Conservation Biology - Introduction to Conservation Biology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Biology

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Conservation Biology • “In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we only understand what we are taught” Docsity.com Conservation Biology • What is Conservation Biology (not) • Environmentalism – Philosophy and social movement • Game Management • Biological Preservation Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Three important distinctions • 1) includes, and has been partially led by, major contributions from theoretically oriented academicians • 2) previous motivation was largely to maintain high yields of desired products • 3) recognizes and embraces the contributions of nonbiologists Docsity.com Conservation Biology • What is the goal? • Understanding natural ecosystems will enough to maintain their diversity in the face of known (and unknown) threats • E.g. intelligent and informed management decisions Docsity.com Conservation Biology • What is the goal? • Maintain diversity (genes, populations, species, habitats, ecosystems, landscapes, and ecological processes) • What are Ecological Processes? • E.g. natural selection, biogeochemical cycling, photosynthesis, energy transfer, hydrologic cycles Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Historical Perspective • Conservation in the US • Compared to European landscapes, North America was relatively pristine • However, many extinctions had already occurred reducing the megafauna diversity Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Early colonists cleared the extensive eastern hardwood forests for timber (ships, raw timber, and charcoal) and agriculture • Later forests again exploited for railroads and buildings • After several hundred years, concept began to emerge Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Romantic-transcendental Conservation Ethic (based upon writings of RW Emerson and HD Thoreau) in the 1850’s • Nature had a quasi-religious aspect • Later John Muir used this argument to establish National Park system Docsity.com Conservation Biology • We can see each of these three views in various organizations (e.g. USFS, Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy) • Current conservation efforts represent a more balanced view than the extremes Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Early 1980’s many edited books came out demonstrating the losses of biodiversity and habitat • In 1985 the Society for Conservation Biology was formed and established the journal ‘Conservation Biology’ • Some universities have established ‘conservation biology’ majors and graduate program emphasis Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Guiding Principles of Conservation Bio • Principle 1: Evolution is the basic axiom that unites all biology • Principle 2: the ecological world is dynamic and largely nonequilibrial • Principle 3: human presence must be included in conservation planning • Table 1.1 Docsity.com Conservation Biology • It is important to remember that just because systems are in nonequilibrium, that does not mean species are either unpredictable or ephemeral Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Principle 3: human presence must be included in conservation planning • Any conservation efforts that do not account for humans (either as the cause of the problem or part of the solution) are doomed to fail Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Benefits to acknowledging people • First, can incorporate ‘indigenous knowledge’ • Second, areas must be user-friendly – Allow some limited multiple use – Educate users on scientific rationale • Third, aboriginal people have a right to their traditional lands Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Common Aspects of Conservation Biology • An Inexact Science • The nature of ecological systems is complexity and variability • “Uncertainty is inherently part of ecology and conservation, and probabilistic, rather than prescriptive answers to problems are the norm” Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Common Aspects of Conservation Biology • An Inexact Science • Consequently, Con Bio scientists rely largely on quantitative approaches • Unfortunately, this can result in a credibility gap… • Simple ecosystems are incredibly complex!! WHY? Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Common Aspects of Conservation Biology • Consequently, Con Bio should think in terms of the ‘precautionary principle’…or ‘First, do no harm” Docsity.com Conservation Biology • Common Aspects of Conservation Biology • A Science of Eternal Vigilance • Even protected areas may not remain protected • Think of ANWR Docsity.com Conservation Biology the big problem… • Expanding human demands • Why is the environment is such trouble? • Simply the collective impact of 6B+ people and their desire to live a good life Docsity.com Conservation Biology the big problem… • Humans continue to co-opt more and more of the worlds primary productivity • For example, 35% of ocean shelf and 60% of freshwater production are for human use • Overall, somewhere between 20-32% Docsity.com Conservation Biology Questions for Discussion • 1) how would you explain the significance of human population growth and human ecological footprint for biodiversity conservation? Docsity.com Conservation Biology Questions for Discussion • 2) what would conservation practice be like if we primarily followed the principles of Pinchot’s Resource Conservation Ethic? How would it differ from the present day focus of Conservation Biology? Is the present focus of conservation biology preferable to the Romantic- Transcendental Conservation Ethic? How? Docsity.com Conservation Biology Questions for Discussion • 3) How would you answer a conservation skeptic who asserted that because ecological processes are non-equilibrial, conservation of current communities is misguided since they are destined to change? Docsity.com