BIODIVERSITY BIODIVERSITY

EXTINCTION: 40.000 pr. YEAR!? EXTINCTION: 40.000 pr. YEAR!?

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITYEffect of climate on biodiversity

Disturbance and biodiversity

The VALUE of BIODIVERSITY The VALUE of BIODIVERSITY

IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?!

IndividualIndividual

Populations; breeding individualsPopulations; breeding individuals

CommunitiesCommunities

Landscapes “Ecosystems” Landscapes “Ecosystems”

Bioms, e.g. rainforestBioms, e.g. rainforest

BiosphereBiosphere

landscapes

Communities

Populations

Individual

Fig. 4.2, p. 72

SPECIESSPECIES

Bio-organizational hierarchy

Bio-organizational hierarchy

What is biodviresityWhat is biodviresity

• SPECIES RICHNESS = NUMBER OF SPECIES IN A GIVEN AREA (measurable & comparable)

• TURNOVER OF SPECIES IN LANDSCAPES = LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY

• NUMBER OF RARE OR ENDEMIC SPECIES• NUMBER OF SPECIES WITH FEW REALTIVES =

ISOLATED LINAGES

• DIFFRENCES BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS WITHIN POPULATIONS (GENE DIVERSITY)

BIODIVERSITY IS NOT BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES BIODIVERSITY IS NOT BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

• 2 ISLANDS WITH DIFFERENT DIVERSITY

30 SPECIES NON

ARE EDIBLE

5 SPECIES 4 ARE

EDIBLE

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?

POTENTIAL RESOURCE

SPECIES NOT USEFUL TODAY CAN BE USEFUL FOR HUMANS IN THE FUTURE

POTENTIAL RESOURCE

SPECIES NOT USEFUL TODAY CAN BE USEFUL FOR HUMANS IN THE FUTURE

Biomes: Latitude and Altitude Elevation

Biomes: Latitude and Altitude Elevation

MontaneMontaneConiferouConiferou

ssForestForest

DeciduousDeciduousForestForest

AlpineAlpineTundraTundra

TropicalTropicalForestForest

Tropical ForestTropical Forest Temperate Deciduous Temperate Deciduous ForestForest

Northern Coniferous Northern Coniferous ForestForest

Arctic TundraArctic Tundra

LowLowHighHigh Temperature & Moisture AvailabilityTemperature & Moisture Availability

lowlow

highhigh

Elevation

Elevation

Fig. 6.18, p. 133

Temperature & Moisture availability

Biodiversity: equator to the polesBiodiversity: equator to the poles

LatitudeLatitudeS

pe

cie

s d

ive

rsit

yS

pe

cie

s d

ive

rsit

y

100100

00

200200

90˚N90˚N 6060 3030 00 30˚S30˚S 6060

LatitudeLatitude

1,0001,000

100100

1010

80˚N80˚N 6060 4040 2020 00

LatitudeLatitude

Fig. 8.3, p. 175

Biodiversity: elevation gradient Biodiversity: elevation gradient

Low land ---- high land

Species richness

agriculture

Common: latitude & elevation gradient Common: latitude & elevation gradient

AltitudeAltitude

Latitude

Temperature

Production

Growing season

Increasing BiodiversityIncreasing Biodiversity

Many physically diverse habitats Landscape diversity

Many physically diverse habitats Landscape diversity

Moderate environmental disturbanceModerate environmental disturbance

Short unfavorable seasons, tropicalShort unfavorable seasons, tropical

Middle stages of ecological successionMiddle stages of ecological succession

AREAAREA

Ecological Succession: Communities in TransitionEcological Succession: Communities in Transition

Primary successionPrimary succession

Secondary successionSecondary succession

Pioneer speciesPioneer species

Successional speciesSuccessional species

Primary Succession & species richnessPrimary Succession & species richness

Small herbsand shrubs

Heath mat

Jack pine,black spruce,

and aspen

Balsam fir,paper birch, and

white spruceclimax community

Exposedrocks

Lichensand mosses

Fig. 8.15, p. 188

Species richness

biomass

time

Secondary Succession & species richnessSecondary Succession & species richness

Annualweeds

Perennialweeds and

grasses

ShrubsYoung pine forest

Mature oak-hickory forest

Species richness

time

biomass

Biodiversity: succession Biodiversity: succession

Number of species= species richnessNumber of species= species richness

Successional time

Biodiversity and biomass Biodiversity and biomass

species richnessspecies richness

Increasing biomass

Biodiversity and disturbancedisturbance = reduced biomass Biodiversity and disturbancedisturbance = reduced biomass

species richnessspecies richness

Increasing disturbance

Biodiversity, succession and disturbance Biodiversity, succession and disturbance

species richnessspecies richness

increasing biomass

increasing disturbance

Tropical forest are rich in species because of large area + many strataTropical forest are rich in species because of large area + many strata

Indirect: i.e., small plants growing in shade of larger plants

Indirect: i.e., small plants growing in shade of larger plants

More strata= more surface=more species

mft

10

50

20

30100

Tropicalrain forest

Coniferousforest

Deciduousforest

Thornforest

Tall-grassprairie

Short-grassprairie

Desertscrub

Thornscrub

Community Structure: Appearance and Species DiversityCommunity Structure: Appearance and Species Diversity

Stratification

Species richness

Specie area curveSpecie area curve

Log (species number) Log (species number)

Log(area)

EXTINCTION estimate: how did the 40.000 species pr year appear? Myers 1979EXTINCTION estimate: how did the 40.000 species pr year appear? Myers 1979

>100 species pr. year including known and unknown species guess 1 million species extinct in 25 years = 40,ooo pr year

50 % reduction in rainforest leads 20 % reduction in species (Lovjoy 1980)

vegetationvegetation

Origins of LifeOrigins of Life

Chemical evolutionChemical evolution

Biological evolutionBiological evolution

Formationof the

earth’searly

crust andatmosphere

Small organic

moleculesform in

the seas

Large organic

molecules(biopolymers)

form inthe seas

First protocells

form inthe seas

Chemical EvolutionChemical Evolution(1 billion years)(1 billion years)

Single-cellprokaryotes

form inthe seas

Single-celleukaryotes

form inthe seas

Variety ofmulticellularorganismsform, first

in the seas and lateron land

Biological EvolutionBiological Evolution(3.7 billion years)(3.7 billion years)

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Origins of lifeOrigins of life

Evolutionary processesEvolutionary processes

Species formationSpecies formation

Species extinctionSpecies extinction

Species ExtinctionSpecies Extinction

Local extinctionLocal extinction

Regional extinctionRegional extinction

Biological or total extinctionBiological or total extinction

Ex-situ conservatione.g. wild relatives of crop plants

Ex-situ conservatione.g. wild relatives of crop plants

ExtinctionExtinction

Background extinctionBackground extinction

Mass extinctionMass extinction

Extinction RatesExtinction Rates

Background (natural) rate of extinctionBackground (natural) rate of extinction

Massextinction

Massextinction

Nu

mb

er o

f fa

mili

esN

um

ber

of

fam

ilies

of

mar

ine

anim

als

of

mar

ine

anim

als

Geological PeriodsGeological Periods

Millions of years agoMillions of years ago

Mass extinctions800800

600600

400400

200200

00570570 505505 438438 360360 286286 208208 144144 6565 00

CambrianCambrianOrdovicianOrdovician

SilurianSilurianDevonianDevonian

CarboniferousCarboniferous

PermianPermianTriassicTriassic

JurassicJurassicCretaceousCretaceous

TertiaryTertiaryQuaternaryQuaternary

?

408408 245245 22

Realistic figuresRealistic figures

• 95 % of earlier species are extinct

• 1.6 million known species

• 10 to 80 million unknown species

• Natural extinction 2 pr. 10 year

• Known extinction 25 pr. 10 year

since 1600 AD

Extinction rate ca. 0.7 % , but since total number of species is unknown the percentage is not a good expression

Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?

Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?

SpeciationSpeciation

SpeciationSpeciation Geographic isolationGeographic isolationReproductive isolationReproductive isolation

Early foxpopulation

Adapted to heatthrough lightweightfur and long ears, legs, and nose, whichgive off more heat.

Adapted to coldthrough heavierfur, short ears,short legs, shortnose. White furmatches snowfor camouflage.

Gray Fox

Arctic Fox

Different environmentalconditions lead to differentselective pressures and evolutioninto two different species.

Spreadsnorthwardandsouthwardandseparates

Southernpopulation

Northernpopulation

Fig. 5.8, p. 113

A thin layer of life in a big void:app. 20 kmA thin layer of life in a big void:app. 20 km

BiosphereBiosphereAtmosphere

Vegetation and animals

Soil

Rock

Biosphere

Crust

core

MantleLithosphere

Crust

Lithosphere(crust, top of upper mantle)

Hydrosphere(water)

Atmosphere(air)

Biosphere(Living and dead

organisms)

Crust(soil and rock)

Diversity in the biospere is good and

’a must’ for evolution to continue

Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?Why Should We Care About Biodiversity?

Instrumental valueInstrumental value

Intrinsic valueIntrinsic value

Value of Nature

Instrumental Intrinsic

Utilitarian Nonutilitarian

(human centered) (species orecosystemcentered)

Goods

Ecological services

Information

Option

Recreation

Existence

Aesthetic

Bequest

Nice mammals & ugly creeps:Have all species equal value?Nice mammals & ugly creeps:Have all species equal value?

Many small species and few big speciesMany small species and few big species

• Why is it dangerous to be big?

• Why is it safe to be small?

number

size

Reproductive Patterns and SurvivalReproductive Patterns and Survival

Asexual reproduction Asexual reproduction Sexual reproduction Sexual reproduction

r-selected species r-selected species K-selected species K-selected species

r-Selected Species

cockroach dandelion

Many small offspringLittle or no parental care and protection ofoffspringEarly reproductive ageMost offspring die before reaching reproductive ageSmall adultsAdapted to unstable climate and environmental conditionsHigh population growth rate (r)Population size fluctuates wildly above and below carrying capacity (K)Generalist nicheLow ability to competeEarly successional species

Fewer, larger offspringHigh parental care and protection of offspringLater reproductive ageMost offspring survive to reproductive ageLarger adultsAdapted to stable climate and environmental conditionsLower population growth rate (r)Population size fairly stable and usually close to carrying capacity (K)Specialist nicheHigh ability to competeLate successional species

elephant saguaro

K-Selected Species

Broad and Narrow NichesBroad and Narrow Niches

Generalist speciesGeneralist species

Specialist speciesSpecialist species

Endangered and Threatened SpeciesEndangered and Threatened Species

Endangered speciesEndangered speciesThreatened (vulnerable) speciesThreatened (vulnerable) speciesRare speciesRare species

Florida manatee

Northern spotted owl (threatened)

Gray wolf Florida panther Bannerman's turaco (Africa)

Fig. 22.7a, p. 556

FLAGSHIP SPECIES, BIG MAMMALS & BIRDS

FLAGSHIP SPECIES, BIG MAMMALS & BIRDS

PLANTE GEOGRAFIPLANTE GEOGRAFI

PLANTE GEOGRAFIPLANTE GEOGRAFI

• LOKALT SJELDEN

• I UTKANTEN AV UTBREDELSE OMRÅDET

• GLOBALT SJELDEN

• SJELDEN NATURTYPE I NORGE= SAND DYNER STRENDER

Sjelden i Norge: SilkenellikSjelden i Norge: Silkenellik

I UTKANTEN AV UTBREDELSES OMRÅDET

I UTKANTEN AV UTBREDELSES OMRÅDET

Sodaurt

PLANTE GEOGRAFIPLANTE GEOGRAFI

• SJELDEN NATURTYPE I NORGE

• F. EKS SAND DYNER med fugle og plante liv

Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild SpeciesCauses of Premature Extinction of Wild Species

Habitat degradation

Habitat degradation

Introduction of non-native species

Introduction of non-native species

Overfishing

HabitatHabitatlossloss

Habitatdegradation

IntroducingIntroducingnonnativenonnativespeciesspecies

Commercialhunting

andpoaching

Sale ofexotic pets

anddecorative

plants

Predatorand

pest control

Pollution

Climatechange

Basic CausesBasic Causes• Population growthPopulation growth• Rising resource Rising resource

useuse• No environmental No environmental

accountingaccounting• PovertyPoverty

Fig. 22.13, p. 564

Why Mountains are importantWhy Mountains are important

Mimic latitudeMimic latitude

“Islands” = isolation= speciation = endemics

“Islands” = isolation= speciation = endemics

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

Greenhouse gasesGreenhouse gases

Rays of sunlight penetrate Rays of sunlight penetrate the lower atmosphere and the lower atmosphere and warm the earth's surface.warm the earth's surface.

The earth's surface absorbs much of The earth's surface absorbs much of the incoming solar radiation and the incoming solar radiation and degrades it to longer-wavelength degrades it to longer-wavelength infrared radiation (heat), which rises infrared radiation (heat), which rises into the lower atmosphere. Some of into the lower atmosphere. Some of this heat escapes into space and some this heat escapes into space and some is absorbed by molecules of is absorbed by molecules of greenhouse gases and emitted as greenhouse gases and emitted as infrared radiation, which warms the infrared radiation, which warms the lower atmosphere.lower atmosphere.

As concentrations of greenhouse As concentrations of greenhouse gases rise, their molecules gases rise, their molecules absorb and emit more infrared absorb and emit more infrared radiation, which adds more heat radiation, which adds more heat to the to the lower atmosphere.lower atmosphere.

(a)(a) (b)(b) (c)(c)

Fig. 6.13, p. 128

Elevation gradient and climate change: 1750 ADElevation gradient and climate change: 1750 AD

1000 m elevation = decrease 5 0C

1000 m elevation = decrease 5 0C

20 10 0

Temperature niche

Alpine plant

No. of individuals

0C

Elevation gradient and climate change: 2100 AD + 10 degreesElevation gradient and climate change: 2100 AD + 10 degrees

30 20 10

Temperature niche disappear

Alpine species goes locally extinct

No. of individuals

critical thinking critical thinking

• Realised versus fundamnetal niche

Fundamental niche =

only climate

Realised niche

Biotic control

30 20 10

20 10 01750

2100

Land Use in the WorldLand Use in the World

Tundra and Tundra and wetlands 9%wetlands 9%

Desert 20%Desert 20%

Cropland 11%Cropland 11%

RangelandRangelandand pastureand pasture26%26%

ForestForest32%32%

Urban 2%Urban 2%

Fig. 23.2, p. 586

Forest StructureForest StructureEmergent

Canopy

Understory

Floor

Subsoil

Birds, invertebrates,bats

Birds, reptiles,amphibians,lichens, mosses

Shade-tolerant plants, birds, squirrels,lizards, chipmunks

Rotting debris,worms, insects,bacteria

Nematodes,microrganisms

Bole

Snag

Symbiotic Species Interactions: CommensalismSymbiotic Species Interactions: Commensalism

Indirect: i.e., small plants growing in shade of larger plants

Indirect: i.e., small plants growing in shade of larger plants

Direct: i.e., epiphytes, remoras

Direct: i.e., epiphytes, remoras

Endangered and Threatened SpeciesEndangered and Threatened Species

Endangered speciesEndangered species

Threatened (vulnerable) speciesThreatened (vulnerable) species

Rare speciesRare species

Florida manatee

Northern spotted owl (threatened)

Gray wolf Florida panther Bannerman's turaco (Africa)

Nuclear threat!!!!Nuclear threat!!!!

Mass extinction

VALUE of species

VALUE of species

ExtinctionExtinction

Background extinctionBackground extinction

Mass extinctionMass extinction