chap 10

Question 1

biodiversity

Answer 1

the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.

Question 2

gene

Answer 2

A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes are made up of DNA. Some genes act as instructions to make molecules called proteins. However, many genes do not code for proteins.

Question 3

keystone species

Answer 3

A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether.

Question 4

ecotourism

Answer 4

Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial (mass) tourism. … Several university programs use this description as the working definition of ecotourism.

Question 5

endangered species

Answer 5

A species considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Question 6

threatened species

Answer 6

any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Threatened species receive protections through separate regulations issued under Section

Question 7

exotic species

Answer 7

nvasive species, also called introduced species, alien species, or exotic species, any nonnative species that significantly modifies or disrupts the ecosystems it colonizes. Such species may arrive in new areas through natural migration, but they are often introduced by the activities of other species.

Question 8

poaching

Answer 8

Poaching is the illegal trafficking and killing of wildlife. Sometimes animal or plant parts are sold as trophies or “folk medicines” and sometimes they are sold as pets or houseplants.

Question 9

endemic species

Answer 9

Endemism is the state of a species being found in to a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere.

Question 10

germ plasm

Answer 10

Germplasm is the term used to describe the seeds, plants, or plant parts useful in crop breeding, research, and conservation efforts. … The seeds, pollen, or other plant materials in which these traits are found are called genetic resources, or germplasm.

Question 11

endangered species act

Answer 11

The act aims to provide a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats.

Question 12

habitat conservation plan

Answer 12

enables local agencies to allow projects and activities to occur in endangered species’ habitats. … Loosely defined, take means to injure or kill a listed species or alter the habitat on which it depends.

Question 13

biodiversity treaty

Answer 13

the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.” Parties to the Biodiversity .