Biodiversity: Patterns & Threats

Question 1

biodiversity

Answer 1

life diversity

- levels: genetic diversity, species diversity & ecosystem diversity

Question 2

genetic diversity

Answer 2

genes or alleles diversity in a population, species, or group of species

Question 3

species diversity

Answer 3

variety & relative abundance of the species present in a given ecological community

Question 4

ecosystem diversity

Answer 4

variety of biotic components in a region along w/ abiotic components

(ie) soil, water & nutrients

Question 5

ecosystem function

Answer 5

sum of biological & chemical processes that are characteristic of a given ecosystem

(ie) primary production, nitrogen cycling & carbon storage

Question 6

endemic species

Answer 6

species that lives in one geographic area & nowhere else

Question 7

biodiversity hot spot

Answer 7

region rich in species

Question 8

endangered species

Answer 8

species whose #s have decreased so much that it is in danger of extinction throughout all or part of its range

Question 9

habitat destruction

Answer 9

human-caused destruction of a natural habitat

- replaced by an urban, suburban, or agricultural landscape

Question 10

habitat degradation

Answer 10

reduction of habitat quality

Question 11

habitat fragmentation

Answer 11

breakup of a large region of a habitat into smaller regions, separated from others by a different habitat

Question 12

biomass

Answer 12

total mass of all orgs in a given population or geographical area
- usually expressed as total dry weight

Question 13

overexploitation

Answer 13

unsustainable removal of wildlife from natural environment for human use

Question 14

species-area relationships

Answer 14

mathematical relationship btwn area of a certain habitat & number of species that it can support