Test #3 Flashcards
Topic 1: Threats to Biodiversity
cards 2-12
Genetic diversity
variety of genes/inheritable traits in a population
Species diversity
variety of different organisms in an area
Ecosystem diversity
variety of different ecosystems in an area
- regions closer to equator have more eco diversity
Habitat loss
organisms’ area of living gets destroyed/disrupted
Fragmentation of habitat
sep. of an ecosystem into small pieces of land
- edge effect: diff enviro conditions occurring along ecosystems’ boundaries
- natural corridors: pathways connecting segments of habitat
Pollution
accumulation of chemicals in the biosphere
- biological magnification, acid precipitation, eutrophication
Biological magnification
increased concentration of a chemical in organisms
Acid precipitation
fossil fuels are burned- chemicals and smoke go into the atmosphere
Eutrophication
excess nitrogen and phosphorus enter the water- diff nutrients are possible
Introduced/Invasive species
introduced- organisms brought into area they don’t normally grow in
- reproduce rapidly & often take over areas
invasive- out of control species
Biological augmentation
adding a native organism to speed up habitat restoration
- often used to alleviate invasive species
Topic 2: Eutrophication
cards 14-18
Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.)
amount of oxygen needed by the decomposers to break down organic waste in the ecosystem
Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.)
amount of oxygen available to living aquatic organisms
Oligotrophic (lake)
healthy lake
- light penetrates through
- plant and animal biodiversity
- available dissolved oxygen (& low B.O.D.)
- water clarity
Phosphates and nitrates
plant nutrients introduced into lakes that increase plant growth
Algae
plant- if there’s too much- stops light penetration
Topic 3: Environmental Conservation
cards 20-32
Overharvesting/Deforestation
removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves; usually for wide areas
- solution: replanting
- consequence: monoculture forestry
Monoculture
little biodiversity & poor provision of services: soil erosion control, clean water production
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)
framework made by the UN framework convention on CC
- purpose is to: reduce emissions from deforestation, reduce forest degradation, manage forests w/ indigenous partnerships
Clear-cutting
process of cutting down all the trees in an area at once
Strip cutting
loggers cut down trees in narrow strips that are left to reseed
Selective logging/cutting
cutting down only some trees in a forest and leaving a mix of tree sizes and species behind
Shelterwood harvesting
mature trees are removed in a series of two or more cuts
Problem- overgrazing
precip run offs- causes accelerated erosion rather than being absorbed by soil
- plants undernourished (disrupts food webs)
- groundwater not replaced
- leads to desertification- converts fertile land to
desert
2 overgrazing solutions
- Rotational Grazing- confine animals to a small area for 1-2 days before relocating them
- Raise Wild Species- take less care & supplements, uses greater plant types more efficiently
Parks and preserves in nations have different
levels of protection for diff preserves
- %s & management level varies between nations
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) strategy
- maintain essential eco processes
- preserve genetic diversity
- ensure sustainable use
Ecotourism
activities of people traveling structured to be eco and socially sustainable
Biosphere reserves
protected areas divided into zones with different purposes
Topic 4: Food and Agriculture
cards 34-61
Global trends
- large % of food comes from large-scale agriculture
- probs w/ insufficient quantities of food/calories
- probs w/ nutrition/vitamin deficiency & overeating
Food innovation
- confined animal feeding operations
- new breeds
- special feed, antibiotics
Water and wind erosion
detachment & removal of soil by water/wind
- row crops, lack of weeds, lack of wind/water breaks expose more soil