Environmental Biology Part 1 Flashcards
1
Q
What is the current world population?
A
7.3 billion
2
Q
Cows have __ times as much biomass as humans.
A
5
3
Q
How many chickens are there compared to humans?
A
2.5x more chickens
4
Q
What is the biomass of chickens compared to humans?
A
40 million tons of chicken vs. 350 million tons of humans (9x less)
5
Q
When did population start increasing linearly (from baseline)?
A
5000 years ago
6
Q
When has the majority of human population growth occurred in?
A
Last 200-300 years
7
Q
What is the likely cause of steady increase in human population growth?
A
Agriculture
8
Q
When was the most recent spike in human population growth?
A
1950-1960
9
Q
If our human population growth continues at the same rate, when can we expect to double our current population?
A
2100
10
Q
When did the majority of agriculture growth occur?
A
5000-10000 years ago
11
Q
What is one of the main agriculture contributors to human population growth in 1950’s?
A
Green revolution
12
Q
What is the green revolution?
A
Selection of semi dwarf varieties with reduced lodging and increased reproductive yield (e.x. wheat)
13
Q
Why are semi dwarf plants better? (Why goal of green revolution?)
A
More protected from weather and use less resources towards plant shoot height so they can be directed to increasing reproductive yield.
14
Q
Other than the green revolution, what other factor contributed to the large population growth in 1950?
A
Social policies
15
Q
In what way did social policy effect population growth in 1950?
A
Retirement planning (pensions) Offspring didn’t have to care for old = able to use resources towards growing own family Increased life expectancy of older people Hope and assurance in future Free health care
16
Q
Is living area an issue for human population growth?
A
NO
17
Q
Where are the highest populations distributed around the world?
A
Close to equator, coast lines, big cities
18
Q
Is food availability an issue for human population growth?
A
NO
19
Q
What country has seen a steady increase in wheat yield in last 60 years?
A
CHina
20
Q
What countries are near maximal wheat yield?
A
European countires
21
Q
What countries have the potential to grow more wheat?
A
North American countries (Canada + USA) and China
22
Q
Are mineral resources an issue for human population growth?
A
NO
23
Q
What are the 3 countries that produce the most potash?
A
Canada, Russia, Belarus
24
Q
When do scientists project we will run out of available oiL?
A
2050-2100
25
When did we see a large drop in crude oil price?
Very end of 2014
26
Is there an immediate shortage of oil (over next few hundred years)?
NO
27
Is fresh water availability an issue for human population growth?
YES
28
What two areas have the largest potential to house more human population based on water availability?
Australia, South America
29
What 3 continents are most at risk for water shortages?
Asia, Europe, Africa
30
What constitutes water scarcity?
Less than 1,000 m^3 water/person/year
31
What constitutes water stress?
1000-1700 m^3 water/person/year
32
What constitutes water vulnerability?
1700-2500 m3 water/person/year
33
What is the most (air) polluted country?
India
34
Can air pollution limit human population growth?
YES
35
How can you reduce air pollution?
Reduce the source
36
How much of air pollution is from human unregulated activity?
80%
37
What is the largest cause of air pollution? How much?
Industry 50%
38
How has the total fertility rate changed in Iraq and Iran in the last 50 years?
Decreased 33% in Iraq and 66% in Iran
39
What has a lower fertility rate: Iran or Iraq?
Iran
40
Why does Iran have a lower fertility rate than Iraq?
Stronger program to reduce fertility rates
41
In the last 50 years, how has the population changed in Iraq?
Increased by 150% (7-30)
42
In the last 50 years, how has the population changed in Iran?
Increased 80% (30-70)
43
What effect has the Gulf War and the Iraq War had on Iraq's population?
No obvious effect.
44
How does the population pyramid in China shift from 2010 to 2050?
Increase in age
45
A lower GDP/capita relates to a ______ fertility rate per country?
Higher
46
How does the age pyramid in Canada differ from poor countries?
Canada = house shape Madagascar = Concave triangle
47
The ecological footprint is \_\_\_\_\_\_? (Increasing or decreasing)
Increasing
48
How much higher is the ecological footprint than what we can sustain?
40%
49
What is biodiversity?
Sum total of all organisms in an area
50
What is ecosystem diversity?
The number and variety of the ecosystem Variance in the ecosystem itself
51
What is species diversity?
Number and variety of species in the world or a particular ecosystem
52
What are the 2 components of species diversity?
Species richness and relative abundance/evenness
53
What is species richness?
Number of species in an ecosystem
54
What is relative abundance/evenness?
Extent to which numbers of individuals or different species are equal or skewed
55
What is genetic diversity?
Varieties in DNA among individuals within species and populations
56
How does genetic diversity cause changes in the plant Stellaria long pipes?
Prairie habitat: hotter, lower altitude, more shade = taller stalk Alpine habitat: colder, higher altitude, more sun = shorter stalk
57
What is a species?
Population whose members SHARE CHARACTERISTICS and can freely breed with one another and PRODUCE FERTILE OFFSPRING
58
What is a population?
A group of individuals of a species that live in the same area
59
What is speciation?
Generates new species and adds to species richness
60
Is it possible to generate new species and increase species richness in ecosystems?
YES
61
What effect does extinction have on species diversity?
Reduces species richness
62
Why did golden toads go extinct?
Global warming drying effect on the forest reducing species richness
63
What is immigration?
INmigration of a species to a local area
64
What is emigration?
OUTmigration of a species to a local area
65
What is extripation?
Local extinction of a species
66
What is the order of taxa?
Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
67
What is the scientific name made up of?
Genus species
68
What are subspecies?
Populations of a species that occur in DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS and differ from one another in some CHARACTERISTICS but are still ABLE TO INTERBREED
69
What are the two ways to have reductions in genetic diversity?
Inbreeding depression Genetic bottleneck
70
What is inbreeding depression?
Genetically similar parents mate and produce infertile offspring
71
When does inbreeding depression often occur?
Plants and small animals that occupy small areas
72
What is genetic bottleneck?
Limited variety of genetic material is available to be passed along by the small number of surviving individuals to their descendants
73
When does genetic bottleneck occur?
Community of a particular species is very small Problem for larger animals or plants that occupy resisted ecosystems - that have trouble moving from one ecosystem to another
74
What is one animal that we looked at for being vulnerable for having low genetic diversity and live in restricted ecosystems for a very long time?
Koalas
75
Precise quantitative measurements of biodiversity are ___ difficult.
NOT
76
How many known species are there?
1.8 million
77
What precent of the known species is animals?
75%
78
What percent species are bacteria?
0.2%
79
Of animals, how many of them are mammals?
0.003% (9% mammals of 4% vertebrates)
80
What is the largest component of the animal kingdom?
Insects = 75%
81
Biodiversity of vertebrate is ______ distributed on the planet?
UNEVENLY
82
What is latitudinal gradient?
Species richness increases towards the equator
83
How does the bird species population change with latitudinal gradient?
400-600 species per area in central America vs. 50-100 species per area in northern Canada
84
Smaller size organisms will have ___ species?
MORE
85
What are the two factors that play key roles in latitudinal gradient?
Plant productivity Climate stability
86
Temperate and polar latitudes: the variable climate favours ____ species, and it has ____ species richness.
FEWER species, HIGH species richness
87
Tropical latitudes: the steady climate favours ____ species, and it has ____ species richness.
MORE species, LOW species richness
88
What is extinction?
Occurs when the last member of a species dies and the species ceases to exist
89
What is extirpation?
The disappearance of a particular population from a given area, but not the entire species globally
90
What species did we look at in class as being extirpated?
Siberian tiger
91
What is an endangered species?
Species in imminent danger of becoming extirpated or extinct
92
What is a threatened species?
Species likely to become endangered in the near future
93
Palaeontologists estimate \_\_% of all species that ever lived are now extinct.
99%
94
What is the background rate of extinction: definition and values?
DEFINITION: Natural extinction for a variety of reasons VALUES: 1 species out of 1000 mammal/marine species will go extinct every 1,000-10,000 years
95
How many previous mass extinction events has Earth had?
5
96
After a mass extinction event, does the species diversity come back stronger or weaker?
STRONGER
97
What mass extinction number are we in right now?
6
98
What is the cause of the current mass extinction?
Humans
99
What is a vulnerable species?
Species that are of particular concern because of characteristic that make them particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events
100
The global extinction rate is \_\_\_x greater than background rate?
100 - 1000
101
What is the Red List?
An updated list of species facing high risks of extinction used to conserve species and prevent mass extinction
102
How many of mammal species are on the red list?
23%
103
How many bird species are on the red list?
12%
104
About \_\_% of living population was lost between 1970-2000.
30%
105
True or false: the living planet index for population loss follows the same trend as the terrestrial index, freshwater index, and marine index?
TRUE
106
What are the causes population decline?
Habitat alteration Invasive species Pollution Overharvesting Climate change
107
Of the causes of population decline, what is the greatest cause of biodiversity loss?
Habitat alteration
108
Farming, grazing, and clearcutting are examples of what type of cause of population decline?
Habitat alteration
109
How do hydroelectric dams alter habitats?
Turn rivers into reservoirs upstream
110
What species can benefit from urbanization?
Rats Pigeons
111
What is an invasive species?
Introduction of a non-native species into a new environment that has no natural predicts, competition, or parasites.
112
How does climate change effect population loss?
Increases stress on population and forces organisms to shift their geographic ranges; most animals and plants cannot cope
113
How can biodiversity provide ecosystem services?
Stabilizes and moderates Earth's climate Generates and renews soil fertility and cycles nutrients Pollinates plants/crops Provides cultural and aesthetic benefits
114
True or false: biodiversity helps maintain ecosystem integrity
TRUE
115
True or false: biodiversity decreases food security.
FALSE
116
True or false: biodiversity provides drugs and medicine
TRUE
117
What is conservation biology?
Understanding the doctors, forces, and process that influence the loss, protection, and restoration of biological diversity
118
Conservation biology arose in response to \_\_\_\_.
BIODIVERSITY LOSS
119
Island biogeography can help address \_\_\_\_\_.
HABITAT FRAGMENTATION
120
What is the equilibrium theory of island biogeography?
Explains how species come to be distributed among oceanic islands
121
What is the distance effect for island biogeography?
Islands located close to a continent receive more immigrants than islands that are distant, so that near islands end ups with more species.
122
What is the target size effect for island biogeography?
Large islands present fatter targets for dispersing organisms to encounter, so that more species immigrate to large islands than to small islands.
123
What is the differential extinction effect in island biogeography?
Large islands have LOWER extinction rates, because the larger area can support larger populations
124
If you had a large island far away, and a small island close to the continent, which island would have more species?
Large island
125
What are three ways to protect biodiversity?
Captive breeding Cloning Protective communities
126
What is captive breeding?
Individuals are bred and raised in zoo or botanical garden with the intent of reintroducing them into the wild
127
What is cloning?
A technique to create more individuals and save species from extinction
128
True or false: Most biologists agree that cloning efforts are adequate in the ability to recreate the lost biodiversity.
FALSE (because no genetic diversity)
129
What are protective communities?
Conservation biologists use umbrella species as tools to conserve communities and ecosystems
130
What are flagship species?
Large and charismatic species used as spearheads for biodiversity conservation
131
What is a biodiversity hotspot?
Prioritizes regions most important for biodiversity
132
What is an endermic species?
Species found nowhere else in the world
133
Where are endermic species normally found?
Biodiversity hotspots
134
To be classified as a biological hotspot, how many endermic plant species must it have?
1500 endermic plant species
135
To be classified as a biological hotspot, how much (%) of its habitat is lost to human population?
70%
136
What is community based conservation?
Conservation biologists actively engage local people in protecting land and wildlife
137
What is a 'debt for nature swap'?
A conservation organization pays off a portion of developing country's international debt in exchange for a promise by the country to set aside reserves
138
What is conservation concession?
Conservation organizations pay nations to conserve (not sell) resources
139
There are __ national parks in Canada.
43
140
The amount of parks and reserves are ____ internationally.
INCREASING
141
What are world heritage sites?
Under national sovereignty but are designed or partly managed internally by the United Nations
142
What are biosphere reserves?
Tracts of land with exceptional biodiversity that couple reservation with sustainable development to benefit local people
