Biol2343-lecture-22-得克萨斯生态学课件.ppt

Conservation at the population and species levels (Pg.1232) Background terms: Endangered Species – in danger of extinction through out all or a significant part of its range Threatened Species – those species that are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future through out all or a significant part of its range What is a species? Problems of defining species has resulted in problems in trying to decide what needs protecting and what does not Another problem in species level conservation is the fact that many species are distributed across patchy environments metapopulation The effect of man-made barriers Metapopulation – a subdivided population of a single species Source habitat: BD Sink habitat: BD * Chapter 55: Conservation Biology Conservation biology – A goal-oriented science that seeks to counter the biodiversity crisis, the current rapid decrease in Earth’s variety of life (Pg.1224) Biodiversity – biological diversity Three levels of biodiversity: Genetic diversity Species diversity Ecosystem diversity Some Benefits of Biodiversity (Pg.1227): Purification of air and water Reduction of the severity of droughts and floods Preservation of soils Detoxification of wastes Pollination of crops and natural vegetation Dispersal of seeds Nutrient cycling Moderation of weather extremes Provision of aesthetic beauty Example: Estimated ecosystem services per year: 33 trillion dollars (twice the GNP of the world!) 2) Biosphere II – 200 million to build and it failed O2 concentrations dropped to 65% of Earth’s CO2 fluctuated widely Most vertebrate species went extinct Most pollinators died Explosion of pest species (roaches, etc.) What did we learn from this???? The biodiversity crisis is concerned with extinction Is extinction a nature process? Is extinction a nature process? YES!!!! Is extinction a nature process? YES!!!! So, what about extinctions has scientists worried? The RATE of Extinction Rate Of Extinction time 10 mya