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ESS (christin) > 3.3 Threats to Biodiversity > Flashcards

3.3 Threats to Biodiversity Flashcards

1
Q

how many described species

A

1.8m, but scientists can only estimate how many other organisms remain undiscovered

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2
Q

why is the number of species poorly known

A
  • some habitats are difficult to reach (i.e. the canopy of topical rainforests)
  • lack of finance for scientific research
  • difficulties with classification
  • only a relatively small numbers of taxonomists globally are involved in identifying and describing new species
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3
Q

natural events that lead to the loss of biodiversity

A
  • volcanic activity
  • droughts
  • floods
  • ice ages
  • meteor impacts
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4
Q

human actions that can lead to a loss of biodiversity (A HIPPO)

A

Agriculture

Habitat Loss
Invasive species
Pollution
Population (i.e. the effects of pop. growth)
Overhunting

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5
Q

what does the rate of biodiversity loss from country to country vary on

A
  • the ecosystems present
  • the protection policies and monitoring systems in place
  • EVSs of the local residents
  • the stage of economic development (i.e. LEDC or MEDC)
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6
Q

conflict between exploitation, sustainable development, and conservation in tropical biomes

A

most tropical biomes occur in less economically developed countries
- clearance of ecosystems provides land for cash-crops such as oil palm
- plantations provide financial income for local communities + employment
- clearance leads to biodiversity loss
- international legsilation
- willingness, dependent on social, economic and political views

can be resolved providing there is local support and the political will to protect biodiversity

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7
Q

factors that make species prone to extinction

A
  • low reproductive potential
  • small population size (lower genetic diversity)
  • narrow geographical range
  • seasonal migrants (long hazardous journey, reliant on multiple habitats)
  • poor dispersers (cannot easily move to new habitats or non-flying animals)
  • Specialised feeder or niche requirements
  • a large body (10% rule means predators are rare, danger for humans, compete w humans for food)
  • edible to humans + herding together (overhunted for food or for fun and can eradicate easily, especially if found in groups)
  • island organisms (small populations, restricted genetic diversity human alterations of land through use of an already-limited habitat)
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8
Q

species based on factors that make them prone to extinction

A
  • long migration routes (Siberian crane)
  • human pressure from hunting, collecting, trade, etc (Sumatran Rhino)
  • limited distribution (golden lion tamarin monkey)
  • low reproductive potential (Bicknells thrush in canada only has 2000-5000 breeding pairs)
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9
Q

IUCN

A

The International Union of Conservation of Nature

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10
Q

what list did the IUCN create

A

the IUCN red lists

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11
Q

IUCN purpose

A
  • highlight species threatened by extinction
  • promote the conservation of species
  • raise awareness + educate
  • create a system that can be applied consistently
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12
Q

factors that are used to determine a species conservation status on the IUCN red list

A
  • pop. size (smaller pop. are more likely to go extinct)
  • reduction of pop. site
  • degree of specialisation
  • geographic range and degree of fragmentation
  • distribution
  • degree of endemicity
  • quality of habitat
  • trophic level
  • probability of extinction
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13
Q

sliding scale IUCN red list

A
  1. Not Evaluated
  2. Data Deficient
  3. Least Concern
  4. Near Threatened
  5. Vulnerable
  6. Endangered
  7. Critically Endangered
  8. Extinct in the Wild
  9. Extinct.
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14
Q

species critically endangered

A

Sumatran Tiger: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
- ecological role: top carnivore

  • threats:
    -> loss of habitat (tropical rainforest)
    -> it is seen as a danger to humans and livestock so its hunted
    -> fragmentation of habitat makes breeding difficult
    -> poaching
    -> species only found on Sumatra island
    -> top predator = pop is small bc little energy reaches the top

method of restoring:
- strengthening law enforcement
- anti-poaching capacity
- jail time for poachers
- fines for poachers

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15
Q

species currently endangered but whos status has improved

A

GIANT PANDA
- eats bamboo, forest in china

pressures:
-previous habitat loss
- small isolated populations
- sepreate populations
-> increased vulnerability
-> loss of genetic diversity

method of restoring:
- china joined the convention of international trade in endangered species
-> makes trade for panda skills illegal
- many different concentration groups

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16
Q

species that has become extinct

A

ELEPHANT BIRD
- endemic to island of Madagascar
- humans arrived on island from Southeast Asia 100 years ago:
-> forest species relied on was cleared and burned
-> around 80% of natural vegetation lost
-> habitat was cleared to create land for farming
-> eggs were eaten by humans bc highly nutritious

17
Q

why are tropical rainforests so vulnerable?

A
  • logging
  • species have specialised niches
  • 50% of earths known niches
  • slow vegetation rate bc of slow/poor soil quality (year round nutrient cycling)
  • changing one part of the ecosystem → alters entire web of relationships
18
Q

human impacts, example deforestation social

A

employment, construct towns or dams

19
Q

human impacts, example deforestation soil

A

nutrients from burned tree trunks was away → abandoned land (forest doenst grow)

20
Q

human impacts, example deforisation climate

A

reducing evaporative cooling
(canopy decreases)
- area for sun to warm surface
- no evaporation possible

carbon cycle
- more co2 -> joins oxygen + released into atmosphere
- global warming -> enhances greenhouse effect

21
Q

evaluation of human impacts on tropical biomes positives

A

domestic animals: increased populations

22
Q

evaluation of human impacts on tropic biomes negatives

A
  • introduce invasive species -> may not have natural predators -> environment unstable
  • rainforest needs long time to recover
  • overexploit other species: fishing, hunting, harvesting
  • globally 1hectare of rainforest destroyed every second -> 60 hectares every minute
  • transform the environment w/ roads, cities, agriculture
23
Q

case study threats of biodiversity from human activity in a given natural area of biological significance

A

Madagascar
- mine in Fort Dauphin Madagascar -> operating since 2005
- permit to dredge 6000 hectares -> extract ilmenite (industrial whitener used in different products i.e. toothpaste, paint, etc)
- operation has been removing last strands of forest (southeastern edge of island) -> culturally and biologically diverse areas of the world
- preservation projects (as said by company)
works by restricting local communities on their forest use

ESS (christin) (22 decks)

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