Test Flashcards
what are the biological, morphological, phylogenetic species concepts?
Biological (the grouping of individuals based on whether they interbreed to produce viable fertile offspring in nature, doesnt work for asexual organisms)
Morphological ( the grouping of individuals into species on the basis of morphological similarities, not always good because some species have different morphologies bu are same species)
Phylogenetic ( based on evolutionary history, distinct cluster on the tips of phylogenetic tree)
how do scientists estimate the number of species?
- assumptions, educated guess, new species all the time, some places are geographically isolated,
Two approaches:
1. extrapolation from faunas and regions
- Extrapolation from samples (measure rate of accumulation of new species)
how do species area curves estimate extinction rates?
a species area relationship counts the cumulative number of species encountered as a function of intact habitat area, so with habitat loss we can predict how many species will be lost as well, not very accurate and overestimation can occur because some species may be more resilient than we think, also doesn’t take into account hunting, invasive species, pollution etc
what are the 3 heirchial levels of biodiversity?
Genetic diversity (It refers to the variation in gene within a species. It enables the population to adapt to its environment and respond to natural selection)
Species diversity (It refers to the variety of species within a region)
Ecosystem diversity ( It include all the species and all abiotic factors characteristic of a region.)
What is conservation biology?
as a discipline aims to provide answers to questions that can be applied to management decisions. This requires principles from ecology, population genetics, economics, political science and other natural social sciences. seeks to protect nature including earths animals , plants and ecosystems
describe the 4 main categories of ecosystem services and name 3 examples for each:
- provisioning (products obtained from an ecosystem)
- food, water, medicines, wood, fuel - Regulating services (benefits obtained from regulating of ecosystem processes)
- climate regulation
- flood regulation - Cultural Services (non material benefits obtained from ecosystems)
-aesthetic
- spiritual
- educational - Supporting Services
(services necessary for the production of all other ecosystems)
- nutrient cycling
- soil formation
-primary productivity
-oxygen production
what are externalities?What was their role in conservationists calling for an economic valuation of the world’s ecosystem services?
hidden costs or benefits that result from an economic activity to individuals or a society not directly involved in that activity, if we give externalities economic value in society that may make for more thoughtful and sustainable decisions about land and water use
Describe one way that monetary value is assigned to cultural ecosystem services? what is a weakness?
willingness to pay (assigned value to keep an animals habitat etc, keeping a lake for fishing, swimming etc”
Describe how payment for ecosystem services works? what are the two largest programs so far?
the maximum stated price that an individual would pay to avoid he loss or reduction of environmental service
- costa rica largest PES, landscape
- Grain to green program china: farmers givven 400 per year per ha of farmland converted back to trees, main aim of program is restoration of ecosystem function
are individual species important for ecosystem services? what are keystone species?
keystone (a species that influences an ecosystem process of the abundance and diversity of organisms in an ecosystem to an extent disproportionate to its own abundance)
ex. Cougar, increased deer, decreased cougar, decreased cotton wood trees, loss of vegetation
- one species can have huge effects
- biodiveristy increases services, positive relationship
***what are three weaknesses for ecosystem services valuation argument for conservation?
1) some ecosystem services can be cost effectively replaced by technology (maurepas swamp supported louisiana chip factory, but when it expanded swamp was no longer useful)
2) many species can be viewed as expendable
(passenger pigeon)
3) some ecosystem services are subject to market fluctuations (ex. fall in shrimp prices can affect mangrove tree)
Describe the step by step processing of listing a species under SARA
Purpose: prevent species from extinction, recovery, manage other species from becoming endangered
- Starts with COSEWIC (comiteee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada)
- determine national status, special concern, threatened, or endangered - assesment comunicated to minister of environment and climate change
- minister sends COSEWIC assesments to governor in council
- decision is made whether a species makes it to SARA or not
compare and contrast SARA with ESA
- sara marine species bias
- sara northern species bias
- only 28% fish species listed on SARA
- ESA (endangered species act), public can petition for listing
- ESA listing based on scientific data availible
- SARA decision not to list can be based on socio economic costs
- ESA has very little listings per year
- ESA has madated timelines for process, SARA has no timeline
- SARA on federal land
- ESA, has private, state and federal land
why was the montreal protocol so successful?
was on substances that deplete the ozone layer CFCs
- laid out plan for phaseout and anning of these chemicals
- sherwood roland and mario molina, noble prize
1. outstanding science
2. link between ozone and human health, led to cancer
3. economically viable alternatives
4. dramatic discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica
5. carrots and sticks, direct payement to countries for complying , sticks were threats to impose trade sanctions against nonsignatories
paper park
many protected ares in less developed regions are protected areas in which regulations aren’t adequately enforced
