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2 Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Sylvia S. Mader

3 Chapter 4 Conservation of biodiversity Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014

4 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.

5 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014

6 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.

7 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

8 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014

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10 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

11 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014

12 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

13 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 Habitat loss is the cause of 85% of threatened/endangered cases. Coastal degradation destroys freshwater and marine biodiversity. Habitat loss is a major cause of wildlife extinctions

14 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

15 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

16 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

17 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014

18 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 Disease contributes to extinctions Pathogens are on the rise, subjecting wildlife to emerging diseases. Photoman29 / shutterstock

19 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

20 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

21 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 C.M.Corcoran / shutterstock E tusharkoley / shutterstock

22 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

23 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

24 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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. Michael G. Mill / shutterstockErni / shutterstock

25 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.

26 Mader Immagini e concetti della biologia Ambiente e sostenibilità Materiali prodotti dalla redazione © Zanichelli 2014 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.