Conservation Science Flashcards
do all taxonomic groups of biodiversity hold the same diversity
NO - some, like insects, hold more diversity than others
what levels is biodiversity important
- species level
- genetic level
- ecosystem and habitat level
is diversity evenly spread across different habitats and areas
No
is extinction a natural process
yes
what type of species are more vulnerable to extinction than others
- those that are highly specialized in their habitat or food needs
- k-selected species ; those that are slow to reproduce
what is causing the beginning of a sixth mass extinction
human impacts
main cause of current biodiversity loss
habitat loss and degradation
additional causes of biodiversity loss
- climate change
- pollution
- invasive species
- overharvesting/hunting
6 benefits of biodiversity
- vital for the functioning of ecosystems and provide us services
- contributes to the resilience and stability of ecosystems
- wild species are potential sources of food
- modern medicines are derived from wild species
- contributes to economies through tourism and mostly ecotourism
- humans have a psychological need to connect with the natural world
conservation biology
science that studies biodiversity loss and seeks ways to protect and restore biodiversity at all its levels
why is fragmentation of habitats a problem
it increases the proportion of edge to core habitat (which have two very different compositions)
what is one potential solution to habitat fragmentation
natural corridors
what principles explain how size and distance influence the number of species living on islands
- island biogeography
- area-size relationship
ex-situ vs in-situ conservation
ex-situ ; include captive breeding, reintroduction programs, and preservation of species in zoos and aquaria
in-situ ; involve the preservation of habitat so species can exist in their natural state
what do most conservation efforts focus on
threatened and endangered species
what is Canada’s main vehicle for designating threatened species
Species at Risk Act (SARA)
what is the importance of biodiversity hotspots
they have drawn attention to areas of the world that are highly and uniquely diverse
what is the benefit of community-based conservation
conservation that practices mutual benefit of ecosystems and the local people
what are some economic strategies for conservation
- debt-for-nature swaps
- conservation concessions
what has led to the creation of parks, reserves and wilderness areas
public demand for conservation, preservation and recreation
two types of internationally designated protected lands
- biosphere reserves
- world heritage sites
what do biosphere reserves aim to integrate
protection of natural areas with sustainable human use
Subspecies
Below the species level - denoted by a third scientific name
what constitutes a subspecies
Populations of a species that occur in different geographic areas and differ from one another in some characteristics
what causes subspecies
form by similar processes that cause speciation except divergence does not proceed to the extent a new species is made
Levels of biodiversity
- Genetic diversity
- Species diversity
Ecosystem and habitat diversity
Genetic diversity
The varieties in DNA present among individuals within species, subspecies and populations
what does MORE genetic diversity allow
a population a better survival chance as the variation allows them to cope with environmental changes
what does LITTLE genetic variation cause
population to be more vulnerable to environmental changes that they are not prepared for and increases the spread of disease
what can result from little genetic variation
bottleneck ;
A limited variety of genetic material is available to be passed along by the small number of surviving individuals to their descendants
Species diversity vs species richness vs relative abundance
Species diversity ;
quantify the number and variety of species in the world or a particular region
species richness ;
number of species in a particular area
relative abundance ;
the extent to which the population numbers of individuals of each species are equal or skewed
global forces that affect species richness
speciation and extinction
Ecosystem diversity
The number and variety of ecosystems in a given area based on variations in climate, topography and soil type
what has a direct influence on species richness
ecosystem diversity
_____ have high biodiversity
ecotones (areas that different habitats intermix)
Why knowledge of species numbers is incomplete
- some areas of earth are little explored
- many species are tiny and overlooked
- Many organisms hare incredibly hard to identify that some are mislabel as the same species
where does species richness increase in the world
closer to the equator
endangered vs threatened vs vulnerable
Endangered ;
Species that is in imminent danger of extirpation or extinction
threatened ;
Species that is likely to become endangered in the near future if limiting factors are not reversed
vulnerable ;
Species that are of particular concern because of characteristics that make them particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events
ecotourism
Travel whose main purpose is to experience relatively pristine, undisturbed natural areas
conservation vs preservation
conservation ;
Natural habitat and species should be cared for and maintained for multiple purposes and that they not only have their own value but also value for people
preservation ;
Maintenance of a natural area or species in a pristine or unaltered state (or as close as possible)
what level(s) does conservation biology focus on
all of them - genetic, species and ecosystem diversity
Island biogeography explains how
how number of species on a island results from equilibrium balance between immigration and extirpation
key predictions from island biogeography
- Farther an island is from a continent - fewer species tend to colonize it (distance effect)
- Larger islands have more species at equilibrium than smaller islands based on the higher immigration rates and lower extinction rates ( Area effect )
SLOSS dilemma
Single Large or Several Small habitat debate
(Large species that travel long distances would benefit from the “single large” approach to reserve design
Smaller species (like insects) would likely be fine with small isolated reserves (several small))
captive breeding
Raising individuals of endangered species for the purpose of reintroducing them into the wilds
soft vs hard release
soft ;
a variety of adaptation and acclimatization techniques before release or post-release feeding and care
hard ;
simple release of individuals into the wild
Cloning
DNA from an endangered species in inserted into a cultured egg without a nucleus, the egg is implanted into a closely related species that can act as a surrogate mother
umbrella species
Large species that roam great distances that need large areas of habitat automatically help the less charismatic species in the same area that don’t have the same public interest
Biodiversity hotspots
An area that supports an especially great diversity of species particularly species that are endemic to the area
criteria to be considered a hotspot
○ harbor at least 1500 endemic plant species
○ Already lost 70% of its habitat from human impacts
Community based conservation
Conservation that actively engages local people in efforts to protect land and wildlife in their backyards
debt for nature swap economic strategy
an environmental group or a corporation takes on a portion of the debt of a developing country, usually in exchange for some form of environmental protection or conservation
conservation concession economic strategy
Conservation International has stepped in and paid nations for concessions that are more favorable to conservation than to resource extraction
latitudinal gradient
species richness increases towards the equator
what is the Red List referring to
an updated list of species facing high risks of extinctions
which extinction rate is higher, background extinction or global extinction
global extinction is much greater than the background extinction rate
greatest cause of biodiversity loss
habitat alteration
methods of introduction of non-native species
deliberate (food crops) and accidental (zebra mussels)
examples of ecotourism
- Great Barrier Reef
- Amazon Rainforest
Biophilia
connections that humans subconsciously seek with life
nature deficit disorder
alienation from the natural world
