A4.2: Conservation of Biodiversity

1. Deforestation and land clearance for Agriculture
2. Urbanisation
3. Overexploitation (hunting, fishing, other forms)
4. Pollution (including spread of pests, biological pollution)
5. Diseases and Invasive Species (e.g. due to global transportation)

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem

Diversity has two components: richness (how many varieties are there?) and evenness (how evenly represented are the varieties?).

Ecosystem diversity is the variety of ecosystem types that exist on our planet

Species diversity is the variety of species that exist within ecosystems or globally

Genetic diversity is the variety of forms within a species

The number of species on Earth today is relatively lower compared to past levels of biodiversity. Over the history of life on Earth, there have been periods of significantly higher biodiversity, often followed by mass extinctions. These extinctions have reduced the number of species. Currently, we are in a period of relatively lower species diversity compared to some past eras.(ex high biodviserity in the Cambrian Explosion and low biodiversity in the mass extinction events, like the Permian-Triassic extinction or the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction)

When a species no longer exists and thrives on earth

There have been five mass extinction events in Earth's history(this is the 6th)

--Cause--
Catastrophic Events: Mass extinctions are often triggered by catastrophic events, which can be of extraterrestrial or terrestrial origin.

Extraterrestrial Causes: One common extraterrestrial cause is the impact of large asteroids or comets, which can create immense devastation upon collision with Earth.

Terrestrial Causes: Terrestrial causes may include massive volcanic eruptions, which release vast amounts of volcanic gases and particulates into the atmosphere.

--Effect--
Species Extinction: The most immediate effect of mass extinctions is the significant loss of species. Many species, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, may go extinct during these events.

Ecosystem Disruption: Mass extinctions disrupt ecological relationships and food chains. The loss of certain species can have cascading effects on other organisms within ecosystems.

Global Environmental Changes: Catastrophic events(ex volcanos), can cause significant global environmental changes. These include:
Drastic climate fluctuations, with temperature changes and alterations in precipitation patterns.
Acid rain, which can harm terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Changes in ocean chemistry, such as ocean acidification, affecting marine life.
Depletion of the ozone layer, increasing exposure to harmful UV radiation.

Adaptive Radiations: Mass extinctions can also lead to opportunities for survivors and new species to evolve and fill ecological niches left vacant by extinct organisms. This can result in adaptive radiations, where new species diversify rapidly.

caused by human activity

Description:
Tall, slender with a small, broad flattened head and a robust, flattened and slightly curved bill. They had relatively long, shaggy hair-like feathers up to 18 cm long, covering the body, and exhibited the greatest size difference between males and females of any bird, with adult females being much larger than adult males

Former Distribution:
New zealand. Coastal dunes to inland shrublands, forests, and subalpine herbfields and grasslands in the North Island and Aotea/Great Barrier Island
Reasons for Extinction:

Overhunted
Eaten by Kuri(Polynesian dog)

Description:
adults of this species were grayish-brown, females were slightly darker, with a yellowish color underneath and on their muzzles. They reached between 2-2.4 m in length and weighed about 160 kg.

Former Distribution:
the beaches, cays, and reefs of the Caribbean, ranging from the Greater Antilles to the northern Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas, the northeastern coasts of Central America, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and the Florida Keys. The last remaining colony is believed to have lived at Serranilla Bank, halfway between Nicaragua and Jamaica.

Reasons for Extinction:
Overhunting for Blubber(to make oil) and meat

Description:
Cooksonia is an extinct type of simple plant similar to a moss that lived in the late Silurian to early Devonian (415 million years ago. It is famous as the first land plant that had true "veins" (conductive tissue) to transport water and sugars around the plant. Cooksonia was tiny - only a few millimeteres high, like all land plants that lived at the time The Cooksonia plant only had slender stalks and it is believed to have possessed small and lacked leaves, flowers and roots.

Former Distribution:
India - near the coast

Reasons for Extinction:
Change in climate
Low sea levels

--Direct Causes--
Deforestation: The direct removal of forests and vegetation for agriculture, logging, urban development, and infrastructure projects.

Habitat Conversion: Converting natural landscapes into urban, industrial, or agricultural areas, resulting in the direct loss of natural ecosystems.

Mining: The excavation and extraction of minerals, often leading to the destruction of ecosystems, soil degradation, and water pollution.

--Indirect Causes--
Pollution: The release of pollutants into the air, water, and soil can indirectly harm ecosystems and lead to their degradation.

Climate Change: Human-induced climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, indirectly alters ecosystems by changing temperature and precipitation patterns, affecting species distribution and habitats.

Invasive Species: The introduction of non-native species can indirectly disrupt ecosystems by outcompeting or predating on native species.

Overexploitation: Overharvesting of resources, such as overfishing, can indirectly harm ecosystems by depleting vital species and disrupting food webs.

Mixed dipterocarp forest (MDF) is a tropical forest ecosystem with a very high plant biodiversity of dipterocarps, which grow tall and dominate the canopy of these ecosystems.
Because they produce valuable timber, logging activities have destroyed most of the accessible MDF ecosystems. The remaining land is used most often for valuable crops like oil palm plantations

--Great Barrier Rief--
Reasons for becoming extinct: Climate change, coral bleacning, Increasing sediment, nutrients and contaminants, combined with rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification, increasing pop of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish and increase development along the coast and adjacent island https://www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/threats

species Population Trends:
Tracking the abundance and distribution of species over time to identify declines or increases in population size.

Habitat Loss and Degradation:
Monitoring changes in the extent and quality of natural habitats, including deforestation, wetland destruction, and urbanization.

Endangered and Threatened Species Lists:
Maintaining lists of species classified as endangered or threatened, indicating those at the greatest risk of extinction.

Biodiversity Hotspots:
Identifying regions with exceptionally high levels of biodiversity that may require specific conservation attention.

Invasive Species Monitoring:
Tracking the spread and impact of non-native species that can disrupt ecosystems and harm native species.

Climate Change Indicators:
Monitoring climate-related data, such as temperature, precipitation, and sea-level rise, to assess how these changes impact biodiversity.

Genetic Diversity:
Assessing the genetic diversity within populations to understand the health and resilience of species.

--Species Richness--
Definition: Species richness is a measure of how many different species are present in a particular area or ecosystem

Use in Tracking Biodiversity: Monitoring species richness over time allows scientists to assess changes in the number of species. An increase in species richness suggests new species have been added or populations of existing species have grown. A decrease may indicate extinctions or the decline of certain species.

--Evenness--
Definition: Evenness measures the relative abundance of different species in an ecosystem. It indicates whether species are evenly distributed in terms of their numbers or if some dominate while others are rare.

Use in Tracking Biodiversity: By examining evenness, scientists can assess how evenly resources and ecological niches are distributed among species. High evenness means that species have similar abundance, indicating a balanced ecosystem. Low evenness may suggest that a few dominant species are outcompeting others, potentially leading to a loss of biodiversity.

Data Collection:
Citizen scientists help collect vast amounts of data from a wide range of locations and ecosystems. Their observations can be invaluable for tracking changes in species distributions, behaviors, and population sizes.

Biodiversity Records:
Citizen scientists often provide critical information on the occurrence of species, especially in less-studied or remote areas. Their records can help document the presence or absence of species.

Long-Term Monitoring:
Many biodiversity crises unfold over extended periods. Citizen scientists can contribute to long-term monitoring efforts that provide insights into how ecosystems and species are changing over time.

Early Detection:
Citizen scientists can help identify the early signs of problems, such as the spread of invasive species or the impact of pollution. Early detection is essential for timely intervention and conservation actions.

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:
As the human population expands, it leads to the clearing of forests, wetlands, and natural landscapes to make way for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure. This habitat destruction directly contributes to the loss and fragmentation of ecosystems, resulting in a reduced living space for many species.

Overexploitation of Resources:
A growing population places increasing demands on natural resources such as fish, timber, and water. Overharvesting and overfishing occur as more people seek these resources for food, shelter, and other needs, often leading to the depletion and potential extinction of species.

Pollution and Contamination:
The expansion of human populations leads to more pollution from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources. Pollutants harm ecosystems, water bodies, and species, contributing to environmental degradation.

the conservation of species outside their native environment under a human-controlled environment
In situ conservation is vital for maintaining ecological relationships but may not be effective for critically endangered species that need immediate intervention.

The conversation of species inside their enviroment
In situ conservation is vital for maintaining ecological relationships but may not be effective for critically endangered species that need immediate intervention.

Unique Threats
In Situ
Ex Situ
Ecosystem-Specific Approaches: Conservation measures like rewilding and habitat reclamation are essential for restoring specific ecosystems and addressing the unique challenges they face
Genetic Preservation
Integrated Strategies: A multifaceted approach that combines in situ and ex situ methods, along with habitat restoration and genetic preservation, is essential for enhancing overall biodiversity resilience.

a progressive approach to conservation. It's about letting nature take care of itself, enabling natural processes to shape land and sea, repair damaged ecosystems and restore degraded landscapes. Through rewilding, wildlife's natural rhythms create wilder, more biodiverse habitats.

botanical gardens
gene banks
seed banks
DNA banks

The EDGE of Existence programme prioritizes conservation of species that are
Evolutionarily
Distinct and
Globally
Endangered

If three species , A, B, and C, (A being the most evolutionarily distinct) were equally endangered, Species A should be prioritized.