Human Behavior and Biodiversity Loss: A Theoretical Analysis

Diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems altogether constitute biodiversity. Biodiversity is essential for our survival. Anthropogenic biodiversity loss is due to reasons such as unsustainable production and consumption, human population growth, and poverty. Despite various efforts undertaken for conserving biodiversity, nothing significant has been achieved. This study focuses on human behavior for biodiversity loss. The goal of human life is genetic survival through reproduction. The driving force for reproductive success can be explained through natural selection. From an evolutionary perspective, resources acquire intrinsic utility when they enhance the inclusive fitness, called reproductive success. Human behavioral change is required for conserving biodiversity.     

Public perceptions of risk to forest biodiversity.

This study examines the perceived risks to forest biodiversity and perceived effectiveness of biodiversity conservation strategies among the general public. It tests the hypotheses that perceived risk to forest biodiversity is influenced by cognitive factors (value orientation and knowledge) and social-cultural factors (such as gender and environmental membership) and that risk perceptions influence other cognitive constructs such as support for natural resource policy and management. Data were collected from a sample of the general public (n= 596) in British Columbia, Canada by mail survey in 2001. Results show that insects and disease were perceived as the greatest risk. Educating the public and industry about biodiversity issues was perceived as a more effective conservation strategy than restricting human uses of the forest. Value orientation was a better predictor of perceptions of risk and perceived effectiveness of conservation strategies than knowledge indicators or social-cultural variables. Examining the indirect effects of social-cultural variables, however, revealed that value orientation may amplify the effect of these variables and suggests that alternative paths of influence should be included. Perceived risk showed an inconsistent association with perceived effectiveness of conservation strategies.     

Personal meaning in the public sphere: The standardisation and rationalisation of biodiversity data in the UK and the Netherlands

The demand for biodiversity data is increasing. Governments require standardised, objective data to underpin planning and conservation decisions. These data are produced by large numbers of (volunteer) natural historians and non-governmental organisations. This article analyses the interface between the state and the volunteer naturalists to understand the emerging patterns of information flow between them. Our results are based on research in the UK and the Netherlands. These two countries have a long history in volunteer biodiversity recording and are facing similar issues in relation to the increasing demand for standardised data. Our findings demonstrate that citizens who become involved in recording do so because they value nature and biodiversity. Recording is for them a way to enact their relationship with nature and contribute to its protection. Our findings also show that they are concerned about the increasing rationalisation in the process of data flow and about the way in which the government treats them and ‘their’ data. Our paper concludes by discussing this tension and the challenges and opportunities for biodiversity recording.     

Urban soil ecology as a focal point for environmental education

Direct contact with the natural world is an essential element of environmental education and a key to developing environmental literacy and a stewardship ethic. But providing this experience can be challenging in urban environments where many people believe nature only occurs “outside” the city, and urban biota are often unwelcome and perceived in negative terms. Since 80% of the United States’ population lives in or near urban areas, conservation educators and practitioners need to find ways to make nature accessible to this audience, thereby creating a public who can make informed decisions about environmental issues. Soil systems are an important, under-utilized resource for urban environmental education. Soils are ubiquitous and thus easily accessible and their communities can be effective focal points for introducing all levels of ecology, from populations to ecosystems. Soil and litter taxa are also intrinsically interesting, with discoveries of new species still being made in urban areas. By studying urban soil systems, students can develop an enhanced sense of place and an appreciation of the natural world and their connection to it thereby strengthening environmental stewardship. An important role exists for urban ecologists to work with educators to impart enthusiasm for and to augment educators’ understanding of soil systems.

The potential for golf courses to support restoration of biodiversity for BioBanking offsets

In golf course development there is frequently remnant vegetation on the areas unused for infrastructure. We propose that these areas, together with a whole range of other reserves including sporting fields, cemeteries, railway reserves and educational facilities may be the source of degraded remnant vegetation and associated open space that could be used to provide offsets for biodiversity. We followed the changes in vertebrate biodiversity with low key alteration to management of the Camden Lakeside Golf Course to assess if such areas had the potential for biodiversity banking offsets. Birds, bats, frogs and reptiles increased in species diversity over time. Frogs and reptiles tended to peak in species numbers during the observational period but bat and bird diversity continued to increase. We concluded that on this ‘island’ within a matrix of urbanisation and cleared agricultural lands without remnant vegetation, observed changes in diversity made such areas potential sites for biodiversity banking offsets.     

Effects of urbanization on species richness: A review of plants and animals

Many studies have described the effects of urbanization on species richness. These studies indicate that urbanization can increase or decrease species richness, depending on several variables. Some of these variables include: taxonomic group, spatial scale of analysis, and intensity of urbanization. Recent reviews of birds (the most-studied group) indicate that species richness decreases with increasing urbanization in most cases but produces no change or even increases richness in some studies. Here I expand beyond the bird studies by reviewing 105 studies on the effects of urbanization on the species richness of non-avian species: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and plants. For all groups, species richness tends to be reduced in areas with extreme urbanization (i.e., central urban core areas). However, the effects of moderate levels of urbanization (i.e., suburban areas) vary significantly among groups. Most of the plant studies (about 65%) indicate increasing species richness with moderate urbanization whereas only a minority of invertebrate studies (about 30%) and a very small minority of non-avian vertebrate studies (about 12%) show increasing species richness. Possible explanations for these results are discussed, including the importance of nonnative species importation, spatial heterogeneity, intermediate disturbance and scale as major factors influencing species richness.     

生物多样性的功能

生物多样性包括遗传、物种、生态系统与景观多样性.从以下几个方面综述了生物多样性的功能①稳定生态系统的作用;②提高生态系统生产力的作用;③生物多样性对生态系统可持续性的作用;④生物多样性在农业生产上的作用;⑤生物多样性在医学上的作用;⑥生物多样性在工业上的作用.     

Planning for broad-based environmental protection: A look back at the Chicago Wilderness <Emphasis Type="Italic">Biodiversity Recovery Plan</Emphasis>

In 1994 a collaboration of environmental interests formed in the Chicago region, U.S.A. Composed of representatives of environmental organizations, government agencies, citizen and neighborhood groups, private interests, and university representatives, the consortium provides a forum for communication, advocacy, policy, and sharing ideas and knowledge about biodiversity issues and the various activities of each organization. The specific mission of the Chicago Wilderness Consortium is to protect, restore, and manage natural lands, plants, and animals in the Chicago region. Shortly after forming the Chicago Wilderness Consortium, the idea of creating a region-wide biodiversity recovery plan emerged, in order to provide a blueprint for how the consortium would accomplish its mission. Within a few years, the group began work on the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan, and it is now among the first regional biodiversity plans in the United States. While using collaborative planning processes to solve environmental problems is not unique, the Biodiversity Recovery Plan and the process through which it was created were innovative in the U.S. for having a broad and ambitious scope, extensive use of some kinds of data and analysis (particularly on natural communities), the large number of participants in the planning process (over 200), and the dispersed organizational structure in which the consortium operates. Another innovation was adoption of the plan by three regional planning commissions in three different states. The Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan was one of the first major departures from traditional (single-medium based) environmental planning by a region in the United States. These innovations warrant research and reflection, 8 years after completion of the plan, and are the focus of this article.

Biodiversity,coastal protection and resource endowment: Policy options for improving ocean health

The paper develops a production function for the Global Ocean Health Index (OHI) for 2013. Data from the Ocean Health Statistics, plus from the Human Development Index (HDI) for 151 countries are used. We employ two-stage regression model to conduct this evaluation. The Tobit model, used to obtain the estimated dependent variable, results show Coastal Protection, Livelihoods and Economies, Tourism and Recreation, Iconic Species, Clean Water and Biodiversity, Food Provision, Artisanal Fisheries Opportunities, Natural Products, and Carbon Storage are significant variables. The rank regression in the second stage showed that HDI and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) significantly influenced the predicted value of the OHI. Policy makers should note that biodiversity increases have the greatest effect on OHI, and its improvement is within reach of even the poorest country. Countries with varying levels of resource endowment may choose different techniques to improve OHI, but the implementation of MPAs should be priority.     

南通新港新区浮游动物多样性分析

项目工程海域经鉴定共有浮游动物种类59种,其中节肢动物19种（占32．3％）,原生动物18种（占30．5％）,轮虫动物17种（占28．8％）,软体动物3种（占5．1％）,毛颚动物、腔肠动物各1种（占1．7％）．浮游动物平均数量为3443个／m3。变动范围为1121—7186个／m3．本次调查浮游动物的优势种类为真刺唇角水蚤、幼螺、双壳类幼虫、火腿许水蚤、短尾类淹状幼虫等五种．本项目工程海域浮游动物生物种类较多,多样性指数均值为2．89,生物群落结构基本稳定．浮游动物的生物多样性均值分别为2．89,按照生物多样性指数判别水域环境质量标准（2〈H’≤3为轻度污染）,表明项目工程海域生态环境质量处于轻度污染状态．