Cconservation Biology Flashcards
Conservation biology
Integrates ecology, physiology, molecular biology, evolutionary biology, and genetics in effort to conserve biological diversity
Genetic diversity
Genetic variation within a population and between populations; the extinction of a population reduces the genetic diversity required for evolution
Species diversity
the # of species in an ecosystem or across the biosphere
Endangered species
A species that is in danger of extinction
Threatened species
A species likely to become endangered in the future
Ecosystem diversity
Variety of ecosystems in the biosphere; more than half of the wetlands in the US have been drained and converted to other ecosystems
What are the types of arguments as to why humans should care abt the loss of biodiversity?
Biophilia, morality, obligation, benefits
Biophilia
Our human sense of connection to nature
Morality
Other species are entitled to life
Obligation
Preservation for future generations
Benefits
Of species and genetic diversity
Ecosystem services
Encompass the processes by which natural ecosystems help sustain human life; Ex: purification of air and water; detoxification and decomposition of wastes; crop pollination, pest control, and soil preservation; and moderation of weather extremes and flooding
What are the four major threats that lead to the most biodiversity loss?
Habitat loss, introduced species, over harvesting, global change
Habitat loss
-implicated in 73% of species that have become extinct, endangered, vulnerable, or rare in the last hundred years
-habitat loss and fragmentation occur over immense regions
-small populations in small habitat fragments are vulnerable to extinction
Introduced species
-free from native predators, herbivores, pathogens or competitors, introduced species may spread rapidly
-introduced species that establish may prey upon or out complete native organisms
-introduced species have contributed to abt 40% of worldwide extinctions recorded since 1750
Overharvesting
-harvesting or organisms at rates exceeding the ability of their populations to rebound
-large organisms w/ low reproductive rates are susceptible to overharvesting
-overfishing has decimated many commercially important wild fish populations
Global change
-alterations in climate, atmospheric chemistry, and broad ecological systems reduced Earth’s capacity to support life (e.g., change in carrying capacity)
-acids from in the atmosphere w/ the release of sulfur and nitrogen from burning wood and fossil fuel
What are the two approaches when it comes to conversation at the population and species level?
Focusing on extinction risk in small populations and focusing on critical habitat
Extinction vortex
A downward population spiral in which inbreeding and genetic drift combine to cause a small population to shrink and, unless the spiral is reversed, become extinct
What is the effect that reduces the number of individuals in a population and causes a higher impact of genetic drift?
Bottleneck effect
Name strategies for conservation biology.
-Build movement corridors (a narrow strip of habitat that connects otherwise isolated patches and promotes dispersal and reduces inbreeding)
-Establish protected areas
Biodiversity hot spot
A relatively small area w/ many endemic (found nowhere else), endangered, and threatened species
