Title: Conservation Biology and the Biology of Conservation
1Conservation Biology and the Biology of
Conservation
- Alan Journet
- Department of Biology Environmental Science
Program Southeast Missouri State University - E-mail ajournet_at_semo.eduWeb
http//cstl-csm.semo.edu/journet - Whats New?
2Postulates of Conservation Biology
- i.e. We hold these truths to be self-evident
- Diversity is good extinction is bad biophilia
(not biophobia). - Ecological complexity is good simplification is
bad. - Evolution is good.
- Biotic Diversity ( Biodiversity) has intrinsic
value.
3Characteristics of Conservation Biology
- A crisis discipline
- A multidisciplinary Science
- An inexact science
- Precautionary Principle
- A value-laden science
- Science with an evolutionary time scale
- Science of eternal vigilance
- Application of ecology to stewardship
4And
- The practice of Conservation Biology involves
advocacy. - Most species lack a voice, lack immediate
economic value, and thus lack representation. - If we (as biologists / ecologists) dont speak
for / stand up for biodiversity who will?
5Interdisciplinary
6What Do We Mean By Biodiversity?
- Genetic
- Species
- Habitat/Community/Ecosystem/Landscape---(Biome-Li
fe ZoneEco-region)
7Why Do We Value Biodiversity
- Instrumental Value Anthropocentric or
Utilitarian Value
- Goods
- Services
- Information
- Psycho-spiritual
8The Value of Biodiversity
2. Intrinsic Value Biocentric View
- Most people acknowledge the intrinsic value of
human life whether they are religious or not. - i.e. it has more than simple economic value.
- What about other species, communities, ecological
systems? - Question Where is the ethical boundary?
9The Ethical Boundary
Noss Expanding Moral Obligations
Where Is Your Boundary?
10I Patterns of Rarity
Conservation Biology Messages
- Conservation concerns about Rare Endangered
Species must recognize that being common is the
exception. - Geographic Range
- Typical Local Population Size
- Habitat Specialization
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14Weeds, Exotic invasive species, Often early
successional pioneer species.
15ParadoxicallyRareness is the Common
Condition.
Molles, MC,2008, EcologyConcepts and
Applications, 4th Edition
16II Species Richness Area
Species Richness as Area Increases
Arithmetic Scale
17Species Abundance Curves
High S.R.
These curves varydepending on maximumlocal
Species Richness.
Low S.R.
18A logarithmic transformation straightens the line
S.R. cAZ
Where S.R. Species Richness A Area c
Constant z Slope
19If area drops S.R. drops
20Species Area Curves
z ranges 0.2 to 0.35
A 90 decrease in area ? 37.5 50 loss in S.R
Starting S.R. z 0.35
Starting S.R. z 0.20
21Comparison of S.R. on islands with
equivalentcontiguous land mass sample areas.
Reptiles on islands off coastal S. Australia
cf. mainland.
22Equilibrium Number of Species on Islands
Large / Near
Near Large Islands
Far, Small Islands
Small / Distant
23Equilibrium Number of Species on Islands
Small
SmallIslands
Large Islands
Large
24Equilibrium Number of Species on Islands
SmallIslands
Near Large Islands
Rate ofExtinction
Large Islands
Far, Small Islands
It is impossible to miss the relevance of this
idea to our conservation efforts.
Reserve success (f) size and distance to
colonizers
25III Patch Quality
Fragment size and the edge effect.
Smaller patches have a higher proportion of edge
unusable for some spp.
26As patch size increases, the proportion of
interior or core habitat increases.
27Patches may belarge, but effectively absent
if they are 100 edge.
28While some species are generalists and
insensitive to patch size,
29and some are actually specialist edge occupants,
30others require large core habitat areas
to maintain viable populations.
31IV Floral / Faunal Succession
32S.R. Patterns During Succession Pioneers ? Later
Competitors
Late competition
Early competition
33Dominant plant types during succession
Pioneer Herbs Ruderal
Competitors
Stress Tolerators
34Biomass of Species During Secondary SuccessionR
Ruderal or Pioneer Species C Competitor
Species S Stress Tolerant Species
35Overall Pattern in S.R. During Secondary
Succession
Early successionspecialists
Late successionspecialists
36Romance versus Reality
V Static vs Dynamic Systems
- 19th C view of natural stasis
- If left unmolested natural communities are
stable. - Emerson, Thoreau, Muir
- Current view of Dynamic Systems
- Landscapes are a mosaic of sub-units exhibiting
varying stages of recovery from disturbances.
37Disturbances / Perturbations are Natural and
Variable
- INTENSITY HOW SEVERE?
- FREQUENCY HOW OFTEN?
- DURATION HOW LONG?
- EXTENT HOW WIDESPREAD?
38The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Maximum S.R.
S.R.
? High Disturbance Frequency Low ? ? Soon
Time Since Disturbance Long ? ? Large
Disturbance Scale Small ?
39But What is the PrevailingHuman Impact?
- S.R. seems optimally supported by a landscape
mosaic representing stages of recovery, - But we have already dramatically adjusted the
historic successional pattern and disturbance
frequency on the landscape.... - Indeed, almost everything humans do produces
disturbed early successional stages, - Little surprise because its in early succession
that agricultural and forestry productivity are
highest.
40MESSAGE
- Management conservation priority should be to
promote mid ? late successional patches in the
mosaic
41BOTSP an island ina sea of agricultural
cropland.
M.R.
Supports Rare Species Small patch Extensive edge
effect Frequent flood disturbance Surrounded by
early succession
N
St. James Bayou
BOTSP
New MadridFloodway
Park Road
42Suggestions fromIsland Biogeography theory and
habitatfragmentation studiesfor wildlife
reserve size and shape.
43Missouris Climate Future
Higher Average Temperature w/o more rain ? ?
Courtesy Pat Guinan, University of Missouri-
Columbia
44Future Temperature Range
There is much doubt depends on what we do.
The last Ice Age (20,000YBP)
http//epa.gov/climatechange/science/futuretc.html
45What Determines Biomes?
- Ave.Temperature.
- Ave. Rainfall.
46Response to Climate Change?
- Promote Adaptation to climates that we predict
will be present. - How certain can we be of what climate will be
present and where? - Can we manage communities well enough to do it
successfully, even if we knew? - Will other factors prevent it (e.g. edaphic)?
- Maintain what we have by promoting Resistance to
climate change. - Will changes be too severe to permit such
strategy? - Maintain what we have by promoting Resilience to
climate change. - Ditto
47Whichever
- Well probably need not only the dominant or
common species in our communities, but also those
that are not so common - - The R E components (whether officially so
designated or just naturally / intrinsically R
E). - As resource managers, our task is to keep all the
players on the stage.