Env 121: Conservation of Biodiversity

Topic: Evolutionary history and adaptation

Professor Sork: 17 May 2007

Conservation in the news:

• Native plants could bounce back, or disappear, LA Times, 12 May, 2007; http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ecology12may12,1,7213616.story
• Rare Turtle Discovered in Cambodia, NY Times, May 16, 2007; http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Cambodia-Rare-Turtle.html
• New species of hummingbird discovered in Colombia, NY Times, May 15, 2007; http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/BC-Colombia-HummingbirdDiscovered.html
• Bald Eagles in Wyoming Soar to 185 Pairs. NY Times, May 15, 2007; http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Bald-Eagles.html

I. Evolutionary conservation science

A. Definitions

1. Using evolutionary historical information to make management decisions

2. The prioritization of conservation policies to preserve evolutionar process to enhance future viability of populations.

a. Example: corridors allow gene flow among populations

b. Example: designing reserves so that populations can adapt to global climate change.

3. Dispersal and adaptation are critical evolutionary forces that need to be maintained to preserve the opportunity for evolutionary process.

 

II. Management units and evolutionary lineages

Georgiana Mace, Talk presented at the International Summit on Evolution in Human-altered environments.

Excerpts from her talk. For her entire talk, see: Evolutionary biology and practical conservation: bridging a widening gap

1. Evolutionary significant units (ESU's)

a. Population that has a high priority for separate conservation

b. Populations with reproductive and historical isolation and adaptive differences form other populations within the species.

c. Controversial approach, but illustrate the issue of incorporating evolutionary history.

 

==> Important to keep track of phylogenetic species, if we want to retain evolutionary history.

Example by Mace: Biological vs Phylogenetic Species concept:

• Endemic bird species in Mexico.

Conclusions:

1. Must be aware of what you want to preserve
2. Evolutionary history can be lost

III. Maintaining evolutionary process for groups of species.

Example from talk from Craig Moritz at the the International Summit on Evolution in Human-altered environments.

For complete talk, see Predicting and protecting evolutionary hotspots in California

Conclusions of talk

1. Areas of high species and subspecies richness indicate areas of high evolutionary activity
2. These areas are sources of future variation
3. Should be given high priority for conservation

IV. Maintaining evolutionary process within a single taxa

Example from talk by Victoria Sork at the the International Summit on Evolution in Human-altered environments.

For complete talk, see Do landscape changes threaten regions of evolutionary interest in California valley oak (Quercus lobata)?

1. Methods:

• Sampled throughout range of valley oak
• Used the distribution of cp markers to look at areas of evolutionary history

2. Result:

• Areas of high genetic gradients are represented by dark regions.
• Indicate past evolutionary activitiy

3. Similar areas of high genetic gradients as seen by mammals in Moritz' study

Conclusions: Reserve designs should include areas of high genetic gradients

 

V. Speed of Adaptation to Rapid Environmental Changes

Excepts from a talk by Loren Rieseberg at International Summit on Evolution in Human-altered environments.

For complete talk, see the Speed of Adaptation

In lecture, we will go through this selection of slides from at talk: Rieseberg excepts

NOTE: PRINT THIS PDF FOR LECTURE!

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