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Environmental science > How humans impact biodiversity > Flashcards

How humans impact biodiversity Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Name the 7 reasons for conservation

A
  1. biomimetics
  2. ecosystem services
  3. biological control
  4. genetic resources
  5. future supply of resources
  6. medicines
  7. physiological research
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2
Q

what is biomimetics (biomimicry) and examples

A

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

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3
Q

what are ecosystem services?

A

the many and varied benefits humans receive by healthy ecosystems which make life possible

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4
Q

5 ecosystem services:

  1. Atmospheric _________:
    - Transpiration controls _______ levels
    - ___________ regulates O2 and CO2 levels
  2. ______________ cycles:
    - detritivores and __________ (regulates and ______ waste)
  3. soil maintenance: detritivores and ________. Plant roots= soil ______
  4. habitat provision- one species can provide another______ for another species
  5. Inter-species ___________: species have _____ impact on one another
A
  1. composition
    - humidity
    - photosynthesis
  2. biogeochemical
    - decomposers, recycles
  3. decomposers , stability
  4. habitat
  5. relationships, direct
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5
Q

definition of biological control (example)

A

living organisms are used to control pests (predators or pathogens)
examples- ladybirds decrease aphids, less crop destroyed

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6
Q

definition of genetic resource (example)

A
  • 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
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7
Q

what is future supply of resources? (examples)

A

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

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8
Q

Why must we conserve an organism with potential medicinal property? (examples)

A

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

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9
Q

definition of physiological research (examples)

A

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)

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10
Q

What does EDGE species stand for?

A

Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered species

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11
Q

Species with a high EDGE score is more likely to be conserved. What is the EDGE score? (examples of EDGE species)

A

a metric combining endangered conservation status with a genetic distinctiveness (is unique no close relatives)
examples- black rhinos, sawfish, aardvark

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12
Q

What is a flagship species? (examples)

A

a species which is chosen to act as an icon/symbol in order to raise support for conservation. (panda, bengal tiger, African elephants/lions)

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13
Q

What is a keystone species? (examples)

A

a species which has a disproportionately larger effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.

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14
Q

What is an endemic species? (examples)

A

species which are found in one particular region. (lemurs, kiwis, kangaroos)

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15
Q

Roles of the IUCN:

  1. coordinating _____ data on _________ conservation
  2. _______ understanding of the ________ of biodiversity
  3. deploying nature-based ________ to global challenges in _______, food and __________ development
A
  1. global, biodiversity
  2. increasing, importance
  3. solutions, biodiversity, sustainable
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16
Q

What is the IUCN Red List?

A

a comprehensive information source on global conservation. Helps to inform necessary conservation decisions

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17
Q

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

A

not evaluated, data deficient, least concern, near threatened, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, extinct in wild, extinct

18
Q

Reasons why a species could change category on the Red List?

A

That particular species may increase due to conservation efforts, a decrease in human threat. Could decrease due to loss of habitat or over exploitation

19
Q

Example of a species recategorised by the IUCN

A

siberian lynx recategorised from critically endangered to endangered due to captive breeding programme and protection of habitat.

20
Q

Name the 6 threats to wildlife

A 
direct exploitation 
introduced species 
deliberate eradication of predators and competitors 
change in biotic factors
change in abiotic factors 
habitat destruction
21
Q

human activities involved in direct exploitation (examples)

A

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)

22
Q

human activities involved in introduced species (4 examples)

A
  • 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)
23
Q

human activities involved in Deliberate eradication of predators/competitors (examples)

A

hunting, poisoning, habitat modification, pesticides, trapping

  • sharks hunted to keep from killing tourists
  • Yellowstone park-wolves hunted to increase deer pop.
24
Q

human activities involved in change in biotic factors (3 examples)

A
  • 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)
25
Q

human activities involved in abiotic factors (8 examples)

A
  • Stopping plagioclimax management
  • Water availability
  • Light levels
  • Oxygen availability
  • Nutrient levels
  • Temp
  • pH
  • Water turbidity
26
Q

human activities involved in habitat destruction (4 examples)

A
  • 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
27
Q

definition of gene pool

A

total no. of all genes/alleles present in a particular population at a given time

28
Q

definition of biodiversity

A

measure of the no. of different species in a community

29
Q

How do factories change abiotic factors?

A

release hot H2O which deoxygenates the water. Decrease in dissolved oxygen levels reduce survival of aerobic organisms in water

30
Q

How can light levels affect organisms?

A

artificial light affect migrating birds (makes them disorientated). Nocturnal animals avoid brightly lit areas, foraging area reduced. Less photosynthesis

31
Q

How does fertiliser affect organisms?

A

runoff into water systems. Stimulates growth of microorganisms: oxygen decreases

32
Q

How does pH affect organisms? (2 things)

A

can denature cell proteins. invertebrates with calcium based exoskeletons can break down due to pH

33
Q

what causes pH to change?

A

mining, burning fossil fuels, smelting metals makes pH acidic

34
Q

how does turbidity affect organisms?

A

less light penetration, prevents photosynthesis of aquatic plants

35
Q

what increases turbidity levels?

A

ploughing, dredging, mining

36
Q

How do hydroelectric power plants affect water availability?

A

causes sudden changes in water levels. flooding nests on river banks, killing eggs

37
Q

what 2 other ways that water availability can be affected?

A
  • land drainage for farmland

- Overexploitation of groundwater can cause surface wetlands to dry out

38
Q
  • 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 ________.
A
  • distribution, tolerance

- effluent, increase, (deoxygentation), vegetation

39
Q

how do flooding of reservoirs affect organisms?

A
  • species forced to leave area
  • vegetation destroyed
  • changes nutrient flow
  • affects aquatic migration (salmon) slow water velocities expose them to high temps
40
Q

what does IUCN stand for?

A

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

41
Q

list the criteria the IUCN uses to prioritise conservation (5)

A
  • 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
42
Q

Why are vavilov centres important?

A

have a large gene pool of CWR

Environmental science (19 decks)

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