Biodiversity IWhat is biodiversity?Biological diversityBiodiversity indicatorsHow many species?Slide 6OrangutanSlide 8Where is biodiversityHabitats of Richest DiversityMammal Species RichnessEndemic speciesSlide 13The Oxford DodoPassenger pigeonStephen Island wrenThe Grail Bird: The Ivory-billed wood peckerSlide 18Extinction ratesPeople and biodiversityExtent of cultivated systemsHuman footprintThe Last of the Wild (WCS)Threats to BiodiversityHabitat degradationExamples of degradationSlide 27Slide 28FragmentationEdge effectsEdge EffectsOverexploitationBushmeat in AfricaSlide 34Invasive SpeciesSlide 36DiseaseClimate change & pollutionCase of amphibiansProbability of going extinctSpecial case of islandsMacArthur and Wilson’s Equilibrium theory of island biogeographyMammal extinction in parksSlide 44Biodiversity IBiodiversity IES 118 Spring 2008ES 118 Spring 2008What is biodiversity?What is biodiversity?TodayToday–What is biodiversity?What is biodiversity?–Where it is found?Where it is found?–Where and how is it threatened?Where and how is it threatened?WednesdayWednesday–How do we value biodiversity? How do we value biodiversity? –What are strategies to protect it? What are strategies to protect it? IncentivesValuesInformationBioBiological logical diversitydiversityThe sum total of all living thingsThe sum total of all living things–Genes Genes –SpeciesSpecies–PopulationsPopulations–CommunitiesCommunities–EcosystemsEcosystems–LandscapesLandscapesBiodiversity indicatorsBiodiversity indicatorsGenetic diversity: Genetic diversity: within the population within the population or speciesor speciesEcosystem diversity: Ecosystem diversity: a a diversity of habitatsdiversity of habitatsSpecies diversity: Species diversity: number of species & number of species & abundanceabundanceHow many species?How many species?1.75 million described1.75 million described–300,000 fossil300,000 fossilEstimates range from 10-50 Estimates range from 10-50 millionmillionPhoto: Jonathan and Angie ScottIndian (Asian) ElephantElephas indicus African ElephantLoxodonta africanaSUMATRA (Pongo pygmaeus abelii) © 2001 Michael NicholsBORNEO (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus)Photographer: Rod BrindamourORDER: Primates SUPERFAMILY: Hominoidea FAMILY: Pongidae GENUS: PongoSPECIES: pygmaeusOrangutanOrangutanPanthera tigrisWhere is biodiversityWhere is biodiversityGroom et al. 2006Similar patterns emerge for elevation as for latitudeHabitats of Richest Habitats of Richest DiversityDiversityTropical rain Tropical rain forestsforestsCoral reefsCoral reefsLarge tropical Large tropical lakeslakesDeep seaDeep seaMammal Species Mammal Species RichnessRichnessEndemic speciesEndemic speciesDefinition: Species found in one area and no place elseExtinction is the most irreversible of Extinction is the most irreversible of all environmental calamities. With all environmental calamities. With each plant and animal species that each plant and animal species that disappears, a precious part of disappears, a precious part of creation is callously erased.creation is callously erased.Michael Soulé, 2004Michael Soulé, 2004The Oxford DodoThe Oxford DodoPassenger Passenger pigeonpigeonPassenger Passenger pigeonpigeonMost common bird in Most common bird in North AmericaNorth AmericaFlocks would darken skyFlocks would darken skyExtinct by 1914Extinct by 1914Most common bird in Most common bird in North AmericaNorth AmericaFlocks would darken skyFlocks would darken skyExtinct by 1914Extinct by 19141898 Photograph of a Passenger PigeonStephen Island wrenStephen Island wrenFlightless, nocturnal Flightless, nocturnal insectivore, insectivore, endemic to small endemic to small Stephen’s Island Stephen’s Island near New Zealandnear New ZealandEntire population Entire population killed off in 1894 by killed off in 1894 by "Tibbles”the "Tibbles”the lighthouse keeper's lighthouse keeper's catcatThe Grail Bird: The Grail Bird: The Ivory-billed wood The Ivory-billed wood peckerpeckerThe Grail Bird: The Grail Bird: The Ivory-billed wood The Ivory-billed wood peckerpeckerExtinction ratesExtinction ratesExtinction rates now 1,000x or more Extinction rates now 1,000x or more beyond “background” ratesbeyond “background” rates–10-30% of mammal, bird, and amphibian 10-30% of mammal, bird, and amphibian species threatened with extinctionspecies threatened with extinction–20% of world’s corral reefs lost, another 20% of world’s corral reefs lost, another 20% damaged20% damaged–35% mangroves lost35% mangroves lostSixth “mass extinction” episodeSixth “mass extinction” episode500,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 016543271654327Years Before PresentBillions of People20-30% of net primary 20-30% of net primary productivity co-opted by humansproductivity co-opted by humans–60-80% of regional NPP in North 60-80% of regional NPP in North America and EuropeAmerica and EuropePeople and People and biodiversitybiodiversityPeople and People and biodiversitybiodiversityExtent of cultivated Extent of cultivated systemssystemsHuman footprintHuman footprintSanderson et al. 2002The Last of the Wild The Last of the Wild (WCS)(WCS)http://wcs.org/humanfootprintThreats to BiodiversityThreats to BiodiversityHabitat degradationHabitat degradationOverexploitationOverexploitationInvasive speciesInvasive speciesDiseaseDiseaseClimate change and pollutionClimate change and pollutionHabitat Habitat degradationdegradationHabitat lossHabitat loss–Conversion of natural Conversion of natural ecosystems for human useecosystems for human useHabitat fragmentationHabitat fragmentation–Dissection of natural Dissection of natural habitat by human activitieshabitat by human activitiesMatrix qualityMatrix quality–Overall integrity of the Overall integrity of the landscapelandscapeExamples of Examples of degradationdegradationForest systems: ½ the world’s Forest systems: ½ the world’s forest cover has been removedforest cover has been removed–In 25 countries no forest remainsIn 25 countries no forest remains–In 29, 90% has been lostIn 29, 90% has been lostGrasslands: In North America, 97% Grasslands: In North America, 97% of tallgrass prairies and 60% of of tallgrass prairies and 60% of mixedgrass and shortgrass prairies mixedgrass and shortgrass prairies have been converted since mid-have been converted since