Biodiversity & Conservation

Question 1

What are three types of biodiversity?

Answer 1

Genetic diversity, Species diversity, and Ecosystem diversity.

Question 2

Why is biodiversity important?

Answer 2

Biodiversity maintains a healthy biosphere and provides direct and indirect value to humans.

Question 3

What are the direct and indirect values of biodiversity?

Answer 3

• Indirect values of biodiversity reflect the intrinsic value of the land.(green plants, natural process that provides drinking water)
• Direct values include the ways in which biodiversity is used or consumed by man(food, clothes, energy, medicine.)

Question 4

What are the threats to biodiversity?

Answer 4

• Overexploitation
• Habitat loss
• Fragmentation of habitat
• Pollution
• Introduced Species

Question 5

How is the current extinction rate different from the background extinction rate?

Answer 5

current extinction rates are 1,000 times higher than natural background rates of extinction and future rates are likely to be 10,000 times higher.

Question 6

How can the decline of a single species affect an entire ecosystem?

Answer 6

It will start a chain reaction that affects all species in the ecosystem.

Question 7

What are the two classes of natural resources?

Answer 7

Renewable and Nonrenewable

Question 8

What are the methods used to conserve biodiversity?

Answer 8

• Connect smaller parcels of land, allowing organisms to move safely between them
• Create a larger piece of land that can sustain a wider variety of species and a wider variety of genetic variation.

Question 9

What are two techniques used to restore biodiversity?

Answer 9

Bioremediation and Biological Augmentation.