Conservation

1
Conservation

• Chapter 14

2
Wildlife Resources

• What is happening to the wildlife
• and plant resources around us today?

3
U.S. Species Diversity
4
Decreasing Biodiversity

• 10-20 of species alive in 1975 were
• extinct in 2000

• Mostly plants, invertebrates in tropical
• rain forests (many undescribed species)

• 40 of all species live in tropical areas

• Disappear along with forests

5
Extinction Not New

• 99 of all species have gone extinct

• Gradual environmental changes have
• been responsible for most extinctions

• Rapid environmental changes from
• asteroids, etc. also have been important
• in many extinctions

6
Extinction Rates

• Background (natural) rate of extinction

• Massextinction

7
Why Should We Care About Extinctions and
Biodiversity?
1) economics 2) aesthetics 3)
ecological 4) ethics
8
Cinchona
Cinchona ledogeriana, South America Quinine for
malaria treatment
9
Rauvolfia
Rauvolfia sepentina, Southeast
Asia Tranquilizer, high blood pressure
medication
10
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea, Europe Digitalis for heart
failure
11
Pacific yew
Taxus brevifolia, Pacific Northwest Ovarian
cancer
12
Human Impacts on Biodiversity
13
Human Impacts on Biodiversity
Flathead Lake, Montana
14
Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild Species

15
Human Activities That May Cause Extinctions

• Habitat disturbance/destruction

• Commercial hunting

• Predator and pest control

• Collecting for pets, zoos, research

• Pollution

• Introductions of exotic species

16
Habitat Disturbance and Destruction
California Condor
17
Commercial Hunting
Black Rhino
Range in 1700
Range today (about 2,400 left)
18
Predator and Pest Control
African Elephant
Probable range 1600
Range today (300,000 left)
19
Collecting for Pets, Zoos, Research
20
Pollution
Bald Eagle - DDT
21
Species Introductions
Dodo Bird
Zebra Mussel
22
Threats from Nonnative Species
23
Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity

• Species approach

• Ecosystem approach

24
Protecting Wild Species The Legal Approach

• International Treaties CITES
• - Convention on International Trade in
• Endangered Species

• National Laws ESA- Endangered Species Act

25
Protecting Wild Species The Sanctuary Approach

• Wildlife refuges and protected areas
• - e.g. whooping cranes

• Gene banks, botanical gardens, and farms

• Zoos and Aquariums
• - captive breeding programs

26
The Ecosystem Approach

• Biosphere reserves

• U.S. has gt30 reserves
• - Yellowstone National Park
• - Great Smoky Mtns. National Park

• Other countries have similar reserves

27
The Ecosystem Approach
28
Bird Success Stories
California Condor
Whooping Crane
Peregrine Falcon
Canada Goose
Wild Turkey