Future of Biogeography. . . a global view . . .• Speciation and extinction are natural parts of the history of biota• Earth is a dynamic placeFuture of BiogeographyLisianthius habuenis Sytsma sp. nov.• New species endemic to onelowland cloud forest peak, CerroHabu, central Panama - described in1983The Problem• On a return trip in 1985, the forest - andthe species - were gone; one of the 13,800species of plants E.O. Wilson hadprojected to disappear in the last centuryLisianthius habuenis Sytsma sp. nov.• New species endemic to onelowland cloud forest peak, CerroHabu, central Panama - described in1983The Problem• What do we know about extinction? Howdoes it happen? What are the ecologicalrepercussions?• Should we care? Do we have an economical,ecological or ethical responsibility?• What should our response then be?How should we then act?Lisianthius habuenis Sytsma sp. nov.The ProblemScience“How does the world work?”From: DeWitt, C. B. 1998. Science, Ethics, and Praxis: Getting it All Together.Ethics“What is right?”Praxis“What then must we do?”Cal DeWitt Institute Environmental StudiesUniversity of WisconsinAddressing the Problem• “It is inconceivable to me that an ethicalrelation to land can exist without love,respect, and admiration for land, and a highregard for its value. By value, I of coursemean something far broader than mereeconomic value; I mean value in thephilosophical sense.” Aldo Leopold, 1949• The Judeo-Christian StewardshipEnvironmental Ethic makes us accountable toGod for conserving biodiversity:“Diversity is God’s property, and we, whobear the relationship to it of strangers andsojourners, have no right to destroy it.”D.W. Ehrenfeld, 1988Addressing the ProblemPraxis“What then must we do?”Ethics“What is right?”Addressing the ProblemScience“How does the world work?”1. How much BioDiversity isthere?2. How fast is it going extinct?3. How do species becomeendangered or go extinct?Science“How does the world work?”Addressing the Problem• The term “BioDiversity” was bornduring the National Forum onBioDiversity, held in WashingtonD.C. in 1986Biodiversity = variation• genes• populations• species• communities• ecosystemsHow much biological diversity is there?• 1.4 million living species of all kinds of organisms have been namedHow much biological diversity is there?• 750,000 are insects, 250,000 are plants, 41,000 are vertebrates• The remainder consists of a complex array of invertebrates, fungi, algae, andmicroorganisms• Absolute number is likely to exceed 10 million• Gene diversity• 1000 bacteria, 104 fungi, 4 X 105 flowering plants• gray wolf DNA sequences would fillall 15 editions of the EncyclopaediaBrittanica since 1768How much biological diversity is there?• Gene diversity• 1000 bacteria, 104 fungi, 4 X 105 flowering plants• . . . and 4X that in the tiny fringedpolygala in boreal forests in thenorthern Great LakesHow much biological diversity is there?• “Weeds”, invasives• Habitat fragmentation• Climate changesHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Strong link between areas of ‘weed’ concentrationsand extinction hot spotsHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Strong link between areas of ‘weed’ concentrationsand extinction hot spotsHow does biological diversity go extinct?Chicago wet prairiesMidwest oak savannaHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Habitat fragmentationSouth Florida coastal scrubFlorida EvergladesHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Habitat fragmentationWashington D.C. and Baltimore area—red and blue being waterimpervious pavementHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Habitat fragmentationMadagascar in 50 years is a classic study inthe fragmentation of forest biomesHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Habitat fragmentationWhat impact? The theory of islandbiogeography has a lot to suggest.How does biological diversity go extinct?• Habitat fragmentationCompletion of the Union Pacific Railroadin 1869 had dramatic impact on thedistribution of the American bisonHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Habitat fragmentationIvory-billed woodpecker-considered extinct since 1944Island nature of its habitat today — swamp forestin Arkansas where re-discovered in 2004How does biological diversity go extinct?Not just a tropical or developing world issue — look at the Great Lakes regionHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Habitat fragmentationDeforestation and oak savanna/prairie use for agriculture have largelymade many Great Lake ecosystems simply experiments in “islandbiogeography”How does biological diversity go extinct?The endangered Karner Blue is restricted todisappearing oak savanna habitat in the GreatLakes region with its larval stages dependenton a single species of plant - Lupinus perennisHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Cumulative effect is degradation of genetic diversity or severe geneticbottlenecksAgalinus skinnerianaPurple false foxgloveThreatened (4 states) in GreatLakes region - restricted to southfacing dry prairiesHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Variation in floral coloration and patternexists and is correlated with geographicallocation.How does biological diversity go extinct?• Cumulative effect is degradation of genetic diversity or severe geneticbottlenecks• DNA fingerprinting, however, revealspractically no genetic variationKercher & Sytsma (2000) in Natural Areas JournalHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Cumulative effect is degradation of genetic diversity or severe geneticbottlenecksAs predicted by the theory of island biogeography, prairie patches inventoried in southernWisconsin in 1950 and again in 2000 showed significant loss of species diversity during the50 year interval (Leach and Givnish, 2001)Platanthera leucophaeaPrairie-fringed orchidAs expected, moth-pollinated species such as the prairiefringed orchid were one of the first to disappearHow does biological diversity go extinct?1957 1987140 year CO2 concentrationincreasing from 290 ppm to 360 ppmMeasured at top of Mauna Loa,Hawaii and in Antarctic iceHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Climate changeHow does biological diversity go extinct?• Climate changeLast 4 years’ CO2 concentrationincreasing from 382 ppm to 390 ppmMeasured at top of Mauna LoaSvante Arrhenius1859-1927How does biological diversity go extinct?• Climate changeConsequences of