Transcript You Light Up My Life

Sustaining Biodiversity:
The Species Approach
Chapter 9
J. Stewart- Presenter
The Passenger Pigeon: Gone
Forever

Once most common bird in N.
America-

Extinct in 1914

Humans were responsible
(huge flocks, narrow colonies = easy to
kill- stool pigeons)

Why they were hunted
(food, feathers, fertilizer)

Extinction
Types of Species Extinction

Local extinction- like it sounds

Ecological extinction - too few to play ecological role

Biological extinction - all gone everywhere
Some Prematurely Extinct Species
Passenger
pigeon
Great auk
Dodo
Dusky seaside
sparrow
Aepyornis
(Madagascar)
No one knows how many have gone extinct
due to human activities.
99% of all species that ever lived have gone
extinct—5 major mass extinctions in geological
time. Is this the 6th?
Fig. 9-2, p. 185
Endangered and
Threatened
Species

Endangered species
could soon become extinct
over some or all of its range
(about1200 in US)

Threatened species
still abundant, but likely to
become endangered (about
300 listed in US)
Fig. 9-3a-b, p. 186
More Endangered and Threatened Species
Florida
manatee
Devil's hole
pupfish
Ghost bat
(Australia)
Northern spotted
owl (threatened)
Snow leopard
(Central Asia)
Gray wolf
Florida panther
Symphonia
(Madagascar)
Black-footed
ferret
California condor Black lace cactus Black rhinoceros
(Africa)
Bannerman's
turaco (Africa)
Utah prairie dog
(threatened)
Oahu tree snail
Fig. 9-3c, p. 187
Characteristics of Extinction-Prone Species
Characteristic
“The first animal species to
go are the big, the slow,
the tasty and those with
valuable parts such as
tusks and skins.”
E.O.Wilson
Examples
Low reproductive rate
(K-strategist)
Blue whale, giant panda,
rhinoceros
Specialized niche
Blue whale, giant panda,
Everglades kite
Narrow distribution
Many island species,
elephant seal, desert pupfish
Feeds at high trophic
level
Bengal tiger, bald eagle,
grizzly bear
Fixed migratory patterns
Blue whale, whooping crane,
sea turtles
Rare
Many island species,
African violet, some orchids
Commercially valuable
Snow leopard, tiger,
elephant, rhinoceros,
rare plants and birds
Large territories
California condor, grizzly
bear, Florida panther
Percentages of Various Types of Organisms
Threatened with Extinction by Human Activities
34% (51% of
freshwater species)
Fish
24%
Mammals
20%
Reptiles
Plants
Birds
14%
12%
Fig. 9-5, p. 188
Problems Estimating
Extinction Rates

Extinction not easily documented over time

Many species remain unidentified

Little is known about most identified species
Estimating Extinction Rates

Estimates from records and fossils

Species-area relationship: on average, a 90% habitat loss
causes the extinction of 50% of the species living in that
habitat

Models to estimate risks of extinction for a particular
species

Estimates of extinction rates can vary depending on
available data and what assumptions are used
Human Impacts on Extinction
Rates

Humans have greatly accelerated extinction rates (1,000 10,000x) remember CHIPPO ! Conservative estimates of 0.1% to
1% per year. (There are around 8.7 million species + bacteria.
“Normal” extinction rate is 1 species per million per year).

Extinction rates higher in biodiversity “hot spots”

Speciation crisis (humans limiting long-term recovery of biodiversity via
impacts on ecosystems, colonization sites for emergence of new species)

Inadequate estimations of extinction rates

Precautionary principal– “look before you leap”
Biodiversity Hot Spots in the US
Top Six Hot Spots
1 Hawaii
2 San Francisco Bay area
3 Southern Appalachians
4 Death Valley
5 Southern California
6 Florida Panhandle
2
4
3
5
6
1
Concentration of rare species
Low
Moderate
High
Fig. 9-17, p. 199
Importance of Wild Species

May take nature 5 million years to replace the species
that may be lost in the 21st century

Instrumental value/ Ecological services-food, fuel, lumber,
paper, medicine

Genetic information- better ability to adapt to changing enviro. conditions

Recreational pleasure and ecotourismlion living in Kenya generates > $.5 million over 7 years
elephant worth about $1 million over 60 yrs

Intrinsic or existence value - Do species have an inherent right to
exist?

Even small organisms can be important—
EVERYTHING IS INTERCONNECTED
Global Environment Outlook - CNN Video
Nature’s Pharmacy
9 of 10 leading Rx drugs originated from wild species
< 1% of flowering plants in tropical forests studied for medicinal properties
Found in Oceans too! Deep Sea Chemicals - PBS Link Feb. 6, 2005
Fig. 9-6, p. 189
Causes of Premature Extinction

“CHIPPO”

Climate Change

Habitat destruction and fragmentation

Invasive (alien) species

Population growth (humans)

Pollution

Overharvesting
Extinction Threats from Habitat
Loss and Degradation

Importance of habitats

Deforestation- particularly tropical forests

Destruction of wetlands and coral reefs

Endemic species- found nowhere else on earth

“Habitat islands”- surrounded by different habitat (national parks, lakes, mt. tops)

Habitat fragmentation - continuous area divided into small, scattered patches

“Message” from the birds - 70% are declining, 1/6 threatened with extinction
Birds are indicator species
Threatened Species of U.S. Songbirds
Cerulean warbler
Florida scrub jay
Sprague’s pipit
California gnatcatcher
Bichnell’s thrush
Kirtland’s warbler
Blacked-capped vireo
Henslow’s sparrow
70% of world’s bird species are declining in numbers
Golden-cheeked
warbler
Bachman’s warbler
Fig. 9-10, p. 192
Reduced Ranges
Asian or Indian Elephant
Indian Tiger
Former range
Range today
(34,000–54,000 left)
Range 100 years ago
Range today
(about 2,300 left)
Fig. 9-8d, p. 191
Introduced Species
Some introduced species beneficial: corn, wheat,
rice, cattle, poultry are critical to U.S. food supply
•
• Many introduced species lack natural predators,
competitors, parasites, or pathogens that help
control numbers in original habitats
• Invasive species: Outcompete native species,
trigger ecological problems, human health problems,
economic loss
Deliberately Introduced Species
Purple looselife
European starling
Marine toad
Water hyacinth
African honeybee
(“Killer bee”)
Japanese beetle
Nutria
Hydrilla
Salt cedar
(Tamarisk)
European wild boar
(Feral pig)
Fig. 9-11a, p. 193
Accidentally Introduced Species
Sea lamprey
(attached to lake trout)
Formosan termite
Argentina fire ant
Zebra mussel
Brown tree snake
Asian long-horned
beetle
Eurasian muffle
Common pigeon
(Rock dove)
Asian tiger mosquito
Gypsy moth larvae
Fig. 9-11b, p. 193
Kudzu
“The vine that ate the south” - grows up to a foot a day- engulfs
everything in path, contributes to smog (emits NO): But, controls
erosion edible, fiber for paper, medicinal (reduces desire for alcohol)
Fig. 9-12, p. 194
Fire Ant Invasion
• Can wipe out 90% native ant
population
• 2009 parasitic fly discovered
as control: lay eggs in ant,
maggots eat away ant brain
causing their heads to fall off
Reducing Threats from Nonnative Species

Cost U.S. Taxpayers $137 billion /yr

Threaten 1/2 critical species in US (95% in Hawaii)

Prevention is best

Identify the characteristics of nonnative species

Identify vulnerable ecosystems

Thoroughly inspect imports

Establish appropriate international laws

Discharge of ballast waters from ships
Characteristics of Successful Invader
Species and Vulnerable Ecosystems
Characteristics
of
Successful
Invader Species
Characteristics of
Ecosystems Vulnerable
to Invader Species
• High reproductive rate,
short generation time
(r-selected species)
• Similar climate to
habitat of invader
• Pioneer species
• Absence of predators
on invading species
• Long lived
• High dispersal rate
• Release growthinhibiting chemicals into
soil
• Generalists
• High genetic variability
• Early successional
systems
• Low diversity of native
species
• Absence of fire
• Disturbed by human
activities
Fig. 9-14, p. 195
Extinction Threats from Poaching

Profits of poaching
Mt. gorilla = $150K; panda pelt = $100K; chimp = $50K; rhino horn = $28k /Kg
(most live animals die in transit)

Causes of poaching: food, fur, pets, traditional medicines,
trophies, eliminating pests, etc.

Bushmeat

Illegal pets and decorative plants
orchids can fetch up to $5K; saguaro cactus $15K
> 60 bird species are endangered or threatened due to wild bird trade
keeping a bird indoors for more than 10 yrs doubles chances of getting lung cancer
Irony of collecting exotics

Attempts to control poaching
Extinction Threats from Climate
Change and Pollution

Climate change could contribute to extinction of 25-50% of
all land animals and plants by end of century

Pesticide threats- decline in honeybees, birds & fish

DDT = popular pesticide in 1950’s & 60s biomagnification
(bioaccumulation)
impacts predatory birds (osprey, pelicans, bald eagles,
falcons, hawks) by making egg shells fragile
Where Have All the Honeybees Gone?
• Almost 1/3 of U.S. food supply comes from insect pollinated
plants- honeybees responsible for 80% of food pollination
• Honeybee populations are in serious decline: In 2010 34% of
all commercial bees in U.S. were lost
•Possible Culprits:
pesticide exposure, virus, mites, fungal infection, poor nutrition
(due to loss of forage plants), microwave radiation from cell
phones & cell towers, invasion by killer bees,
•Pear orchards in China are now largely
pollinated by hand $$$$
Biomagnification of DDT
DDT in fish-eating
birds (ospreys)
25 ppm
DDT in large
fish (needle fish)
2 ppm
DDT in small
fish (minnows)
0.5 ppm
Fat soluble
chemicals
increase in
concentration
at higher levels
of food web
Note:
Bioaccumulation
= accumulation
of these toxins in
higher trophiclevel organisms
DDT in
zooplankton
0.04 ppm
DDT in water
0.000003 ppm,
or 3 ppt
Fig. 9-16, p. 197
Protecting Wild Species
International Treaties
Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES)
• in force 1975: signed by 175 countries- lists 900 endangered
species that cannot be commercially traded
• restricts international trade of 29,000 threatened species
• limited impact due to spotty enforcement, ability for countries to
except themselves
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1993
• legally binds governments to reverse decline of biodiversity
• ratified by 191 countries (not USA)- No severe penalties
Protecting Wild Species - U.S. Federal Laws
Important on APES Exam
Lacey Act (1900) - prohibits transporting live or dead wild animals or parts across
state borders w/out federal permit.
Endangered Species Act (ESA- 1973)- one of world’s toughest & controversial enviro laws
• goal is to identify & protect endangered species in USA & abroad
• NMFS / USFWS responsible for identifying and listing endangered & threatened species
• illegal for Americans to buy any product made from protected species • species cannot be killed, collected or injured in US
• $100k fines and 1 year prison terms for offenses
• protection extended to threatened & endangered foreign species
• In 2011 there were1,371 protected species (many critical species not yet listed) Up to date list:
http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/boxScore.jsp
Establishing critical habitatsESA requries protection of critical habitat for recovery of listed species.
Due to lack of funds, only 33% of listed species have critical habitat established
Since 2001, gov has stopped listing new species & designating critical habitats unless mandated by court order
Endangered Species Act
(continued)
Habitat conservation plans• 1982 amendment to ESA allows landowners, developers or loggers to destroy
critical habitat if they take steps to protect members of species (set asides, paying
to relocate, or buying suitable habitat elsewhere
• criticized as loophole - many plans approved without scientific evaluation
ESA and commercial shipping- all commercial wildlife shipments must
leave or enter US via one of nine designated ports
• 60 USFWS inspectors examine only 25% of 90,000 yearly shipments
• violators often not prosecuted and pay only small fine
Protecting Marine Species

Role of the Endangered Species Act

Threats from litter- plastic threatens millions of marine species
“Pacific Garbage Dump” - Nightline Video - click here
Pacific Gryre Video - “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”- click here
Great Pacific Garbage Patch- click

Threatened sea mammals- whales, seals, sea lions

Threatened sea turtles-

Need more knowledge of marine biodiversity

Difficulty enforcing international treaties
• World’s 8 major sea turtle species are endangered or threatened• Poaching and threats from fishing nets
What Can We Do to Protect Species?
What Can You Do?
Protecting Species
• Do not buy furs, ivory products, and other
materials made from endangered or
threatened animal species.
• Do not buy wood and paper products
produced by cutting remaining old-growth
forests in the tropics.
• Do not buy birds, snakes, turtles, tropical
fish, and other animals that are taken from
the wild.
Due to sparse
$$ and
inspectors,
< 10% of
illegal wildlife
trade in US is
discovered
• Do not buy orchids, cacti, and other plants
that are taken from the wild.
Fig. 9-21, p. 204