Biodiversity Lecture

Biodiversity
ANGELES UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

Marlon de Leon Suba
What is biodiversity?
• Ricklefs & Miller: Biodiversity includes
a number of different levels of variation
in the natural world: genetic, species,
ecosystem
• Begon et al. “The term may be used to
describe the number of species, the
amount of genetic variation or the
number of community types present in
an area”.
http://www.sagarprabhu.com/gif/rice5.gif
Genetic diversity
• Variations of genes A few of the
within a species. hundreds of
rice varieties
– Lots of distinct populations found in
India.
within a species
Some genetic diversity
– measure of the variety of in potatoes …
versions of the same
genes within individual
species.
http://www.potatoperspective.org/about_files/DSCN7746.jpg
Species diversity
• number of species in a given
area.
– An island with 2 bird species and 1 lizard
species is more diverse than an island with
3 bird species. http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/themes/human/images/Vegetation_Cuba.jpg
– It’s numbers of species as well as

http://www.al.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/photo/for/mng
categories of organisms.
t/pine_plantation2.jpg
Lower Species Diversity Higher Species Diversity

Ecosystem diversity
http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/HJA_mo/images/
• Variety of ecosystems
Lookout_meadow_vs_forest.jpg
within an area.
– The richness and complexity of
biological community including the
number of niches, trophic levels
Coniferous Forest and ecological processes that
meeting a meadow capture energy.
http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/ba
ckissues/02-01/living_color/beach.jpg
– Very hard to measure due to

overlapping boundary areas also
called ecotones.
Ocean meeting
a beach
Importance of Biodiversity
Direct Use Value: Goods
• Food
• Building Materials
• Fuel
• Paper Products
• Fiber (clothing,
textiles)
• Industrial products
(waxes, rubber, oils)
• Medicine
Source: © AMNH-CBC
Indirect Use Values: Services
• Regulating global processes,
such as atmosphere and climate
• Soil and water conservation
• Nutrient cycling
• Pollination and seed dispersal
• Control of agricultural pests
• Genetic library
• Inspiration and information
• Scientific and educational
• Tourism and recreation
• Cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic
• Community Resilience
Source: © AMNH-CBC
5 Threats of Biodiversity
• Habitat
destruction/fragmentation
• Invasive species
• Population growth
• Pollution
• Overconsumption
Habitat Destruction
•Changing a habitat to suit human needs…for
housing, farming, etc.
•This displaces
animals/plants.
As the human
population
grows, so does
habitat
destruction!
Fragmentation
• Breaking up large
habitats into smaller
habitats.
• Creates an “edge” habitat
where “inner” habitat
used to be. Some plants
and animals cannot
adapt to these changes. http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/i
mages/ozark_frag.jpg
Invasive Species
Any organism that Oftentimes,include:
Synonyms invasive species
out-compete native species
has been relocated resulting inspecies,
Introduced disruption of the
non-
somewhere other ecosystem
native andexotic
species, food chain.
Many native organisms are
than its original species
becoming and alien species…
endangered by this!
habitat.
Zebra Mussel
Asian Beetle
Population growth of Humans
 Increasing population
means greater demand for
food, shelter, fuel and
water.
 This often leads to habitat
loss, pollution, resource http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/
scarcity and 2222903/2/istockphoto_2222903_crowded_city.jpg
overconsumption
Humans are coming into
greater (more frequent)
contact with previously wild
areas with high biodiversity
http://www.chbr.noaa.gov/categories/stressors/image
s/pollution_sm.jpg
Population expected to reach
8 billion by 2020
Pollution
o Pollution can alter the habitat to the point where
some plants and animals will not be able to
adapt.
o Global Climate Change--many species are
intolerant to changes in temperature--affects
feeding relationships and breeding patterns.
o Acid rain/Air pollution-these types of issues
do not respect borders. US acid rain fell in
Canada destroying sugar maple forests which
upset the amount/quality of maple syrup
produced.
Overconsumption
 Individuals consuming way more
resources than needed to survive –
sometimes more than is needed for a
high standard of life
 Industrialized nations make up 25%
of the world’s population, but use
75% of its resources.
 US makes up only 5% of world’s
population--causes 33% of world’s
pollution!
Values are Subjective:
Perspectives and Scales
Land developer
Local communities
Government
Oil company
agency
Source: Sterling/Frey © AMNH-CBC

Environmental
Aquaculture company group
Conservation
Sustainable development manages resources for
present and future generations.
• Sustainable development meets needs

without hurting future generations.
– resources meet current needs
– resources will still be available for future use
• The timber industry has started to adopt sustainable practices.

Conservation
 Global fisheries have adopted several sustainable
practices.
• rotation of catches
o Gives time to recover
• fishing gear review
o Avoids damaging sea floor
• harvest reduction
o Slows harvest, allowing recovery
• fishing bans
o Replenishes populations
Conservation
Conservation practices focus on a few species
but benefit entire ecosystems.
• The Endangered Species Act works
to protect individual species from
extinction.
• A listed species is often called an
umbrella species.
– the habitat in which the species
lives must be protected
– other species are protected
because they share the
ecosystem
Conservation
Protecting Earth’s resources helps protect our future.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was
created in 1970.
– develops policies and regulations to protect the
environment.
• Legislation helps to protect the environment and
endangered species. The following are three
important laws:
• Clean Air Act
• Republic Act No. 8749
• The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
• Clean Water Act
• March 22, 2004
• Endangered Species Act
• July 30, 2001
Conservation
• There are several ways that people can
help protect the environment.
– control population growth
– develop sustainable technology
– change practices
– protect and maintain ecosystems
Innovative Ways Technology in
Saving Endangered Species
Better Mapping and Visualization
Smart Collars for Endangered Species
Remote Control Photography and Video
Remote Monitoring of Wildlife Sounds
Remote Controlled Sampling
Texting Elephants
High-Tech Fish Hooks
Gene Sequencing
Beehive Fences
Remote Measurement Tools
Conservation Drones

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Biodiversity

ANGELES UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

– It’s numbers of species as well as

Lower Species Diversity Higher Species Diversity

– Very hard to measure due to

scarcity and 2222903/2/istockphoto_2222903_crowded_city.jpg

Source: Sterling/Frey © AMNH-CBC

• Sustainable development meets needs

• The timber industry has started to adopt sustainable practices.

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