Chapter 11

Question 1

Define:

Genetic diversity,

Species diversity,

Ecological diversity,

Species richness,

Species evenness

Answer 1

• Genetic Diversity - measures variety of different versions of same genes within a species
• Species Diversity - measures number of different kinds of organisms within a community
• Ecological Diversity - measures richness and complexity of a community
• Species Richness - total number of species in a community
• Species Evenness -relative abundance of individuals within each species

Question 2

1. How many Species have been identified?
2. How many species are estimated to exist on Earth?
3. How many of those species are insects?
4. What percentage of species do invertebrates make up?

Answer 2

1. 1.7 Million
2. 3-50 Million
3. 4-6 Million
4. 65%

Question 3

How many Hotspots exist on land, and what percentage of what kind of species are contained there?

Answer 3

1. There are 34 Hotspots that exist

2. They contain 75% of all threatened Mammals, Birds, and Amphibians.

Question 4

.What are the benefits of biodiversity in terms of food, drugs/medicine, ecological benefits, aesthetic and cultural benefits?

Answer 4

• Food: Wild plants could provide new sources of food or more genetic diversity for existing crops
• Drugs/Medicine: More than half of all modern medicines contain some natural product from a wild species
• Ecological Benefits: Soil formation, waste disposal, air and water purification, nutrient cycling, solar energy absorption, and biogeochemical and hydrological cycles all depend on biodiversity
• Aesthetic/Cultural Benefits: Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, etc

Question 5

. What is natural extinction definition?

Answer 5

•The elimination of a species on Earth. Natural Extinction occurs in undisturbed ecosystems

Question 6

What percentage of species that have existed on Earth are now extinct?

Answer 6

99%

Question 7

In this century, the human impact may be accelerating the natural extinction rate by ___ times?

Answer 7

100x-1000x

Question 8

From 1600-1850, it is estimated that ______ species were lost per _______?

Answer 8

1. 2-3 Species

2. Per Decade

Question 9

If the present trend of loss of species continues, ______ of primates and ______ of all birds will go extinct within ______years.

Answer 9

1. Half
2. One Quarter
3. 50 Years.

Question 10

What is HIPPO and what are the causes of habitat destruction?

Answer 10

• Hippo stands for: habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, population, and overharvesting.
• Habitat Destruction: Biggest reason for current increase in extinction is habitat loss, and due to: Conversion of forest to farmland, cities, etc. Habitat is fragmented into small, scattered plots. Loss of habitat due to mining, dams, destructive fishing practices

Question 11

What is an invasive species?

Answer 11

•Invasive organisms thrive in new territory where they are free of usual predators, diseases, or resource limitations that checked them in the original habitat

Question 12

In the last 300 years ____ non-native species have been established in U.S., of which _____% damage the environment.

Answer 12

1. 50,000

2. 15%

Question 13

Briefly discuss the causes of biodiversity loss due to human impact, namely, pollution, population and over harvesting

Answer 13

• Biggest Reason of current increase in extinction is due to: Conversion of forest into farmland and cities. Habitats are fragmented into small, scattered plots. Loss of habitats due to mining, dams, and destructive fishing practices.
• Pollution: Pesticides and Lead
• Population growth leads to over harvesting ( All major fish stocks expected to collapse within 50 years if current trends continue)
• Over Harvesting: All major fish stocks expected to collapse within 50 years if current trends continue

Question 14

Annually, about 5 million birds are sold world-wide, of which ____% die before reaching the market.

Answer 14

60%

Question 15

Define: Endangered, threatened, vulnerable

Answer 15

• Endangered: A those considered in imminent danger of extinction
• Threatened: Are those likely to become endangered, at least locally, in the near future
• Vulnerable: Are those that are naturally rare or have been locally depleted to a level that puts them at risk.

Question 16

. Endangered Species Act was established in ______ . What is the purpose of this act and what activities is it involved?

Answer 16

1. 1973
2. • Regulates a wide range of activities involving endangered species: Taking (harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, shooting, trapping, killing, capturing, or collecting) either accidentally or on purpose. Selling, Possessing, Transporting or Shipping. Importing into or Exporting out of the U.S. Prohibitions apply to whole organisms, body parts, as well as products made from the organisms.

Question 17

What is the purpose of recovery plan by USFWS, and what negative issues are there?

Answer 17

• Once a species is endangered, USFWS is required to propose a recovery plan detailing the rebuilding of the species to sustainable levels.
• One negative issue is that it rakes years, is expensive and subject to political interference due to economic interests

Question 18

What is keystone species?

Answer 18

•Species that has major effects on other members of community (like Bison)

Question 19

What is HCP, and related to private land owners, what is the purpose of HCP?

Answer 19

•HCP: Habitat Conservation Plans. Negotiation with Private Land Owners. Landowners allowed to harvest resources or build on part of land as long as endangered species benefits

Question 20

With Habitat Protection, Grumbine suggests four principles. What are they?

Answer 20

• Protect enough habitat for viability of all native species in a given region
• Manage at regional scale large enough to accommodate natural disturbances
• Plan over a period of centuries for the evolution of the ecosystem
• Allow for human use at a level that does not result in significant ecological degradation

Question 21

What is CITES and what is its purpose?

Answer 21

CITES: Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species: Regulates trade in living specimens and products derived from listed threatened species

Question 22

What is captive breeding, and what are the shortcomings?

Answer 22

• Captive Breeding: Breeding programs in zoos and botanical gardens are one method of saving threatened species. Repositories of genetic diversity - most mammals in North American zoos are now produced from captive-breeding programs. Provide animals for reintroduction programs
• Shortcomings many species do not reproduce in captivity, and there are not enough zoos to maintain every species. Continued inbreeding of zoo specimens may lead to infertility and low infant survival. Natural habitat may disappear while we are busy conserving the species itself.