Texas Natural Regions Extinction Rates Background natural rate

Texas Natural Regions

Extinction Rates Ø Background (natural) rate of extinction Geological Periods Ø Adaptive radiations Number of families of marine animals Ø Mass extinction Carboniferous Cretaceous Devonian Jurassic Silurian Triassic Tertiary Ordovician Permian Quaternary Cambrian 800 Mass extinctions 600 ? 400 200 0 570 505 438 360 408 286 208 144 245 Millions of years ago 65 2 0

Sustaining Wild Species Brian Kaestner and Dr. Richard Clements Saint Mary’s Hall and Chattanooga State Technical Community College

Why Should We Care About Biodiversity? Value of Nature Ø Instrumental value Ø Intrinsic value Instrumental Intrinsic (human centered) (species or ecosystem centered) Utilitarian Nonutilitarian Goods Existence Ecological services Aesthetic Information Bequest Option Recreation

Arctic Circle 60° EUROPE NORTH AMERICA 30°N Tropic Of Cancer Pacific Ocean 0° 150° 120° 90° Tropic Of Capricorn ASIA Atlantic Ocean AFRICA 30°W SOUTH AMERICA 0° Pacific Ocean 60°E 90° 150° Indian AUSTRALIA Ocean 30°S Antarctic Circle 60° ANTARCTICA Critical and endangered Projected Status of Biodiversity 1998– 2018 Threatened Stable or intact

Human Impacts on Biodiversity Food supply and demand Changes in water supply and temperature Water use and pollution and soil nutrient loss Freshwater supply and demand Water availability Deforestation Changes in precipitation and temperature CO 2, CH 4, N 2 O emissions Erosion, pollution, and changes in water flow Habitat change and fragmentation of habitat Climate change Forest product supply and demand CO 2 emission Changes in transpiration and albedo Habitat change Loss of crop genetic diversity Loss and fragmentation of habitat Biodiversity loss Loss and fragmentation of habitat Reduced resistance to change

Decreasing Biodiversity Ø Large environmental disturbance Ø Introduction of alien species Ø Geographic isolation

Biome % of Area Disturbed Temperate broadleaf forests 94% Temperate evergreen forests 94% Temperate grasslands 72% Mixed mountain systems 71% Tropical dry forests 70% Subtropical and temperate rain forests 67% Cold deserts and semidesert 55% Mixed island systems 53% Warm deserts and semideserts 44% Tropical humid forests Tropical grasslands Temperate Boreal forests Tundra 0. 7% 37% 26% 18%

Increasing Biodiversity Ø Physically diverse habitat Ø Moderate environmental disturbance

US Diversity 1% Probably extinct 7% Critically imperiled 67% Secure or apparently secure 8% Imperiled 16% Vulnerable 1% Other

U. S. Endangered Species #s

Texas Blind Salamander

Species Extinction Ø Local extinction Ø Ecological extinction Ø Biological extinction

Endangered and Threatened Species Ø Endangered species Ø Threatened (vulnerable) species Ø Rare species Florida manatee Northern spotted Gray wolf owl (threatened) Florida panther Bannerman's turaco (Africa)

Badger Anemone

Karner Blue Hawaian Sea Turtle

Ceratozamia Whooping Crane

Whooping Crane Flyway

Pitcher Plant

U. S. Endangered Species

Characteristic Examples Low reproductive rate (K-strategist) Blue whale, giant panda, rhinoceros Specialized niche Blue whale, giant panda, Everglades kite Narrow distribution Many island species, elephant seal, desert pupfish Feeds at high trophic level Bengal tiger, bald eagle, grizzly bear Fixed migratory patterns Blue whale, whooping crane, sea turtles Rare Many island species, African violet, some orchids Commercially valuable Snow leopard, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, rare plants and birds Large territories California condor, grizzly bear, Florida panther

Range 100 years ago Range today (about 2, 300 left) Indian Tiger

Range in 1700 Range today (about 2, 400 left) Black Rhino

Causes of Premature Extinction of Wild Species Ø Habitat degradation Ø Introduction of non-native species Habitat loss Habitat degradation Overfishing Climate change • • Basic Causes Population growth Rising resource use No environmental accounting Poverty Introducing nonnative species Commercial hunting and poaching Pollution Predator and pest control Sale of exotic pets and decorative plants

Type of Nonnative Organism Crop disease Annual Losses and damages $23. 5 billion Crop weeds $23. 5 billion Rats $19 billion Feral cats and outdoor pet cats $17 billion Crop insects Livestock diseases Forest insects and diseases $14 billion $9 billion $4. 8 billion Zebra mussels $3 billion Common pigeon $1. 1 billion Formosan termite $1. 1 billion Fishes $1. 1 billion Asian clam $1. 1 billion Feral pigs $0. 8 billion Starlings $0. 8 billion Fire ant $0. 6 billion

Kudzu Use

Chestnut Blight Fungi

Zebra Mussle

Zebra Mussle map

Expansion of the fire ant in southern states. 1918 2000

Characteristics of Successful Invader Species Characteristics of Ecosystems Vulnerable to Invader Species • High reproductive rate, short generation time (r-selected species) • Similar climate to habitat of invader • Pioneer species • Absence of predators on invading species • Long lived • High dispersal rate • Release growthinhibiting chemicals into soil • Generalists • High genetic variability • Early successional species • Low diversity of native species • Absence of fire • Disturbed by human activities

2 4 3 5 Top Six Hot Spots 6 1 Hawaii 2 San Francisco Bay area 3 Southern Appalachians 4 Death Valley 5 Southern California 6 Florida Panhandle Concentration of rare species 1 Low Moderate High

Wildlife Management Ø Laws regulating hunting and fishing Ø Harvest quotas Ø Population management plants Ø Improving habitat Ø Treaties and laws for migrating species

Solutions: Protecting Wild Species from Depletion and Extinction Ø Bioinformatics Ø International Treaties: CITES Ø National Laws: Lacey Act Endangered Species Act Ø Habitat conservation plans Ø Wildlife refuges and protected areas Ø Zoos, botanical gardens, and gene banks

The Species Approach Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity Ø Species approach Ø Ecosystem approach Goal The Ecosystem Approach Goal Protect species from premature extinction Protect populations of species in their natural habitats Strategies Strategy • Identify endangered species • Protect their critical habitats Tactics • Legally protect endangered species • Manage habitat • Propagate endangered species in captivity • Reintroduce species into suitable habitats Preserve sufficient areas of habitats in different biomes and aquatic systems Tactics • Protect habitat areas through private purchase or government action • Eliminate or reduce populations of alien species from protected areas • Manage protected areas to sustain native species • Restore degraded ecosystems