What is the relevance of biochemistry in conservation biology?

Answer 1

An appreciation of biochemistry is essential to understanding a multitude of environmental factors. Take deforestation and desertfication for example... For a long time it has been thought that mere over-abundance of livestock lead to desertfication. When herds were reduced or removed, desertfication increased!

The explanation for this is apparent to one who understands biochemisty:

Animal feces and urine contribute substantial carbon and nitrogen loads to the soal. Complex organic matter with multiple hydrophylic compounds can hold moisture in the soal and can alter the microbial flora to one that promotes processes favorable to plant root development.

All ecosystems involve interactions in water, soil and air - to understand the ecology of these systems you need to understand the contributing elements.

Answer 2

Conservation ecology typically deals with larger classifications in ecology such as the community, ecosystem or biosphere levels. All of these larger levels are affected by the smaller ones it consists of. The chain of classification starts with the molecular level so any changes on this level could impact the larger levels significantly.

Levels of classification:

Molecular, Cellular, Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere