How humans impact biodiversity Flashcards
Name the 7 reasons for conservation
- biomimetics
- ecosystem services
- biological control
- genetic resources
- future supply of resources
- medicines
- physiological research
what is biomimetics (biomimicry) and examples
developing of human invention/engineering that mimics biologically produced substances,mechanisms and processes (gherkin building: based off of circulation in sea sponge = ventilation, shark skin = bacteria resistant so being developed for hospitals
what are ecosystem services?
the many and varied benefits humans receive by healthy ecosystems which make life possible
5 ecosystem services:
- Atmospheric _________:
- Transpiration controls _______ levels
- ___________ regulates O2 and CO2 levels - ______________ cycles:
- detritivores and __________ (regulates and ______ waste) - soil maintenance: detritivores and ________. Plant roots= soil ______
- habitat provision- one species can provide another______ for another species
- Inter-species ___________: species have _____ impact on one another
- composition
- humidity
- photosynthesis - biogeochemical
- decomposers, recycles - decomposers , stability
- habitat
- relationships, direct
definition of biological control (example)
living organisms are used to control pests (predators or pathogens)
examples- ladybirds decrease aphids, less crop destroyed
definition of genetic resource (example)
- genes that carry valuable characteristics
- can have a higher range of tolerance
i. e. - vegetables trying to be bred with sea kale so can grow in saline soils
what is future supply of resources? (examples)
resources for humans to use (provision of resources) like other plant species that are known to be edible but not cultivated yet.
examples- potato bean high in protein, biofuels so less fossil fuels needed
Why must we conserve an organism with potential medicinal property? (examples)
only a small portion of species have been studied for medicinal properties.
example- aspirin extracted from willow bark, alkyglycrols found in shark liver could suppress cancer tumour growth
definition of physiological research (examples)
organisms used to research potential breakthroughs on understanding the human body
i.e. squid nerve cells studied as they are larger than human ones. marsupials: give birth to young early, offspring is in pouch (better understanding of development of human babies in the womb)
What does EDGE species stand for?
Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered species
Species with a high EDGE score is more likely to be conserved. What is the EDGE score? (examples of EDGE species)
a metric combining endangered conservation status with a genetic distinctiveness (is unique no close relatives)
examples- black rhinos, sawfish, aardvark
What is a flagship species? (examples)
a species which is chosen to act as an icon/symbol in order to raise support for conservation. (panda, bengal tiger, African elephants/lions)
What is a keystone species? (examples)
a species which has a disproportionately larger effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.
What is an endemic species? (examples)
species which are found in one particular region. (lemurs, kiwis, kangaroos)
Roles of the IUCN:
- coordinating _____ data on _________ conservation
- _______ understanding of the ________ of biodiversity
- deploying nature-based ________ to global challenges in _______, food and __________ development
- global, biodiversity
- increasing, importance
- solutions, biodiversity, sustainable
What is the IUCN Red List?
a comprehensive information source on global conservation. Helps to inform necessary conservation decisions
Put these IUCN categories from least info to worst category:
vulnerable, endangered, data deficient, extinct in wild, not evaluated, near threatened, critically endangered, least concern, extinct
not evaluated, data deficient, least concern, near threatened, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, extinct in wild, extinct
Reasons why a species could change category on the Red List?
That particular species may increase due to conservation efforts, a decrease in human threat. Could decrease due to loss of habitat or over exploitation
Example of a species recategorised by the IUCN
siberian lynx recategorised from critically endangered to endangered due to captive breeding programme and protection of habitat.
Name the 6 threats to wildlife
direct exploitation introduced species deliberate eradication of predators and competitors change in biotic factors change in abiotic factors habitat destruction
human activities involved in direct exploitation (examples)
food - cod, tuna, dodo
fashion -skins (tiger, fur seal, leopards) leather (alligators/crocodiles)
pets/entertainment - zoos, aquariums
medicine- tigers (skin diseases/toothache), rhinos (smallpox), seahorses (infertility)
human activities involved in introduced species (4 examples)
- competitors-outcompete (grey squirrels out compete red squirrels)
- predators - Nile perch introduced in Lake Victoria (predated on all fish species there)
- pathogens- grey squirrel with squirrel pox
- hybridising- introduced species + native species bred together (wildcats with domestic cats)
human activities involved in Deliberate eradication of predators/competitors (examples)
hunting, poisoning, habitat modification, pesticides, trapping
- sharks hunted to keep from killing tourists
- Yellowstone park-wolves hunted to increase deer pop.
human activities involved in change in biotic factors (3 examples)
- poaching: kills herbivores less seed dispersal(elephants, rhinos)
- pesticides (reduce pollinators). Apple/cherry yield decreasing
- food chain impacts (puffins declined due to overexploitation of sand eels)
human activities involved in abiotic factors (8 examples)
- Stopping plagioclimax management
- Water availability
- Light levels
- Oxygen availability
- Nutrient levels
- Temp
- pH
- Water turbidity
human activities involved in habitat destruction (4 examples)
- urbanisation (new roads, unconnected habitats, roadkill- in southern eastern USA panther died out)
- deforestation: due to expansion of farmland/logging (orangutan habitat shrunk by 80% )
- mining (run off so contaminates, sinkholes, erosion (fish in rivers)
- flooding by reservoirs
definition of gene pool
total no. of all genes/alleles present in a particular population at a given time
definition of biodiversity
measure of the no. of different species in a community
How do factories change abiotic factors?
release hot H2O which deoxygenates the water. Decrease in dissolved oxygen levels reduce survival of aerobic organisms in water
How can light levels affect organisms?
artificial light affect migrating birds (makes them disorientated). Nocturnal animals avoid brightly lit areas, foraging area reduced. Less photosynthesis
How does fertiliser affect organisms?
runoff into water systems. Stimulates growth of microorganisms: oxygen decreases
How does pH affect organisms? (2 things)
can denature cell proteins. invertebrates with calcium based exoskeletons can break down due to pH
what causes pH to change?
mining, burning fossil fuels, smelting metals makes pH acidic
how does turbidity affect organisms?
less light penetration, prevents photosynthesis of aquatic plants
what increases turbidity levels?
ploughing, dredging, mining
How do hydroelectric power plants affect water availability?
causes sudden changes in water levels. flooding nests on river banks, killing eggs
what 2 other ways that water availability can be affected?
- land drainage for farmland
- Overexploitation of groundwater can cause surface wetlands to dry out
- climate change: change _________ of species. May die out if out of range of _________.
- Hot _______ water: either _______ rate of decomposition (causing ___________ in water) or increase growth of aquatic ________.
- distribution, tolerance
- effluent, increase, (deoxygentation), vegetation
how do flooding of reservoirs affect organisms?
- species forced to leave area
- vegetation destroyed
- changes nutrient flow
- affects aquatic migration (salmon) slow water velocities expose them to high temps
what does IUCN stand for?
International Union for the Conservation of Nature
list the criteria the IUCN uses to prioritise conservation (5)
- rate of pop. decline
- pop. size of species
- if species living in small restricted area
- geographic range
- if results from quantitative analysis indicate high probability of extinction
Why are vavilov centres important?
have a large gene pool of CWR
