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Conservation biology
- A goal-oriented science
- It seeks to counter the biodiversity crisis
- It can also protect many species at once by preserving habitats and ecosystems
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Biodiversity
- Scientists estimate that the Earth has anywhere from 1.8 to 200 million species
- Species loss may be 1000 times higher than in the past 100,000 years
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Levels of biodiversity
Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
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Endangered species
- One that is "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range"
- Protected by Endangered Species Act
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Threatened Species
Those likely to become endangered in the forseeable future
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Coral reefs
- 93% of coral reefs were damaged by human activities
- 40-50% of the reefs are home to one-third of marine fish species
- These fish could be lost in the next 30-40 years
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Habitation alteration is caused by:
- Agriculture
- Urban development
- Forestry
- Mining
- Environmental pollution
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Major threats to biodiversity:
- Habitat destruction
- Invasive species
- Overexploitation
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Invasive species
- Rank behind habitat destruction as a threat to biodiversity
- They compete with native species
- Prey on native species
- Parasitize native species
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Overexploitation
- Overharvesting
- It has threatened rare trees, fish, and bison
- Hunting of wild animals for bushmeat is depleting biodiversity worldwide
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Global warming is most evident in Arctic:
- Shrinking sea ice
- Thinning ice sheets
- Melting permafrost
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Phenotypic plasticity
Altering phenotype in response to environmenal conditions
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Red squirrels in Canada
Natural selection to coordinate breeding time with food availability
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Population fragmentation
- A harmful effect of habitat loss
- Splitting and isolation of portions of populations
- Can lead to extinctions
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Landscape ecology
Dynamics of a collection of ecosystems
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Biodiversity hot spots
- Have a large number of endangered and threatened species
- Have a concentration of endemic species
- Hot spot designation favors the most noticeable organisms
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Zoned reserve
- Extensive region of land with one or more areas undisturbed by humans
- Contributes to sustainable development
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Sustainable development
- Long-term prosperity of human societies and the ecosystems
- Provide an economic base for people living there
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The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
- Seeks to preserve biodiversity by connecting protected areas
- Created a string of parks and reserves
- 3200 km wildlife corridor
- Alaska across Canada to northern Wyoming
- Included introduction of wolf populations
- Sparked angry protests from ranchers
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Restoration ecology
Uses ecological principles to restore environments
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Restoring environments
- Bioremediation; using organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems
- Replanting native vegetation
- Repairing waterways and wetlands
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Lake Kissimmee
- Restoration project
- Restoring the natural water flow patterns of the Kissimmee River
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