Biodiversity Flashcards
Biodiversity
The wide variety of life on Earth.
Phenology
Study of how nature times events like migrations, leaves changing color, etc.
Based off of climate, but affected by climate change.
Food web
Shows energy transfer between species (producers, consumers, and decomposers).
Bioaccumulation
How pollutants become more concentrated up the food chain (animals can absorb pollutants and then be eaten).
Natural disturbances (and human ones)
Any event that causes a disruption in the current state of the ecosystem.
Caused by forces of nature like fire, disease, storm, drought, etc.
Sometimes goes back to normal, other times things change.
Human disturbances can occur too (clear cutting, pollution, etc.) and now too many disturbances are happening at once.
Fragmentation info
Species with large habitats are threatened by fragmentation (which can be from roads, fences, buildings, etc.) and habitat loss.
Wildlife corridor
A tract of land that connects wildlife habitats separated by human development.
Allows for larger territories, biodiversity, larger gene pool, more food/water access for animals, etc.
Flyway
Pathway used by migratory birds and insects.
In the US:
1. Pacific Flyway
2. Central Flyway
3. Mississippi Flyway
4. Atlantic Flyway
UN biodiversity goals, years
2021-2030 is the UN decade for ecosystem restoration.
Their goal is to prevent, halt, and reverse ecosystem degradation.
Post-2020 biodiversity framework:
1. Restore freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.
2. Connectivity, highlights importance of unimpeded movement of species.
Large mammals
Reintroducing just 20 large mammals worldwide would have great benefits.
30 priority regions regions meet criteria (lack no more than 1-3 of 20, have extensive habitat, can feasibly be restored).
They’re more vulnerable due to their size: they need more habitat space and reproduce slower. Asian ones were affected the most.
Biodiversity convention (cop15)
Earth summit in Rio in 1992 created 3 conventions: climate change, desertification, and biodiversity.
Every 10 years the biodiversity one meets and agrees on new targets—all of them have been failed so far.
CBD aims:
1. Conservation if biodiversity
2. Sustainable use of biodiversity
3. Fair and equitable sharing if benefits from use of genetic resources
Cop15: was held by China in Montreal for two weeks starting 12/7/22, after being delayed multiple times due to Covid.
Current mass extinction
It’s the sixth mass extinction in geological history.
Called the Anthropocene.
At least 1 million species are at risk of extinction.
This is estimated to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times the natural extinction rate.
5 biggest threats to biodiversity
- Changes in land and sea use
- Direct exploitation of natural resources
- Climate crisis
- Pollution
- Invasive species
Issues of biodiversity conference
- Money
- 30x30 (target to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030)
- Monitoring of targets
- Digital sequence info relating to biopiracy
- Indigenous peoples’ rights
Trophy hunting (with pros and cons)
Legally hunting animals with large defining characteristics, usually meat is eaten.
The UK, US, and Australia have imposed restrictions.
Pros:
Generates revenue for conservation
Doesn’t usually affect the animal populations much
No good alternatives for revenue (photo tourism doesn’t bring in enough $, and it’s bad to be dependent on external funding)
Cons:
Unethical
Can be harmful if poorly managed (too-high quotas, killing young animals, etc.)
