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bio II exam 4 > chapter 47: conservation of biodiversity > Flashcards

chapter 47: conservation of biodiversity Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

what is conservation biology

A

Discipline that seeks to understand effects of human activities on species, communities, & ecosystems; to develop practical approaches to preventing extinction of species & destruction of ecosystems

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2
Q

what is the primary goal of conservation biology

A

management of biodiversity

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3
Q

why did conservation biology develop

A

Developed due to current rates of extinction on Earth caused by human-related factors

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4
Q

why protecting diversity is necessary

A

-20% of species now most likely become extinct in 20-50 years
-Planned, coordinated actions needed
-Understand importance

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5
Q

what is bioinformatics

A

collection & analysis of biological information to make it readily available using modern computer technology

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6
Q

what are endangered species

A

animals in peril of immediate extinction throughout all or most of their ranges
30,000+ in danger of extinction

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7
Q

what are threatened species

A

organisms likely to become endangered in the near future

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8
Q

3 ways to describe biodiversity

A
  1. genetic diversity
  2. community diversity
  3. landscape diversity
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9
Q

what is genetic diversity

A

refers to genetic variations among members of a population
-High diversity more likely to survive a changes in environment
-Population is small & isolated more likely to become extinct

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10
Q

what is community diversity

A

Variety of species in a particular locale, dependent on species interactions
-Diverse community compositions increase levels of biodiversity
-Conserve species that play a critical role in an ecosystem

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11
Q

what is landscape diversity

A

Variety of habitat elements within an ecosystem (e.g., plains, mountains, and rivers)

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12
Q

what is a landscape

A

A number of interacting ecosystems
-Fragmentation reduces reproductive capacity & food availability & may disrupt behaviors

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13
Q

biodiversity not evenly distributed throughout biosphere, so there is great importance in preserving what?

A

biodiversity hotspots

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14
Q

3 characteristics of biodiversity hotspots

A
  1. Large diversity of species in them
  2. Both direct & indirect value to humans
  3. Often source of new medicines
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15
Q

what is direct value

A

Species that perform services that provide an economic value to humans are considered to have a direct value

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16
Q

3 kinds of direct value

A
  1. Medicinal value
  2. Agricultural value
  3. Consumptive use value
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17
Q

what is medicinal value

A

-Most of prescription drugs currently used in originally derived from living organisms
-Worth over $200 billion
-Researchers estimate hundreds of new drugs are yet to be found in tropical rain forests
-May have economic value of over $200 billion

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18
Q

what is agricultural value

A

-Crops derived from wild plants
-Animals are main pollinators for flowering plants
-USDA estimates honeybee pollination supports $15 billion worth of agricultural production per year
-Natural predators of plant pests introduced to agricultural systems to reduce impact of pest on plant yields

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19
Q

what is consumptive use value

A

-Humans have had success cultivating crops, domesticating animals, growing trees in plantations, etc
-Additional products associated with environment are sold commercially

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20
Q

what is indirect value

A

-based on services ecosystems provide that do not have a measurable economic value
-Services may be unseen until disrupted

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21
Q

what is intangible value

A

walk in woods or time spent at a park
-Reconnecting with nature has proven physiological & psychological benefits to human health

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22
Q

what are biogeochemical cycles

A

Workings of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, & other biogeochemical cycles.
-Dependent upon these cycles
-Human upset of biogeochemical cycles have negative environmental consequences
-Technology limited/mostly unable to mimic cycles

23
Q

what is waste recycling

A

Many diverse organisms are critical in breaking down wastes and immobilizing pollutants
-Dumps millions of tons of waste material into natural ecosystems each year
-Without decomposition waste would cover entire surface of Earth

24
Q

what is the provision of freshwater

A

Water cycle continually supplies fresh water to terrestrial ecosystems
-Freshwater ecosystems provide us with a large diversity of species we can use as a source of food
-Forests soak up water & release it at a regular rate/during drier periods

25
Q

what is the prevention of soil erosion

A

Intact ecosystems naturally retain soil & prevent soil erosion
-Importance of this attribute is particularly observed after deforestation
-Most coastal ecosystems are not as bountiful as they once were because of deforestation and myriad other problems

26
Q

what is the regulation of climate

A

-Trees provide shade & reduce need for air conditioners in summer
-Global scale forests restore climate by incorporating carbon dioxide from atmosphere
-Reduction of forests reduces carbon dioxide uptake & oxygen output through photosynthesis

27
Q

what is ecotourism

A

Millions of people spend billions of dollars each year on fees, travel, lodging, & food because they enjoy vacationing in natural settings

28
Q

Benefits of a high level of biodiversity

A
  1. Higher rate of photosynthesis
  2. Resource partitioning will occur more easily
  3. Food web will be more complex & will have a greater number of connections
  4. Economically more valuable
  5. Better able to withstand environmental changes & invasions by other species
29
Q

what are the causes of extinction

A
  1. Habitat loss (85%)
  2. Exotic species (50%)
  3. Pollution (24%)
  4. Overexploitation (17%)
  5. Disease (3%)
    -Most of these species are imperiled by more than one reason
30
Q

effects of habitat loss

A

-All ecosystems
-Recent concern focuses on tropical rain forests & coral reefs
-Loss of habitat affects terrestrial, freshwater, & marine biodiversity
-Rain forest converted to uninhabitable for wildlife
-60% of coral reefs have been destroyed or are on the verge of destruction

31
Q

what are exotic species

A

nonnative species that migrate, or are introduced by humans, into a new ecosystem

32
Q

methods of exotic species

A
  1. Colonization: took new species when colonized new places
  2. Horticulture & agriculture: escaped from cultivated areas
  3. Accidental transport: Globe trade & transport
33
Q

what is pollution

A

Pollution is any environmental contaminant that adversely affects lives and health of living organisms
-Third main cause of extinction

34
Q

what types of pollution is biodiversity particularly threatened by

A
  1. Acid deposition
  2. Eutrophication
  3. Ozone depletion
  4. Synthetic chemicals
35
Q

what is acid deposition

A

-Sulfur dioxides & nitrogen react with water in the atmosphere to form acids that returned to Earth as either wet or dry deposition
-Weakens trees & increases their susceptibility to disease
-Kills small invertebrates & decomposers
-Many lakes in northern US lifeless

36
Q

what is eutrophication

A

-Excess nutrient runoff from terrestrial environments results in abundant algal growth in lakes
-Agricultural feeds, fertilized lawns, & sewage treatment plants
-Death of fish & other aquatic organisms

37
Q

what is ozone depletion

A

-Destroying ozone protects surface of Earth from harmful UV rays
-Traced to chlorine atoms that come from the breakdown of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
-Impaired plants growth, death of plankton, & impairment of immune system function

38
Q

what are synthetic chemicals

A

-Nonylphenols used in a variety of human products
-Mimic the effect of hormones
-Harms wildlife

39
Q

effects of climate change

A

-Erratic temperature patterns, serve storms, melting glaciers
-Inability to migrate to cooler climates
-Destruction of coral reefs
-Increase in parasites
-Suitable climate for human shifting toward poles & higher elevations

40
Q

what is overexploitation

A

When the number of individuals taken from a wild population is so great that the population becomes severely reduced in numbers
-Positive feedback cycle; poaching becomes very lucrative
-International value of trading wildlife species is approximately $20 billion

41
Q

effects of overexploitation

A

-11 of 15 major oceanic fishing areas have been overexploited
-Net captures thousands of dolphins that die
-Meaning of “dolphin-safe” label on tuna can vary, depending on the agency/organization that licenses label
-Some fishing boats drag trawling nets along seafloor to capture bottom-dwelling fish

42
Q

examples of conservation techniques

A

-Habitat preservation & restoration are important in preserving biodiversity
-Identification & mitigation of factors causing habitat decline is known as habitat restoration plan

43
Q

what is a keystone species

A

species that influence the viability of a community, although their numbers may not be excessively high
-Their presence dictates survival of entire community
-Extinction of these species can lead to additional extinctions & loss of biodiversity

44
Q

what is a flagship species

A

species chosen to raise support for biodiversity conservation in a given place or social context

45
Q

what is a priority species

A

species requiring protective measures and/or management guidelines to ensure their persistence

46
Q

what is an indicator species

A

species that can provide information on ecological changes and give early warning signals regarding ecosystem processes due to their sensitive reactions to them

47
Q

importance of landscape preservation

A

-Necessary to save as many connected ecosystems that form entire range of an animal
-Landscape encompasses different types of ecosystems
-Landscape protection for one species beneficial for other wildlife that share same space!

48
Q

what is a habitat restoration plan

A

Identification and mitigation of factors causing habitat decline
1. Begin as soon as possible before remaining fragments of the original habitat are lost
2. Use biological techniques to mimic natural processes
3. Strive for sustainable development

49
Q

What is the main reason that the field of conservation biology has developed?
a.
The current rates of extinction on Earth due to human-related factors

b.
Humans looking for new methods of obtaining resources from the natural environment

c.
The consolidation of multiple fields of science into one in an attempt to be more efficient

d.
As a means of monitoring the stability of ecosystems

A

a.
The current rates of extinction on Earth due to human-related factors

50
Q

Which of the following statements applies to an ecosystem with a high level of biodiversity?
a.
The ecosystem will have a higher rate of photosynthesis than a similar ecosystem with a lower biodiversity

b.
Resource partitioning will occur more easily in an ecosystem that has a high level of biodiversity

c.
The food web will be more complex and will have a greater number of connections within it

d.
Areas of high biodiversity are economically more valuable than areas with limited biodiversity

e.
All of these apply to an ecosystem with high biodiversity

A

e.
All of these apply to an ecosystem with high biodiversity

51
Q

Which of the following statements about extinction is true?
a.
Overexploitation by hunting and fishing is the biggest threat to tropical animals and plants

b.
Without human activity, all species would survive and there would be no extinctions

c.
Wild species often become extinct due to different combinations of factors

d.
Commercial hunting and fishing are always careful not to deplete animal reserves

e.
Introduction of new exotic species should help increase biodiversity, slowing species extinctions

A

c.
Wild species often become extinct due to different combinations of factors

52
Q

Why is there great value in preserving biodiversity hotspots?
a.
Biodiversity hotspots have a large diversity of species in them

b.
Biodiversity hotspots have a direct value to humans

c.
Biodiversity hotspots have an indirect value to humans

d.
Biodiversity hotspots are often a source of new medicines

e.
All of these are values of preserving biodiversity hotspots

A

e.
All of these are values of preserving biodiversity hotspots

53
Q

Which of the following preservation tactics would have the greatest impact on saving the largest number of species?
a.
Preserve a large tract of land that contains source populations of keystone species

b.
Preserve several small tracts of land that contain source populations of keystone species

c.
Preserve a large tract of land that contains sink populations of keystone species

d.
Preserve a large tract of land that contains source populations of flagship species

e.
Preserve multiple small tracts of land that each contain source populations of keystone species

A

a.
Preserve a large tract of land that contains source populations of keystone species

bio II exam 4 (5 decks)

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