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Weekly UpdatesBiodiversity has been defined by many sources as the variety of life. This includes the different plants, animals, and microorganisms of an area as well as their genes and the ecosystems of which they are a part. On our planet, about 1.75 million living and 300,000 fossil species have been described, but estimates of the total number of living species range from 10 million to as high as 50 million or more. Of the described species, the status and distribution of many remain relatively unknown. One can see that much work remains in order to understand the status of the world's biodiversity. However, we do understand that this vast collection of species is the natural biological capital of the earth, and mankind is extensively dependent on this "bio-capital" Such capital is critical to healthy environments, human health, and the economy. This valuable assortment of genes, species, and ecosystems provides humanity with an array of products (e.g., medicines, foods, industrial chemicals, numerous raw materials, and energy) and services (e.g., free purification of air and water, recycling of organic materials, improved soil quality, control of pests, pollination of plants, and sources of recreational pleasure). The value (in dollars) of the services provided by nature might be calculated by replacing natural services with artificial ones. However, such biological services are of such magnitude (just think about employing labor or even machines to pollinate all of the plants that need fertilization or all the water that needs purification) and so consequential to humans, monetizing natural services becomes most difficult. Yet, the role that biodiversity plays in enhancing the magnitude of biological systems continues to be better understood. Each existing species on our planet represents genetic information derived from thousands to millions of years of adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Such gene pools provide the raw material for future adaptations, which may represent an insurance policy toward future disasters, regionally and globally. The launch in 2008 of the Svalbard Global Seed Vauk in Norway (an effort dedicated to collecting varieties of crop plants and preserving them in the interest of food security) is an example of man's recognition of the need to safeguard biodiversity. Such importance, coupled with public awareness and enjoyment of natural resources by the general public, places immense consequences on the long-term sustainability of our biodiversity and a critical need to understand biodiversity at both regional and global levels.
Sustainability of our natural resources will best come with critical planning. Best planning is that which is database driven. At this time, planners representing most local and regional areas are faced with a situation of incomplete data relating to biodiversity. Therefore, inventory and monitoring programs are critically needed in order to develop management and conservations plans that relate to biodiversity.
As the Greater Memphis Region (Region) is characterized by its rich cultural history, it is also characterized by it rich biodiversity of animals and plants. Historically, animals in the region have been considered as game (species usually hunted or trapped for recreational purposes) or nongame (most other species--mainly those involved in nonconsumptive uses). Many of us are familiar with numerous game species (e.g., white-tailed deer, gray squirrel, raccoon, Canada goose, wood duck) within the Greater Memphis Region. However, much of the wealth of our biodiversity in animal life is associated with the less visible and little known nongame species. These animals represent distinctive life forms and unique gene pools. For mammals, with approximately 55 total species in the Region, most are nongame. These include primarily shrews, moles, bats, and rodents. Unfortunately, space precludes the ability to share stories that relate to each species. However, the pictures presented here reflect the striking features of some of the rarer nongame mammals of the Region. Included are the following: the Southeastern shrew, North American least shrew, hoary bat, Rafinesquii's big-eared bat, Southern flying squirrel, meadow jumping mouse, Texas deermouse, and golden mouse. This uniqueness (each species is remarkable in its own special way) among mammals could be demonstrated for other animal groups as well as plants. As an aid to understanding, the reader should take the time to look up information relating to some of the nongame taxa and plants that are listed in the following accounts.
Over 250 species of birds are known to occur at some time of the year in the Region. Most of these are nongame (e.g., woodpeckers, wrens, swallows, flycatchers, thrushes, vireos, warblers, buntings, and sparrows). Bachman's sparrow, lark sparrow, Bewick's wren, Cerulean warbler, Swainson's warbler, Bell's vireo, and Mississippi kite represent some of the rare but nongame species of birds in the area. Birds reflect the economic value that can be associated with nongame species. The dollar figure spent by the public in the United States toward recreational activities associated with birds is great (millions of dollars annually). It is estimated that approximately $500 million is spent each year on the nonconsumptive use of wildlife, with much of this amount directed toward the enjoyment of nongame birds.
Probably over 75 species of amphibians and reptiles occur within the Region. With only a few exceptions, these are all nongame species. This group includes frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes, newts, lizards, and others. Barking tree flog, Alligator snapping turtle, Eastern slender glass lizard, Northern pine snake, and Copperbelly water snake are among the rarer nongame species in the area.
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Most fish in the Region (a total of over 60 species) are small in size and are not consumed as game fish. Such species would include the mosquitofish, darters, topminnows, and shiners. The Naked sand darter, Scaly sand darter, Firebelly darter, Blue sucker, Bigmouth sucker, Plains minnow, and Northern madtom are among the rare nongame fish in the Region.
The invertebrate fauna of the region is rich and is represented by numerous aquatic and terrestrial species (this group far outnumbers any of the other taxa). Fatmucket, Spectaclecase, Eastern fanshell pearly mussel, Pick mucket, Rustic rocksnail, Ring pink, White wartyback, Rough pigtoe, Swamp vertigo, Striped whitelip, Southern rainbow, and Hatchie burrowing crayfish are among the rarer invertebrates in the area. One has to marvel at the uniqueness within this group of organisms.
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Given the rich soil of the Greater Memphis Region, it is not surprising that the area is abounding with plant species. Vascular plants (e.g., ferns, conifers, and flowering plants) alone in the Region number well over 700 species. Plants have a historical connection with the Region and also a promising future. For example, Mayapple (a forest herb) contains the chemical podophyllotoxin, which seems useful in treating skin cancer (Mayapple in the wild may be the only source of this chemical). Additionally, plants will play an important role in energy production (e.g., biofuels) in the future. Sweetbay magnolia, Butternut, Creeping spot flower, Goldenseal, Copper iris, American ginseng, Blue scorpion-weed, Nodding rattlesnake-root, and Red starvine are among the rare plant species known in the Region.
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Overall, the Greater Memphis Region contains abundant and extraordinary biodiversity. However, it is under increasing pressure from development (resulting in habitat loss), pollution, climate change, exotic species, and other forces. Global biodiversity is being rapidly destroyed, and the trend is being felt at the local levels. Extinction rates are on the rise. It is estimated that as many as 1.5 million species could become extinct over the next 25 years if only habitat destruction continues at the current rate. Therefore, there is a need to manage lands with biodiversity and other environmental concerns in mind. Every patch of land--large and small--can help in sustaining our variety of life. All landowners--large and small--can play a part in sustaining our future biodiversity. Because of the fact that biodiversity is becoming an essential part of mainstream management of natural resources and "green" has become the new "red, white, and blue" in the United States, businesses with goals of sustainable biodiversity and environmentally friendly practices are likely to prosper in the future. Smart-growth agendas are slated in several areas of the Greater Memphis Region, and this is encouraging. However, smart growth does not insure biodiversity-friendly growth. This must be incorporated into the planning process. Sustaining our regional biodiversity (a source of inspiration, motivation, and query for us all) will be a challenge during the twenty-first century. Extinction is forever. Biosecurity (safeguarding our native species) is a concern of the future. Stewards of natural resources, with environmental economists, must offer a careful and well-designed integration of conservation and management plans to transform ecological knowledge into public practice if extinction rates of plants and animals are to be lowered and biodiversity preserved. The challenge is to simultaneously serve the needs of humans and, yet, preserve nature. Therefore, we must be instrumental in restoring and maintaining the natural processes that create and protect a healthy, unfragmented landscape to support a diverse, flourishing community of human, plant, and animal life. Good economics is associated closely with good ecology. Sustaining a high quality of life on earth for humanity and preserving our natural heritage for future generations are goals worthy of our greatest attention.
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