation, deforestation, land degradation, climate change, and pollution (including biological pollution), among
others.
philippines
one that is only found in a particular region and nowhere else in the worl
endemic
claims that in terms of biodiversity resources, the Philippines was 5th in the world in number of plant species; 8th in the world list of endemic plants; 4th in bird endemism; 5th in mammal endemism; and 8th in endemic reptiles
DENR
DENR means
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
world’s smallest primate
Philippine tarsier
smallest deer
mouse deer
largest flower
rafflesia
smallest fish
pandaka pygmea
largest bird in the world
philippine eagle
are the foundations upon which we build societies
biological resources
extremely cost or impossible to replace, example include the pest control performed by various creatures feeding on one another or pollination performed by insects and birds going about their everyday business
ecological services
Good and services provided for by biodiversity and healthy ecosystems
➢Provision of food,
➢fuel and fiber
➢Provision of shelter and building materials;
➢Purification of air and water;
➢Detoxification and decomposition of wastes;
➢Stabilization and moderation of the Earth’s climate;
➢Modration of floods, droughts, temperature extremes and the forces of wind;
➢Generation and renewal of soil fertility, including nutrient cycling;
➢Pollination of plants, including many crops;
➢Control of pests and diseases; Maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties and livestock breeds, medicines, and other products;
➢and Cultural and aesthetic benefits
indirect drivers of biodiversity loss
➢demographic and sociocultural
➢economic and technological
➢institutions and governance
➢conflicts and epidemics
direct drivers of biodiversity loss:
➢land/sea use change
➢direct exploitation
➢climate change
➢pollution
➢invasive plant species
➢others
natural ecosystems have declined by 47 percent on average, relative to their estimated states
what kind of decline
ecosystem extent and condition
approximately 25 percent of species are already threatened with extinction in most animal and plant groups studied
what kind of decline
species extinction risk
biotic integrity (abundance of naturally present species) has decline by 23 percent on average in terrestrial communities
what kind of decline
ecological communities
the global biomass of wild mammals has fallen by 82 percent indicators of vertebrae abundance has declined rapidly since 1970
what kind of decline
biomass and species abundance
72 percent of indicators developed by indigenous peoples and local communities show ongoing deterioration of elements of nature important to them
what kind of decline
nature for indigenous peoples and local communities
nursery habitat for countless species, are also vulnerable, with half already gone
coastal mangroves
thinner layer means more ultraviolet-B radiation reach the Earth’s surface where it damages living tissue
ozone layer
cannot be effectively accomplished through the protection of critical areas alone
biodiversity conservation
should be an important component of any conservation program
ecosystem restoration
refers to the process of managing or assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed as a means of sustaining ecosystem resilience and conserving biodiversity
ecological restoration
two approaches can be combined that any meaningful restoration treatment has to address both the structure and ecological processes within the concerned ecosystem.
ecological restoration
seeks to quickly return the structure of a given ecosystem to what it was before it was disturbed
structural approach
seeks to return core ecological processes to the role they had before disturbance took
place
process approach
is characterized by a decline or loss of biodiversity or ecosystem functions
degradation
deals with the crisis of maintaining the genes, species, communities, and ecosystems that make up the earth’s biodiversity
conservation
investigates the preservation of the biologic and genetic diversity of animal and plant species which is effectively promoted by restoring natural habitats
conservation
rooted in population biology which is generally organized at the genetic level, looking at specific species populations
conservation
may be viewed as a sub-component of biodiversity conservation program since it primarily deals with restoration or revitalization of the species’ natural habitat which is an important locus of biodiversity protection
restoration
organized at the community level, looking at specific ecosystems
restpratopm
which is intended for the maintenance and subsequent utilization of genetic diversity
genetic based approach
- which is directed to species diversity;
species based approach
which looks into ecosystem diversity.
ecosystem based appraoch
usually done in genetic reserve to maintain suitable ecological conditions and the conservation needs of target species
conservation method
ensures the availability of genetic material of the species that has undergone genetic erosion from demographic fluctuations, environmental
conservation method
conservation effort extended to significant species (endangered, endemic, umbrella species, biodiversity indicator species, etc.)
species based approach
approach can provide specific, measurable targets (e.g. species persistence, increased abundance, and distribution) to evaluate success of the conservation action
species based approach
integrated comprehensive strategy projected to protect, preserve, and utilize ecological resources, or communities sustainably
ecosystem based approach
primarily uses adaptive management to deal with the complex and dynamic nature of ecosystem
ecosystem based approach
may be classified either in-situ or ex-situ conservation
conservation technique
is a conservation of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species within their natural habitats.
in-situ conservation approach
The approach is generally done to enable biodiversity in maintaining itself within the context of the ecosystem in which it has been found. Such requires conservation of the components of the natural system (populations, species, communities and biophysical systems) as well as the ecological and evolutionary processes occurring within that system
in-situ conservation approach
aimed at the environmental areas where a target species developed its distinctive properties (genetic reserve conservation
in-situ conservation approach
environmental area heavily modified by human activity
on-farm conservation
ecosystem conservation which leads to the establishment of a more comprehensive technique called protected area management system.
natural habitat
is a geographically defined area that is designated or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives
protected area
area may be set aside for the protection of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources and is managed through legal or other effective means
protected area
provide a multiple flow of benefits to humans as they are established to protect a wide variety of features such as: characteristic or unique ecosystem, special species of interest, value, rarity or under threat, tourism
protected area
This approach has been widely used as a conservation tool in order to maintain a representative sample of unaltered species and eco-systems for the future, and to limit the potential for environmental degradation through human mismanagement of resources.
protected area management system
Generally smaller areas where the preservation of important natural values with minimum human disturbance is emphasized. Protected areas managed mainly for science or wilderness protection.
what category
category I
Strict Protection. Sometimes called strict nature reserve/wilderness areas.
Category I
Generally larger areas with a range of outstanding features and ecosystems. Protected areas mainly for education, recreation, and human inspiration.
what category
category II
Ecosystem Conservation and Tourism. Sometimes called national parks.
Category II
Usually similar to National Parks, but are generally smaller areas protecting a single spectacular natural feature or historic site.
category III
Conservation of Natural Features. Sometimes called natural monuments.
category III
Areas managed to protect and utilize wildlife species. These areas provide regulated access for research, education, appreciation, and sustainable use of resources.
category IV
Conservation through Active Management. Sometimes called habitat and wildlife (species) sanctuaries.
what category
category IV
Protected areas managed to safeguard the integrity of the traditional people-nature interactions as part of the evolution of the area. These areas provide opportunities for tourism integrated within the area’s normal lifestyle and economic activities.
category V
Landscape/Seascape Conservation and Recreation. Sometimes called protected landscapes/seascapes.
category V
Protected areas managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems. These areas are directed for long-term maintenance of biological diversity and other natural values.
category VI
Sustainable Use of Natural Ecosystems. Sometimes called managed resource protected areas
category VI
amount of areas protected in the Philippines covering a total area of 35,700 square kms which is about 11.9% of the country’s total land area
240 areas
framework that is consistent with the IUCN global categories
National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)
s a conservation of biodiversity for the maintenance of natural variation of genes, individual or population of species outside their natural habitats. It prioritizes plant and animal species that are critically endangered and/or extinct in the wild.
ex-situ conservation approach
The collective purpose of the approach is to conserve either whole or parts of the target specimen
ex-situ conservation approach
Conservation by building biorepository that stores and preserves genetic material of crop varieties or domestic animals. This is primarily done by freezing cuttings from plants, or sperm and eggs from animals until further need.
gene banks
Conservation by housing whole, target plant or
animal specimens for specific purpose which includes: public exhibitions, tourism, education, scientific, and conservation possible breeding and/or subsequent reintroduction into the wild.
botanical garden and zoos
These are storage facilities for the conservation of germplasm contained in the seeds of the target wild plants, agricultural crops, and forest species. This is primarily done by preserving dried seeds at a very low temperature.
seed banks
Conservation that saves plant material for short, medium and long-term time in a small place and in a controlled condition. In-vitro conservation is dependent on plant cell, tissue and organ culture techniques.
in-vitro conservation
do not provide natural condition where the elements of organic evolution and long term ecological processes can operate.
ex-situ facilities
must only complement rather than replace in-situ conservation measures since the best way to conserve species is to protect them in their natural habitats.
ex-situ conservation
measures include measures (e.g. soil microbial processes, evolutionary processes, specific ecosystems such as coral reefs or species with highly specialized needs).
ex-situ conservation
may be used on some or all of the population, when in-situ conservation is too difficult, or impossible. It is only until methods are available to discern easily which of the millions of species and varieties will have economic value, that ex-situ conservation may be used as a means conservation of biodiversity
ex-situ conservation
was the preferred biodiversity conservation approach over ex-situ conservation
in-situ conservation
Measures include (genetic reserve, on-farm, and ecosystem conservation) are perceived to be more holistic
in their approach and allow the conservation of processes or habitats
in-situ conservation
largest ever meeting of world leaders in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
historic set of agreements was signed during this event, including two binding agreements “Convention on Climate Change” (targets industrial and other emissions of greenhouse gases and the “convention on Biological Diversity” which is the first global agreement on the conservation sustainable use of biological diversity
Earth Summit
Three goals of earth summit
1.Conservation of biodiversity
2.Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity
3.
Sharing the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way
National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992
RA 7586
enacted to secure for the Filipino people of present and future generations the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals through the establishment of a comprehensive system of integrated protected areas within the classification of national park as provided for in the constitution
NIPAS Act
which shall encompass outstandingly remarkable areas and
biologically important public lands and ancestral domains that are habitats of rare
and endangered species of plants and animals, bio-geographic zones and related
ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetlands or marine, all of which shall be
designated as “protected areas”
NIPAS
is a membership union composed of both government and civil society organizations
IUCN
critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity, far along more than a list of species and their status
IUCN red list
international agreement between governments
CITES
establishes a legal framework with common procedural mechanisms to regulate international trade
CITES
ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species
CITES
An area possessing some outstanding ecosystem, features and/or species of flora and fauna of national scientific
importance maintained to protect nature and maintain processes in an undisturbed state in order to have ecologically
representative examples of the natural environment available for scientific study, environmental monitoring,
education, and for the maintenance of genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state.
strict nature reserve
A relatively large area not materially altered by human activity where extractive resource uses are not allowed and
maintained to protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for scientific,
educational and recreational use.
nature park purpose
A relatively small area focused on protection of small features to protect or preserve nationally significant natural
features on account of their special interest or unique characteristics.
natural monument
An area which assures the natural conditions necessary to protect nationally significant species, groups of species,
biotic communities or physical features of the environment where these may require specific human manipulations
for their perpetuation.
wildlife sanctuary
Areas of national significance which are characterized by the harmonious interaction of man and land while providing
opportunities for public enjoyment through the recreation and tourism within the normal lifestyle and economic activity
of these areas.
protected landscapes and seascapes
An extensive and relatively isolated and uninhabited area normally with difficult access designated as such to protect
natural resources of the area for future use and prevent or contain development activities that could affect the
resource pending the establishment of objectives which are based upon appropriate knowledge and planning.
resource reserve
An area set aside to allow the way of life of societies living in harmony with the environment to adapt to modern
technology at their pace
natural biotic areas
s has evolved to become the
world’s most comprehensive information source on the global
conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species
IUCN red list of threatened species
variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
biodiversity
Measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level
biodiversity
states that “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”
convention on biological diversity
ecosystem provides goods and services that includes food and water
provisioning services
ecosystem that provides goods and services for recreational, spiritual, religious, and other non-material benefits
cultural services
ecosystem that provides goods and services for regulation of foods, drought, land degradation, and disease
regulating services
ecosystem that provides goods and services for soil formation and nutrient cycling
supporting services
state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
health
One of the most basic human rights
health
One of the most important indicators of sustainable development
➢
The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity vital for the continued functioning of ecosystems and scales as well as for the delivery of ecosystem services
health
biodiversity and ecosystems play a critical role in determining the state of the Earth System, regulating its material and energy flows and its responses to abrupt or gradual change
planetary scale
symbiotic microbial communities present in our gut, skin, respiratory, and urogenital tracts, contributes to our nutrition, can help regulate our immune system, and prevent infections
human microbiota
biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
ecosystem
Abiotic and biotic factors are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows
ecosystem
Characteristics of an ecosystem
Structures with physical (abiotic) and biological (biotic) components, spatio-temporal patterns, and some degree of predictability
an ecosystem with ecological integrity is one that has persistence and adaptability
ecological integrity
Ecosystems that have lost their ecological integrity are considered “biologically dead”
ecological integrity
has the ability to maintain itself with minimum human intervention and repair itself when some natural or anthropogenic disturbances occur
healthy ecosystem
An ecosystem is said to be healthy if it can maintain its structure and functions over a period of time even in the presence of environmental stress
healthy ecosystem
referred to as the one that is “unhealthy” or “deteriorated”
degraded ecosystems
Incapable of maintaining its integrity over time
degraded ecosystem
Signs of unhealthiness in terrestrial ecosystems?
➢Decline in species diversity and a shift in species composition to more stress-tolerant species (displacement of native by alien species)
➢Disease outbreaks and pest infestations e.g. pantropical disease (which could be due to monoculture)
➢A decrease in the symbionts of plant
biological, physical, chemical, and socio-economic parameters or measures used in assessing the quality and sustainability of a given ecosystems
environmental indicators
Gauges the condition and vitality of an ecosystem
environmental indicators
yardstick against which comparisons can be made
benchmark sites
Attributes of a pristine or minimally disturbed natural area are commonly used in setting the standards for a healthy ecosystem
benchmark sites
involves people, understanding how nature works, valuing nature’s services
Ecosystem Approach (EA)
A strategy for the integrated management of land, water, and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way
Ecosystem approach
benefits people obtain from ecosystems
ecosystem services
Classified based on the benefits and functions we derived from biodiversity
ecosystem services
the products people obtain from ecosystems
provisioning services
that are necessary for the maintenance of all other ecosystem services
supporting services
benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes
regulating services
supporting more than 200-300 woody species and numerous other species of animals; most
degraded forest type in the Philippines because of over-prize timber (Philippine Mahogany) and associated non-timber products
lowland forest
“cloud forest” because it is covered with rain clouds; dominated oak and laurel families; with numerous ferns and epiphytes
montane (mossy) forest
Benguet Pine (Pinus insularis) in the Central Cordillera or Mindoro Pine; Northwest Mindoro; tree species are fire tolerant
pine forest
mangrove forest is dominated by evergreen, woody trees that can adapt to varying levels of salinity
coastal forests
forms a narrow strip of vegetation dominated by widely distributed species
beach forest
– special type of forest consisting of Karst found in several coastal areas in the country
karst forest
replanting trees and/or use of exotic species in degraded forests
reforestation
allowing the forest to recover on its own through natural succession
natural regeneration
land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or
pastureland
agroforesty
natural or anthropogenic that converts forest land to non-forest
deforestation
traditional form of farming referred to as “swidden farming” or “shifting cultivation” or locally known as kaingin
slash and burn agriculture
three basic steps of slash and burn agriculture
1.clear-cutting of trees
2.burning of forest debris
3.clearing the site for crop production
The use of fast-growing species in place of native species in reforestation has persisted because of several reasons:
➢
inadequate supply of native seeds/seedlings for reforestation
➢slow regeneration and growth rates of native species
➢poor appreciation or understanding of the watershed value of natural forest stand against that of a reconstructed forest or tree plantation
➢misguided notion of the general public that simply greening an area is as good as ecosystem restoration
➢absence of adequate
type on which many others depend for biological needs such as food and shelter (e.g. rice)
keystone species
– the type which exhibit the tendency to disappear from a site or habitat when subjected to external disturbances, they have a narrow range of tolerance to environmental changes
sensitive species
can withstand changes to their environment and are thus useful for studying the impacts and consequences of the said changes on the species itself and the ecosystem within which it exists
tolerant species
In light of the exclusive nature of endemic species within a certain area, they also serve well as indicators of habitat and ecosystem health.
endemic species
This type of species covers those with a large habitat or range, therefore exerting a major ecological influence on the community (e.g. Philippine Eagle)
umbrella species
This qualification covers species which have caught the sympathy and support of the
public, thus serving a role as an aspirational icon for ecological conservation (e.g. Philippine Cockatoo
flagship species
are well known to the public and are regarded as symbols of the conservation agenda. The reason for their popularity is their distinctive features, such as size, colorful appearance, and the like
charismatic species
HIPCO
H – Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation
➢I – Invasive species
➢P – Population growth (human pressure)
➢P – Pollution
➢C – Climate Change
➢O – Overexploitation
broadly accepted global environmental agreement to
use trade measures as a way to protect the environment
CITES
Nature park example
Mayon Volcano
*
Natural
Natural Monument
Hundred Islands, Chocolate hills
