CHAPTER 10 BIODIVERSITY NATURE’S MEDICINE CABINET

1. CHAPTER 10BIODIVERSITYNATURE’S MEDICINE CABINET Will the bark of an ordinary tree in Samoa become a cure for cancer?

2. 10 NATURE’S MEDICINE CABINET Will the bark of an ordinary tree in Samoa become a cure for cancer? Biodiversity on our planet is our greatest asset. Within this diverse collection of plants, animals, and other organisms, we have the power to provide food for a rapidly growing population, find cures for disease, and insure our economic survival. Main Concept There are many compelling reasons to protect species.

3. NATURE’S MEDICINE CABINET Will the bark of an ordinary tree in Samoa become a cure for cancer? 10 • At the end of this chapter you will know: • The importance of biodiversity as a critical component of ecosystem function. • Taxonomy is how we organize information about the organisms on the planet. • Why specific areas around the world are classified as biological hotspots and how they can be protected. Learning Outcomes

4. 10 NATURE’S MEDICINE CABINET Will the bark of an ordinary tree in Samoa become a cure for cancer? Case study: Dr. Paul Cox, a plant physiologist, and his family moved to the Samoan rainforest in hopes of finding a cure for cancer among the many plants in this lush, tropical area.

5. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Tropical regions around the world hold extremely high concentrations and varieties of plants. In addition to species and genetic diversity, these areas have many communities and ecosystems within a variety of habitats and trophic levels. The particular area where the Cox family settled had especially high ecological diversity. Biodiversity includes genetic variation, much variety of plant species, and many different community interactions.

6. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Tropical regions around the world hold extremely high concentrations and varieties of plants. In addition to species and genetic diversity, these areas have many communities and ecosystems within a variety of habitats and trophic levels. The particular area where the Cox family settled had especially high ecological diversity. Biodiversity includes genetic variation, much variety of plant species, and many different community interactions.

7. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Tropical regions around the world hold extremely high concentrations and varieties of plants. In addition to species and genetic diversity, these areas have many communities and ecosystems within a variety of habitats and trophic levels. The particular area where the Cox family settled had especially high ecological diversity. Biodiversity includes genetic variation, much variety of plant species, and many different community interactions.

8. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Tropical regions around the world hold extremely high concentrations and varieties of plants. In addition to species and genetic diversity, these areas have many communities and ecosystems within a variety of habitats and trophic levels. The particular area where the Cox family settled had especially high ecological diversity. Biodiversity includes genetic variation, much variety of plant species, and many different community interactions.

9. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Why did Dr. Cox choose Somoa to search for a cancer cure? Tropical regions are warm, lush, and close to the equator. It’s this combination of environmental factors that gives areas like Samoa the greatest diversity on Earth. Diversity is found in the number of species, genetic diversity, and also in ecological diversity, or the wide variety of communities and ecosystems.

10. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Bacteria – 7643 species known Roundworms – 23,000 Vertebrates – 61,995 Fungi – 98,998 Arachnids – 102,248 Why did Dr. Cox choose Somoa to search for a cancer cure? Tropical regions are warm, lush, and close to the equator. It’s this combination of environmental factors that gives areas like Samoa the greatest diversity on Earth. Diversity is found in the number of species, genetic diversity, and also in ecological diversity, or the wide variety of communities and ecosystems.

11. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Plants – 310,129 species known, 390,800 estimated Insects – 1 million species known, 9 million estimated Why did Dr. Cox choose Somoa to search for a cancer cure? Tropical regions are warm, lush, and close to the equator. It’s this combination of environmental factors that gives areas like Samoa the greatest diversity on Earth. Diversity is found in the number of species, genetic diversity, and also in ecological diversity, or the wide variety of communities and ecosystems.

12. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species

13. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species With diversity comes ecosystem service – Beyond providing goods, nature is a machine supporting everything we do, from providing the oxygen we need for survival to cleaning up our waste with filtering mechanisms. Photosynthesis – Converting light energy to the chemical energy that can be stored and used by living organisms. Nutrient cycling – Using the organic and inorganic materials from dead and decomposing organisms to support new life. Population control – Competition and predation maintain a balance of organisms while helping maintain diversity. Pollination – Insects, birds, mammals, and other organisms provide a mechanism for distribution of critical genetic diversity and generation of grasses, herbs, and other plants.

14. Biodiversity benefits humans and other species 10 Natural spaces and nature’s services also provide cultural, economic, and social value.

15. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Natural spaces and nature’s services also provide cultural, economic, and social value.

16. 10 Biodiversity benefits humans and other species Traditional healers use medicine derived from plants and insects to treat and cure disease. Like family recipes, these natural remedies are passed down through generations and learned through apprenticeships.

17. 10 Plants gain medicinal qualities as they adapt to other species Mamala tree – Source of anti-HIV drug candiateprostratin

18. 10 Plants gain medicinal qualities as they adapt to other species Chemical weapons in plants have evolved over millions of years as relationships between plants, animals, and insects have been forged. These chemical weapons were once the primary form of healthcare and inspiration for new drugs. Western medicine has often replaced natural sources and inspiration for medicines with pharmacology and lab-based chemistry. Still, nature holds a few secrets that our best science has never been able to uncover. Botanists setting up protective fencing around the last specimen of Delisseaundulatafound in the wild. The loss of habitat from conversion for livestock has been among the largest factors resulting in the loss of this species. For photos and information about Delisseaundulata: http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?cpcnum=8438

19. 10 Plants gain medicinal qualities as they adapt to other species Loss of potentially life-saving drugs that have evolved over millions of years as species become extinct Biodiversity Hotspots Polynesia-Micronesia: 3074 endemic plants, 99 threatened species, 43 extinct species

20. 10 Plants gain medicinal qualities as they adapt to other species Loss of potentially life-saving drugs that have evolved over millions of years as species become extinct Biodiversity Hotspots Tropical Andes: 15,000 endemic plants, 487 threatened species, 2 extinct species

21. 10 Plants gain medicinal qualities as they adapt to other species Loss of potentially life-saving drugs that have evolved over millions of years as species become extinct Biodiversity Hotspots Guinean forests: 1800 endemic plants, 115 threatened species, 0 extinct species

22. 10 Plants gain medicinal qualities as they adapt to other species Loss of potentially life-saving drugs that have evolved over millions of years as species become extinct Biodiversity Hotspots Indo-Malayan Archipelago: 15,000 endemic plants, 162 threatened species, 4 extinct species

23. 10 Plants gain medicinal qualities as they adapt to other species

24. 10 Biodiversity is proving invaluable in the search for cures “There is a strong link between the health of forests and the health of humans. If people understand that a rainforest might contain the best cures for diseases that plague us, they will care a whole lot more about saving it.” Plant physiologist, Dr. David Cox

25. 10 PERSONAL CHOICES THAT HELP

26. 10 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE

27. 10 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE

28. 10 ANALYZING THE SCIENCE

29. 10 EVALUATING NEW INFORMATION

30. 10 MAKING CONNECTIONS