biodiversity Flashcards
L1 - What is the difference between biodiversity and biomass?
(the mass of organisms per unit area (e.g., kg m-2). If they promote biomass = detriment of biodiversity. Can have abunance without biodiversity eg monocultures
L1 - why is biodiversity important?
direct use values
Direct use values
- Ecosystem goods that we can use, humans use. For example, food, pharmaceuticals, etc.
L1 - why is biodiversity important?
indirect use values
Non-use values
- Option and bequest values
- Existence and intrinsic value (moral responsibility)
Probably undiscovered , argue we want decendents to have this nature, amoral argument impreretive to maintain these ecosystems
Why do we have strong opinions on this?/ on biodiversity loss
Biophilia
- Hypothesis that humans have an innate affinity with nature – hardwired into humanity, evolved with intimate connections to nature around us. Defines us as humans.
Indirect-use value - Ecosystem services, regulate atmosphereic systems, and use of pollunators
- Benefits provided to humans (for free) by ecosystems
The functional importance of biodiversity, evidence bio influences the function of ecosystems
- Effect of biodiversity appears to be broadly positive
- Biodiversity may enhance productivity
Experimental studies: diversity & NPP
- Presence of highly productive species matters – matters which species
- Not all species are equal, e.g., influence of
legumes (N-fixers)
L1 - what is the impact of species removal?
Impact of species removal
- Likely acceleration of impacts with progressive
biodiversity loss
- Conservative strategy = maintain biodiversity
L1 - what is the significance of biodiversity in terms of stability for ecosystems?
Significance of biodiversity: stability
- Redundancy: a similar species can step in
- Complementarity: strength through connectivity, richness of connections between species, dense networks have lots of
Diverse ecosystems tend to be more resistent. Recover from disturbance quicker
GEO1023 - The Basics of Biodiversity
Flashcard 1: Definition of Biodiversity
Question: What is the definition of biodiversity according to the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)?
Answer: Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, as well as the ecological complexes of which they are part. It includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.
Types of Biodiversity
Question: What are the three main levels of biodiversity?
Answer:
Genetic Diversity: Variation within species at the genome level, important for disease resistance and adaptation.
Species Diversity: The variety and abundance of species in an ecosystem.
Ecosystem Diversity: The variety of ecosystems within a region, promoting overall biodiversity.
Importance of Biodiversity
Question: Why is biodiversity important? use values
Answer:
Direct Use Value: Provides food, pharmaceuticals, and ecosystem goods.
Indirect Use Value: Delivers ecosystem services like pollination, water purification, and climate regulation.
Non-Use Values: Includes existence value, moral responsibility, and the Biophilia hypothesis, which suggests humans have an innate affinity for nature.
Functional Importance of Biodiversity
Question: How does biodiversity contribute to ecosystem functionality?
Answer: Biodiversity enhances productivity and ecosystem stability through complementarity (species working together) and redundancy (similar species substituting for each other). Experiments (e.g., Tilman et al., 1997) show that diverse ecosystems are more productive.
Measuring Biodiversity
Question: What are the key methods to quantify biodiversity?
Answer:
Species Richness: A count of species in a given area; easy to measure but overly simplistic.
Shannon Diversity Index: Accounts for species evenness and abundance.
Spatial Scale: Larger areas typically exhibit higher biodiversity.
Challenges in Biodiversity Quantification
Question: What are the challenges in quantifying biodiversity?
Answer:
Over-simplification and synonym issues in species counts.
Most species, especially cryptic and non-charismatic ones, remain undescribed (e.g., 86% of terrestrial and 91% of marine species are yet to be discovered; Mora et al., 2011).
The Biodiversity Crisis
Question: What is the biodiversity crisis, and what drives it?
Answer:
The biodiversity crisis refers to the accelerated loss of species due to human activities.
Major drivers include habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, and overexploitation of resources (WWF, 2024).
Conservation Successes
Question: What examples highlight successful conservation efforts?
Answer: Resilient and recovering populations in protected areas demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted conservation actions, like the recovery of Florida mangroves through restoration initiatives.
Biomass vs. Biodiversity
Question: What is the difference between biomass and biodiversity?
Answer: Biomass measures the mass of organisms per unit area, whereas biodiversity focuses on the variety of life forms. High biomass (e.g., monocultures) does not necessarily indicate high biodiversity.
Future of Biodiversity
Question: Why is an interdisciplinary approach crucial for biodiversity conservation?
Answer: Biodiversity issues are complex and require integration of ecological, social, and economic knowledge to address global challenges effectively and adapt to new findings.
Why Biodiversity Matters
Question: What did Edward O. Wilson say about the importance of biodiversity?
Answer: “Biodiversity is the key to the maintenance of the world as we know it. It holds the world steady and has created the environment that created us.” (Source: The Diversity of Life, 1992).
Biophilia
Question: What is the Biophilia hypothesis?
Answer: Biophilia is the hypothesis that humans have an innate affinity with nature, defined by E.O. Wilson as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life.” It is thought to be rooted in biological necessity for survival (The Biophilia Hypothesis, 1993).
Human Impact and Responsibility
Question: What does E.O. Wilson propose in his book Half-Earth?
Answer: Wilson suggests dedicating half of the planet’s surface to nature to save the immensity of life-forms that compose it, emphasizing the unique combination of human instinct and social genius as both a threat and potential solution.
Romanticism and Nature
Question: How did Romanticism influence the perception of biodiversity?
Answer: During the late 18th century, Romanticism rejected industrialism and embraced nature as a source of all value, inspiring a deeper appreciation for biodiversity and its intrinsic worth.
Nature Deficit Disorder
Question: What is Nature Deficit Disorder, and who introduced the concept?
Answer: Richard Louv introduced Nature Deficit Disorder in his book Last Child in the Woods (2005), describing it as the diminished use of senses, attention difficulties, and increased physical and emotional illness due to a disconnection from nature.
Solastalgia
Question: What is solastalgia?
Answer: Coined by Glenn Albrecht, solastalgia refers to the grief caused by environmental change, described as “the homesickness you have when you are still located within your home environment.” (Earth Emotions, 2019).
Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity
Question: How does Indigenous knowledge contribute to biodiversity understanding?
Answer: Indigenous communities, like the Comcaac of Mexico, have detailed knowledge of species, such as discriminating among 48 types of stingless bees and identifying their ecological niches, providing insights that Western science often overlooks (Jessen et al., 2022).
Human Well-being and Biodiversity Loss
Question: How does biodiversity loss impact human well-being?
Answer: Biodiversity loss leads to diminished ecosystem services, causing issues like reduced food security, increased disease risks, and a sense of disconnection from nature, affecting physical and mental health (Last Child in the Woods, 2005).
Cultural Perception of Biodiversity
Question: How do culture and location shape our perception of biodiversity?
Answer: Cultural values and geographical location influence what we see and value in nature. Indigenous knowledge systems often provide unique insights into biodiversity not captured by Western perspectives (Wilder et al., 2016).
HIPPO Classification
Question: What is E.O. Wilson’s HIPPO classification of threats to biodiversity?
Answer: HIPPO stands for:
Habitat alteration
Invasive species
Pollution
Population growth
Over-exploitation (The Future of Life, 2002).
Current Biodiversity Crisis
Question: Are we experiencing a sixth mass extinction?
Answer: While the current rate of biodiversity loss is alarming, it has not yet reached the threshold of a mass extinction, which requires a >70% decrease in global biodiversity. However, extinction rates are significantly higher than the background rate (De Vos et al., 2014).
Island Biodiversity
Question: Why are islands important in biodiversity studies?
Answer: Islands comprise only 5.3% of Earth’s land but account for an estimated 75% of all known extinctions of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles (Science, 19.09.24).
Flagship Species
Question: What are flagship species and why are they important?
Answer: Flagship species capture public imagination and encourage conservation support or funding. For example, the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park demonstrated ecological recovery by restoring balance (Beschta & Ripple, 2016).
Conservation Approaches
Question: What are the main conservation approaches over time? 60s to now
Answer:
Pre-1960s: “Nature for itself” - Focus on wilderness and intact habitats.
1970s-80s: “Nature despite people” - Addressing human impacts like pollution.
1990s: “Nature for people” - Emphasizing ecosystem services and commodification.
Now: “People and nature” - Integrating cultural factors and sustainability (Mace, 2014).
Biodiversity Hotspots
Question: What defines a biodiversity hotspot?
Answer: According to Myers et al. (2000), a hotspot must:
Contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics.
Have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.
Wildlife Reserves
Question: What is the SLOSS debate in wildlife reserves?
Answer: The SLOSS debate discusses whether Single Large Or Several Small reserves are better for conservation. Connectivity and scale are critical to maintaining genetic diversity and ecological resilience (Diamond, 1975).
Rewilding
Question: What is rewilding, and why is it controversial?
Answer: Rewilding involves restoring pre-human ecological processes. Successful examples include projects in the Knepp Estate (UK) and Glenfeshie (Scotland). However, rewilding is debated for its feasibility and impacts on local communities (Guardian, 10.10.24).
Conservation Measurement
Question: How is success in conservation measured?
Answer:
Area of habitat protected.
Number of species saved.
Reduction in human impacts (e.g., pollution).
Ecosystem service benefits and cultural value (Adams, 2014).
Key Takeaways
Question: What are the conclusions on responding to the biodiversity crisis?
Answer:
Anthropogenic activities are the primary drivers of biodiversity loss.
Effective conservation depends on assessments of biological and ecological value.
Collaborative and adaptive approaches are essential for enhancing biodiversity (Johnson et al., 2017).
