Human Activities Affect Biological Diversity Flashcards
What is reduction in biodiversity?
the decline or disappearance of biological diversity, understood as the variety of living things that inhabit the planet, its different levels of biological organisation and their respective genetic variability, as well as the natural patterns present in ecosystems.
What is extinction, and the causes?
It occurs when species are diminished because of environmental forces such as habitat fragmentation, climate change, natural disaster, overexploitation by humans, and pollution, or because of evolutionary changes in their members (genetic inbreeding, poor reproduction, decline in population numbers).
What is extirpation, and the causes?
Extirpation of species have been taking place for as long as there have been living beings on Earth. This can be due to natural causes, like physical changes in nature, or due to human presence and activity.
What is overspecialization and how does that lead to reduction in diversity?
Sometimes organisms have adaptations that suit them only to a very narrow set of environmental conditions. This usually occurs in a relatively stable area, where the environment does not change for a very long period of time. This is called overspecialization and it is another cause of extinction.
What are human actions that cause animal extinction?
overhunting or overharvesting; introduction of nonnative species, including the spread of disease; and habitat degradation or loss.
How do various biotechnologies impact diversity within species?
In the absence of conservation, commercial biotechnology may unleash a new era of genetic erosion.
What is artificial selection?
an evolutionary process in which humans consciously select for or against particular features in organisms - for example, by choosing which individuals to save seeds from or breed from one generation to the next. People have been artificially selecting plants and animals for thousands of years.
What is cloning?
a number of different processes that can be used to produce genetically identical copies of a biological entity.
What is artificial insemination?
the introduction of semen directly into the female reproductive tract through means other than copulation.
What is vitro fertilization?
a technique where sperm is placed outside of the body and fertilized by a highly specialized mix of chemicals.
What is genetic engineering?
one type of genetic modification that involves an intended targeted change in a plant or animal gene sequence to effect a specific result through the use of rDNA technology.
What are the societal impacts of using biotechnologies on plants and animals?
The four main concerns revolve around ethical, safety, bioterrorism and environmental issues.
What are strategies to conserve biological diversity?
Ecological Restoration, protect habitat, buy local products, sustainable living, volunteer, grow native species.
What are protected areas?
A clearly defined geographical space that is recognized, dedicated, and managed through legal or other effective means to achieve long-term conservation of nature and associated ecosystem services and cultural values.
What is restoration of ecosystems and species?
aims to recreate, initiate, or accelerate the recovery of an ecosystem that has been disturbed.
