Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is threatening the coral reefs in the Florida Keys?
Heat
Nutrient Pollution
Stoney Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD)
Conservation Biology is sometimes called a crisis science, how does this relate to extinctions?
They attempt to stop/slow extinctions and conserve the species we have
What is Anthropocene?
Denoting our current geological age
Other than extinction, what signs suggest population of wildlife are in trouble?
Extirpations
Biotic Homogenization
Pop. Decay
Mass mortality events
Genetic variation
Extirpations
Local extinctions i.e, wolves in Yellowstone
Biotic Homogenization
Species are becoming more alike, i.e, invasive species, ecological communities becoming more alike
Population Decay
The decrease of a species population size, i.e, grey wolves
Mass Mortality events
Extreme population decay, can be caused by overhunting, deforestation, climate change, etc.
Genetic Variation-Heterozygosity
Different alleles, i.e moths of the same species with different colors.
What is carrying capacity and how might this concept relate to humans and our population growth?
How many organisms an ecosystem can comfortably maintain, we are probably hitting our K
How has human population grown in the past?
Was slight at first, then started to increase exponentially
When was human growth rate the highest?
About 1960
How big is the human population expected to get?
around 11 bill
What is the human population size and growth rate now?
About 8 bill with less than a 1% growth rate.
What is expected for the future of the human population?
Hit K and level off/ decrease in population.
How does the human growth rate compare before and after its completed?
More level at first, then increases
As a demographic transition starts, what changes first?
Death rate
How is the human growth rate expected to change in the future? What from?
Expected to level out, from declining birth rates
Population growth in the US is slow, why should we worry about resource use?
Because it is still at a steady incline
How does conservation biology differ from disciplines such as population genetics, taxonomy, and biogeography? How about forestry?
Conservation: About biodiversity and data
Forestry: Applied science, resource management.
What are the major goals of conservation biologists?
-Document diversity on the planet
-Investigate human impact on species, communities and ecosystems
-Develop practical approaches to prevent the extinction of species in the ecosystem
Preservationist Conservation viewpoint
-Needs of art should outweigh the needs of society
-John Muir
-Activists
Resource Conservation viewpoint
-Natural resources exist for benefit, but should be regulated
-Gifford Pinchot
-Fisheries
Evolutionary Conservation viewpoint
-Nature is a system of interrelated processes. All organisms are needed to maintain itself
-Aldo Leopold
-Conservation Biology
