Our Biological Future Conservation of BiodiversityReading AssignmentApocalypse now!Conservation BiologyLevels of BiodiversityPlant species, which are distinguishable?Natural AreasWhere is biodiversity highest?Biodiversity hotspotsThreats to BiodiversityHabitat loss & fragmentationA Fragmented Cook Co. forest preserveExploitationExotic speciesBlack swallowwort, an exotic vinePollutionPOLLUTIONFocus on media & entertainmentAttraction to the irrelevantEcologists as prognosticatorsConsequences of biodiversity lossBiodiversity and NPPDiversity promotes stabilityMoney trivializes our biological futureConclusions – possible outcomesUIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg11Exam 3 #13Exam 3 #13Our Biological FutureOur Biological Future Conservation of BiodiversityConservation of BiodiversityThe further one looks into the The further one looks into the future, the more likely one is to future, the more likely one is to be wrong.be wrong.Exam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg22Reading AssignmentReading Assignment•• Chapter 55.Chapter 55.Each person has both an Each person has both an individual futureindividual future and a and a collective futurecollective future. The collective . The collective future has hierarchical levels: future has hierarchical levels: familyfamily, , regionregion, , nationnation and the entire and the entire worldworld including the biological world. Collective including the biological world. Collective futures often have big impacts on futures often have big impacts on individual futures.individual futures.Exam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg33Apocalypse now!Apocalypse now!•• The prediction of the end of the world has a The prediction of the end of the world has a long human history.long human history.–– GGöötterdamerungtterdamerung, the collapse of the empire of , the collapse of the empire of the gods the gods –– a Teutonic mytha Teutonic myth–– Coming of the messiahComing of the messiah•• To those humans that believe in unending To those humans that believe in unending economic progress, it might be disturbing economic progress, it might be disturbing that so many that so many religionsreligions expect expect GOD(sGOD(s) will ) will end life as we know it.end life as we know it.Conservation BiologyConservation Biology•• What is biodiversity?What is biodiversity?•• Where is biodiversity highest?Where is biodiversity highest?•• Threats to biodiversityThreats to biodiversity•• Why is biodiversity important?Why is biodiversity important?•• Protected AreasProtected AreasExam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg44Levels of BiodiversityLevels of Biodiversity•• The diversity within life exists at many The diversity within life exists at many levelslevels–– Within species as populations and Within species as populations and genetic genetic polymorphismspolymorphisms–– Above species as Above species as communitiescommunities or assemblages or assemblages of species adapted to regimes of of species adapted to regimes of abioticabiotic conditions.conditions.–– SpeciesSpecies that can be distinguished is a natural that can be distinguished is a natural measure of biodiversity.measure of biodiversity.Exam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg55Plant species, Plant species, which are distinguishable?which are distinguishable?Exam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg66Natural AreasNatural Areas•• My goal is for populations in communities My goal is for populations in communities to continue to evolve as close as possible to continue to evolve as close as possible to how they would have evolved without to how they would have evolved without agricultural/economic man.agricultural/economic man.•• Natural areasNatural areas are crucial to conservation in are crucial to conservation in this point of view.this point of view.•• Zoos and gardens are irrelevant to the Zoos and gardens are irrelevant to the natural area view of conservation.natural area view of conservation.Exam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg77Where is biodiversity highest?Where is biodiversity highest?•• If you want to preserve the most species If you want to preserve the most species in the least amount of area (and in the in the least amount of area (and in the most remote places from where people most remote places from where people live), then knowing biodiversity hotspots is live), then knowing biodiversity hotspots is important.important.•• Biodiversity is highest in equatorial Biodiversity is highest in equatorial mountains and other places difficult for mountains and other places difficult for agriculture.agriculture.Exam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg88Biodiversity hotspotsBiodiversity hotspots•• Are always located in regions of low Are always located in regions of low population density and low development.population density and low development.•• By focusing on such places it makes it By focusing on such places it makes it easier to raise money in regions with easier to raise money in regions with intense economic development.intense economic development.•• Nice places for biologists to visit for a Nice places for biologists to visit for a week or two.week or two.Exam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg99Threats to BiodiversityThreats to Biodiversity•• Habitat loss & fragmentationHabitat loss & fragmentation•• ExploitationExploitation•• Exotic speciesExotic species•• PollutionPollution•• Focus of humans on economics, Focus of humans on economics, entertainment and mediaentertainment and mediaExam 3 #13Exam 3 #13UIC UIC BioSBioS 101 Nyberg101 Nyberg1010Habitat loss & fragmentationHabitat loss & fragmentation•• Cutting of trees and plowing the land are Cutting of trees and plowing the land are the primary source of habitat lossthe primary source of habitat loss•• The changes brought about by people are The changes brought about by people are mostly alternations of community. The mostly alternations of community. The land is still there in an altered state.land is still there in an altered state.•• Residential and commercial properties are Residential and commercial properties are and increasing component of habitat and increasing component of habitat alteration alteration (mostly building on agricultural land).(mostly building on