Conservation Biology BIO 4422 & 5422 Dr. Eric Linder.

Conservation BiologyBIO 4422 & 5422

Dr. Eric Linder

Conservation Biology

• “In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we only understand what we are taught”

• Baba Dioum


• What is Conservation Biology (not)• Environmentalism

– Philosophy and social movement

• Game Management• Biological Preservation


• What is Conservation Biology?• It is largely a response by biologists

to the current biodiversity crisis• This crisis is largely a result of the

dramatic population growth AND the increased ‘standard of living’ desired by so many

• More later…


• Con Bio is a synthetic field that applies principles of ecology, biogeography, population genetics, economics, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and other theoretically based disciplines

• Started in the 1980’s• But didn’t people practice

conservation before then?YES


• Three important distinctions• 1) includes, and has been partially led

by, major contributions from theoretically oriented academicians

• 2) previous motivation was largely to maintain high yields of desired products

• 3) recognizes and embraces the contributions of nonbiologists


• What is the goal?• Understanding natural ecosystems

will enough to maintain their diversity in the face of known (and unknown) threats

• E.g. intelligent and informed management decisions


• What is the goal?• Maintain diversity (genes, populations,

species, habitats, ecosystems, landscapes, and ecological processes)

• What are Ecological Processes?• E.g. natural selection, biogeochemical

cycling, photosynthesis, energy transfer, hydrologic cycles


• In summary…• Con Bio attempts to keep normal

evolutionary processes working within a functioning ecological setting


• Another paradigm…• Hutchinson described the natural

world as an “ecological theater” serving as the stage for an “evolutionary play”

• Thus, Con Bio wishes to retain the actors (species) in the evolutionary play and the ecological stage on which it is performed


• Historical Perspective• Conservation in the US• Compared to European landscapes,

North America was relatively pristine• However, many extinctions had

already occurred reducing the megafauna diversity


• Early colonists cleared the extensive eastern hardwood forests for timber (ships, raw timber, and charcoal) and agriculture

• Later forests again exploited for railroads and buildings

• After several hundred years, concept began to emerge


• Romantic-transcendental Conservation Ethic (based upon writings of RW Emerson and HD Thoreau) in the 1850’s

• Nature had a quasi-religious aspect• Later John Muir used this argument

to establish National Park system


• Resource Conservation Ethic• Popularized by Gifford Pinchot at the

turn of the 20th century• “greatest good for the greatest

number for the longest time”• Nature was a combination of useful,

useless and noxious items• USFS (and BLM) and multiple-use

concept


• Evolutionary-ecological Land Ethic• Aldo Leopold – although trained in

resource-based conservation, saw it as inadequate and scientifically inaccurate

• Furthermore, the development of ecology and evolution demonstrating the nonrandomness of processes and patterns


• We can see each of these three views in various organizations (e.g. USFS, Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy)

• Current conservation efforts represent a more balanced view than the extremes


• Early 1980’s many edited books came out demonstrating the losses of biodiversity and habitat

• In 1985 the Society for Conservation Biology was formed and established the journal ‘Conservation Biology’

• Some universities have established ‘conservation biology’ majors and graduate program emphasis


• Guiding Principles of Conservation Bio• Principle 1: Evolution is the basic

axiom that unites all biology• Principle 2: the ecological world is

dynamic and largely nonequilibrial• Principle 3: human presence must be

included in conservation planning• Table 1.1


• Principle 1: Evolution is the basic axiom that unites all biology

• Con Bio must take evolution into account when trying to develop solutions to ecological problems

• E.g. the genetic composition of populations is dynamic. Thus, it is not the goal to stop the changes, but rather ensure they have the ability to change and adapt


• Principle 2: the ecological world is dynamic and largely nonequilibrial

• If the world were in equilibrium and static, Con Bio would be easy

• At some spatial or temporal scale, all systems become dynamic

• Exercise: think of a ecosystem and then think of a natural disturbance


• It is important to remember that just because systems are in nonequilibrium, that does not mean species are either unpredictable or ephemeral


• Principle 3: human presence must be included in conservation planning

• Any conservation efforts that do not account for humans (either as the cause of the problem or part of the solution) are doomed to fail


• Benefits to acknowledging people• First, can incorporate ‘indigenous

knowledge’• Second, areas must be user-friendly

– Allow some limited multiple use– Educate users on scientific rationale

• Third, aboriginal people have a right to their traditional lands


• E.O. Wilson’s four postulates• 1) diversity of organisms is good• 2) ecological complexity is good• 3) evolution is good• 4) biotic diversity has intrinsic value


• Common Aspects of Conservation Biology

• A discipline responding to an immense crisis– By definition, information is frequently

incomplete and sometimes missing– Typically is politically and economically

charged– Asked to provide quick, clear, unambiguous

and scientifically defensible

Is this realistic?


• Fig 1.9



• An Inexact Science• The nature of ecological systems is

complexity and variability• “Uncertainty is inherently part of

ecology and conservation, and probabilistic, rather than prescriptive answers to problems are the norm”



• An Inexact Science• Consequently, Con Bio scientists rely

largely on quantitative approaches• Unfortunately, this can result in a

credibility gap… • Simple ecosystems are incredibly

complex!!

WHY?



• Consequently, Con Bio should think in terms of the ‘precautionary principle’…or ‘First, do no harm”



• A value-laden science• Science is value-free• Should scientists lend their expertise

to the debate (whatever it is)• However, objectivity should never be

compromised, or all credibility is lost



• A science with an evolutionary time scale• Traditional resource management

typically attempts to maximize the current yield…

• The goal is to simply retain the diversity of structure and function, forever

think north Atlantic fisheries



• A Science of Eternal Vigilance• Even protected areas may not remain

protected• Think of ANWR

Conservation Biologythe big problem…

• Expanding human demands• Why is the environment is such

trouble?• Simply the collective impact of 6B+

people and their desire to live a good life


• Hectares needed to support current lifestyle


• Humans continue to co-opt more and more of the worlds primary productivity

• For example, 35% of ocean shelf and 60% of freshwater production are for human use

• Overall, somewhere between 20-32%


• The ‘ecological footprint’ is not equal across countries or within countries

• Fig 1.4


• Remember, humans are part of the problem, but we are also part of the solution (a better one for us)

• Optimistic view• 1) world’s growth rate slowing

(education is key)• 2) can change our consumption

patterns– Consider U.S. and Germany (or the UK)

Conservation BiologyQuestions for Discussion

• 1) how would you explain the significance of human population growth and human ecological footprint for biodiversity conservation?


• 2) what would conservation practice be like if we primarily followed the principles of Pinchot’s Resource Conservation Ethic? How would it differ from the present day focus of Conservation Biology? Is the present focus of conservation biology preferable to the Romantic-Transcendental Conservation Ethic? How?


• 3) How would you answer a conservation skeptic who asserted that because ecological processes are non-equilibrial, conservation of current communities is misguided since they are destined to change?


• 4) Why are multiple disciplinary perspective important in conservation biology?


• 5) How are the views of conservation biology and conservation practice similar among the four essayists featured in this chapter similar? How are the different?

Conservation Biology BIO 4422 & 5422 Dr. Eric Linder.

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Transcript of Conservation Biology BIO 4422 & 5422 Dr. Eric Linder.