MAN, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

BIOL351

B IODIVERSITY A N D
C O N S E RVAT I O N
BIOLOGY

DR. SAID AL-KHALASI

UNESCO CHAIR ON AFLAJ STUDIES-
ARCHAEOHYDROLOGY UNIVERSITY
OF NIZWA
BIODIVERSITY ENCOMPASSES
MULTIPLE LEVELS
Biodiversity
• Variety of life at all levels of organization
• Examples
• Species diversity
• Genetic diversity
• Ecosystem diversity
SPECIES DIVERSITY
• Species diversity
• The number of variety of species in a particular region
• Richness:the number of species.
• Evenness ( relative abundance):the extent to which species differ in number of
individuals.

• Species
• A set of individuals that share certain characteristics and can interbreed producing
fertile offspring.
• Speciation generates new species
• Extinction reduces species richness.
• Subspecies
• Populations of species that occur in different areas and differ slightly from each
other.
Q COMPLETE THE MISSING WORDS
1- Biodiversity is a variety of life at all level of organisms .
Examples;1… … … … … ,2 … … … … … … … ,3… … … … … … .
2.Subspecies are populations of species that occur in … … … areas and differ slightly from
each other.
GENETIC DIVERSITY
• Genetic diversity
Encompasses (include) differences in D N A among individuals.
Provides the new raw material for adaptation to local conditions
Population with higher genetic diversity

Survive and can cope with environmental change.

Populations with low genetic diversity.

Are vulnerable (more sensitive) to environmental change or disease.

Inbreeding depression
In low population genetically similar parents' mate and produce inferior (low) offspring
American bison, elephant seals,and cheetahs are examples.
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

• Ecosystem diversity
• The number and variety of ecosystems
• Some biologists also refer to community or habitat diversity
• It may include habitats,communities, or ecosystems at the landscape level.
• Sizes, shapes,and connections among patches.
• Beaches,cliffs,coral reefs,ocean water.
• Areas with a variety of vegetation hold more biodiversity than areas the
same size with one plant type.
Q.TRUE OR FALSE
1. Population with higher genetic diversity can survive and cope with environmental
change

2. Areas with a variety of vegetation hold less biodiversity than areas the same size with
one plant type.
BIODIVERSITY IS UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED
• Some groups have more species than others
• Insects predominate over all other life-forms.
• Beetles outnumber all non-insect animals and plants.
• Living things are not distributed evenly on Earth.
• Species diversity is higher near equator.
 MANY SPECIES AWAIT DISCOVERY

Out of the estimated 3-100 million species on Earth, 1.8 million species have been described.
Most widely accepted estimate of the number of species?
14 million
Our knowledge of species numbers is incomplete .
Small organisms are easily overlooked
Many organisms are difficult to identify.
Some areas of Earth remain little explored.
Q. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES
• 1.Species diversity is higher near … … … … ..
BIODIVERSITY ENHANCES FOOD
SECURITY
• Industrial agriculture has narrowed our diet.
• 90% of our food comes from15 crop and 8 livestock
species.
• Wild and rare species can improve food security.
• Crop ancestors (grandparents) hold reservoirs (tanks) of
genetic diversity.
• They can save monocultures through crossbreeding or
genetic engineering.
• Wild strains provide disease resistance.
ORGANISMS PROVIDE DRUGS AND
MEDICINES
• Many drugs come from wild plants.
• Treat cancer,stomach disorder, motion sickness, etc.
• Wild species produce up to $150 billion/year of drugs
that save thousands of lives.
Q. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES
• 1.Many drugs come from wild … … … .
BIODIVERSITY PROVIDES ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
• Biodiversity
• Provides food, fuel, fiber,and shelter.
• Purifies air and water.
• D etoxifies and decomposes wastes.
• Stabilizes climate.
• Moderates' floods, droughts,temperature.
• Cycles nutrients, renews soil fertility.
• Pollinates plants.
• Controls pests and disease.
• Maintains genetic resources.
• Provides cultural and aesthetic (beauty) benefits.
• Allows us to adapt to change.
BIODIVERSITY HELPS MAINTAIN
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION
• It increase stability and resilience (flexibility) of ecosystems.
• Biodiversity loss reduces ecosystem's ability to function and provide services to our
society.
• It is hard to predict the effects of biodiversity loss.
• Loss of ecosystem engineers ( i.e.,earthworms) can set major changes in motion.
Q. COMPLETE.
• Biodiversity provides ecosystem services ,such as:
• 1………………….
• 2……………………
• 3…………………..
BIODIVERSITY BOOSTS ECONOMIES
THROUGH TOURISM AND RECREATION
• Ecotourism is a vital source of income for many nations.
• Costa Rica:rainforests.
• Australia:Great Barrier Reef.
• U.S:national parks
• Kenya andTanzania: savanna wildlife.
• A powerful incentive (stimulate) to preserve natural areas
and reduce impacts on wildlife and
landscapes.
• But too many visitors can damage natural assets
(property).
PEOPLEVALUE C O N N ECTIONS WITH N ATURE

• Biodiversity’s benefits go beyond economics.

• Biophilia
• Humans love nature and have an emotional bond with other living things.
• Our affinity for parks and wildlife,our love for pets.
• High value of real estate with views of natural lands.
• O ur interest in hiking,bird-watching,fishing,hunting,backpacking.
DO WE HAVE ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS
TOWARD OTHER SPECIES
• Many people feel that other organisms have an inherent right to exist.
• If species aren’t worthy of saving,then what are we all about?What is worth saving?
• As more people take up biocentric or eccentric (special) worldviews,more have come to
feel that other organisms have an intrinsic (fundamental) value.
• Biodiversity conservation is justified on ethical grounds.
Q. COMPLETE
• … … … … . is humans love nature and have an emotional bond with other living things.
 BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND EXTINCTION
• Extinction
• Occurs when the last member of a species
dies, and the species ceases (stop) to exit.
• Extirpation (local extinction)
• The disappearance of a population from a
given area,but not the entire species
globally.

• Over time,it can lead to extinction.

BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND EXTINCTION (CONT’D)

• Extinction is a natural process that occurs very

slowly

• 99% of all species that ever lived are now extinct.

• Background extinctions.
• Natural extinctions.
• Form mammal or marine species,each year 1
species out of every 1- 10 million goes extinct.
SEVERAL MAJOR CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY
LOSS STAND
• Habitat loss is the greatest cause of biodiversity loss.
• Humans alter,degrade,and destroy habitats.
• Farming simplifies communities.
• Grazing modifies grassland structure and composition.
• Clearing forests removes resources organisms need.
• Dams turn rivers into reservoirs.
• Urban sprawl (stretch) replaces natural ecosystems.
Q. COMPLETE
• …….. loss is the greatest cause of biodiversity loss.
SEVERAL MAJOR CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY
LOSS STAND OUT (CONT’D)
• Pollution harms organisms in many way.
• Air pollution degrades forest ecosystems.
• Noise and light interfere with behavior and habitat use of
animals.
• Water pollution impairs fish and amphibians.
• Agricultural runoff ( fertilizers, pesticides, sediments)
• Toxins, garbage,oil,and chemical impact organisms.
• Damage to wildlife and ecosystems caused by pollution can be
substantial (essential).
• But it is less damaging than habitat loss.
SEVERAL MAJOR CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS STAND OUT
(CONT’D)
• Overharvesting species that are long-lived and slow to reproduce.
• African elephants.
• Tusks for ivory.
• African rhinoceroses:Horns
• Asian tigers:body parts.
• African gorillas and primates:Bush meat”.
• Whales.
• Sharks:fins (wings) for soup.
• Governments pass laws,sign treaties, and strengthen anti-poaching
(overcatching) efforts.
REFERENCES

Watch the following video atYoutube

Title :What is biodiversity?
https://youtu.be/b6Ua_zWDH6U
LECTURE 8 CONVERSATION BIOLOGY
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY: SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS

• Conservation biology
• Devoted to understanding factors, forces, and processes that
influence the loss, protection, and restoration of biological
diversity.
• An applied and goal-oriented science.
• Has implicit values and ethical standards.
• Researchers integrate evolution and ecology as they use field
and lab data, theory,and experiments to study our impacts
on organisms.
Q. COMPLETE
• Researchers integrate … … … .. and … … … .. as they use field and lab data,
theory,and experiments to study our impacts on organisms.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY RESPO N DSTO
BIODIVERSITY LOSS
• Conservation geneticists.
• Study the effects of loss of genetic variation (e.g inbreeding depression)
• Minimum viable population size.
• How small a population can become before it runs into problems.
• Small populations are most vulnerable to extinction and need special attention.
• Scientists study species dispersal and gene flow.
• To determine how likely that a population will persist when faced with habitat change or
other threats.
CAPTIVE BREEDING, REINTRODUCTION,
AND CLONING ARE BEING PURSUED
• C aptive breeding
• Individuals are bred and raised so they can be reintroduced into the
wild.

• Reintroductions can be resource-intensive.

• But can pay big dividends.
• Example: black rhions translocated from South Africa to Serengeti
National Park.
• Captive breeding /reintroduction.
• C alifornia condor.
TRUE OR FALSE
• Small populations are most vulnerable to extinction and need special attention.
CAPTIVE BREEDING, REINTRODUCTION, AND
CLONING ARE BEING PURSUED (CONT’D)
• In cloning,D N A from an endangered species is inserted into an egg
without a nucleus.

• The egg is inserted into a closely related species.

• Several mammal species have been cloned .
• But these efforts are not enough to recreate lost biodiversity.
• Without ample habitat and production in the wild,having cloned
animals in a zoo does little good.
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS PINPOINT(SPECIFY)
REGIONS OF HIGH DIVERSITY
• Biodiversity hotspots
• An international approach oriented around geographic regions.
• Support a great number of endemic species.
• Species found nowhere else in the world.
• The area must have a least 1500 endemic (settlement) plant species
(0.5% of the world total)
• It must have lost 70% of its habitat as a result of humans’ impact.
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS PINPOINT REGIONS
OF HIGH DIVERSITY (CONT’D)
• Focusing on hotspots protects the greatest number of species per unit effort.
• 2.3% of the land surface contains 50% of all plant species and 42% of all terrestrial
vertebrate species.
TRUE OR FALSE
• 2.3% of the land surface contains 50% of all plant species and 42% of all terrestrial
vertebrate species.
FORENSICS CAN HELP PROTECT SPECIES
• Forensic science (forensics)
• Analyzes evidence to identify or answer questions relating to a
crime.
• Conservation scientists use forensics to protect species at risk
from illegal harvesting.
• D N A identifies a species and its geographic origin.
• Detecting illegal activity helps enforce laws protecting wildlife.
• D N A from killed elephants shows many more were killed than the
Zambian government realized.
PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS CONSERVE
BIODIVERSITY AT THE ECOSYSTEM LEVEL
• Preserving land in parks and protected areas conserves habitats
communities, ecosystems,and landscapes.

• 13% of the world’s area is in parks, wilderness, reserves,etc.

• But not all of these areas are managed for biodiversity.
• They are used for recreation,water protection, etc.
• They are also illegally logged, are poached,or have their resources
extracted.
• Some are large enough to preserve whole systems.
• Linking protected areas allows populations to intermix.
Q. COMPLETE
• … … … … science analyzes evidence to identify or answer questions relating to a crime.
COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION IS
GROWING
• D eveloping nations often do not support
conservationists from developed nations trying to
preserve areas.
• Community-based conservation
• Biologists partner with local people to protect land
and wildlife.
• It offers education, health care, and development aid.
• People are retained to protect species.
• Local resources can be sustainably managed.
Q.TUE OR FALSE

• Biologists partner with local people to protect land and wildlife.

CONCLUSION
• Biodiversity is being lost rapidly and visibly.
• Threatening mass extinction.
• Primary causes of biodiversity loss.
• Habitat alteration, pollution, overharvesting, invasive species, and climate change.
• Humans cannot function without biodiversity’s benefits.
• Conservation biologists today are conducting research to guide efforts.
• Help save endangered species, protect their habitats, restore populations, and
preserve/restore natural ecosystems.
REFERENCES
Watch the following video at youtube
• Title :Ecological Management and Conservation Biology
https://youtu.be/rtqc3axI2Pw