Biodiversity Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
The variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them and the variety of ecosystems and ecological processes in which they live
Why is SA so biodiverse?
Climate Geology Soils Marine life Landscape forms
Where is the most biodiverse place on Earth?
Kogelberg biosphere reserve
Endemic species?
A species that is found only in one place or specific region and nowhere else in the world
Distributional map?
Show where the various groups and species of plants and animals are to be found
What factors change biodiversity?
Landscape change
Climate change
Invasion of new species
Why is it vital?
Making plans to manage conservation
Recording global warming effects
Land transformation examples?
Agriculture (monoculture, overgrazing)
Mining (industrial waste + pollution)
Urbanization
Roads (road kill,car pollution )
Over exploitation?
Over collection of medicinal plants
Demand for illegal trade
Climate change effects?
Changes specie distribution
Contribute to extinction
Encourage alien species spread
Tourism potential?
Represents world economy (non consumptive)
