Lecture 8 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is conservation biology?

A

An applied science that focuses on protecting the Earth’s biodiversity and maintaining natural ecosystems.

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2
Q

What are scientists who work in conservation biology devoted to?

A

Analyzing and reducing the human impact on every aspect of our environment.

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3
Q

What percent of mammals are at risk of extinction?

A

30%

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4
Q

What is the multifaceted approach required to conservation biology?

A
  1. Preserving current ecosystems
    2.Identifying reasons behind decomposition
  2. Restoring ideal conditions
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5
Q

Why does pollution from agriculture and algal blooms occur?

A

Because nutrients and contaminants from fertilizer and animal waste do not remain stationary they get carried with runoff into water.

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6
Q

When do dead zones occur in the Gulf Coast?

A

Every year in late summer or early fall (August/September).

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7
Q

when did algal blooms start to be documented?

A

The 1700s.

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8
Q

Why are algal blooms an issue?

A

They have major economic and health impacts.

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9
Q

What is phytoplankton?

A

Organisms that photosynthesize, but are not plants. Examples are diatoms, dinoflagellates, algae, and cyanobacteria.

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10
Q

What does phyto mean?

A

Plant.

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11
Q

What do phytoplankton do?

A

Transfer atmospheric carbon into organic carbon.

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12
Q

What can the carbon brought into the ocean by phytoplankton be used for?

A

To make calcium carbonate to make shells, corals, and skeletons.

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13
Q

What factors cause Red Tide?

A
  1. Sunlight - phytoplankton can only live in the first 200 m below the surface
  2. Nutrients - from decomposition of bacteria, polluted runoff, and atmosphere
  3. Temperate - higher temps increase metabolic processes and growth
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14
Q

Why do phytoplankton cause fish to die?

A
  1. They produce Brevotoxins which are neurotoxins that disrupt animal’s nervous systems
  2. They reduce the oxygen in the water
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15
Q

What is biomagnification?

A

When toxins increase in concentration through the food chain.

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16
Q

What is bioaccumulation?

A

An increase in the concentration of substances in certain tissues due to absorption of food.

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17
Q

What is bioconcentration?

A

When the uptake of toxins through respirations is greater than the excretion.

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18
Q

What is the goal of conservation?

A

Ensure the long-term preservation of biodiversity.

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19
Q

What are the three aims of conservation?

A
  1. Investigate biodiversity
  2. Document biodiversity
  3. Develop and access practical approaches to protect and restore biological communities, maintain genetic diversity, and prevent extinction
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20
Q

What is the biodiversity crisis?

A

The idea that it is occurring at a faster rate.

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21
Q

What information is included in the Red List?

A
  1. Range
  2. Population size
  3. Habitat
  4. Ecology
  5. Use and or trade
  6. Threats
  7. Conservation actions
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22
Q

How many species are on the Red List?

A

~ 150,000

23
Q

How many species are threatened?

A

~ 42,000

24
Q

What is the largest group of endangered species?

A

Amphibians.

25
Q

How old is the Endangered Species Act?

A

50 years.

26
Q

Who is the Endangered Species Act carried out by?

A

Mainly the Fish and Wildlife Service.

27
Q

What does the designation of a critical habitat require?

A

Litigation.

28
Q

What does a critical area include?

A

All areas that are deemed important to a species’ survival or recovery.

29
Q

How much more likely is a species that has a designated critical habitat to recover than those without?

A

Twice as likely.

30
Q

Why are some species warranted, but precluded?

A

Either due to a lack of resources or because it is lower on the list of priorities.

31
Q

What is an example of a species that is warranted, but precluded?

A

The Monarch Butterfly, which solely relies on milkweed for its caterpillar phase.

32
Q

What was WBP (Warranted But Precluded) supposed to be?

A

A limited exception to strict timelines of ESA.

33
Q

What is the maximum WBP time?

A

2 years and 1 month.

34
Q

What has WBP resulted in?

A

Backlogs due to frequent use.

35
Q

According to a study, how long do species wait to receive protection?

A

12 years.

36
Q

What is the extinction capitol of the world?

A

Hawaii.

37
Q

What percentage of the U.S. is Hawaii?

A

Less than 0.2%

38
Q

What percentage of plant and animal extinctions in the U.S. have occurred in Hawaii?

A

75%

39
Q

What percentage of plants are endemic (only in) to Hawaii?

A

90%

40
Q

What is a major reason for the extinction in Hawaii?

A

Invasive species and habitat destruction.

41
Q

What is an important resource to preventing extinction?

A

Funding.

42
Q

What must be included in the recovery plan?

A

An estimate of cost and time.

43
Q

What percentage of species did one study find that were receiving adequate funding?

A

14%

44
Q

How many species are receiving less than 10% of the needed funding?

A

100 species.

45
Q

In 1992-2020 how many more animals received funding than plants?

A

3 times more.

46
Q

What color flowers on plants received more funding?

A

Blue and purple.

47
Q

What species were ignored when it came to funding?

A

Fungi and out-of-sight organisms.

48
Q

What is a frozen zoo?

A

Frozen vials of DNA of animals.

49
Q

How many specimen does the San Diego Frozen Zoo have?

A

1,200.

50
Q

Where are the vials of the San Diego Frozen Zoo stored?

A

Half are stored at the zoo and half are stored in a secret location.

51
Q

What is the frozen zoo for?

A

It catalogs biodiversity.

52
Q

What are issues with de-extinction?

A
  1. The ferret produced (Elizabeth Ann) is unable to reproduce
  2. It may not be able to bring back exact species
  3. If what caused them to go extinct in the first place has not been fixed, it will be a waste of money
53
Q

What are the two most powerful forces in the world?

A

Science and religion.

54
Q
A