Lecture 1&2 Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
Variety/diversity of life
Life in all its forms and interactions
What aspects does biodiversity cover in an ecosystem?
Species numbers, interactions, habitats and functions
What are the biggest threats on biodiversity?
-habitat loss and degradation
-species overexploitation
-pollution
-invasive species and disease
-climate change
Is a richer diversity of life better?
Yes! It gives opportunity for:
-medical discoveries
-economic development
-adaptive responses to new challenges like climate change
What are the 3 main goals the convention of biological diversity established in 1992?
-the conservation of biological diversity (and reduce rate of loss)
-the sustainable use of its components
-the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources
What is biological diversity?
Variability or diversity within species or between species and ecosystems
What are the 3 general components of biodiversity?
-genetic
-species
-ecosystem
What is a species?
Genetically similar organisms able to interbreed with one another
What is a population?
A species within a defined geographical area with a degree of reproductive isolation from other populations
What is a biological community?
Populations in a specific area at a certain time
What is an ecosystem?
Biotic and abiotic communities interacting as a functional unit
Why is genetic diversity important?
-populations with higher genetic diversity can adapt better to environmental change
-when diversity is low all individuals are nearly identical making them more vulnerable to extinction
What is species diversity?
The number of species in a given region and the relative abundance of each species in a biological community
What can change species diversity?
-speciation
-extinction
-immigration
-emigration
How many species have been discovered?
An estimated 8.7 million of eukaryotic species
2.2 million are marine
