topic 5: conservation biology Flashcards
what is conservation biology
mission-oriented science that focuses on how to protect and
restore biodiversity, or the diversity of life on Earth.(what biodiversity means)
. To preserve biodiversity, scientists must answer three general questions. First, (distribution)
how is the diversity of life distributed around the planet? Second (threats) , what threats does this
diversity face? Third (What poeple can do) , what can people do to reduce or eliminate these threats and, when
possible, restore biological diversity and ecosystem health?
what is biodiversity
Biodiversity has three components:
* All forms of life: biodiversity includes all living things – including bacteria, fungi,
plants, insects and other invertebrates, and vertebrates – regardless of how
similar they are to other species or how useful they are to people.
* All levels of organization of living things: biodiversity includes individual organisms
and their genetic material; groups of similar organisms, such as populations and
species; and groups of species in communities, ecosystems and landscapes
(groups of adjacent ecosystems).
* All the interactions among the forms of life and their levels of organization:
biodiversity is more than just the parts of a living system, such as genes,
individuals and species – biodiversity also includes the ways the various parts
interact with each other, including competition, predation and symbiosis
Why is protecting any one species important?
-biodiversity has inherit value: each species is valuable and should be protected from extinction
-utilitarian value: (how it benefits humans directly) : economic benefits (sell fish for food,extinct: no food, cannot make money)
-ecological importance: species is important to other species or for the maintenance of
important ecosystem characteristics (eg beaver build damns-> creats ponds-> provide habitat for fish /ducks and improve water quality (filters pollutants) and prevent erosion (think plants in river, roots hold the soil in pond, prevent erosion)
why is Biodiversity important for ecological stability
biodiversity: is the variation of life at all levels of
biological organization, referring not only to the sum total of life forms across an area, but
also to the range of differences between those forms. Biodiversity runs the complete range from
the genetic diversity in a single population to the variety of ecosystems across the globe.
Greater biodiversity in ecosystems, species, and individuals leads to greater stability. For
example, species with high genetic diversity and many populations that are adapted to a
wide variety of conditions are more likely to be able to weather disturbances, disease,
and climate change. (gentic diversity-> better survival-> can continue their functions-> no disruption to ecologcial function aka ecological stability) Greater biodiversity also enriches us with more varieties of foods
and medicines.
(biodiversity-> less likely to die-> ecological process dont fall aprt and can continue)
How does conserving animal species contribute to human well-
being?
- Disease Prevention and Control
habitat destruction and human encroachment-> more human-wildlife contact-> increase risk of spread of zoonotic diseases
Conserving wildlife and their natural habitats-> reducing human-wildlife contact-> help prevent the spread of such diseases ->reduce risk of future pandemics. - Medicinal Resources from Wildlife
Numerous plant and animal species serve as sources of medicinal compound
many meds derived/inspired by natural substances in various species
conserving animal, plant species-> discovering of new meds to discover new meds/therapies, treatment for various illnesses - Mental Health Benefits of Nature
Research has shown that exposure to natural environments, including the presence of wildlife, has a positive impact on mental health. Spending time in nature, whether observing wildlife or engaging in outdoor activities, reduces stress, anxiety and depression while enhancing cognitive function, creativity and overall well-being. Wildlife conservation efforts that create and maintain natural areas for public use, such as parks and reserves is important - Wildlife’s Role in Carbon Sequestration (breakdown)
Forests, wetlands and other ecosystems support a diverse array of wildlife and play a critical role in sequestering carbon, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
mitigating climate change. wildlife conservation-> protect these habitats and encouraging the growth of
native plant and animal populations-> enhance the capacity of these ecosystems to store carbon and mitigate global warming. - Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation
Biodiverse ecosystems are more resilient and better able to adapt to changes in climate.
Wildlife conservation->Protecting diverse plant and animal species->increase overall resilience and adaptability of ecosystems-> less vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, such as natural disasters and species extinction. - Protecting Endangered Species from Climate Impacts
Climate change threatens to disrupt habitats and ecosystems, putting numerous species at risk of extinction. Wildlife conservation -> preserve habitat-> protecting vulnerable species-> ensure their survival and maintain ecosystem balance. This, in turn, benefits humans by safeguarding the essential
ecosystem services that these species provide. - Ecotourism and Local Economies
Well-managed wildlife conservation areas can foster ecotourism, which is a sustainable form of tourism focused on responsible interaction with natural environments and cultural heritage. Ecotourism generates revenue, creates local jobs, and supports
community development, all while emphasising the preservation of wildlife and their habitats. This model showcases the potential for conservation efforts to contribute to sustainable economic growth. - Sustainable Resource Management
preserving habitats and encouraging the responsible use of resources-> ensure that ecosystems remain productive and capable of supporting both wildlife and human populations. In turn, this ensures that the resources continue to be available for future generations. - Balancing Human Needs with Wildlife Protection
Achieving sustainable development requires finding a balance between human needs and wildlife protection. Through conservation education, community engagement and promoting alternative livelihoods, wildlife conservation efforts can help to encourage support for, and participation in, sustainable practices that benefit both humans and
wildlife.
Major Threats to animal species
- Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
cause: due to human activities such as agriculture, urban development,
and deforestation.
sol: , conservation efforts should focus on
establishing protected areas (rn) , restoring degraded habitats (after) and promoting land-use planning that minimises disruption to sensitive ecosystems. (future) - Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade
sol: conservation efforts should emphasise strengthening law enforcement, supporting community-based conservation initiatives, (they have hands on exp) and raising awareness about the impacts of these activities on wildlife populations. - Invasive Species and Disease
impacts: resulting in the degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity loss.
sol: wildlife conservation efforts must prioritise the prevention, early detection and control of invasive species, as well as supporting research on the prevention and management of wildlife diseases.
Anthropogenic Threats
Threats that directly affect species
and the habitat they occur in (human caused)
eg: Air pollution and habitat destruction are threats that can harm wildlife and their habitats.
pressures
generally considered to be broader
human processes with the potential to negatively affect biodiversity (e.g. human
population density). (think things that put more pressure on the threats) (impacts does not happen immediately, but over time)
Example: High human population density can lead to more deforestation as more land is needed for housing and farming.
maps of threats and the downside
urpose: These maps show where different threats to biodiversity are happening. (used tgt with biodiversity data)
Example: A map might show areas with high levels of air pollution or deforestation.
Issue: These maps often don’t show how different threats might affect each other.
Example: The map shows high deforestation areas but doesn’t show if these areas are also experiencing increased risk of wildfires due to the deforestation.
what are the different type of interaction between threats
Additive: The combined effect of two threats is just the sum of their individual effects.
Example: If deforestation reduces habitat by 20% and pollution reduces it by another 20%, the total reduction might be 40%.
Synergistic: The combined effect of two threats is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
Example: Deforestation and climate change together might cause habitat loss that is more severe than just deforestation alone, due to increased temperatures and drought.
Antagonistic: The combined effect of two threats is less than the sum of their individual effects.
Example: If an area is already heavily polluted, adding more deforestation might not reduce habitat quality as much as it would in a less polluted area.
what are the different threat interaction pathways
chain interactions: where one threat changes the prevalence of another threat (a direct interaction),
modification interactions: where one threat modifies the per capita impact of another (an indirect interaction), in addition to changing its prevalence.
eg of chain intercation: Logging causes habitat fragmentation, which creates fragmented and disturbed environments. These conditions make it easier for invasive species to establish and spread. Here, logging directly changes the prevalence of invasive species by altering the habitat in ways that favor the invasion.
eg of modification pathway:Habitat fragmentation results in smaller, isolated patches of habitat. These fragmented patches can have higher temperatures and altered microclimates compared to intact habitats. When climate change causes additional temperature increases, the effects are exacerbated in these fragmented areas. Habitat fragmentation modifies the impact of climate change on species by making them more vulnerable to temperature extremes, in addition to increasing the prevalence of climate-related stress.
Chain Interaction: Logging directly causes an increase in invasive species.
Modification Interaction: Habitat fragmentation indirectly increases the impact of climate change on species by altering habitat conditions.
Coincidental vs. Causal Co-occurrence:
Coincidental Co-occurrence: Threats happen together by chance or due to a shared cause.
Example: Pollution and resource extraction might both be high in areas with dense human populations, not because they directly affect each other but because both are influenced by high population density.
Causal Co-occurrence: One threat directly affects the presence or intensity of another threat.
Example: Logging-induced habitat fragmentation can lead to more frequent and severe fires because fragmented habitats are more vulnerable to fires.
What is The IUCN Red List and what information does it provide
is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity.
what information the list porvides: scientific name, red list assessment ( Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct.) ,population trend (increasing/decreasing), number of mature adults, habitat and ecology, threats, use and trade details ( what use and where, local international), conservation actions
why is this IUCN red list imp (what can we do with the info) and whos uses these information
it can inform and catalyse action
for biodiversity conservation and policy change, critical to protecting the natural
resources we need to survive.
by who: y government agencies, wildlife departments, conservation-
related non-governmental organisations (NGOs), natural resource planners, educational organisations, students, and the business community.
how to improve the global taxonomic coverage and thus provide a
stronger base to enable better conservation and policy decisions.
o increase the number
of species assessed to at least 260,000 and to reassess 142,000 of those species to
ensure the information on their status is up-to-date so that we can monitor trends in
change of status.
(research on more animals and reassest preexisting animals)
