Ch. 10 Key Terms Flashcards
Biodiversity
The variety of organisms in a given area, the genetic variation within a population, the variety of species in a community, or the variety of communities in an ecosystem.
Gene
A segment of DNA that is locked in a chromosome and that codes for a specific hereditary trait.
Keystone Species
A species that is critical to the functioning of the ecosystem in which it lives because it affects the survival and abundance of many species in its community.
Ecotourism
A form of tourism that supports the conservation and sustainable development of ecologically unique areas.
Endangered Species
A species that has been identified to be in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of its range, and that is thus under protection by regulations or conservation measures.
Threatened Species
A species that has been identified to be likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
Exotic Species
A species that is not naive to a particular region.
Poaching
The illegal harvesting of fish, game, or other species.
Endemic Species
A species that is native to a particular place and that is found only there.
Germ Plasm
Hereditary material (chromosomes and genes) that is usually contained in the protoplasm of germ cells.
Endangered Species Act
An act the U.S. Congress passed in 1973 to protect any plant or animal species in danger of extinction.
Habitat Conservation Act
A land-use plan that attempts to protect threatened or endangered species across a given area by allowing some tradeoffs between harm to the species and additional conservation commitments among cooperation parties/
Biodiversity Treaty
An international agreement aimed at preservation of biological resources; associated with the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED or Earth Summit) in 1992.
