Module 8 Biodiversity PDF

Module 8 interactions within a given spatial context, which can be a Biodiversity geographical - is the variation and richness of life at region/...

Module 8 interactions within a given spatial context, which can be a Biodiversity geographical - is the variation and richness of life at region/location/ecosystem. a particular scale. - First used in 1988 by Edward O. Species Richness Wilson - is a measure of the number of - means the variability among living different kinds of organisms present organisms from the land, the seas, in a particular area regardless of and other aquatic ecosystems, and scale, such as the number of the ecological complexes of which organisms living in a spoonful of soil, they are part; this includes diversity or on a large scale as the whole within species, between species and Earth. of ecosystems. Species Evenness Three Levels of Biodiversity - compares the similarity of the population size of each of the Genetic Diversity species present. - is the sum total of information - Some habitats or ecosystems have contained in the genes of species of high species diversity, such as coral plants, animals, and reefs or tropical forests. microorganisms. - Other habitats, like high altitude - includes genetic variation between lakes, deserts, or the deep sea distinct populations of the same house lower species diversity. species or variation within a - These ecosystems, as they evolved population. through time, have produced an - plays a very important role in the emergent property composed of a survival and adaptability of a species unique set of species which carry to changing environmental out the important functions of the conditions. ecosystem. - Variations in the gene enable changes to occur in the organisms' Ecosystem Diversity morphoanatomy or physiology - refers to the distribution and between generations, that are abundance of habitats, biotic important requisites in adaptation communities, and ecological and survival. processes in the biosphere. - Vulnerability of populations to - Presence of variety of habitats also diseases increases with decreasing support a different set of species genetic diversity. exhibiting different genetic variations in that region/space. Species Diversity - refers to the variety of species, including their abundance, distribution and functions or BIODIVERSITY ATTRIBUTES AND - characteristics of a particular ECOSYSTEMS PROCESSES ecosystem/area. These variety of processes (climatic, Compositional Biodiversity - geologic, hydrologic, ecological, and - describes the type of elements and evolutionary) which occur due to the the number of representatives interaction of different species with present at each level (genes, each other and with their physical species and habitat) in an area. environment generate biodiversity and continuously change it. Examples: - This can be manifested for instance genetic composition of populations in nutrient cycling, pollinations, identity and relative abundances of predation, parasitism, germination species in a natural community etc. kinds of habitats and communities - is thought to be one of the main distributed across the landscape. factors determining the long-term stability and resiliency of an Structural Biodiversity ecosystem. - describes the variety of arrangement of these components i.e, variety of Ex: The balance in the number of filter ways in which different habitats, feeders in an ecosystem compared to the species or genes are arranged over number of grazers. space or time. - Temporal fluctuations in the Ecosystem Services environmental factors also regulate - are the services that ecosystems the biodiversity of a specific space. perform for humanity. - An example for the importance of time in relation to biodiversity is the ○ Air and water purification dependency of estuarine fish feeding ○ Waste decomposition and breeding patterns on water ○ Climate stabilization and availability or changing water moderation temperature as the tide changes, as ○ Nutrient cycling well as seasonal flooding events. ○ Soil fertility - These temporal fluctuations support ○ Pollination different species over different ○ Pest control seasons/timescales and have a ○ Genetic resources critical influence on ecosystem dynamics. Ecocentric benefits - are based on the intrinsic value of Functional Biodiversity biodiversity which is beyond any - is the variety of biological processes, potential human uses. functions or characteristics of a particular ecosystem/area. - biological processes, functions or MEASURING AND MONITORING Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red BIODIVERSITY USING List. SURROGATE SPECIES Ex: Marine Turtles and Philippine Eagle There are many ways to measure and monitor biodiversity. The most ideal would Indicator Species be to measure actual processes such as - species are species that set a rates of productivity, pollination rates and benchmark against which patterns, species interaction, etc. comparisons can be made after a period of time whether conservation Keystone Species interventions are applied or not. - play essential community roles and - They are sensitive to certain their impact on the community or changes in the environmental factors ecosystem are much larger relative hence are only found in to its abundance, and more environments where these factors influential than expected. are optimal. - Without the keystone species, an - Indicator species may work well only ecosystem would dramatically differ in a particular habitat or ecosystem. or would even cease to exist - The sub clover Trifolium altogether because no other species subterraneum is used as a would be able to fill its ecological biological indicator to the presence niche or role, allowing new and of ozone as it displays visible possibly invasive species to Damage to leaves (chlorotic and populate the habitat. necrotic spots) at low levels of ozone. Ex: Tropical figs which bear fruits during off-fruiting season. Without them, many - In the Philippines, the presence of animals would starve to death during the giant golden crown flying fox, periods of fruit scarcity. one of the largest bats in the world, indicates a healthy forest and good Umbrella Species forest regeneration. - require such large areas of habitat - The flying foxes roost on trees in that their protection might dipterocarp forests in very large automatically protect a large number colonies hence their presence of naturally co-occurring species in means the forest holds a reliable several ecosystems and habitats. number of dipterocarp trees. - Monitoring this one species and - They also serve as pollinators of fruit ensuring its continued success also trees in the forest. mean the maintenance of high - The bat indulges in fruits that quality habitat for the other species typically grow in the forest. Spitting in the area. the seeds from the fruits helps in the - Most of the umbrella species are pollination process. listed as endangered or threatened on the International Union for Flagship Species International - are popular, charismatic species that Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). serve as symbols and rallying points to stimulate conservation awareness Extinct (EX) – a taxon is Extinct and action. "when there is no reasonable doubt - They serve to act as an that the last individual has died." ambassador, icon or symbol for a Extinct in the wild (EW) – a taxon is defined habitat, issue, campaign or Extinct in the Wild "when it is known environmental cause. only to survive in cultivation, in - Focusing on, and achieving captivity or as a naturalized conservation of that species, the population (or populations) well status of many other species which outside the past range." share its habitat, or are vulnerable to Critically endangered (CR) – a taxon the same threats, may also be is Critically Endangered "when the improved. best available evidence (severe - Flagship species may or may not be population decline, very small keystone species and may or may population, very small geographic not be good indicators of ecosystem area occupied, or if the calculated health. probability of extinction during the - In the Philippines, a local next ten years of >50%) indicates government unit in Mindoro has that it is facing an extremely high adopted the Mindoro' Tariktik' as the risk of extinction in the wild." municipality's flagship species in its Endangered (EN) – a taxon is conservation campaigns. Meanwhile Endangered "when the best the Haribon Foundation uses the available evidence (large population Philippine Eagle as an expression of decline, small population, small the urgency to protect and conserve geographic area occupied, or if the our natural resources. calculated probability of extinction during the next 20 years is >20%) Biodiversity Hotspots indicates that it is considered to be - is a place on Earth that is facing a very high risk of extinction in biologically rich and deeply the wild." threatened due to habitat loss by Vulnerable (VU) – a taxon is human activity. Vulnerable "when the best available - One must have a high percentage of evidence (large population decline, plant life found nowhere else in the small population, small geographic world, which amounts to at least area occupied, or if the calculated 1,500 endemic vascular plants (less probability of extinction during the than 0.5% of the world's total). next 20 years is at least 10%) - It must have 30% or less of its indicates that it is considered to be original natural vegetation. facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild." Near threatened (NT) – a taxon is Near Threatened "when it has been  evaluated against the criteria but agricultural and commercial does not qualify for Critically expansion. Endangered, Endangered or ○ Climate change threatens Vulnerable now, but is close to mangrove species when qualifying for or is likely to qualify for temperatures and sea levels a threatened category in the near rise. future" Invasive Alien Species Least concern (LC) – a taxon is ○ "species whose introduction Least Concern "when it has been and/or spread outside their evaluated against the criteria and natural past or present does not qualify for Critically distribution threatens Endangered, Endangered, biological diversity." Vulnerable or Near Threatened. ○ Invasion is finalized when Widespread and abundant taxa are IAS can reproduce rapidly in included in this category." their new environments. Data deficient (DD) – a taxon is Data Urbanization Deficient "when there is inadequate ○ "the largest factor information to make a direct, or contributing to the current indirect, assessment of its risk of global extinction event," extinction based on its distribution brought about by the growth and/or population status." of cities may lead to losses in Not evaluated (NE) – a taxon is Not biodiversity through Evaluated "when it has not yet been fragmentation or destruction evaluated against the criteria." of large areas of natural habitat on which many Causes of Biodiversity Loss species depend. Environmental Pollution Population Growth ○ Contamination sources - The density of people is a crucial include toxic chemicals from factor in species threat industry, excess nutrients and pesticides from farms, Habitat Loss scattered trash from landfills, and smog in city skies. Deforestation Climate Change ○ Deforestation not only causes species reduction or Effects of Biodiversity Loss loss but contributes to climate change as well. Threats to Food Security Loss of mangrove species ○ Biodiversity comprises genes ○ Mangroves are also highly and species that build threatened by habitat valuable ecosystems that destruction due to provide vital sources for agricultural production  Threats to Energy Security 6. A biodiversity hotspot is a place on ○ Because developing Earth that is both biologically rich countries are highly (with high endemism) and deeply populated, biodiversity loss is threatened due to habitat loss by inevitable, and consequently, human activity. As of February 2016, energy sources are there are 36 recognized biodiversity threatened. hotspots on Earth. Unavailability of Clean Water 7. Significant causes of biodiversity ○ When forests and loss include population growth, watersheds are disturbed by habitat loss, and climate change. human activities, the supply 8. Biodiversity loss can lead to threats of available clean water for to food and energy security, daily human needs is Unavailability of clean water, and uncertain. Damage to social relationships. SUMMARY: 1. Biological diversity or biodiversity means the variability among living organisms from the land, the seas, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes they are part of. 2. The three levels of biodiversity are genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. 3. The levels of biodiversity can be described further in terms of composition, structure, and function. 4. Biodiversity at all forms, levels, structures, and function provides many anthropocentric and ecocentric benefits to humankind, hence protecting them. 5. Conservation entails the regular measuring and monitoring of biodiversity. A simpler and quicker approach is surrogate species representing a broader set of species and habitats to support conservation or management strategies. Various surrogate approaches had been chosen, such as the use of keystone, umbrella, indicator, and flagship species.