Human impacts on ecological systems Flashcards
1
Q
The most important causes of premature extinction: “HIPPO”
A
- Habitat destruction, degradation & fragmentation
- Invasive species
- Population growth
- Pollution
- Overexploitation
2
Q
Old growth forests
A
Forest untouched
3
Q
Fragmentation increases the ratio of
A
edge to interior
4
Q
Invasive species
A
- Not native and has negative effects on economy, environment, or health
- Displace native species (via competition, predation, parasitism, or
herbivory) and alter ecosystems - Often:
– No/few natural enemies
– Fast population growth
5
Q
Biotic homogenization
A
species invasions and extinctions increase the similarity of species composition in two or more locations over time
6
Q
Biomagnification
A
Chemicals often accumulate as they
move through food webs
7
Q
Paul Hermann Müller
Swiss Chemist
A
Won Nobel Prize for discovering insecticidal properties of DDT
8
Q
DDT and many other pesticides have since
been identified as…
A
“Endocrine disruptors”
9
Q
Pollutants move
A
acid deposition (“acid rain”)
10
Q
Over-harvesting
A
- Unsustainable harvesting
- History of extinctions
