Cconservation Biology

Question 1

Conservation biology

Answer 1

Integrates ecology, physiology, molecular biology, evolutionary biology, and genetics in effort to conserve biological diversity

Question 2

Genetic diversity

Answer 2

Genetic variation within a population and between populations; the extinction of a population reduces the genetic diversity required for evolution

Question 3

Species diversity

Answer 3

the # of species in an ecosystem or across the biosphere

Question 4

Endangered species

Answer 4

A species that is in danger of extinction

Question 5

Threatened species

Answer 5

A species likely to become endangered in the future

Question 6

Ecosystem diversity

Answer 6

Variety of ecosystems in the biosphere; more than half of the wetlands in the US have been drained and converted to other ecosystems

Question 7

What are the types of arguments as to why humans should care abt the loss of biodiversity?

Answer 7

Biophilia, morality, obligation, benefits

Question 8

Biophilia

Answer 8

Our human sense of connection to nature

Question 9

Morality

Answer 9

Other species are entitled to life

Question 10

Obligation

Answer 10

Preservation for future generations

Question 11

Benefits

Answer 11

Of species and genetic diversity

Question 12

Ecosystem services

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What are the four major threats that lead to the most biodiversity loss?

Answer 13

Habitat loss, introduced species, over harvesting, global change

Question 14

Habitat loss

Answer 14

-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

Question 15

Introduced species

Answer 15

-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

Question 16

Overharvesting

Answer 16

-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

Question 17

Global change

Answer 17

-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

Question 18

What are the two approaches when it comes to conversation at the population and species level?

Answer 18

Focusing on extinction risk in small populations and focusing on critical habitat

Question 19

Extinction vortex

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is the effect that reduces the number of individuals in a population and causes a higher impact of genetic drift?

Answer 20

Bottleneck effect

Question 21

Name strategies for conservation biology.

Answer 21

-Build movement corridors (a narrow strip of habitat that connects otherwise isolated patches and promotes dispersal and reduces inbreeding)
-Establish protected areas

Question 22

Biodiversity hot spot

Answer 22

A relatively small area w/ many endemic (found nowhere else), endangered, and threatened species