Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach

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Sustaining Biodiversity The Species Approach

• Chapter 9

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What Role Do Humans Play in the Premature
Extinction of Species?

• We are degrading and destroying biodiversity in
  many parts of the world, and these threats are
  increasing.
• Species are becoming extinct 100 to 1,000 times
  faster than they were before modern humans
  arrived on the earth (the background rate), and
  by the end of this century, the extinction rate
  is expected to be 10,000 times the background
  rate.

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Human Activities Are Destroying and Degrading
Biodiversity

• HIPPCO?
• H Habitat Destruction, Degradation,
  fragmentation
• I Invasive Species
• P Population Growth
• P Pollution
• C Climate Change
• O Overexploitation

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Poll time..

• What causes loss of biodiversity??

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3 Types of Species Extinction

• Local extinction no longer found in a given
  area once inhabited (found in other parts of the
  world)
• Ecological extinction so few species it can no
  longer play its ecological role
• Biological extinction no longer found on earth
  FOREVER

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Endangered and Threatened Species Are Ecological
Smoke Alarms

• Endangered species so few individual survivors
  that the species could soon become extinct
• Threatened species vulnerable species
• Characteristics of such species

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Kirklands warbler
Knowlton cactus
African elephant
Grizzly bear
Florida manatee
Siberian tiger
Utah prairie dog
Humpback chub
Golden lion tamarin
Swallowtail butterfly
Northern spotted owl
Giant panda
Whooping crane
Black-footed ferret
Blue whale
Mountain gorilla
Florida panther
California condor
Hawksbill sea turtle
Black rhinoceros
Fig. 9-4, p. 187
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Characteristics of Species That Are Prone to
Ecological and Biological Extinction
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Why Should We Care about Preventing Premature
Species Extinction?

• We should prevent the premature extinction of
  wild species because of the economic and
  ecological services they provide and because they
  have a right to exist regardless of their
  usefulness to us.

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Species Are a Vital Part of the Earths Natural
Capital

• Instrumental value usefulness to us
• Use value
• Ecological services
• Recreation (ecotourism)
• Information
• Goods
• Nonuse value
• Existence value
• Aesthetic value
• Bequest value

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Natural Capital Natures Pharmacy
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Loss of Habitat Is the Single Greatest Threat to
Species Remember HIPPCO

• Habitat destruction, degradation, and
  fragmentation
• Invasive (nonnative) species
• Population and resource use growth
• Pollution
• Climate change
• Overexploitation

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Natural Capital Degradation Reduction in the
Ranges of Four Wildlife Species
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The Ten Most Threatened Song Birds in the United
States
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Polar Bear with Seal Prey
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White Rhinoceros Killed by a Poacher
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Bush Meat Lowland Gorilla
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How Can We Protect Wild Species from Premature
Extinction?

• We can use existing environmental laws and
  treaties and work to enact new laws designed to
  prevent species extinction and protect overall
  biodiversity.
• We can help to prevent species extinction by
  creating and maintaining wildlife refuges, gene
  banks, botanical gardens, zoos, and aquariums.

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How Can We Protect Wild Species from Premature
Extinction?

• According to the precautionary principle, we
  should take measures to prevent or reduce harm to
  the environment and to human health, even if some
  of the cause-and-effect relationships have not
  been fully established, scientifically.

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International Treaties Help to Protect Species

• 1975 Convention on International Trade in
  Endangered Species (CITES) restricts
  international trade of live specimens/products
  b/c they are at risk of becoming threatened
• Signed by 172 countries

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National Laws

• Lacey Act of 1900 prohibits transporting live
  or dead animals across state borders (w/o a
  federal permit)
• Endangered Species Act (ESA) 1973 and later
  amended in 1982, 1983, and 1985
• Identify and protect endangered species in the
  U.S. and abroad

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Confiscated Products Made from Endangered Species
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Accomplishments of the Endangered Species Act

• Species listed only when serious danger of
  extinction
• Takes decades for most species to become
  endangered or extinct
• More than half of the species listed are stable
  or improving
• Budget has been small

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Gene Banks, Botanical Gardens, and Wildlife Farms
Can Help Protect Species

• Gene or seed banks
• Preserve genetic material of endangered plants
• Botanical gardens and arboreta
• Living plants
• Farms to raise organisms for commercial sale

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Zoos and Aquariums Can Protect Some Species

• Techniques for preserving endangered terrestrial
  species
• Egg pulling
• Captive breeding
• Artificial insemination
• Embryo transfer
• Use of incubators
• Cross-fostering

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Zoos and Aquariums Can Protect Some Species

• Limited space and funds
• Critics say these facilities are prisons for the
  organisms

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What Can You Do? Protecting Species