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Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication— why the most important thing in history is where the tree line is at Larry M. Frolich Salve Regina University April 29, 2004 Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Solo Brainstorm Biodiversity Conservation Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Domesticated Species Partner Brainstorm (in groups of twos or threes) • Biodiversity • Conservation • Domesticated Species Now, working with one or two partners, write a simple sentence or phrase that relates the three terms. Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Preview 1. What is biodiversity—a hierarchical view. – – – – Species diversity—the typical view DNA diversity—a simple view and complications Cellular level diversity Communities and Ecosystems 2. What is Conservation (and how does it affect biodiversity)? – The view from the North [back to brainstorm] – The view from the South 3. What is Domestication? – Where forest and grassland meet. – The Guinea Pig’s view FLT=Future Lecture Topic Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Population and Species Diversity • Typical measures of diversity—abundance or richness—use species. • Are species or populations fundamental or “real” entities? • Empirical evidence: – Ethonobotanical/ethnozoological studies agree with “Western” systematics – DNA/protein systematics often disagrees with morphology-based systematics • Can organisms be divided or parsed into groups? • Does empirical ability to parse organisms into groups just represent underlying ways in which DNA is structured and isolated… reproductively? By other DNA arrangement/transmission mechanisms? (more on this coming) Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication FLT What really “causes” biodiversity?— The hierarchy of living systems The early “molecular age” view: DNA point mutations cause… cellular/organismal changes which… spread through populations and… via species/community interactions… are acted upon by natural selection Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication FLT The Classic Example—Sickle Cell Anemia Washington University Sickle Cell Webpage Natural Selection DNA point mutation IS IT TOO SIMPLE? Cell/Organism effects Heredity/Spread through population Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Species/Community interactions Other DNA diversity mechanisms • DNA is parsed and arranged – – – – – Gene repetition Control regions Selfish DNA Silent regions Chromosomal inversions, polyploidy, etc. • Horizontal (non-hereditary) transmission/movement – PLASMIDS!!! – transposons Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication FLT Classic Example: Barbara McClintock’s “Jumping Genes” • Each Kernel of corn is genetically distinct individual whose color is genetically determined • As individual (kernel of corn) develops, the gene control for color can change. • Purple colored splotches due to inserted DNA sequences that can be visualized on chromosomes • Transposons or “Jumping Genes”—Nobel Prize!! Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Cellular Biodiversity • How to classify single-celled groups? • What are fundamental evolutionary shifts? – Archaea-Prokaryotes – Prokaryotes-Eukaryote • How do new cell types evolve in multi-cellular groups (e.g. nerve and muscle cells in animals) Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication FLT Community Biodiversity—beyond species level • Human concepts with no fundamental underlying reality? – – – – – – Communities Ecosystems Ecoregions Biomes “Hot Spots” Habitat types • Most obvious “real” boundaries – Water’s edge (aquatic-terrestrial) – Forest edge (grassland/farm-forest)— more in a minute • Recent focus for conservation efforts Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication FLT Conservation and Biodiversity 1. What is biodiversity—a hierarchical view. – – – – Species diversity—the typical view DNA diversity—a simple view and complications Cellular level diversity Communities and Ecosystems 2. What is Conservation (and how does it affect biodiversity)? – The view from the North [back to brainstorm] – The view from the South 3. What is Domestication? – Where forest and grassland meet. – The Guinea Pig’s view Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Partner Brainstorm (in groups of twos or threes) • Biodiversity • Conservation • Domesticated Species Now, working with one or two partners, write a simple sentence or phrase that relates the three terms. Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Conservation—The view from the North • Culturally rooted (bound?)Natural idea •RESULT: areas and their • Western notion ofconserved, apart, for diversity are to be human place in nature some intrinsic value they hold. – Renaissance and subsequent Industrial Revolution •The human element, including – Tourism and U.S. National domesticated Park Systemspecies, are perils—e.g., Galapagos Island introductions Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Goats threat to turtles in Galapagos Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Conservation—the view from the South • Same brainstorm in Ecuador: “Biodiversity should be conserved for possibility of future domestications.” • Cultural roots (bounds) do not always apply— conservation is Northern/”Western” import. • Human survival and well-being are more clearly seen to depend on agriculture • Many western dichotomies do not apply – – – – Wild/Domesticated Urban/Rural Work/Recreation Public/Private Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication How to reconcile North/South views? FLT Bring domestication back into biology 1. What is biodiversity—a hierarchical view. – – – – Species diversity—the typical view DNA diversity—a simple view and complications Cellular level diversity Communities and Ecosystems 2. What is Conservation (and how does it affect biodiversity)? – The view from the North [back to brainstorm] – The view from the South 3. What is Domestication? – Where forest and grassland meet. – The Guinea Pig’s view Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication “It makes just as much sense to think of agriculture as something the grasses did to people as a way to conquer the trees.” --Michael Pollan, The Botany of Desire Has anything mattered more than the tree line? Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication The Alpine Tree Line—the rare case becomes the classic example • Fits Northern Ecology/Environment ideal as “wild” area • Easy to see • Climactically and geographically determined • In temperate latitudes, humans live in lowlands Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Agricultural and Tropical Forest Frontiers • In Tropics and Temperate Lowlands, tree lines more common where humans live • Humans, using mainly fire, took control of treeline at initiation of agriculture with domestication of crop and grazing species • What is future of domestication? Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication FLT Domestication (or Human co-Evolution) Today • Early agricultural domestication was with species that – Behave well with humans – Make their reproductive processes obvious to humans • But what are domestications of last 100 years – Laboratory domestications – Species that can survive indoors – Species that make some aspect of their biology— usually at cellular/developmental/molecular level— easily accessible to humans Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication FLT Example 1: E. coli WHY HUMANS “LIKE” E. coli • Adaptable and reproduces under wide variety of lab conditions • Easy visualization • Genes and proteins easily WHY E. coli “LIKES” HUMANS accessible • Provide new and safe • Endonucleases and other environments for reproduction DNA manipulation • Make new genetic material genes/proteins known and accessible isolated “Unintended” consequence •of Virulent strains with easy human access E. coli domestication—virulent, anti-biotic resistant strains Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Example 2: Guinea Pig—a triple domestication Livestock Lab animal Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication Pet Future of Biodiversity—bet on the guinea pigs 1. Biodiversity – Traditional approach is species level – Important to consider all levels FUTURE LECTURE TOPICS: -Hierarchy of Living Systems -DNA diversity mechanisms -Cellular Diversity -Population and Species Concepts/Diversity -Community/Ecological Diversity 2. Conservation – Typically wildland/community conservation – But must fit in domestication process – Viewpoint of domesticate FUTURE LECTURE TOPICS -North/South views on conservation 3. Domestication – Driven by agriculture and tree-line dynamics historically – Recently laboratory and pet (urban) domestications FUTURE LECTURE TOPICS -Tree Line Dynamics -Domestication Today Larry M. Frolich, Biodiversity, Conservation and Domestication