BIOL 2060 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Scotian Shelf, Whooping Crane, Atlantic Cod
Conservation Ecology
February 12th, 2016
Conservation Ecology
• Population ecology gas focused on abundant species, but many species are rare or
endangered
• Raritt itself might be factor limiting growth of small populations
• Conservation ecology aims to understand
o Declines
o Range contraction
o Possible extinction
Low or Declining Density makes Populations Vulnerable to Extinction
• Northern right whales, Bay of Fundy
o Protected in 1936
o ~60 left
o slow increase to ~350
• Whooping crane, Wood Buffalo National Park
o Near extinction in 1941
o ~15 left
o slow increase to ~220 tosat
• Cod in Atlantic Canada
o Fishery collapse 1992-1993
o ~98-99% decline
o fishery moratorium
o *Decline of Atlantic Cod in Scotian Shelf, 1850-2000
▪ calculate carrying capacity from estimate
▪ research trawl surveys – extremely low
• Loss of Salmon…
Species Depletion and Habitat Loss
• Mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates & plants
• In recent years, human impact in increasing
Population Declines in Large Marine Mammals
• 256 records
• 95 studies – 89% decline
• some species have been able to reover
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Conservation ecology: population ecology gas focused on abundant species, but many species are rare or endangered, raritt itself might be factor limiting growth of small populations, conservation ecology aims to understand, declines, range contraction, possible extinction. Species depletion and habitat loss: mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates & plants. Population declines in large marine mammals: 256 records, 95 studies 89% decline, some species have been able to reover. Human drivers: exploitation (highest affect, habitat destruction, distribution, pollution, eutrophication, predator introduction, climate change. There are cumulative affects in 45% of depletions and 78% of recoveries (more than one factor). Range contraction in large terrestrial predators: many ranges are becoming small in few instances, the population has entered a new range. Viability of small population: prone to extinction, problem, allee effects inbreeding depression loss of genetic diversity, factors to increase likelihood of extinction .