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Fall, 2001 Module: Biodiversity and Sustainability Instructor: Garrett E. Crow, Professor of Plant Biology |
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Assigned Readings: USDA Plant Hunters (by Kaplan) Pollinators, Flowering Plants and Conservation (by Kearns and Inouye) |
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Fall,
2001 Module: Biodiversity
and Sustainability Instructor: Garrett E. Crow, Professor of
Plant Biology Assigned
Readings:
USDA
Plant Hunters (by Kaplan) Pollinators,
Flowering Plants and Conservation (by Kearns and
Inouye)
"Every country has three forms of wealth: cultural, material and biological. The essence of the biodiversity problem is that biological wealth is seriously undervalued by most peoples and governments" (E. O. Wilson, 1992).
Resolution: 1. Biodiversity: survey the world's fauna
and flora (major ecosystems of world) 2. Create biological wealth
(ecotourism/medicinal plants etc.) 3. Promote sustainable development (corn
and cows are not enough) 4. Save what remains (conservation
biology) 5. Restore wildlands (restoration
ecology) Module Aims: Develop and appreciation for biological
diversity Examine its role in the overall attempt
to living in a sustainable world.
Biodiversity: What do we mean by
"biodiversity"? Historical perspective-exploration and
exploitation of earth's biodiversity How scientists approach the
classification of the earth's biodiversity Ecological principles The Biosphere's major
ecosystems Create biological
wealth: Ecosystems are being destroyed at a
phenomenal rate to promote "economic progress". What is the value of our biological
resources as intact ecosystems? Botanical sources of pharmaceutical
products. Ecotourism: appreciating the native
ecosystems has become an important source of foreign revenue for many
developing countries.
Promote sustainable
development: Sustainable agriculture/forestry: impact
of agricultural practices in various parts of the world. Are
we using ecological principles to make wise decisions? Are
there consequences of planting monocultures of exotic,
fast-growing trees as opposed to the value of utilizing
native forest trees? Dilemmas due to short-sightedness?
(Construction of large reservoir in drier portions of Ghana
enhances agriculture/provides increased habitat for snail
carrying Schistosoma parasite, resulting in very high
rate of schistosomaisis in children living along the
lake).
Globetrotting and Biodiversity:
Former Soviet Union-European Russia,
Siberia, Crimea, Abkhazia (Caucasus Mts.) Bolivia - Andes to
Amazon
