Rucete ✏ Campbell Biology In a Nutshell
Unit 8 ECOLOGY — Concept 56.3 Landscape and Regional Conservation Help Sustain Biodiversity
Modern conservation focuses not just on species, but on whole ecosystems, landscapes, and regions. By understanding habitat structure, fragmentation, and human influence, scientists aim to maintain biodiversity through corridors, reserves, and strategies that balance ecological health with human needs.
1. Landscape Structure and Habitat Fragmentation
- Many species use multiple ecosystems or live at ecotones (ecosystem edges)
- Edges have unique conditions; some species thrive, others decline
- Studies (e.g., Amazon Forest Fragments Project) show smaller fragments reduce biodiversity
2. Movement Corridors
- Movement corridors = strips connecting isolated habitats (natural or artificial)
- Benefits: reduce inbreeding, increase dispersal (e.g., butterflies, voles)
- Risks: may also spread disease (e.g., ticks)
- Essential for migratory species
3. Preserving Biodiversity Hot Spots
- Biodiversity hot spot = small area rich in endemic and endangered species
- Example: SW Australia may lose 5–25% of plants by 2080
- Challenges:
- Hot spots differ by taxa (e.g., plants vs insects)
- Climate change may shift suitable habitats
4. Nature Reserve Design and Debate
- Reserves must allow for natural disturbances (e.g., fire)
- Debate: Large vs small reserves
- Large = support big species, less edge effect
- Small = reduce disease, easier to establish
- Most reserves are too small for MVP of large animals (e.g., grizzlies)
5. Zoned Reserves and Global Examples
- Zoned reserve = core area + buffer zones for limited human use
- Example: Costa Rica
- 11 Conservation Areas protect land and marine biodiversity
- Buffer zones support eco-friendly uses (e.g., hydropower, tourism)
- Goal: protect at least 80% of native species
- Concern: external deforestation can isolate protected areas
6. Marine Reserves
- Oceans are underprotected despite intense exploitation
- Example: Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary
- Fishing ban → fish and lobster populations rebounded
- Benefits extended to nearby fisheries and ecotourism
- Inspired by Fijian no-fishing zones
7. Urban Ecology
- Over 50% of people live in cities; will reach 5 billion by 2030
- Urban ecologists study biodiversity within city ecosystems
- Example: Guichon Creek, Vancouver
- Volunteers removed invasive plants, replanted natives
- Cutthroat trout successfully reintroduced
In a Nutshell
Conserving biodiversity requires more than species-by-species protection. It means managing whole landscapes, restoring connectivity, protecting hot spots, and designing effective reserves. Urban ecology, movement corridors, and sustainable zoning models offer powerful tools to balance conservation goals with human development in a rapidly changing world.