Chapter 10/11 SKIP Flashcards
biodiversity
the variety of life on Earth; it includes species, genetic, and ecological diversity
species diversity
the variety of species, including how many are present (richness) and their abundance relative to each other (evenness)
genetic diversity
the heritable variation among individuals of a single population or within the species as a whole
ecological diversity
the variety within an ecosystem structure, including many communities, habitats, niches, and trophic levels.
ecosystem services
benefits provided by functional ecosystems that are important to all life (including humans); includes such things as nutrient cycles, air and water purification, and ecosystems goods such as food and fuel.
instrumental value
an object’s or species’ worth, based on its usefulness to humans.
instrinsic value
an object’s or species’ worth, based on its mere existence, it has an inherent right to exist.
endemic
a species that is native to a particular area and is not naturally found elsewhere.
biodiversity hotspot
an area that contains a large number of endemic but threatened species.
extirpated
a species that is locally extinct in one or more areas but still has some individual members in other areas.
conservation biology
the science concerned with preserving biodiversity.
threatened species
species that are at risk for extinction; various threat levels have been identified, ranging from “least concern” to “extinct”
keystone species
a species that impacts its community more than its mere abundance would predict.
single-species approach
a conservation strategy that focuses on protecting one particular species.
flagship species
the focus of public awareness campaigns aimed at generating interest in conservation in general, usually at interesting or charismatic species, such as the giant panda or tiger
