In the Light of Evolution Volume II: Biodiversity and Extinction (2008) / Chapter Skim
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17 Further Engaging the Public on Biodiversity Issues--PETER J. BRYANT
17 Further Engaging the Public on Biodiversity Issues--PETER J. BRYANT
Pages 317-328
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From page 317... ...
Unfortunately, these efforts are confirming that species of plants and animals are disappearing at rates that have alarmed even the most optimistic of scientists. Members of the public are also helping to monitor migration patterns; to rescue, rehabilitate, and release stranded, injured, or malnourished ani mals; and to restore damaged habitats including work to collect seed and propagate appropriate local varieties of plants.
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From page 318... ...
Although a global study of the engagement of the public in biodiversity issues would be of great interest, it has yet to be done, so some of my comments will be restricted to local trends in public engagement. CALIFORNIA AND ORANGE COUNTY Orange County is the smallest county in Southern California, with a total land area of 789 square miles, but its population of over 3 million people makes it the second most populous county in the state, with the highest population density (3,822 persons/square mile in 2004)
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From page 319... ...
Fortunately there is a remarkable level of public engagement on local biodiversity issues, and hopefully this engagement may help to prevent or slow the losses of biodiversity. One of the most inspirational examples of local activity for biodiversity conservation is the work of Frank and Fran Robinson, who worked tirelessly from 1963 to 1973 to save Upper Newport Bay (http://www.
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From page 320... ...
Volunteer section editors contribute their expertise to review identifications and to move guide pages into the proper taxonomic positions. In many cases the photographs are good enough for identification to species, but there are still situations calling for microscopic examination of a specimen and even dissection of the genitalia by an expert.
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From page 321... ...
With some other local photographers, Ron Hemberger, Hartmut Wisch, and I have compiled a web site on local (Orange County) arthropods that contains over 760 species pages and is one of the most complete displays of local arthropods to be found anywhere (Bryant, 2007a)
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From page 322... ...
The Large Blue became extinct in 1979 and has been successfully reintroduced, but 76% of the 54 remaining resident species have declined. A related moth monitoring program including a National Moth Night assesses the distribution of moths throughout the country.
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From page 323... ...
Data from these two efforts were recently analyzed to discern 40-year population trends of all common North American bird species, and unfortunately the analysis revealed alarming declines of many of our most common birds. Some species declined by 80 percent, and 20 species lost at least half their populations over the study period.
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From page 324... ...
. The new arrivals in Southern California also include well-documented pest species including Mediterranean fruit fly, Mexican fruit fly, oriental fruit fly, Japanese beetle, gypsy moth, ash whitefly, Eugenia psyllid, eucalyptus borer, Mexican scorpion, "killer bees," and red imported fire ant, the latter being one of the "100 of the Worst" listed on the Global Invasive Species Database.
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From page 325... ...
Seventyfour volunteers contributed 7,697 effort hours on the program. Since many of the whales use offshore migratory routes, the counts cannot be used to determine the absolute population size, but they do provide useful data on seasonal use of the nearshore migratory path, reproductive rates, longterm population trends and behaviors including breaching, spyhopping, rolling, courtship, nursing, possible feeding, and interaction with other marine mammals and humans.
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From page 326... ...
Rescue and Restoration The public is also engaged in biodiversity issues through animal rescue and habitat restoration programs. One of the most active animal rescue operations locally is the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach (http://www.pacificmmc.org/)
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From page 327... ...
These include the Endangered Species Habitat Restoration Day at the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, for the benefit of Belding's Savannah sparrow and the California least tern and organized by the Aquarium of the Pacific (http://www.aquariumofpacific.
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