Biodiversity Threats in General Flashcards
introduced keystone species in 1969
Robert T. Paine
Two basic criteria of keystone species have been
proposed by
Mills et al.
Two basic criteria of keystone species
i. The presence of keystone species is crucial in
maintaining the organization and diversity of their
ecological communities.
ii. These species are exceptional, relative to the rest of the community, in their importance.
The leading examples of keystone species are: (8)
- sea otters (Enhydra lutris)
- Fire ants (Solenopsis geminate)
- Humming bird pollinators
- palm nuts, figs and nectars
- North American beavers (Caster canadensis)
- Brazilian termites (Cornitermes cumulans)
- Sea urchins
- Pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae)
regulates the Strongylocentrotus spp. (sea urchins) density which feed over kelps, the giant algae
sea otters (Enhydra lutris)
exclusion of ______ increases the number of arthropods which are harmful to agriculture
Fire ants (Solenopsis geminate)
_________ proposed the ______________ as keystone resources because of their extreme significance for fruit and nectar eating species of tropical forest like the primates, squirrels, rodents, and many birds.
Terborgh
palm nuts, figs and nectars
_________ make dams which can change hydrological and biogeochemical factors of the region to alter the productivity.
North American beavers (Caster canadensis)
_________ make bulky, rich and distinctively designed mounds which has wide range of obligate users.
Brazilian termites (Cornitermes cumulans)
_________ grazing prevents the transition from encrusting algae dominated community to a large, fleshy algae dominated one.
Sea urchins
________ maintain mountain meadow communities
Pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae)
Threats to Biodiversity (3)
Escalating Extinction Rate
Irreversible Loss
Climate Change as a Threat
Common groups that assess threats to biodiversity (3)
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Millenium Ecosystem Assessment
United Nations Environmental Programme
Introduced a threat classification system to standardize terminology for threats to biodiversity, making it easier to compare and generalize data across ecosystems. It includes threats from alien species, genetic material, and interactions among native species.
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
The IUCN classification distinguishes between ________, such as geological events, climate changes, and severe weather, and direct threats to biodiversity.
abiotic threats
proposed a classification of stresses that contribute to biodiversity loss, defining stresses as degraded conditions resulting from direct threats
World Conservation Union - Conservation measures Partnership (IUCN-CMP)
Biodiversity faces severe threats from a combination of anthropogenic and natural factors.
Multifactorial Threats
A comprehensive classification of direct threats to biodiversity proposed by ___: (10)
by Salfasky et al.
- Residential and Commercial Development
- Agriculture and Aquaculture
- Energy Production and Mining
- Transportation and Service Corridors
- Biological Resource Use
- Human Intrusions and Disturbance
- Natural System Modifications
- Invasive and Problematic Species and Genes
- Pollution
- Geological Events and Climate Change and Severe Weather
evaluated tens of thousands of species worldwide and categorized them as threatened with extinction. This included species classified as critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable.
2012 IUCN Red List
The stress classification for biodiversity proposed by Salafsky et al. (8)
- Ecosystem / Community stresses
- Ecosystem Conservation
- Ecosystem Degradation
- Indirect Ecosystem Effects
- Species stresses
- Species mortality
- Species disturbance
- Indirect species effects
Threats to global biodiversity (10)
- Habitat loss through degradation and fragmentation
- Population growth and poverty
- Overexploitation of natural resources
- Invasive species
- Climate changes and Pollution
- Disease
- Weak enforcement of law
- Background extinction
- Stochastic events and hunting for food
- Conversion to agriculture and housing
No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died
Extinct
Known only to survive in captivity or as a neutralized population outside its historic habitat
Extinct in the wild
Facing high risk of extinction in the wild in immediate future
Critically endangered
facing very high risk of extinction in the wild in near future
Endangered
facing very high risk of endangered in the wild in near future
Vulnerable