Chapter 10 Key Terms

Question 1

Biodiversity

Answer 1

the biological variety and variability of life on Earth

Question 2

Gene

Answer 2

a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring

Question 3

Keystone Species

Answer 3

a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically

Question 4

Ecotourism

Answer 4

tourism directed toward exotic, often threatened, natural environments, intended to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife

Question 5

Endangered Species

Answer 5

a species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction

Question 6

Threatened Species

Answer 6

Threatened Species are any species that are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future

Question 7

Exotic Species

Answer 7

an exotic species refers to a plant species or an animal species that is non-native. It is introduced into an area where it does not occur naturally. The introduction of the species may be deliberate or accidental

Question 8

Poaching

Answer 8

Poaching has been defined as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights

Question 9

Endemic Species

Answer 9

Any species whose range is restricted to a limited geographical area

Question 10

Germ Plasm

Answer 10

Germplasm is living genetic resources such as seeds or tissues that are maintained for the purpose of animal and plant breeding, preservation, and other research uses

Question 11

Endangered Species Act

Answer 11

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found

Question 12

Habitat conversion plan

Answer 12

A Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is prepared by a landowner, in agreement with federal agencies under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This long-term plan guides the protection and enhancement of habitats for ‘threatened’ and ‘endangered’ wildlife species, while ongoing natural resource management continues.

Question 13

Biological Treaty

Answer 13

The treaty defines biodiversity as “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