BioCon Flashcards
What is the Wildlife fund, 1989, definition of biodiversity?
The millions of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the intricate ecosystems they help build into the living environment.
What is the Global Biodiversity Strategy, 1992, definition of Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems in a region.
What is the textbook definition of Biodiversity, by Sher and Primack, 2020?
The complete range of species and biological communities on earth, as well as the genetic variation within those species and all ecosystem processes.
What species group make up the largest levels of biodiversity?
Insects
What species groups make up the top 3 levels of biodiversity?
Insects - > 1,000,000
Other animals- > 370,000
Plants - > 366,000
Where are the most species-rich environments?
- tropical forests
-coral reefs
-the deep sea
-the Mediterranean climates
-large tropical lakes and rivers
What percentage of species that have ever existed are now extinct?
99.9%.
What are the types of extinctions that can occur?
- Background extinction
- Mass extinction
Describe background extinctions.
Natural consequence of natural selection.
Describe mass extinctions.
Rapid extinctions, across a wide range of species groups and geographical areas.
What is the estimated annual rate of extinction?
30,000 species per year.
In 2022, how many species were threatened with extinction on the IUCN red lift?
Over 41,000 species.
What are the percentages of species groups at risk for extinction on the IUCN 2022 red list?
-23.7% of mammals
-13% of birds
-41% of amphibians
What is an example of a human activity contributing towards species extinction?
Increase of carbon dioxide, methane, and other trace gases in the atmosphere, increasing the planets surface temperature.
What are the current CO2 levels in comparison to previous levels?
The current CO2 levels are above 415 Ppm, in comparison to CO2 levels of 300ppm that had not risen for hundreds of thousands of years.
What are the impacts of increasing temperature?
-melting glaciers/polar ice
-rising sea levels
-earlier spring activity
-shifts in species ranges
-population declines
What changes does water temperature increase cause on the ocean?
- coral reefs threatened/ bleaching
- zooplankton decreasing (base of food chain)
- changes in species
What impacts does ocean acidification have?
-A causes a reduction in pH
-species such a clams,mussels,urchins and starfish have difficulty forming shells.
-impacts fisheries and food security.
What is sustainable development?
Developments that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What is the Nature Restoration Law?
- A law to restore ecosystems for the people, planet and climate.
- > 80% of habitats in Europe are in decline.
What is the aim of the Nature Restoration Law?
To restore wetlands, Rivers, forests, grasslands, marine ecosystems and the species that they host.
