CHAPTER 15

Question 1

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS

Answer 1

Relatively small areas of land that contain an exceptional number of endemic species and are at high risk from human activities.

Question 2

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Answer 2

The number and variety of Earth’s organisms; consists of three components: genetic diversity, species richness, and ecosystem diversity.

Question 3

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

Answer 3

The scientific study of how humans affect organisms and of the development of ways to protect biological diversity.

Question 4

ECOSYTEM SERVICES

Answer 4

Environmental benefits, such as clean air, clean water, and fertile soil, provided by an ecosystem.

Question 5

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Answer 5

A species whose population has declined to the point that it may be at risk of extinction.

Question 6

ENDEMIC SPECIES

Answer 6

Organisms that are native to or confined to a particular region.

Question 7

INVASIVE SPECIES

Answer 7

Foreign species that spread rapidly in a new area if free of predators, parasites, or resource limitations that may have controlled their population in their native habitat.

Question 8

RESTORATION ECOLOGY

Answer 8

The study of the historical condition of a human damaged ecosystem, with the goal of returning it as closely as possible to its former state.

Question 9

SPECIES RICHNESS

Answer 9

The number of different species in a community.

Question 10

THREATENED SPECIES

Answer 10

A species whose population has declined to the point that it may be at risk of extinction.