Chaper 4.4 Biodiversity Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
The total of all variety of organisms in a specific area.
List three types of diversity.
- Ecosystem diversity
- Species diversity
- Genetic diversity
What is ecosystem diversity?
Variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes in the living world
What is species diversity?
Number of different species in the biosphere
Approximately 1.5 million species are accounted for
What is genetic diversity?
Sum total of all different forms of genetic information carried by all living organisms
What does biodiversity bring to an ecosystem?
- Stability - species depend on one another for survival
2. Also provides humans with food, industrial poducts and medicines
List five threats to biodiversity.
- Extinction
- Endangered species
- Habitat fragmentation
- Habitat degradation
- Invasive species
Define extinction.
Occurs when a species disappears from all or part of its range
Define endangered species.
Species whose population size is declining, losing genetic diversity
What is habitat fragmentation?
When land development separates ecosystems into pieces, cutting off species from their habitat
What is habitat degradation?
Damage to habitats caused by air, water or land pollution.
What are invasive species?
Species introduced to new habitats that lack parasites or predators for population control
List three approaches to the conservation of biodiversity?
- Habitat or wildlife corridor
- Reintroduction programs
- Sustainable use
What is a habitat corridor?
Protected strips of land to allow organisms to move freely from one wilderness area to another
What are reintroduction programs?
Taking endangered species and breeding and raisng them in protected habitats
