Biodiversity: New Wildlife Conservations and Sustainable Use of Initiative

by: J. Sherman Boates
SPRING 1993

Often, a new term describes something that is familiar but packaged in a new way. For example, the compact disc is a new way of repackaging the same old music found on tapes and records. The same is true of new scientific terms, which are often coined to describe new ways of thinking about things that are quite familiar. These new terms, and the way of thinking they describe, are worth getting to know because they usually lead to new understanding and/or new opportunities.

Biodiversity (or biological diversity) is one such scientific term. The study of biological diversity - how the distribution and abundance or organisms varies over time and in different places - is a central theme in ecology. Ecologists have been fascinated by the tremendous number of different living things on the planet (possibly more than 30,000,000 species globally and 170,000 species in Canada), why there are more species of organisms in some areas and not others (such as tropical rain forests and the forest kejimkujik National Park), and why the number and kind of species of organisms have changed on earth during 3.5 billion years there has been life.

Biodiversity is in some ways a new way of thinking about wildlife and habitat. At times, the terms wildlife and biodiversity are used interchangeably. For some people, if biodiversity in an area is high it's the same as saying a lot of wildlife lives there. However, biodiversity means wildlife in the broadest sense of the word. If you asked a friend what kind of wildlife is in the area where they live, they will likely say they saw a deer on the road and that and that a family of raccoons lives in the barn. The term wildlife tends to be used to describe a small portion of the total number of organisms living in an area, which primarily includes animals that are important to us or are conspicuous.

Biodiversity refers, inherently, to all species of animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria. It refers to living things ranging from mice, to bat, deer, salamanders, turtles, snakes, earthworms, nematodes, mushrooms, amoebas, yeasts, and bacteria. The term biodiversity also acknowledges that many seemingly unconnected species are dependent on each other, and that human health and other benefits are tied to inconspicuous life forms. For example, the health and productivity of a pond or a forest are not determined by the quality of water or the presence of trees alone. In both of these ecosystems, the health of the systems is largely dependent on species of invertebrates and bacteria, which cycle nutrients and provide food for larger organisms.

Biodiversity conservation does not deal merely with the conservation and sustainable use of species. Species cannot live in i isolation, which raises concern for ecosystem diversity, including forests, ponds, barrens, and bogs. Only through the conservation and sustainable use of systems will species, including our own, thrive.

Biodiversity also refer to genetic diversity. Individuals from the same species, but living in different places, may be genetically different from each other. This variation is important and should be maintained through the conservation, and that will allow organisms to further adapt to change. Genetic variation in organisms can also be used directly. The genes used to resist disease, which are found only in small population of an economically important tree, may be transferred to silviculture stock and planted in areas where the disease is a problem.

Although ecologists have been studying biodiversity for a long time, it's only recently the term has been introduced to politicians and the public. Biodiversity has been used in the context of the term biodiversity crisis, which refers to the rapid extinction of species on the planet caused by the activities of people. Human activities have resulted in the loss of wildlife habitat, as well as the deterioration of water and air quality. This extinction of species is happening at an alarmingly rate, far more rapid than the extinction of the dinosaurs, and it involves a very large portion of the earth's species. Accomplished scientist Robert Mays said, "It is reasonable to suggest that something like h half of all terrestrial species are likely to becomes extinct over the next 50 years." Many scientists agree this statement is reasonable.

A major challenge for ecologists, wildlife and conservation biologists, politicians, and the public at large is to work together to conserve biological diversity. A step was taken in that direction at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, which was the largest meeting since the formation of the United Nations in 1945. Representatives from 178 countries, including 130 heads of government and thousands of non-government people, met to discuss and plan for sustainable development (a popular term describing the integration of economic development with environmental protection). Many different aspects of the environment and the economy were considered at the Earth Summit meetings, centering around the redrafting and signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Biological Convention). On December 4, 1992, Canada became one of the first countries in the world to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity, making a commitment to do the following:

  • Develop national Strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity,
  • Inventory and monitor biodiversity and processes adversely affecting it,
  • Develop and strengthen mechanisms for biodiversity conservation,
  • Restore degraded ecosystems and endangered species, and
  • Integrate biodiversity concerns into national decision making.

Many people think the biodiversity crisis refers only to tropical rain forests and that it is far removed from places like Nova Scotia. It's true the decline in biodiversity is a serious situation in tropical rain forests because so many species are disappearing from them before they have even been discovered. However, in Nova Scotia the sea mink, passenger pigeon, great auk, and the Labrador duck are extinct. Some species no longer exist in Nova Scotia, but they do elsewhere, including the grey wolf, woodland caribou, and walrus. Species that are currently endangered in the province are the Eastern cougar, harlequin duck, peregrine falcon, piping plover, leatherback turtle, pink coreopsis, and thread-leaved sundew. Nova Scotians still have a lot to learn about what there is in the province in terms of biodiversity. People are often surprised by how little we know about even the most studied wildlife in the province such as the white-tailed deer and the black duck.

The Department of Lands and Forestry has been working with other provincial departments, federal government departments, and many groups outside government to develop Canada's National Biodiversity Strategy. The department has started to determine the obstacles and opportunities for the implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity in the province. Sine biodiversity conservation initiatives already under way include forming a working group to coordinate and develop a provincial strategy for endangered species management and establishing a system of protected areas. Although these are important aspects of a biodiversity conservation strategy, there is still much to be done. If you are interested in knowing more about biodiversity please contact Dr. J Sherman Boates at the Wildlife Division in Kentville.

Summary of the biological diversity of wild species in Canada
Plant & animal groups Known species¹ Suspected species¹ Principal pressures stresses

Algae and diatomes 5,323 2,800 Water pollution
Slime Molds, fungi, and lichens 11,400 3,600 Atmospheric pollution
Mosses & liverworts 965 50 Habitat reduction, especially deforestation & loss of wetland
Ferns & fern allies 141 15 Habitat reduction
Vascular plants (78% native) 4,187² 100 Habitat reduction
Mollusks 1,121 100 Water quality changes
Crustaceans 3,008 1,100 Overharvesting, water pollution
Insects 33,755 32,800 Habitat change, biocides
Spiders, mites, and ticks 3,171 7,700 Habitat change, biocides
Other invertebrates 6,879 5,000 Habitat change, biocides
Sharks, bony fish, and lampreys 1,091 513 Habitat distraction, water pollution, over harvesting
Amphibians & Reptiles 83 2 Habitat destruction, acid precipitation, overharvesting
Birds 578 0 Habitat change & loss, biocides, competition from non-native species, hunting
Mammals (excluding humans) 193 0 Habitat change and loss, hunting

Total 71,895 53,780
¹ "known species" are those that have already been named and described, whereas "suspected species" are those that are estimated to exist but have not been name or described. Bacteria and viruses also contribute part of Canada's biological diversity. Almost 170,000 species to exist in the country, but only about 2,200 species have even been named.
² Of the species total for vascular plants, 3,269 are considered native species and 918 are introduced or non-native. Source: Condensed from Mosquin, T. 1990. Biodiversity, wildlife and habitat. Unpublished report submitted to the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, March 11, 1990.