Conservation Biology Flashcards
biodiversity encompasses what 3 levels?
- ecosystem diversity
- species diversity
- genetic diversity
biodiversity also provides…
food, fibers, medicines, and ecosystem services
examples of ecosystem diversity
white coral reefs
species diversity contains…
- extirpation
- extinction
an example of extirpation
bission
an example of extinction
golden toads
What are some threats to biodiversity?
- habitat loss
- invasive species
- overharvesting
- pollution
- climate change
what is the SINGLE greatest threat to biodiversity
human alteration
how do invasive species disrupt communities?
by competing with, preying on, or parasitizing native species
What is a threat to many species?
harvesting at rates that exceed the population’s ability to rebound
invasive species examples
- brown snakes that eat birds
- cats
pollution encompasses the idea of…
biological magnification
what is biological magnification?
the idea that pollutants increase with trophic levels
effects of climate change are seen in
- melting ice sheets
- rising seas
- extreme weather
global temperatures are a result of…
rising concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities
green house gases include..
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- methane (CH4)
- nitrous oxide (N2O)
What are responsible for rising concentrations of green house gases?
human activites
Where does the carbon come from?
- fixed through organic material
- burning fossil fuels
- absorbed by photosynthetic organisms and incorporated into biomass
What is the effect of CO2 being absorbed into the ocean?
negative effect on organisms that construct shells or exoskeletons out of calcium carbonate
-formation of carbonic acid decreases concentration of carbonate ions
what is a consequence that global warming causes on terrestrial biomes?
changing distribution, especially for organisms that live in high latitudes/elevations
climate change also causes a
mismatch in phenology
phenotypic plasticity has minimized the impact of…several cases of….. have been observed
- climate change on some species
- microevolutionary change
Rapid environmental changes makes it hard for evolutionary processes to save species because?
The environmental changes happen too rapidly and the organisms do not have enough time to adapt
