Chapter 1: introduction Flashcards
Define biodiversity
the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Why does biodiversity matter?
extinction rates
called the biodiversity crisis
-we’re in the greatest mass extinction since 65 mya (dinosaurs)
Why have we started caring about biodiversity now? (2 reasons, explained)
large number of people (7 billion)
technological innovation
- dams, claiming agricultural land = intentional
- pollution = unintentional
- all disturb natural lands
What 4 factors cause us concern regarding biodiversity?
- current threats to biodiversity
- accelerating threats
- many are synergistic threats
- biodiversity affects us
What is included in the current threats to biodiversity? What about accelerating threats?
things that cause rapid extinction rates
accelerating threats include the rapidly increasing human population
How does biodiversity affect us?
we depend on natural environment for food, raw materials, medicine, water
What are the 2 goals of conservation biology?
investigate human impacts on species, communities, and ecosystems
develop practical approaches to prevent extinction of species
What is the 3rd odd goal of conservation biology?
to catalog biodiversity
How old is conservation biology?
relatively new field in response to the biodiversity crisis (about 50s and up)
Why is conservation biology called a crisis discipline? (2 reasons)
conservation decisions are made every day
- under severe time pressures
- made without enough information
general theoretical principles are very important
-applicable to many or all species
Conservation biology is multidisciplinary. Name the academic disciplines that help develop general theoretical principles for CB.
Ecology, genetics, taxonomy, biogeography
“academic disciplines”
Name the fields that contribute to the methods of management for recreation and commerce in CB
agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, fisheries, biolgoy
management for high yield of selected species often.
What disciplines help with the real world application of conservation biology
environmental law and policy
What disciplines help us gain respect and knowledge of/for the places that conservation biologists often have to work?
anthropology, sociology, and geography
Describe conservation biology in broad terms regarding the main bullets.
there are 2 main goals.
it is a new field of science
it is a crisis discipline
it is multidisciplinary
it combines basic and applied research
it combines ecological and evolutionary time scales
there are underlying assumptions that diversity is good.
