Unit 2 - Biodiversity Flashcards
Adaptation
A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce
Biodiversity
The amount of biological or living diversity per unit area. It includes the concepts of species diversity, habitat diversity and genetic diversity
cultural services
the spiritual and recreational benefits that ecosystems provide
Disruption
the destruction or substantial change in the functioning of natural ecosystems
disturbance
A discrete event that disrupts an ecosystem or community.
ecosystem services
Important benefits to humans, such as clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and fertile soil in which to grow crops, that ecosystems provide
Evolution
Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.
Generalist
a species with a broad niche that can tolerate a wide range of conditions and can use a variety of resources
genetic diversity
a measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population
indicator species
Species that serve as early warnings that a community or ecosystem is being degraded
island biogeography
The study of rates of colonization and extinction of species on islands or other isolated areas based on size, shape, and distance from other inhabited regions
larger or closer to main land mean more biodiversity and resources
keystone species
A species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem
Migration
Form of relocation involving permanent move to a new location
natural selection
A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits
pioneer species
First species to populate an area during primary succession
primary succession
An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed. (Soil is destroyed)
provisioning services
supply us with tangible resources, such as food, water, raw materials, etc
regulating services
the service provided by natural systems that helps regulate environmental conditions
resilience
the rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disturbance
secondary succession
Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil
Resistance
property of communities or populations to remain “essentially unchanged” when subject to disturbance
specialist
A consumer that primarily eats one specific organism or feeds on a very small number of organisms
species diversity
The number and relative abundance of species in a biological community
Evenness
the relative abundances of the different species
Richness
Quality describing number of species
supporting services
Benefits of biodiversity that allow ecosystems to exist, such as primary production, soil formation, and nutrient cycling- and ultimately benefit humans
Tolerance
An organism’s capacity to survive variation in environmental conditions
Zone of optimum
the higest point.
Organism Survive, grow reproduce
Zone of physiological stress
survive, but experience decreases
Zone of intolerance
Organism will die from thermal shook
Anthropogenic
caused by humans
limiting factor
Any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms
Threats to Biodiversity (1)
Habitat loss and fragmentation
the primary threat to biodiversity worldwide
• Caused by human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion
Reduces the total area of available habitat and isolates populations, leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased extinction risk
•Caused by human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion
Reduces the total area of available habitat and isolates populations, leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased extinction risk
Threats to Biodiversity (1)
Habitat loss and fragmentation
the primary threat to biodiversity worldwide
• Caused by human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion
Reduces the total area of available habitat and isolates populations, leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased extinction risk
•Caused by human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion
Reduces the total area of available habitat and isolates populations, leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased extinction risk
Threats to Biodiversity (1)
Habitat loss and fragmentation
the primary threat to biodiversity worldwide
• Caused by human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion
Reduces the total area of available habitat and isolates populations, leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased extinction risk
•Caused by human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion
Reduces the total area of available habitat and isolates populations, leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased extinction risk
carrying capacity (K)
the maximum population size of a species that can be sustained, given the food, habitat, water, sunlight, and other necessities available in the environment.
r-selected
species prioritizing rapid population growth by producing many offspring with little parental care,
R
- plants
- many small offspring
- little or no parental care
- Early successional species
- Population size fluctuates wildly above and below
carrying capacity (K
“K-selected”
species focus on producing fewer, well-cared for offspring to maximize survival near the carrying capacity of their environment
K
- mammals
- Fewer, larger offspring
- High parental care
- Lower population growth rate (r)
- Late successional species
