Biodiversity, Genetic Resources, Endangered Species and Conservation

Biodiversity and Genetic Resources

Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov – Education Publication Forthcoming:

Seeds of Civilization to the Brink of Starvation – Introducing and Teaching Nikolai Vavilov and Biodiversity to a New Generation

One year after being elected President of the International Congress on Genetics, Nikolai Vavilov was imprisoned. How could a prominent Russian geneticist and explorer simultaneously earn distinction and animosity? There is an imperative in answering this question, being to expose new students to Vavilov’s accomplishments and sacrifices. This paper presents Vavilov’s life in the context of biodiversity through an educational ‘reader’ aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards’ core idea for biodiversity. It focuses on three accomplishments: (i) Vavilov’s principles for collecting biodiversity while recognizing its vulnerability, (ii) his evolving views on the ‘center of origin’ and diversity of global food crops, and (iii) his anticipation of the need for reliable conservation repositories. This prompted Vavilov to save biodiversity in one of the first modern conservation facilities. Despite persecution by Joseph Stalin, Vavilov’s legacy remains, and  is examined by students answering the concluding questions calling for critical thinking and independent research.

In addition the ‘reader’ establishes a case for the posthumous award of the World Food Prize (http://www.worldfoodprize.org/) to Vavilov for meritorious attempts to defeat famine through crop improvement.

From forthcoming collection, “Scientists Finding Courage”

Publications

• AAAS Publication: Perspectives on Biodiversity: Case Studies in Genetic Resource Conservation and Development Authors/Editors: Christopher S. Potter; Joel I. Cohen; Dianne Janczewski, editors 1993 American Association for the Advancement of Science archives.aaas.org/publications.php?pub_id=309
  
• Plant Genetic Resources for Agriculture, Plant Breeding, and Biotechnology Experiences from Cameroon, Kenya, the Philippines, and Venezuela. IFPRI Discussion Paper 00762. April 2008
  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joel_Cohen7/publications
• Agroecosystem Quality: Policy and Management Challenges for New Technologies and Diversity. Pages 299-315 in W. Collins and C. O. Qualset (eds.), Biodiversity in Agroecosystems . CRC Press, New York, USA. 1999. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277004455_Agroecosystem_Quality_Policy_and_Management_Challenges_for_New_Technologies_and_Diversity
• Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources. Pages 423-427 in International Crop Science I. Crop Science Society of American, Madison, WI 53711. 1993.
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277306273_Conservation_and_Use_of_Plant_Genetic_Resources_PROTECTING_THE_GENETIC_LIBRARY
• Conservation of Biodiversity in Natural Habitats and the Concept of Genetic Potential. Pages xix-xxii in Perspectives on Biodiversity: Case Studies of Genetic Resource Conservation and Development. 350 pages. AAAS Press, Box 753, Maryland, USA. 1993.
• Ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources: global development and environmental concerns, Reprinted (abstracted/excerpted) with permission from SCIENCE 253:866-872 (1991). Copyright 1991 AAAS (please read AAAS copyright notice). PDF format (size 434 Kb).
• Ex Situ Conservation; Present Status and Future Priorities. Bureau for Science and Technology, A.I.D., Report to the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Congress. 155 pages. 1990.
• Utilization and conservation of genetic resources: international projects for sustainable agriculture. Economic Botany 45(2): 190-199. Cohen, J.I., J.B. Alcorn, and C.S. Potter. 1991
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225803006_Utilization_and_conservation_of_genetic_resources_international_projects_for_sustainable_agriculture_Econ_Bot
• Genetic resource conservation and utilization in the context of international development. Diversity 6 (1): 18-21. Cohen, J.I. and C.S. Potter. 1990
• Plant genetic resource initiatives in international development. Pages 459-476 inL. Knutson and A.K. Stoner (eds.) Biotic Diversity and Germplasm Preservation, Global Imperatives. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands. 1989.
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277004081_Plant_genetic_resource_initiatives_in_international_development
  

  

Global Climate Change

• Addressing Effects of Climate Change: Realities and Possibilities for Plant Biotechnology in the Developing World. Cohen, J.I. and N. Rosenberg. Pages 147-158 in N. Rosenberg (ed.) The Applications of Biotechnology to the Mitigation of Greenhouse Warming -Proceedings from an international conference. Battelle Press, Columbus, Ohio. 2004

Events, Publications, and Educational Approach

SMITHSONIAN BIODIVERSITY INTERNSHIP – NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY --

1. Staff sponsors: Ida Lopez, Department of Botany. Intern for the Plant DNA Barcode Project at the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History, Botany Department. Responsibilities: linking herbariums specimens to genetic samples for the Plant DNA Barcode Project, including care, handling and evaluation of botanical collections, securing final data repositories of DNA sequences and exposure to the value of collections. Included in internship are seminars and lectures on various fields of study held at the museum.
2. Staff Sponsors: Vicki Funk and Mauricio Diazgranados. Advance geo-referencing of Don José Cuatrecasas Arumí's plant photographs and collections. Making information available online for research and the general public. Catalogued and referenced many of his thousands of plants (ca. 25,000) and anthropological specimens from Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador between 1932 and 1979.

For more information, please see:

http://www.smithsonianofi.com/geo-referencing-historical-plant-photographs-and-collections-of-jose-cuatrecasas/

ENDANGERED SPECIES --

May 2016. http://action.endangered.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?key=80817

Endangered Species Day at Parkland Magnet Middle School. Third year of engaging students with living reptiles and amphibians in classroom setting. Presentation conducted by the breeders of Black Rock Reptiles.

2014 – 2016. Over the past three years, I have organized annual endangered species and biodiversity event with Black Rock Reptiles (http://www.blackrockreptiles.com/index.html). Under the supervision and direction of conservationist/breeder, Mr. Nic Bugg, BRR presents 15 species of extant, endangered/protected animals in my classroom, covering all class periods to ensure every student has an "up close and hands on" experience. Students handle, learn, and develop life histories for them. The event is prepared and coordinated with National Endangered Species Day: http://action.endangered.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=70317.

The species list and capture sheet for this presentation is shown below, developed specifically for the species to be shown in class, listing what is known of their conservation status. PDF Format.

ETHICAL VALUES AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT APPROACH --

The above mentioned event with BRR is only one part of a broader unit on biodiversity, as taught within the evolution unit. The approach under development is found in the following article:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269634614_Ethical_Values_and_Biological_Diversity_A_Preliminary_Assessment_Approach

The biodiversity and ethics survey is available from the author.

Author's Bookshelf

Endangered and Extinct Species: Unique and Education-Oriented Books to engage students in discussion of and reports on endangered or extinct species --