Week 12 Wednesday

Question 1

What is Anthropocene?

Answer 1

A proposed geological epoch dating from the commencement of significant human impact on earths geology and ecosystems.

Question 2

what are some examples of significant human impact on earths geology and ecosystems?

Answer 2

• Agricultural revolution (12000 yrs ago)
  —Centralized human densities
• Industrial revolution (1700s)
  — Anthropegenic climate change
• Atomic age (1945)
  — Nuclear testing altered the geologic record

Question 3

what is the quaternary extinction?

Answer 3

the extinctions of numerous - largely megafaunal - species, beginning 130 000 yrs ago

Question 4

what is the holocene/anthropocene extinction?

Answer 4

An ongoing extinction event of species, beginning 12000 yrs ago (holocene), the current rate of extinction of species is estimated at 100 to 1000 times above the natural average extinction rate

Question 5

what are the drivers of the current problem of extinction?

Answer 5

• Habitat loss and its degradation
• Over-Exploitation of bioresources
• Accelerated climate change
  — amongst human-induced environmental changes, climate change is going to affect humanity more than any other changes

Question 6

what are some examples of plants/animals at high risk of extinction?

Answer 6

• in plants, particularly tropical woody plants, were at higher risk in countries with high GDP and more invasive species
• in animals, particularly tropical mammals and invertebrates, were at higher risk in countries with high GDP and smaller roadless areas

Question 7

what is compassion fatigue?

Answer 7

A condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to empathize or feel compassion for others, often described as the “negative cost of caring” (BURNOUT)

Question 8

Turtle expiriment

Answer 8

problems
- gaps
- materials
- locations

Question 9

what is conservation biology?

Answer 9

the study of the conservation of nature and of earths biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions

Question 10

what are some forms of conservation biology?

Answer 10

Genetic/species diversity
- Individual ecology
- Spatial ecology
- Population ecology
- Conservation genetics
- Trophic stability and ecosystem function
Ecosystem/Global diversity
- Critical habitat
- Sustainable planning
- Landscape ecology

Question 11

whale example

Answer 11

• used for fuel
• too many killed
• og goal was to conserve them to have a sustainable whale industry
• banned in 1986
• conserved them to recover to population before whaling