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40 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Biodiversity |
encompasses the genetic diversity of species, the variety of different species, and the different ecosystems they form |
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Conservation Biology |
uses molecular biology, genetics, and ecology to protect and sustain biodiversity |
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Why Conserve Biodiversity? |
Humans depend on plants, animals, and microorganisms for a wide range of food, medicine, and industrial products Ecosystems provide essential services, such as clean air and water We have an ethical responsibility to protect our only known companions in the universe |
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Natural Ecosystems Provide Essential Services |
Beyond direct economic gains, humans also benefit from ecosystem services |
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$124 trillion |
World's ecosystems are worth more than ______ a year |
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Extinction |
the process by which species die out, is a natural process |
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Biodiversity Crisis |
in the past 100 years 20 species of mammals and over 40 species of birds have gone extinct |
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Growth of Human Population |
What is linked to the number of extinctions |
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Human-induced |
The main threats are _________ ____________ |
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Introduced Species, Direct Exploitation, and Habitat Destruction |
The most important human-induced threats include ________ _________, ________ ________, and ___________ __________ |
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Introduced Species |
species moved by humans from a native location to another location Note: Some become invasive when they spread and out-compete native species for space and resources |
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Competition, Predation, and Disease |
Three categories of interaction |
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Competition |
not yet shown to cause extinction |
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Predation |
rats, cats and mongoose account for 43% of recorded bird extinctions on islands |
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Disease |
50% of native Hawaiian birds extinct due to avian malaria |
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Direct Exploitation |
Example: Passenger Pigeon (thought to be the most abundant bird) hunted to extinction by the early 20th century American Bison slaughtered in late 1800s Egrets and other birds killed for feathers for hats in late 1800s |
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Habitat Destruction |
Deforestation is an example of this |
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Deforestation |
is a prime cause of extinction |
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Ivory-billed Woodpecker |
assumed extinct due to logging (unconfirmed sighting in 2004) |
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Endemics Look at slide 19 |
found only in a particular place and nowhere else |
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Hot Spot |
Approach suggests conservationists focus on ____ ______ |
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Tropical Rain Forests |
are rich in endemics and may receive more attention/funding at the expense of other areas |
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Practice of Reserve Design |
Uses principles of islands biogeography Wildlife reserves and sanctuaries are islands The larger the area, the greater number of species protected |
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SLOSS Debate Look at slide 21 |
Single Large or Several Small Single large reserve may be able to preserve a larger population Several smaller reserves may contain a broader variety of habitats and a reduced extinction risk by fire or disease |
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Umbrella Species |
habitat requirements are so large that protecting them also protects many other species in the same habitats |
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Northern Spotted Owl |
a ______ ____________ __________ pair needs 800 hectares of old growth forest for survival and reproduction |
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Red-cockaded Woodpecker |
the ______ ______ _____________ of the southeastern U.S. requires large tracts of old-growth long-leaf pine |
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Flagship Species |
single large or instantly recognizable species Ex: American Buffalo, Giant Panda, Florida Panther |
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Fire |
the key to managing the long-leaf pine system |
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Polar Bear |
Indicator Species |
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Northern Spotted Owl |
Umbrella Species |
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Florida Panther |
Flagship Species |
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Keystone Species |
species within a community that have a role out of proportion with their abundance or biomass Ex: Beaver, Gopher Tortoises, Palm Nuts and Figs Maintains high diversity in a community- if removed, diversity decreases |
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Beaver |
can completely alter a community by building a dam and flooding an entire river valley |
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Gopher Tortoises |
in the SE U.S. dig burrows that provide homes for an array of other animals that cannot survive without them |
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Palm nuts and figs |
produce fruit during otherwise fruitless times and are critical resources |
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Reintroducing Species |
to areas where they previously existed is a valuable conservation strategy |
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Captive Breeding |
propagation of animals and plants outside their natural habitat to produce stock for release into the wild Zoos, aquariums, and botanic gardens often play key roles |
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Peregrine Falcon |
in the mid-1960s this animal became extinct in most of eastern U.S. due to DDT effects |
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California Condors Look at slides 32 and 33 |
had decreased to just 22 birds |
