Chapter 11 Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Chapter 11

Sustaining Aquatic BiodiversitySlide2

Case Study: Protecting Whales: A Success Story… So Far (1)

Cetaceans: Toothed whales and baleen whales

8 of 11 major species hunted to commercial extinction by 1975

1946: International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Quotas based on insufficient data

Quotas often ignoredSlide3

Case Study: Protecting Whales: A Success Story… So Far (2)

1970: U.S.

Stopped all commercial whaling

Banned all imports of whale products

1986: IWC moratorium on commercial whaling

42,480 whales killed in 1970

1500 killed in 2009

Norway, Japan, and Iceland ignore moratoriumSlide4

Examples of Cetaceans

Fig. 11-1, p. 250Slide5

Fig. 11-1, p. 250

Toothed whales

Sperm whale

with squid

Killer whale (orca)

Bottlenose dolphin

Baleen whales

Blue whale

Fin whale

Humpback whale

Minke whale

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Meters

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

14

16Slide6

Baleen whales

Blue whale

Fin whale

Bowhead whale

Right whale

Sei whale

Humpback whale

Gray whale

Minke whale

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

Meters

Toothed whales

Sperm whale with squid

Killer whale

Narwhal

Bottlenose dolphin

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

Meters

Stepped Art

Fig. 11-1, p. 250Slide7

11-1 What Are the Major Threats to Aquatic Biodiversity?

Concept 11-1

Aquatic species are threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation, all made worse by the growth of the human population. Slide8

We Have Much to Learn about

Aquatic Biodiversity

Greatest marine biodiversity

Coral reefs

Estuaries

Coastlines

Deep-ocean floorSlide9

Fig. 8-5, p. 172

Natural Capital

Marine Ecosystems

Ecological Services

Economic Services

Climate moderation

Food

CO 2 absorption

Nutrient cycling

Harbors and transportation routes

Waste treatment

Reduced storm impact (mangroves, barrier islands, coastal wetlands)

Recreation

Coastal habitats for humans

Habitats and nursery areas

Employment

Oil and natural gas

MineralsSlide10

Fig. 8-15, p. 181

Natural Capital

Freshwater Systems

Ecological Services

Economic Services

Climate moderation

Food

Nutrient cycling

Drinking water

Waste treatment

Irrigation water

Flood control

Groundwater recharge

Hydroelectricity

Habitats for many species

Transportation corridors

Recreation

EmploymentSlide11

Human Activities Are Destroying and Degrading Aquatic Habitats

Marine

Acidifying Oceans impacting coral reefs

Harvesting mangrove forests

Harvesting seagrass beds

Sea-level rise

Ocean floor: trawling and dredging

Freshwater

Dams

Excessive water withdrawal for irrigation and human useSlide12

Natural Capital Degradation: Area of Ocean Bottom Before and After a Trawler

Fig. 11-2, p. 252Slide13

Invasive Species Are Degrading

Aquatic Biodiversity

Invasive species

Threaten native species

Degrade ecosystem

Three examples

Northern Snakehead in Rivers and Streams

Lionfish in the Atlantic

Carp in Great LakesSlide14

Invasive Northern Snakehead

Fig. 11-3, p. 254

Native to Asia

Released from fish markets or fish farms

Able to enter new waterways over landSlide15

Invasive Lionfish

Fig. 11-3, p. 254

Native to Pacific

Can lay up to 30,000 eggs every few daysSlide16

Numerous Invasive Carp Species

Accidentally introduced

Significantly alter food webs

“Muddy” waters and restrict plant growthSlide17

Case Study: Invaders Have Ravaged Lake Victoria

Loss of biodiversity and cichlids

Nile perch: deliberately introduced

Frequent algal blooms

Nutrient runoff

Spills of untreated sewage

Less algae-eating cichlids

Water hyacinthsSlide18

Natural Capital Degradation:

The Nile Perch In Lake Victoria

Fig. 11-4a, p. 254Slide19

Water Hyacinths in Lake Victoria

Fig. 11-5, p. 255Slide20

Various Pollutants

Noise

Nitrates and phosphates, mainly from fertilizers,

Leads to eutrophicationSlide21

Various Pollutants

Toxic pollutants from industrial and urban areas

PCBs, heavy metals

PlasticsSlide22

Climate Change Is a Growing Threat

Global warming: sea levels will rise and aquatic biodiversity is threatened

Coral reefs

Swamp some low-lying islands

Drown many highly productive coastal wetlands

New Orleans, Louisiana

New York City areaSlide23

Overfishing and Extinction

Fishery

: Particular wild aquatic species suitable for

commercial harvesting

in a specific area

Marine and freshwater fish

hreatened with extinction by human activities

more

than any other group of speciesSlide24

Overfishing and Extinction

Commercial extinction

: no longer economically feasible to harvest a species

Collapse of a fishery often seems sudden (tipping point)

Fewer larger fishSlide25

Natural Capital Degradation: Collapse of the Cod Fishery Off the Canadian Coast

Fig. 11-7, p. 257Slide26

Case Study: Industrial Fish Harvesting Methods

Trawler fishing

Purse-seine fishing

Drift-net fishing

Longlining

Aquaculture or fish farming

Bycatch problem (unwanted species killed)Slide27

Fig. 11-8, p. 259

Fish farming in cage

Trawler fishing

Spotter airplane

Sonar

Purse-seine fishing

Drift-net fishing

Long line fishing

Float

Buoy

lines with hooks

Fish caught by gills

Deep sea aquaculture cageSlide28

An Endangered Leatherback Turtle is Entangled in a Fishing Net

Fig. 11-10, p. 262Slide29

11-2 How Can We Protect and Sustain Marine Biodiversity?

Concept 11-2

We can help to sustain marine biodiversity by using laws and economic incentives to protect species, setting aside marine reserves to protect ecosystems, and using community-based integrated coastal management. Slide30

Legal Protection of Some Endangered and Threatened Marine Species

Why is it hard to protect marine biodiversity?

Much of the damage in the ocean is not visible

The oceans are incorrectly viewed as an inexhaustible resource

Most of the ocean lies outside the legal jurisdiction of any country (the high seas)…”tragedy of the commons”Slide31

Legal Protection of Some Endangered and Threatened Marine Species (2)

1975 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

1979 Global Treaty on Migratory Species

U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972

U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973

U.S. Whale Conservation and Protection Act of 1976

1995 International Convention on Biological DiversitySlide32

Economic Incentives To Sustain Biodiversity

Tourism

Birding

Sea turtles

Whales

Coral Reefs

Economic values:

Est. $300million to $1 billion FL economy from snorkeling/scuba tourism

Est. $7 billion to US economy from recreational fishing and wildlife tourismSlide33

Case Study: Holding Out Hope for

Marine Turtles

Threats to the leatherback turtle

Trawlers and drowning in fishing nets

Hunting

Eggs used as food

Pollution

Climate change

Fishing boats using turtle excluder devices

Communities protecting the turtlesSlide34

Sea Turtle Species

Fig. 11-9, p. 262Slide35

Marine Sanctuaries Protect Ecosystems and Species

Offshore fishing

Exclusive economic zones

for countries to use as a national resource (food, energy…)

200 nautical miles

High seas governed by treaties that are hard to enforceSlide36

Marine Sanctuaries Protect Ecosystems and Species

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – protected areas of ocean, estuaries, coastline, etc…that

limit

human activity (aka Marine Reserves)

Goals

Limit fishing

Protect ecosystems and biodiversity

Regenerate marine populations and food webs

~1% of US waters are “no take” MPAsSlide37

Marine Sanctuaries Protect

Ecosystems and Species

Marine reserves c

losed to all or most human activity

Commercial fishing

Dredging

Mining and waste disposal

Goals

Create areas not impacted by (over)fishing

Act as spawning grounds

Regenerate marine populations and food webs

~1% of international waters are reserves

Marine scientists want 30-50%Slide38

Protecting Marine Biodiversity: Individuals and Communities Together

Oceans 30% more acidic from increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere and increased temperature

Integrated Coastal Management

Community-based group to prevent further degradation of the oceanSlide39

11-3 How Should We Manage and Sustain Marine Fisheries?

Concept 11-3

Sustaining marine fisheries will require improved monitoring of fish and shellfish populations, cooperative fisheries management among communities and nations, reduction of fishing subsidies, and careful consumer choices in seafood markets. Slide40

Estimating and Monitoring Fishery Populations

Challenges in estimating fish populations

Lack of Data on individual species

Locations

Population Dynamics (Birth/Death rates)

Lack of Data on interspecies relationships

Lack of communication and oversight between countriesSlide41

Estimating and Monitoring Fishery Populations

Optimum sustained yield (OSY) – calculation that estimates the number of fish that can be

sustainably

harvested

Goal to maintain and sustain ecosystem (not just that one fish)Slide42

Some Communities Cooperate to Regulate Fish Harvests

Co-management of the fisheries with the government

Government sets quotas for species and divides/sells the quotas among fishing communities

Limits fishing seasons

Regulates fishing gear

US regulation by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)Slide43

Some Communities Cooperate to Regulate Fish Harvests

International Challenges:

Countries each have their own system and goals

Ex. Whale hunting

High Seas difficult

to manage (no

international laws) Slide44

Government Subsidies Can Encourage Overfishing

Governments spend 30-34 billion dollars per year subsidizing fishing

Often leads to overfishing by supporting:

Larger boats

Greater ranges of fishing fleets

Discourages long-term sustainability of fish populationsSlide45

Consumer Choices Can Help to Sustain Fisheries and Aquatic Biodiversity

Try to buy from a sustainable fishery

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Certifies sustainably produced seafood

http://www.msc.org/

http://www.seafoodwatch.org/

Proper use of sustainable aquaculture

Plant eating fish best – ex. TilapiaSlide46

Solutions

Managing Fisheries

Fishery Regulations

Bycatch

Set low catch limits

Use nets that allow escape of smaller fish

Improve monitoring and enforcement

Use net escape devices for seabirds and sea turtles

Economic Approaches

Reduce or eliminate fishing subsidies

Aquaculture

Restrict coastal locations of fish farms Improve pollution control

Certify sustainable fisheries

Protect Areas

Establish no-fishing areas

Nonnative Invasions

Establish more marine protected areas

Kill or filter organisms from ship ballast water

Consumer Information

Dump ballast water at sea and replace with deep-sea water

Label sustainably harvested fish

Publicize overfished and threatened speciesSlide47

11-4 How Should We Protect and

Sustain Wetlands?

Concept 11-4

To maintain the ecological and economic services of wetlands, we must maximize preservation of remaining wetlands and restoration of degraded and destroyed wetlands. Slide48

Coastal and Inland Wetlands

Highly productive ecosystems

Provide natural flood and erosion control

Maintain high water quality; natural filtersSlide49
Slide50

We Can Preserve and Restore Wetlands

Laws for protection

Zoning laws steer development away from wetlands

In U.S., need permit to fill wetlands greater than 3 acres

Mitigation banking

Can destroy wetland if create one of equal area

Ecologists argue this as a last resortSlide51

Human-Created Wetland in Florida

Fig. 11-12, p. 268Slide52

Case Study: Can We Restore the Florida Everglades? (1)

“River of Grass”: south Florida, U.S.

Damage in the 20

th

century

Drained

Diverted

Paved over

Nutrient pollution from agriculture

Invasive plant species

1947: Everglades National Park unsuccessful protection projectSlide53

Case Study: Can We Restore the Florida Everglades? (2)

Restore curving flow of ½ of Kissimmee River

Remove canals and levees in strategic locations

Flood farmland to create artificial marshes

Create 18 reservoirs to create water supply for lower Everglades and humans

Recapture Everglades water flowing to sea and return it to EvergladesSlide54

The World’s Largest Restoration Project

Fig. 11-13, p. 269Slide55

The World’s Largest Restoration Project

Fig. 11-13, p. 269

Cost: $7-10 BillionSlide56

11-5 How Should We Protect and Sustain Freshwater Lakes, Rivers, and Fisheries?

Concept 11-5

Freshwater ecosystems are strongly affected by human activities on adjacent lands, and protecting these ecosystems must include protection of their watersheds. Slide57

Freshwater Ecosystems Are under

Major Threats

Think:

HIPPCO

40% of world’s rivers are dammed

Many freshwater wetlands destroyed

Invasive species

Threatened species

Overfishing

Human population pressuresSlide58

Case Study: Can the Great Lakes Survive Repeated Invasions by Alien Species?

Collectively, world’s largest body of freshwater

Invaded by at least 162 nonnative species

Sea lamprey

Zebra mussel

Quagga mussel

Asian carpSlide59

Zebra Mussels Attached to a Water Current Meter in Lake Michigan

Fig. 11-14, p. 271Slide60

Managing River Basins Is Complex

and Controversial

Columbia River: U.S. and Canada

Snake River: Washington state, U.S.

Dams

Provide hydroelectric power

Provide irrigation water

Hurt salmonSlide61

Natural Capital: Ecological Services

of Rivers

Fig. 11-16, p. 272Slide62

We Can Protect Freshwater Ecosystems by Protecting Watersheds

Freshwater ecosystems protected through

Laws

Economic incentives

Restoration efforts

Wild rivers and scenic rivers

1968 National Wild and Scenic Rivers ActSlide63

11-6 What Are the Priorities for Sustained Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services?

Concept 11-6

Sustaining the world’s aquatic biodiversity requires mapping it, protecting aquatic hotspots, creating large, fully protected marine reserves, protecting freshwater ecosystems, and carrying out ecological restoration of degraded coastal and inland wetlands.Slide64

Using an Ecosystem Approach to Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity

Edward O. Wilson

Complete the mapping of the world’s aquatic biodiversity

Identify and preserve aquatic diversity hotspots

Create large and fully protected marine reserves

Protect and restore the world’s lakes and rivers

Ecological restoration projects worldwide

Make conservation financially rewardingSlide65

Three Big Ideas

The world’s aquatic systems provide important ecological and economic services, and scientific investigation of these poorly understood ecosystems could lead to immense ecological and economic benefits.

Aquatic ecosystems and fisheries are being severely degraded by human activities that lead to aquatic habitat disruption and loss of biodiversity. Slide66

Three Big Ideas

We can sustain aquatic biodiversity by establishing protected sanctuaries, managing coastal development, reducing water pollution, and preventing overfishing.