Escience 2

• Human survival

  • Dependant on numerous other species on the planet, in terms of ecological services and resources
• Biological Resources

  • Biomimetics
  • Ecosystem Services
  • Genetic Resources
  • Interspecies Relationships
  • Biological Resources - Food
• 75% of the world's food is generated from only 12 plants and 5 animal species, though over 2000 species are used as food sources
• Indigenous species are usually better adapted than introduced species
• Selective breeding (genetic modification) has enhanced desirable characteristics and eliminate undesirable ones
• Biomimetics


  Using the knowledge of adaptations of other species to improve the designs of manufactured items
• Current areas of biomimetic research

  • Transport design
  • Infection control
  • Architecture
  • Adhesion
  • Materials
  • Medicines
  • Physiological research
• Biomimetics - Transport Design


  • Shark skin scales reduce friction and prevent bacteria attaching, used in coatings of aircrafts, ships and hospital operating theatre
• Biomimetics - Infection Control


  • Shark skin scales reduce friction and prevent bacteria attaching, used in coatings of aircrafts, ships and hospital operating theatre
• Genetic Resources


  Many populations of wild plants have genetic characteristics that may be used in breeding programmes to improve cultivated crops
• Domesticated crops often lack genetic diversity
• There is a search for Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) for interbreeding with commercial crops
• Gene-pool


  All the genetic variety within a population
• Domesticated species have small gene-pools (bred from a small number of ancestors)
• Ecosystem Services


  The benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living
• Ecosystem Services


  • Atmospheric Composition
  • Hydrological Cycle
  • Biogeochemical Cycles
  • Soil Maintenance
• Ecosystem Services - Interspecies Relationships

  No species can live in ecological isolation because their survival relies in other species for a range of resources and ecological services
• Ecosystem Services - Interspecies Relationships

  • Food - all heterotrophs rely on other organisms as a source of energy and nutrients
  • Pollination
  • Seed Dispersal
  • Habitat Provision
• Direct Exploitation


  • Food
  • Fashion
  • Entertainment
  • Furniture and Ornaments
  • Traditional Medicines
• Direct Exploitation - Food


  Many species have been overexploited as a food resource
• Many species have been overexploited as a traditional medicines resource
• Indirect Threats


  • Eradication of predators and competition
  • Changes to abiotic factors
  • Changes to biotic factors
  • Introduced species
  • Habitat Destruction
• Eradication of Predators and Competitors

  An organism's survival is interdependent with other species
• Changes in Abiotic Factors

  • Human activities may alter but not destroy a habitat
  • Organisms may not be adapted to the new conditions, as they are outside their range of tolerances
• Abiotic Factors


  • Water Availability
  • Dissolved Oxygen
  • Temperature
  • pH
  • Water Turbidity
  • Physical Damage
• Abiotic Factors - Dissolved Oxygen

  Hot effluent water will increase the growth rates of aquatic vegetation
• Abiotic Factors - pH

  Acidic conditions can be caused by mine drainage water, pollutant gases from burning fossil fuels and smelting metals
• Abiotic Factors - Water Turbidity

  • Ploughing, mining and dredging may increase water turbidity
  • This reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis and filter feeding
• Abiotic Factors - Physical Damage


  Human activities may alter but not destroy a habitat
• Changes in Biotic Factors

  An organism's survival is interdependent with other species
• Introduced Species


  • Indigenous species are adapted to the abiotic and biotic conditions of their surroundings
  • Introduced species may have adaptations that give them a greater chance of survival
• Wildlife conservation


  Involves the interference with the habitats and populations of a species
• Too many species are in decline. We can not save them all.

  
• Prioritising species conservation


  1. What is the species current situation?

  2. How would conserving that species effect other species?

  3. What actions would be required?

  4. Can the outcomes be accurately predicted?

  5. Can the impacts be monitored accurately?

  
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)


  Categorise species according to their vulnerability to extinction

  
• IUCN Red List


  The categorisation of species according to their vulnerability to extinction

  
• 112,000 of 1.6 million known species have been categorised so far (>80% have not been discovered)
• Criteria for assessing species

  • Threat to a species' habitat
  • Evolutionary uniqueness
  • Endemic species
  • Keystone species
  • Flagship species
  • Population dispersal

  
• Threat to a species' habitat

  • The more threatened a species' habitat is, the more at threat the species is
  • Their status may be used as an indicator for the entire ecosystem

  
• Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species


  Species with few close evolutionary relatives