chapter ten key terms

Question 1

biodiversity

Answer 1

Biodiversity is the shortened form of two words “biological” and “diversity”. It refers to all the variety of life that can be found on Earth

Question 2

gene

Answer 2

The basic unit of heredity that occupies a specific location on a chromosome

Question 3

keystone species

Answer 3

an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether

Question 4

ecotourism

Answer 4

responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves interpretation and education

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

a plant or animal species generally perceived as likely, in the near future, to become endangered within all or much of its range

Question 7

exotic species

Answer 7

organisms that have been introduced into an area outside their normal distribution

Question 8

poaching

Answer 8

one who kills or takes wild animals such as game or fish illegally

Question 9

endemic

Answer 9

regularly found among particular people or in a certain area

Question 10

germ plasma

Answer 10

a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts

Question 11

endangered species act

Answer 11

prohibits importing, exporting, taking, possessing, selling, and transporting endangered and threatened species

Question 12

habitat convervation plan

Answer 12

guides protection and enhancement of habitats for ‘threatened’ and ‘endangered’ wildlife species, while ongoing natural resource management continues

Question 13

biodiversity treaty

Answer 13

promote the conservation of biodiversity and to ensure the sustainable use and equitable sharing of genetic resources.