Lecture 21: Applied and Large-Scale Ecology Flashcards
1
Q
Biodiversity
A
- The diversity of important ecological entities that span multiple spatial scales, from genes to species to communities
1. Genetic diversity within a species - morphological/ phenotypic diversity
Diversity within colour starfish)
2. Species diversity within a community
3. Diversity of communities across landscapes
2
Q
Example of Biodiversity
A
- Without the interaction between Corals & Symbiodinium we not have biodiversity within an ecosystem
- Within this bond they make coral reefs/ communities
3
Q
Why should we care
A
- Protecting biodiversity is important for both practical and moral reasons
- We are dependent on ecosystem services
4
Q
The following functions depend on the integrity of natural communities and ecosystems
A
- Water purification
- Generation and maintenance of soils
- Pollination of crops
- Climate regulation
- Flood control
- Source of food… like fish
5
Q
Why is Biodiversity Declining Globally
A
- endangered
- extinct
6
Q
Estimates of Current Extinction Rates Rely On
A
- The species–area relationship
- Changes in the threat status of species
- Rates of population decline or range contraction of common species
- Extinction is normal
- See a speciation event and then after so much time that species will disappear
- humans have been causing extinctions for years, species dramatically decline when humans show up
7
Q
Rate of Extinction
A
- difficult to measure
- since the # of species on Earth currently is unknown
- estimated from the fossil record are used as background rates
- Most species are headed to extinction
8
Q
Mammals and Birds
A
background rate is one species every 200 years
9
Q
Current Extinction Rate
A
1 per year
10
Q
Overall Extinction Rates
A
100-1,000x higher than the background rate
11
Q
Primary Threats to Biodiversity
A
habitat loss !!!
12
Q
Habitat Loss
A
- Conversion of an ecosystem to another use
- Habitat loss if the primary threat to biodiversity– needs to be conserved
- Humans have modified 60% of earth’s land surface, now appropriating 25% of Earth’s primary production
13
Q
Habitat Fragmentation
A
Breaking up continuous habitat into patches amid a human-dominated landscape
14
Q
Habitat Degradation
A
Changes that reduce quality of the habitat for many, but not all, species
15
Q
Overexploitation
A
- Size of cod has been shrinking due to overfishing
- Areas of the landscape change
- 1870 american bison skulls were ground into fertilizer
- Animals are overexploited for many things that aren’t food
