Chapter 13

Question 1

Conservation

Answer 1

The various actions we can take to slow down or even reverse these losses of species and of biodiversity.

Question 2

Demographic uncertainty

Answer 2

Random variations in the number of individuals that are born male or female, or in the number that happen to die or reproduce in a given year.

Question 3

Environmental uncertainty

Answer 3

Unpredictable changes in environmental factors, whether disasters or relatively minor events.

Question 4

Allele

Answer 4

Rare form of a gene that may be suited for current or future environmental changes.

Question 5

Homozygous

Answer 5

The alleles provided by the mother and father are identical.

Question 6

Heterozygous

Answer 6

The alleles provided by the mother and father are different.

Question 7

Inbreeding depression

Answer 7

Reduced biological fitness in a given population as a result of inbreeding.

Question 8

Overexploitation

Answer 8

Populations are harvested at a rate that is unsustainable, given their natural rates of mortality and capacities for reproduction

Question 9

Introduced species

Answer 9

A non-native species that was introduced by humans and has assimilated into the ecosystem.

Question 10

Invasive species

Answer 10

A non-native species that was introduced by humans and causes harm.

Question 11

Extinction vortex

Answer 11

The process that declining populations undergo when positive feedback drives population size downward to extinction.