Unit 3 Flashcards
Biodiversity
Variety of life in all its forms, levels, and combinations within an area
-linked to goods and services we rely on
Four fronts of diversity
- Landscapes
- Ecosystems/habitats
- Species and three components (evenness, richness, and dominance)
- Gene pool
Why is Wildlife (Biodiversity) Important?
- Economic Well-Being
- Money made from the goods and services - Ecosystem Services (Life Support)
- Provides life and allows for survival - Cultural Value
- Landscape around us tell us who we are - Recreational Value
- Exploring nature - Scientific value
- Pursuit of knowledge about nature
Keystone Species
- Species of group of species whose impact on its ecosystem is much larger and more influential that would be expected
- If species is removed or caused to decrease in abundance, there is an unexpected substantial change in the structure and function of the ecosystem
Population Growth rate
the percentage increase in a population over a period of time
doubling time
the time needed for a population to double its size assuming the growth rate remains the same
exponential growth
- increases by a fixed percentage over time
- characteristic of small rapidly growing species
- requires ideal environmental conditions to promote the rapid growth
leg phase
- flat part of exponential growth
- have to adjust to the environment
logistic growth pattern
-population first grows at exponential rate but then slows as environmental factors become limiting
carrying capacity
- the number of individuals remains relatively constant
- largest population that can be sustained indefinitely without degrading resources and jeopardizing availability for future generations
population crash
extreme damage caused on the environment, population drives itself to die
invasive species
- organisms that are not native to a region that when introduced, either intentionally or accidentally, out-compete native species for available resources
- major contributing factor to species extinction
So why are IAS Important?
- Attack all the aspects of sustainable environment
- Ecological changes, economic losses, health concerns, recreational losses
Ecological changes
- Prey on native species, compete for food and breeding space
- Disrupt food webs, and introduce new pathogens
- Contribute to a loss of species biodiversity
Economic losses
- Impacts to commercial and consumptive interests
- Costs to fix the impacts are huge
Health concerns
-Introduction of human pathogens and their vectors
Recreational losses
-Affects human enjoyment and use of the environment
Anthropocene Era
Humans are responsible for the 6th mass extinction of biodiversity
Major Threats to Biodiversity
- Hunting, poaching and overfishing
- Air, water, and soil pollution
- Loss of habitat and fragmentation of existing habitat
- Cutting down forests, breaking up existing habitats
- Climate change
- Introduced species that share the same ecological niche and able to outcompete
- Human population and overconsumption
Why are Some Species More Vulnerable Than Others?
- Long Lived and Delayed Maturity
- Low Reproductive Rates
- Limited Habitat Availability and Challenged to Establish New Locations
- Breed in Colonies
- Specific Requirements at Life Stages
- Niche specialization
Internationally
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Convention on Biological Diversity
Canada
- Biodiversity Strategy
- Species at Risk Act (SARA)**
- Provincially (Locally) – in Manitoba
- Endangered Species Act
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Tracks, reports and assists to evaluate the status of species and overall a barometer of the health of the biosphere
- Called the Red List
- Reference for policy making, adhere to species that have been identified
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild
- Illegal poaching and trade across the borders
Canada’s Species At Risk Act (SARA)
- To prevent Canadian indigenous species, subspecies, and distinct populations from becoming extirpated or extinct
- To provide for recovery of endangered or threatened species
- To encourage management of other species to prevent them from becoming at risk
SARA Categories
- Extinct
- Extirpated
- Endangered
- Threatened
- Special Concern
Extinct
A species that no longer exists
Extirpated
A species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere
Endangered
A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction
Threatened
A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed
Special Concern
A species particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events
RENEW Canada Program (Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife in Canada)
- A key component of SARA is to develop a strategy to assist a species to recover in population size.
- a unique piece of legislation to Canada
Woodland Caribou Status
-Threatened species
Woodland Caribou Biological Features
- Low reproductive rate
- Poor competitor with the deer and moose
- Competitors are vectors for parasite (brain worm-deer carry but only affects the caribou)
- Ecological disturbance (can’t adapt well to disturbance, utilize the same places)
- Use islands for calving, use forests, use open areas
- Wolves are the predator
Woodland Caribou Habitat Requirements
- 65% of the boreal forest has to be in tact to support the caribou
- Affinity for a certain environment
- Migration corridors are fragile and heavily relied on
Woodland Caribou Types of Research
- Indigenous knowledge from elders and communities
- Historically describe features of the populations of caribou in the past
- Western Science
Woodland Caribou Human Conflict/Influences
- Fragment of the habitat (roads and highways)
- Easy access of competitors and predators (via roads and highways)
- Illegal hunting
- Forest fires make them vulnerable (natural and human made)
- Pattern of fires to lessen the impact
- Protected areas
- No human development
- No logging, hydro development, mining (oil and gas)
- Protect winter areas for herd for calving
- Improve forestry management in harvesting techniques, modify their techniques
- Decommissioned roads (reduced the number), limited convenient access with gates
- Lichen production, enhancing the habitat by allowing more sunlight for higher production
Woodland Caribou Stakeholders
- Biologists
- Industry (forestry people)
- Indigenous knowledge keepers
- Government
- ENGOs (non government organizations for the environment, represent the common people)
