Lecture 01, 25 Aug 2009 1. Overall course objectives Introduction, syllabus • Grasp scientific material (content & literacy) Conservation Biology 1. Introductions 2. Syllabus ECOL 406R/506R • Provide real-world relevancy and applications University of Arizona 3. Topics Fall 2009 • Place in context of students’ lives

Kevin Bonine • Foster life-long appreciation and respect for: Mary Jane Epps - field, findings, organisms, biodiversity,etc.

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1st Lab Fri 1pm 28 August northwest side BSE Lab schedule on course website What does Conservation Biology encompass?

Grad student journal club or project… Scheduling meeting at end of class Thurs

Syllabus details…

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The Science Behind Conservation Biology is Challenging

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Biological history Biological history

1 day = 150 Earth million years forms Origin of Life

Oldest fossils

Photo- synthesis evolves

Eukaryotic Multi- cells cellular evolve organisms

Abundant life 9 10

Earth forms Origin of Life Earth forms Oldest Origin of Life fossils Oldest fossils Photo- Recorded history synthesis evolves Photo- fills the synthesis evolves last 5 seconds Eukary- of day 30. Multi- Eukary- otic cellular Multi- cells otic cellular cells Modern humans Abundant appeared in the life Abundant life last 10 minutes of day 30.

First land Forests Birds Forests Birds Aquatic life plants Insects Flowering Aquatic life Land plants Insects Flowering First plants First plants Abundant mammals Rise of Abundant Land animals mammals Rise of fossils First land fossils animals Dinosaurs Mammals First hominids Dinosaurs Mammals dominant dominant Homo sapiens 11 12

2 Humans on planet Earth

1 billion in 1850 6.6 billion in 2008

Noss 1999, p. 118

Meffe and Carroll 1997 13 14

1948!!!

(from Noss 1999)

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3 Social Issues Related to Conservation Biology are Challenging

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For Thursday, please calculate your ecological footprint TWICE:

Once for your life here in the U.S. A second time using the same information, but choose a different country.

http://www.myfootprint.org

Frequently Asked Questions re: Ecological Footprint: http://www.rprogress.org/ecological_footprint/footprint_FAQs.htm)

Bring the Numbers to Class on Thursday. Convert to Hectares. 21 22

Ecological Footprint Ecological Footprint Def: Number of productive acres (fishing grounds, forests, agricultural fields) needed to maintain a given lifestyle

-Driving (roads, vehicles, fuel, etc.) 1 ha = 2.47 acres -Housing (land and resources for construction) -Food (land, transport, inputs, trophic level) -Other goods and services

In 2002 US citizens used 24 acres/person on average (Canadians 17, Italians 9, Pakistanis 2)

P.S. Learn the metric system As of ~2002, planet has about 4.5 acres/person

Sustainability?

Miller, 2003 23 (1 acre = 0.405 hectare)24

4 Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Global Warming

~Ecological Footprint

Miller, 2003

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Social Issues Related to Conservation Biology are Challenging

Consilience* in Conservation Biology There are only 15.71 global hectares available per person on a renewable basis. This means we are overshooting the Earth's biological capacity by nearly 50%. To sustain present levels of consumption, we would need:

Science and the Humanities

23.47/15.71 = 1.5 27 * the uniting of knowledge 28

Competent before radical... Data and science, then fingerpainting

2003 29 2003 photos courtesy of Ben Joslin

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