Lecture 35- Conservation tools Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is variability among organisms and the ecological systems in which they live
What are the 3 levels of biodiversity?
1.Genes 2.Species 3.Ecosystems
Why conserve?
1.Utilitarian arguments: -something that passes through the market, things we consume -Consumption and production, -people get some good out of it -Scientific and educational, -Aesthetic and tourism, -Experiential, spiritual value 2. Ecocentric arguments: -Ecosystem services -intrinsic values, just because 3. Biocentric arguments= all wild plants and animals are morally considerable and we should protect them, life is sacred
What are the ecosystem services?
-the processes through which natural ecosystems sustain human life • photosynthetic fixation • regulation of ozone, oxygen, and other gases in the atmosphere • breakdown and dispersal of wastes and pollutants • maintenance of soil fertility • pollination • carbon cycling • maintenance of water cycles
What is the intrinsic value, the biocentric ethic?
• All wild plants and animals are morally considerable and we have an ethical obligation towards them. • In addition to the ensemble properties of ecosystems, organisms are inviolate unless it is necessary for self- defence or to satisfy vital needs or ‘basic interests’.
Another argument for conservation?
-Custodial responsibility and intergenerational equity
What are edge effects?
Edge effects are all measurable changes at an ecosystem boundary and within adjacent ecosystems – Temperature, light, wind, humidity – Fire probability, windthrow -• including changes in biotic processes - weed invasion - competition - regeneration - predation rates - pathogens
Principles of reserve design?
- spatial separation may reduce risks (given a constant amount of habitat)
- isolation from predators/disease
- less synchronous fluctuations – risk spreading
- BUT, it also reduces chances of dispersal and recolonisation
- want the reserve as cohesive as possible
- sometimes better to have more smaller reserves so that the species don’t get all kill by a fire
What are the CAR principles in reserve design?
• Comprehensiveness: includes the full range of forest communities recognised by an agreed national scientific classification • Adequacy: maintenance of ecological viability and the integrity of populations, species and communities -15% of each forest (pre-Euro); -60% of existing old growth forest; -90% high quality wilderness • Representativeness: should reflect the diversity of species and communities throughout their ranges
What are the trade-offs?
“Minimise the impact of major bushfires on human life, communities, essential and community infrastructure, industries, the economy and the environment.”
What is efficiency?
- what’s the minimum set of sites that will capture at least one population of each species? = 5!
What is irreplaceability?
• The potential contribution of a site to a conservation target or the likelihood of a site being required to achieve the targets for the features it contains. • The extent to which the options for achieving conservation targets are reduced if a site is unavailable for conservation • If a site contains unique attributes, it is 100% irreplaceable
Which species should be a priority?
Efficient solution – allocate resources to recovery actions such that the marginal rate of increase in viability is equalized across all threatened species. -maybe better investing in those that are savable -usually invest into those that are most endangered
What is the cost of efficiency of management action?
- The cost efficiency, E, of management action i is
- where: -R0 is the risk of extinction in the absence of any management action,
- Ri is the risk of extinction upon implementation of action i,
- and $i is the cost of implementing action i.
