Chapter_4__Community.ppt

3. Biodiversity is disappearing fast！ Habitat destruction and degradation (pollution) Forest (especially tropical forests) Wetland (river, lake, marsh, mudflat) Marine habitat (coral reefs) Atmosphere (Acid rain, global warming, desertification…) Source: Chapin III et al. 2000. Consequences of changing biodiversity. Nature 405: 234-242 Species loss Taxon No. of species extinct since 1660 Insects 61 Molluscs 191 Birds 116 Mammals 59 All animals 486 Plants 600 Many scientists suggest that we are now entering the 6th major species extinction. See “The Sixth Extinction” by Richard Leakey! Pinguinus impennis Great Auk Once common in the Northern hemisphere Became extinct 1844 See this web site for more information and picture http://www.rom.on.ca/biodiversity/auk/ Raphus cucullatus, Dodo Family Raphidae (3 species) First found in 1600 on Mauritius Became extinct in 80 yrs See this web site for more information and picture http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/dodo.htm Examples of human driven extinctions Nature Reserve National Park Nature Park Forest Park Natural Heritage SSSIs Ramsar site Nature Reserve Restricted Area Country Park Marine Park SSSIs Conservation area, green belt, coastal protection area, SSSIs etc. Advantages and disadvantages Habitat protection -protected areas 保育生物多樣性的方法 Protecting species Local legislation e.g. Wild Animals Protection Ordinance, Forestry regulations b. International convention e.g. CITES; RAMSAR c. Red data list e.g. IUCN, China Red List Advantages and disadvantages 保育生物多樣性的方法 In-situ conservation Protected area Management needed Ex-situ conservation Zoos, captive breeding Botanical garden, artificial propagation Gene bank, seed bank Philautus romeri 盧氏小樹蛙 Romer’s Tree Frog Species under imminent threats 保育生物多樣性的方法 Status assessment Ecological assessment In-situ and/or ex-situ conservation Habitat management/ enhancement Re-introduction Local example, Conservation Plan for the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor 黑臉琵鷺) in Hong Ko