Lecture 1

Question 1

What is conservation biology?

Answer 1

Conservation biology is an integrated, multidisciplinary scientific field that has developed in response to the challenge of preserving species and ecosystems

Question 2

Why is conservation science often used in place of conservation biology?

Answer 2

Conservation science is used in place of conservation biology because of the many non-biological disciplines involved

Question 3

What is often used in place of conservation biology because of the many non-biological disciplines involved?

Answer 3

Conservation Science

Question 4

When did conservation biology arise?

Answer 4

• Conservation biology arose in the 1980s as an applied science, but with a rich theoretical foundation
• increasingly, the social sciences are playing an important role

Question 5

What is conservation biology NOT?

Answer 5

Conservation biology is NOT ecology or environmentalism

Question 6

What is ecology?

Answer 6

Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings

Question 7

What is Environmentalism?

Answer 7

Environmentalism is a widespread movement characterized by political and educational activism with the goal of protecting the natural environment from destruction and pollution

Question 8

What are the three goals of conservation biology?

Answer 8

1. To document the full range of biodiversity of life on Earth
2. To investigate human impacts on species, genetic variation, and ecosystems
3. To develop practical approaches to prevent the extinction of species, maintain genetic diversity within species, and protect and restore biological communities and their associated ecosystem functions

Question 9

What is Biophilia?

Answer 9

Biophilia is the genetic predisposition of humans to like biodiversity
- a book

Question 10

What are the five ethical principles of conservation biology?

Answer 10

1. The diversity of species and ecosystems should be preserved
2. The ultimate extinction of populations and species should be prevented
3. Ecological complexity should be maintained
4. Evolution should continue
   - highlights the need to preserve genetic diversity and allow dispersal and exchange of genetic material among populations in nature
5. Biodiversity has intrinsic value
   - regardless of the economic, scientific, or aesthetic value to human society

Question 11

What is the first of five ethical principles of conservation biology?

Answer 11

1. The diversity of species and ecosystems should be preserved

Question 12

What is the second of five ethical principles of conservation biology?

Answer 12

2. The ultimate extinction of populations and species should be prevented

Question 13

What is the third of five ethical principles of conservation biology?

Answer 13

3. ecological complexity should be maintained

Question 14

What is the fourth of five ethical principles of conservation biology?

Answer 14

4. Evolution should continue
   
   • highlights the need to preserve genetic diversity and allow dispersal and exchange of genetic material among populations in nature

Question 15

What is the fifth of five ethical principles of conservation biology?

Answer 15

5. Biodiversity has intrinsic value

- regardless of the economic, scientific, or aesthetic value to human society

Question 16

What is the first goal of conservation biology?

Answer 16

1. To document the full range of biodiversity of life on Earth

Question 17

What is the second goal of conservation biology?

Answer 17

2. To investigate human impacts on species, genetic variation, and ecosystems

Question 18

What is the third goal of conservation biology?

Answer 18

3. To develop practical approaches to prevent the extinction of species, maintain genetic diversity within species, and protect and restore biological communities and their associated ecosystem functions