Marine Conservation Biology ESP 198-024 Fall 2007

Marine Conservation Biology ESP 198-024 Fall 2007 Marine Conservation Biology • ESP 198-024 • CRN 54650 - 3 units • Lecture: Tues. & Thurs. 1:40-3:00 p.m., • • Olson 217 Instructor: Ted Grosholz, Department of Environmental Science and Policy Office and Hours: 3114 Wickson Hall, 7529151, Office Hours: Tues. 3-4 pm or by appointment Marine Conservation Biology • Lecture Format: – The period of 1.5 hours – Lecture will generally be followed by questions and discussion – Five minute break mid-lecture Marine Conservation Biology • Grading: – Final Exam (35%) (Dec. 14) – Midterm Exam (25%) (Oct. 30) – Two Essays (15% each, 30% total) (Nov. 15, Dec. 6) – Attendance and Participation (10%) Marine Conservation Biology • Essays: – Two essays due during the quarter – Essays are no more than two pages – Issues and/or controversies in marine conservation biology – Read two short papers discussing different perspectives on each issue Marine Conservation Biology • Course Philosophy: – Many ways to approach science and conservation science – Although scientific method is objective, scientists and users of science are generally not – Questions asked, methods used, and interpretations of data are subjective – Try not to defend positions, but try to provide evidence and discuss controversies where applicable – Need to understand limits of science and its use Class Information • Name • Year and Major • Classes taken – – – – • Email/contact information • Three most important issues in Marine Conservation Ecology and evolution Fisheries, conservation, wildlife management Marine sciences, oceanography, limnology Statistics, math, computer science Defining Marine Conservation Biology • Marine Conservation biology is the science of • • • • • conserving marine biodiversity “Biological diversity” or “biodiversity” was first used in the context of conservation around 1980 Diversity occurs at many levels from genes to species to ecosystems Marine systems have much greater diversity at higher taxonomic levels 32 of 33 animal phyla are in the oceans 15 phyla are exclusively marine Defining Marine Conservation Biology • Marine Conservation Biology occurs at the interface of the scientific study of marine systems and the public policy goal of conserving marine resources • Focus on the science of marine conservation, although occasional discuss how science is used in policy Defining Marine Conservation Biology • “Marine systems” will be a shorthand for a wide range of coastal and marine systems – Open oceans and deep oceans – Coral reefs and temperature reefs – Sea grasses and sandflats – Coastal bays and estuaries – Polar oceans and polynyas Reasons for Conserving Marine Biodiversity • Important source of protein • Unique pharmaceuticals – Some countries (Indonesia, Japan, Philippines) more than 50% of the protein comes from ocean – Anti-tumor compounds like Didemnin b (from tunicates) and Bryostatin (from bryozoans) and Dolastatins (from sea hares) – Carrageenan and agar from red algae Reasons for Conserving Marine Biodiversity • Ecosystem services provided by coastal and marine systems – Mangroves, marshes, sea grasses help buffer coastal areas from wind and waves – They stabilize sediments and prevent erosion of coastal areas – Corals literally create new land masses, many topical islands are entirely coral – Global climate is regulated by the oceans (CO2) exchange, ocean is a large sink for atmospheric CO2 Reasons for Conserving Marine Biodiversity • Aesthetics • Recreation • Marine wilderness • Value of life Why Marine Conservation Biology • Reasons for conserving diversity are generally • similar to terrestrial systems Significant differences in the habitats, organisms and compared with land and traditional conservation biology Also many differences in legal structures, governance and policies Conservation biology in marine systems does build on conservation efforts in terrestrial systems, but must reflect realities of the oceans • • Differences Between Marine and Terrestrial Systems • Oceans are physically different – Water is 850 times denser and 60 times more viscous – Greater buoyancy for organisms • Organisms can be much larger • Larger size usually influences life history – Sound and electricity conducted more efficiently • Communication pathways differ, subject to human impacts Differences Between Marine and Terrestrial Systems • Oceans are physically different – Light absorption • Majority of ocean is light limited – Steeper pressure gradient • Can restrict distribution of organisms – Greater thermal stability • Temperature changes slowly • Many tropical organisms live near their thermal limit Differences Between Marine and Terrestrial Systems • Ocean habitats are much more 3-dimensional • Ocean systems have boundaries defined by temperature, light, salinity, depth, wind, currents, upwelling, etc. – Boundaries shift on scales of hours to days • Vertical gradients of temperature, light, pressure change rapidly near the surface but more slowly with depth – Biological zones are more compressed near the surface Differences Between Marine and Terrestrial Systems • Organisms are different – Large diversity of planktonic organisms (holoplanktonic=entire life or meroplanktonic=part of life) – Much more diverse and permanent than aeroplankton (seeds, spores, spiders, flying insects) – Populations are more “open” • Species on average have larger ranges • Large numbers of sessile animals – Filter and suspension feeders Differences Between Marine and Terrestrial Systems • Marine primary producers are smaller relative to consumers – Important marine plants are small and short-lived (phytoplankton) – Important terrestrial plants are larger and longer-lived (trees) • Food chains in the oceans are longer on average – Average of 6-7 links Differences Between Marine and Terrestrial Systems • Threats are different – Loss of habitat generally not a critical issue (IMPORTANT exceptions: coral reefs, sea grasses, salt marshes, mangroves) – Overexploitation of non-target species is a primary issue – Extinction (so far) is rare outside of birds and mammals in marine systems Differences Between Marine and Terrestrial Systems • Much of the world’s oceans are subject to • international law Majority of open ocean and deep ocean habitats are less well studied than terrestrial habitats Observation of many species, let alone identification is difficult Diversity hot spots and patterns are less clear • • Similarities Among Terrestrial and Marine Systems • There are threatened and endangered species, even invertebrates • Species have been driven extinct and this continues • There are particular high priority areas – Islands with high endemism (unique species) • Ascension Isl., Easter Isl., Galapagos Islands – Isolated seas and oceans • Baltic Sea, Adriatic Sea, Black Sea, Sea of Cortez Similarities Among Terrestrial and Marine Systems • There are particular high priority areas – Spawning grounds and nursery areas • Coral reef fishes • Sea grasses and estuaries – Areas of high productivity • Upwelling zones, polar ice edges – Migration stopover areas • Birds and mammals Similarities Among Terrestrial and Marine Systems • There are high priority species – Taxonomically distinct – Species with limited distributions or small population size – Species with life histories low recruitment (slow to recover) – Restricted habitats – Exploited species