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Sylvia S. Mader
Immagini e
concetti della
biologia
Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Chapter 4
Conservation
of biodiversity
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Conservation biology is a practical
science
• Conservation biology studies biodiversity
with the goal of conserving natural resources
and preserving biodiversity.
• Bioinformatics is the science of collecting
and analyzing biological information and
using it to understand and protect
biodiversity.
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Biodiversity is more than counting
the total number of species /1
• Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on
Earth; additional levels are genetic diversity,
ecosystem diversity, and landscape diversity.
• Diversity is highest at the tropics and
declines toward the poles; biodiversity
hotspots contain large concentrations of
species.
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Biodiversity is more than counting
the total number of species /2
• Extinction is the total disappearance of a
species or higher group.
• Endangered species are at immediate risk
of extinction.
• Threatened species are likely to soon
become endangered.
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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The direct value of biodiversity is
becoming better recognized
• Many prescription drugs were originally derived
from living organisms, and still more drugs may
be derived from rain forest species.
• Biodiversity can help protect crops against
disease and save billions of dollars for a nation’s
agricultural economy.
• The environment produces wild fruits,
vegetables, meats, and fish, and also sustainable
products such as rubber.
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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The indirect value of biodiversity
is immense
• Biodiversity contributes to the successful
workings of the water, carbon, phosphorus, and
nitrogen cycles.
• Freshwater ecosystems provide fresh water
and fish; forests soak up and release water at a
regular rate and take up carbon dioxide; and
intact ecosystems retain soil.
• Ecotourists enjoy vacations in natural settings.
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Habitat loss is a major cause of
wildlife extinctions
Habitat loss is the cause of
85% of
threatened/endangered
cases.
• Coastal degradation
destroys freshwater and
marine biodiversity.
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Introduction of alien species
contributes to extinctions
• Alien species are nonnative species
introduced through colonization, horticulture
and agriculture, and accidental transport.
• Islands are particularly susceptible to
disturbances by introduced aliens.
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Pollution contributes to extinctions
• Pollution is any change in the
environment that adversely impacts living
things.
• Forms of environmental pollution include:
o acid deposition
o eutrophication
o ozone depletion
o organic chemicals
o global warming.
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Overexploitation contributes to
extinctions
• Overexploitation is the removal of a
number of individuals so that the population
is severely reduced.
• The market for exotic plants and pets
supports the legal and illegal trade of wild
species.
• Declining species are still being hunted,
and fisheries are being overfished.
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Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Disease contributes to extinctions
• Pathogens are on the rise, subjecting
wildlife to emerging diseases.
Photoman29 / shutterstock
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Habitat preservation is of primary
importance /1
• Biological hotspots must be
preserved.
• Keystone species influence the
viability of a community; their extinction
can lead to other extinctions and loss of
biodiversity.
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Habitat preservation is of primary
importance /2
• A metapopulation is subdivided into
small, isolated populations, sometimes
due to habitat fragmentation.
• Preserving keystone species requires
landscape preservation, which will lead
to preservation of other species as well.
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C.M.Corcoran / shutterstock E tusharkoley / shutterstock
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Habitat restoration is sometimes
necessary
• Restoration ecology seeks scientific
ways to return ecosystems to their former
state through the use of natural processes
and with the goal of sustainable
development.
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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For preserving biodiversity is necessary
a good net of natural interconnected
protected areas
• A natural areas net is formed by a core areas,
a buffer zone, some ecological corridors and
stepping zones.
• The populations of protected area must be
interconnected by good corridors.
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Alien species must be contrasted at
different levels of management
• The first must for combat alien species is the
prevention; strict control and monitoring is
always necessary if the species are too
widespread, while eradication should be the
best solution for restricted populations.
Erni / shutterstock
Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità
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Michael G. Mill / shutterstock
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To manage biodiversity good laws
are necessary
• All politicians, administrators and
citizens are called to manage
biodiversity and conservation of
habitat and species to sustain human
impact on the Earth.
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Is it possible to reduce global climatic
change?
• Human influence on the climate system is clear.
This is evident in most regions of the globe, a new
assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC 2013) concludes.
• Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will
cause further warming and changes in all
components of the climate system.
• Limiting climate change will require substantial
and sustained reductions of greenhouse gases
emissions.
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