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27 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Biodiversity |
The variety of life at all levels of organization |
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What are the 3 levels of Biodiversity? |
1: Ecosystem/Habitat 2: Species 3: Genetic |
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Genetic Diversity |
Means having differences in DNA among individuals |
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Why is Genetic Diversity important? |
higher= more likely to survive Lower= more vulnerable to environmental change and disease |
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Inbreeding Depression |
Occurs in low populations when genetically similar parents mate and produce inferior offspring |
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Extinction |
When the last member of a species dies |
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Extirpation |
The disappearance of a population from a given area, but not the entire species globally, which can lead to extinction |
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Mass Extinction |
The extinction of a large number od species in a short period of geological time |
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What is IUCN? |
The International Union for Conservation and Nation |
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What is the "red list"? |
A list of species facing high risks of extinction. Mammals-21% Birds-12% All other-17-74% |
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What is the tiger case study about? |
The tigers are going extinct because of hunting, poaching, & habitat loss. Research, education, zoos, & captive breeding programs help, but #'s crash due to budget cuts. The last Siberian tigers live in the Russian Far East Mountains. |
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Why do species diversity increase near the equator? |
That area has more variety of vegetation therefore making it more biodiverse |
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"Many species await discovery" means? |
Scientists haven't discovered all species, there are about 3-100 mil species and only 1.8 have been described |
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In the last 500 years ___ animals and __ plant species have gone extinct. |
237 animals and 30 plant species |
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Why will the 6th mass extinction be different from the others? |
The extinction rate is 100 to 1000 times greater than before, due to human population growth and resource consumption |
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What are 5 major causes for biodiversity loss? |
Habitat loss, Habitat fragmentation, Pollution, Overharvesting, Invasive species |
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Example of habitat loss |
Altering, degrading, & destroying habitats by farming communities, clearing forests etc. |
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Example of habitat fragmentation |
Gradual, piecemeal degradation and loss of habitat. Continuous habitats are broken into patches. |
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Example of pollution |
Pollution harms organisms in many ways (air, water, toxins, garbage, oil...) |
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Example of overharvesting |
When people take too much of one species like fishing, until that species is gone |
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Example of invasive species |
Introduction of non-native species to new areas (Zebra mussels) |
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Benefits of Biodiversity |
Provides food, fuel, fiber, shelter Cycles nutrients, renews soil fertility Maintains genetic resources Provides cultural & aesthetic benefits Purifies air & water & detoxifies wastes Pollinates plants & controls pests & disease |
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Endangered Species Act (1973) |
The primary legislation for protecting biodiversity in the U.S. It forbids the gov. & citizens from taking actions that destroy endangered species or their habitats or trading in products made from endangered species |
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CITES (1973) |
The U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, they protect endangered species by banning international transport of their body parts |
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Convention on Biodiversity (1992) |
They seek to conserve biodiversity, use it in a sustainable manner, and ensure the fair distribution of biodiversity's benefits |
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What are some things being done to help save endangered species? |
Captive breeding, cloning, community-based conservation |
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Biodiversity Hotspots |
An international approach oriented around geographic regions |
