Skip to main content

Understanding the Changing Planet Strategic Directions for the Geographical Sciences (2010) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

2 How Can We Best Preserve Biological Diversity and Protect Endangered Ecosystems?
Pages 31-40

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 31...
... . At the global scale, the biosphere can be gering the functioning of ecosystems and potentially grouped into geographical regions called biomes in precipitating a cascading effect of increased ecosystem which climatic conditions and vegetation structure loss and further erosion of biodiversity (Kinzig et al., are internally similar, but differentiable from other 2001; Loreau et al., 2001, 2002)
Read the entire page →
From page 32...
... conservation efforts should focus are not evenly distrib- Through field studies, remote sensing, and ecologiuted, but display distinct spatial patterning at all scales, cal modeling, the geographical sciences document and from local to global (Brooks et al., 2006; Kremen et explain biodiversity distribution and contribute to its al., 2008)
Read the entire page →
From page 33...
... . The Global Land Project of the International Third, the environmentally sensitive Chesapeake Bay Geosphere-Biosphere Programme represents an inter- region is actually experiencing increased development national effort to understand the interacting drivers, because of its commercial and recreational amenity patterns, and impacts of such changes.
Read the entire page →
From page 34...
... . pressures for urban development in a manner that bal- spatial distributions of many of the known species ances demands and biodiversity/ecosystem protection remain poorly articulated.
Read the entire page →
From page 35...
... Higher values indicate optimal conditions for the species, whereas lower values indicate poor conditions. Geographically explicit and integrated studies of field observations, remotely sensed land­cover data, and other environmental data to estimate species distributions are an important application of the geographical sciences.
Read the entire page →
From page 36...
... suggested areas of conservation priority for the state of Chiapas, Mexico, based on combination and modeling of vegetation data, environmental data, human population and land­use data, and remote sens­ ing imagery. Even in a highly fragmented and mountainous landscape, this research demonstrates the usefulness of integrated and spatially explicit approaches to documenting biodiversity and developing conservation strategies.
Read the entire page →
From page 37...
... cies depends on being able to predict where species will Gap analysis, which uses GIS to overlay threatened be able to exist under a changed climate and how fast species distributions, their habitat types, human land they might be able to migrate to new regions as the use, and the status of legal protection for lands can be climate changes. GIS-based collations and analyses of extremely useful for determining geographically based species distributional data and current and projected conservation strategies and land acquisition priorities to environmental conditions can be particularly important preserve biodiversity in an increasingly fragmented envi- in linking field observations, climate forecasts, and ronment (e.g., Davis et al., 2004; Gleason et al., 2006)
Read the entire page →
From page 38...
... A particularly face of climate change. More basic biogeographical troubling conclusion from this study was that if these research on species distributions, environmental relaclimate-driven changes occurred within the projected tions, and dispersal capabilities, coupled with model time frame of 100 years, the rate of tropical extinc- development, can improve assessments of the impacts tions caused by global warming could well exceed the of climate change on biodiversity and endangered already high rates of extinction from deforestation and ecosystems.
Read the entire page →
From page 39...
... . agriculture,2 may support local human populations and situ biodiversity conservation.3 Although the concept also serve to mimic natural disturbance regimes and of the modern park, or "Yellowstone model," dates to thus help preserve biodiversity (Robbins et al., 2006; the late 19th century, the related notion of a hunting see also Chapter 5)
Read the entire page →
From page 40...
... . This notion led to the removal of local highlight a growing body of work in the geographical peoples and the near or complete destruction of their sciences that underscores the importance of incorpolivelihoods, in the process straining relations between rating local perspectives and ideas in the development park authorities and local residents (e.g., Peluso, 1993; of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation strategies Guha, 1997)
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • conservation strategies
  • species distributions
  • ecosystem loss
  • geographical scientists
  • biodiversity hotspots

  • fire frequency
  • habitat loss
  • urban development
  • sensed data
  • migration rates

  • biodiversity conservation
  • future climate
  • land change
  • major biodiversity
  • situ biodiversity

  • conserve biodiversity
  • species richness
  • preserve biodiversity
  • environmental data
  • spatial patterning

  • national park
  • global warming
  • remotely sensed
  • park model
  • local people

  • spatial distribution
  • potential migration
  • human activity
  • values indicate
  • satellite imagery


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.