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Lecture

Biodiversity

Lecture 4: Outline

I. Species of the Day

II. Species Definitions

III.Other Related Concepts

IV. Types of Diversity

V. Distribution\Patterns of Biodiversity

VI. Species Management: Are they all created equal?

o Keystone species

o Surrogate species

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Species of the Day

Grizzly Bear(Ursus arctos horribilis)

Species of the Day

Grizzly Bear Video

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Species Definitions

• Morphological species definition

• Biological species definition

Geographic Variation of

SpeciesRock Pocket Mouse

(Perognathus intermedius)

“In all probability more paper has been consumed on the questions of the nature and definition of the species than any other subject in evolutionary and systematic biology” ~E.O. Wiley, 1978

Other Definitions

• Species• Population• Community• Ecosystem• Biome

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Trophic HierarchyHow are living organisms on our planet connected?

Species on our planet:

Jon Feldsa (1991)Udzungwaq Partridge(Xenoperdix udzungwensis)(Xenoperdix udzungwensis)

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Species on our planet:

Coelacanth(Latimeria chalumnae)

Figure 3.6 Estimates of described species

Types of Diversity

• Species Diversity

• Genetic Diversity

• Community Diversity

“The millions of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the intricate ecosystems they help build into the living environment”

~World Wildlife Fund

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Distribution of Biodiversity

http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/

Distribution of Biodiversity

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Distribution of Biodiversity

• Climatic stability

• Environmental stability

• Complex topography

Geologic age• Geologic age

• Habitat Size

• Habitat Diversity

• Competition

• Productivity

• Disturbance

(South America)

(California)

Patterns of Biodiversity

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Altitudinal gradient of diversity

Patterns of Biodiversity

The Tropics Explained

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How do we prioritize conservation in areas with high biodiversity?

1. Do we manage for individual species?2 D f i ?2. Do we manage for rare species?3. Do we manage for all species? If so, how?4. Is the species category useful to conservation?

Keystone Species\Resources

Keystone Species

American Alligator(Aligator mississippiensis)

Wood Rat(Neotoma cinerea)

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Keystone Species\ResourcesKeystone Resources

Kakad(Muntiacus muntjac)

Surrogate SpeciesUmbrella Species

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Surrogate Species

• Indicator speciesHealthPopulationBiodiversity

Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)

Douglas fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii )

Surrogate SpeciesFlagship Species