Why Do We Conserve Biodiversity Flashcards
(52 cards)
What is consecration biology
The applied science of maintaining biological diversity on Earth
What are the foundations in conservation biology
In biology and ecology
What are the parts of conservation biology
Social environment
Physical environment
Biological and ecological context
Researchers, practitioners and citizens
What is conservation biology focused on
Applied practice of natural resource management. Steeped in personal, professional and social ethical questions.
What did Aldo Leopold day
Our job is to harmonise the increasing kit of scientific tools and the increasing recklessness in using them with the shrinking biotas to which they are applied. In the nature of things we are mediators and moderators and unless we can help rewrite the objectives of science we are predestined to failure.
How is conservation biology an evolving field
Growing focus on neglected fields (social sciences), neglected systems (marine and freshwater), capacity building and international engagement. Increasing policy focus and policy voice
What happened in 1978
The first international conference on research in conservation biology, university of California, San Diego in La Jolla
What are some good key journals
Conservation letters
Biological conservation
Frontiers in ecology and the environment
Oryx
What are the aims of conservation biology
Maintain what we have and increasingly think about ways to restore.
Document full range of biological diversity.
Investigate human impact on species, communities and ecosystems.
What do we want to develop practical approaches for
To prevent species extinction.
Maintain diversity.
Maintain ecosystem functions and the interactions among species.
Restore injured biological communities and systems.
Why does consecration not equal preservation
Preservation has a historical background linked to the transcendental movement whereas conservation had a very utilitarian conservation ethic.
Now, preservation attempts to maintain remaining areas untouched by humans and conservation is an amendable to resource use in a sustainable way.
What kind of approach is preservation and what does it focus on
Hands off approach focusing on the intrinsic values of nature
Why is conservation is important
Important to human development which is inevitable and important
Why should we conserve
The value of species
Direct economic values
Strategic values
What is the value of species
Instrumental/utilitarian/ use values
Ecological values.
Intrinsic (non use) values.
Uniqueness values.
What are the direct economic values
Food, medicines, clothing and fuel.
Pollination, pest control.
Recreation - direct consumption use like fishing and hunting or non consumption like photography.
What are strategic values
Indicator species and umbrella species and flagship species
What are indicator species
They reflect the quality of the environment which lets us evaluate changes and aspects of community composition - it’s instrumental.
What are umbrella species
They had demanding habitat requirements and it means that if we protect them it will have a lot of downstream impacts for other species
What are flagship species
Popular, charismatic and serve as symbols and rallying points to stimulate conservation awareness and action
Example of an important instrumental species
Freshwater invertebrate indicators - BMWP score system measures water pollution at a particular site based on species indicator
Example of an umbrella species
Jaguar Eats 85 species. Requires large tracts of land. Requires corridors. Sympatric with other felids.
What does the conservation of jaguars justify
The linking it protected areas
What are the cultural values
Scientific and educational.
Spiritual.
Cultural.
Historical.
