BIODIVERSITY Flashcards
Variation and richness of life at a particular scale/level
Biodiversity
Coined by Walter Rozen in 1985 and first used in 1988 by E.O. Wilson
Biodiversity
variability among living organisms from the land, the seas, and the ecological complexes (Convention on Biological Diversity or CBD)
Biodiversity
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity
sum total of information contained in the genes of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms; genetic variation within a species
genetic diversity
the number and relative proportions of different species, and their distribution and functions or interactions within a given spatial context
species diversity
distribution and abundance of habitats, biotic communities, and ecological processes in the biosphere
ecosystem diversity
total number of species
species richness
relative abundance/proportion of species
species evenness
describes the type of elements and the number of representatives present at each level in an area
compositional biodiversity
describes the variety of arrangement of these components -> how components are structured
structural biodiversity
the variety of biological processes, functions or characteristics of a particular ecosystem/area; variety of processes which occur due to interaction of species with each other and their environment
functional biodiversity
i.e. genetic composition of a population, kinds of habitats and communities across a specified landscape
compositional biodiversity
i.e. spatial biodiversity such as the vertical layering of trees, temporal fluctuations such as how dynamics of a fish species can change depending on the season
structural biodiversity
i.e. nutrient cycling, pollination, predation, parasitism
functional biodiversity
Potential for different lifeforms to provide information necessary for science, materials that are useful to humans, and all other recreational, medical, or consumptive benefits
anthropocentric benefits
protect a certain species or ecosystem, just in case it turns out to be useful
Anthropocentric nature of humans
services that ecosystems perform for humanity
ecosystem services
purifying water and air, pollinating crops, stabilizing soil, maintaining a proper heat balance in the atmosphere, and cycling critical nutrients
ecocentric benefits
knowing that a healthy coral reef system or a tropical forest is present can already be fulfilling the need to protect these
intrinsic value
MEASURING AND MONITORING BIODIVERSITY
(1) measure actual processes (2) surrogate approaches
surrogate approaches
keystone, umbrella, indicator, flagship
larger impact on the ecosystem (relative to its abundance)
impact becomes apparent once removed from an ecosystem
without them, an ecosystem would dramatically differ or would even cease to exist altogether
keystone species
require large areas of habitat or home range – their protection might automatically protect many co-occurring species and the ecosystems and habitat types that go with these species
umbrella species