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What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variation of life on
earth
The fundamental unit of biodiversity
is the species
Biodiversity Species arose from ancestral species
(Theory of Evolution by Natural
Benjamin Vallejo Jr PhD Selection: Descent by Modification)
IESM College of Science
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City
1
Richness and Evenness Biodiversity measures:
Simpson’s index
Fig. 53.21
Biodiversity measures:
Shannon’s index
Between 40 and 90% of
species live in tropical forests
MINN.
1,700 plant
1 end.
ECUADOR
20,000 plant
4,000 end.
MADAGASCAR
10% of all known
5 times as many trees as US
2
WHAT THREATENS
Extinction rates
BIODIVERSITY?
Background rates
Background extinction (95% of all
extinctions) • 1 mammal species
Mass extinction every 400 years
Now…………...
• 20-75 plant/animal
species each day?
BIODIVERSITY
3
Why conserve biodiversity?
Utilitarian value
Intrinsic value (Altruism)
Environmental ethics
Theology and religion
4
Conservation ethics (IUCN) Conservation ethics
1. Environments are interdependent 5. Ecological processes should be
2. All life depends on ecosystem maintained for biosphere integrity
function 6. Sustainability is a basic principle
3. Ecological limits should determine 7. The well being of future generations
is a basic principle
human use of the environment
8. All persons should be empowered to
4. All species have the right to exist care for the environment
9. Diversity of outlooks is to be
encouraged
Philippine Biodiversity
Critically endangered?
The Philippines
Islands of differing ages.
Philippine
With the exception of Palawan and Faunal regions
Mindoro, all of the islands are of de Showing 120 m
Bathymetric line
novo oceanic origin
High biotic diversity and endemism
All islands are in need of
conservation
Some islands were connected and
then separated, reconnected or
never connected at all
5
Endemism Patterns (Heaney, Endemism Patterns (Conservation
Fishbase and B. Vallejo) International)
Taxon Endemism Total Taxonomic Endemic Percent
in percent number of Species
Group Species Endemism
species
Plants 9,253 6,091 65.8
Terrestrial 64% 170
mammals
Mammals 167 102 61.1
Mammal genera 29% 84
Birds 535 186 34.8
Birds 30% 572
Reptiles 237 160 67.5
Flowering plants 38% 8000
Amphibians 89 76 85.4
Marine macro 4% 2000
molluscs
Freshwater
Corals 10%? 488 Fishes
281 67 23.8
6
Where did Palawan come from?
Palawan is a part of southern China
that ended up with the Philippines
Palawan’s geology is different from
Palawan
that of oceanic Philippines
Palawan was once connected to
Asian Corridor to the Malaysia but then separated for a
Philippine Island World long time (160,000 years)
Palawan was never connected to
Luzon and Mindoro
Palaweños
7
Recent Findings
Genetic studies indicate long term
genetic structuring as a result of
isolation and ecological affinity of
species (Heaney et al 2005)
Environment and habitat have a
large role to play in the genetic
structuring of endemic Philippine
mammals
These rats
are our
answer to
Darwin’s
finches!
8
Phylogenesis model for the Major biodiversity problems of the
Philippines Philippines
Habitat degradation due to
Rapid human population growth
Poverty
Mining, logging and other extractive
activities
Alien species introductions
Natural factors (typhoons etc)
Island habitats are extremely
vulnerable