Biodiversity Flashcards
Biodiversity
Total variation that exists among all living things on Earth.
Reduction in the quality of a natural ecosystem as a result of human activity.
Degradation
Dominant
Most prevalent species that determines the appearance and composition of the community.
Ecosystem diversity
A number of distinct ecosystems present in a defined area.
Genetic diversity
State found among the members of a population resulting from the genetic variation present in their DNA.
Human activity leading to possible extinction of many species.
Habitat destruction
Species diversity
Feature of an ecosystem based on the richness of its species and their relative abundance.
Bottleneck effect
Result of the wiping out of a significant percentage of a population and its genetic diversity, leaving it ill-equipped to adapt to environmental change.
Bottleneck event
Cause of the bottleneck effect, typically a natural disaster.
Conservation
Protection and careful management of natural resources.
Habitat corridor
Narrow strip of quality habitat by which a species can move between disconnected habitat fragments.
Habitat fragmentation
Formation of several fragments whose total surface area is less than that of the original habitat.
Foreign species that has been cultivated intentionally or released accidentally by human activities.
Introduced
Invasive
Naturalised species that has spread rapidly and has outcompeted native species.
Naturalised
Non-native species that has established itself within wild communities.
