Lecture 24

Question 1

What are the 3 diversities and review each one

Answer 1

Taxonomic (species) diversity: including both SPECIES RICHNESS and measure of SPECIES DIVERSITY

Genetic Diversity: techniques: sampling environmental DNA preserved in water, soils and sediments, and using BARCODING of specific genes to identidy different species and varieties

Ecosystem Diversity: specialized ecosystems and habitats that may contain rare or threatened species or communities are one of the greatest concerns for conservation

Question 2

Review birds nad other taxonomic groups

Answer 2

birds are well known, many researches and knowledge. Rare to find new specie

other taxonomic groups not well described L deep-sea invertebrates, soil invertebrates, prokaryotes

Question 3

There are threats to biodiversity. What are 4 causes that involve human intervention directly?

Answer 3

1. HABITAT LOSS, agriculture, forestry, mining and urbanization
2. OVEREXPLOITATION, fishing, hunting, collecting
3. HABITAT DEGRADATION : introduction of predators, parasites, competitors, POLLUTION and CLIMATE CHANGE
4. NATURAL : VOLCANOES, EARTHQUAKES, NATURAL CLIMATE CHANGE, SUCCESSION

Question 4

Explain extinction

Answer 4

• the final loss of a species world-wide

Question 5

explain extirpation

Answer 5

• the local elimination of populations, but the species continues to exist in other areas

Question 6

Why is biodiversity important?

Answer 6

• increases net primary production (NPP) of the plant community

Question 7

Review overexploitation of humans

Answer 7

• human pop has exponentially increased resource use and the conversion of natural habitats to agricultural and urban uses
• “mining” the oceans for protein to feed us, overharvested many fish species
• Top predators are relatively uncommon so if one of them were hunted… you stupid

Question 8

Review ocean pollution

Answer 8

• Plastics: high resistance to decay
• MICROPLASTIC PARTICLES are often eaten by primary consumer animals and detritus feeders, and have no nutrients, but can reduce productivity of food chains and webs
• LARGE PLASTICS are sources of microplastic, and some are consumed by animals like sea turtles when mistaken for jellyfish or other food items, often causing digestive obstruction or death
• Many chemicals and nutrients (sewage, agricultural wastewater) are also accumulating in parts of oceans around the world, affecting food webs, and creating large marine “ dead zones” due to low oxygen in the water (hypoxia

Question 9

review some positives”

Answer 9

• some species threatened with extinction recover
• government have created ecological reserves and protected areas that protect species, and allow population recovery
• wildlife corridors have been built to allow species to move safely between habitations
• management plans exist to restore damaged ecosystems by reducing pollution of rivers, replanting native species.
• seed banks now set up to protect genetic plant biodiversity

Question 10

Who is Dr.Cary Fowler

Answer 10

• he created the doomsday vault and preserving plant biodiversity for the future