Biodiversity

Question 1

Ecological Biodiversity

Answer 1

different habitats, niches, species interactions

Question 2

Species diversity

Answer 2

Different kinds of organisms, relationships among species

Question 3

Genetic biodiversity

Answer 3

Populations, different genes, combinations of genes

Question 4

Where is biodiversity?

Answer 4

Everywhere → each large or isolated land mass has unique life forms (not uniformly distributed). Concentration in the amazon.

Question 5

Provisioning services

Answer 5

include the production of renewable resources e.g. food, wood, water

Question 6

Regulating services

Answer 6

lessen environmental change e.g. climate regulation, pest control

Question 7

Supporting services

Answer 7

nutrient cycling and crop pollination

Question 8

Cultural services

Answer 8

human value and enjoyment e.g. landscape aesthetics, outdoor recreation, etc.

Question 9

Benefits of biodiversity

Answer 9

provisioning services, regulating services, supporting services, cultural services

Question 10

genetic diversity

Answer 10

all the variety of genes within a species

Question 11

biosphere

Answer 11

largest ecosystem of all, consists of the thin layer of the earths surface where all organisms live

Question 12

ecology

Answer 12

study of the relationships between all organisms and their environment

Question 13

components of an ecosystem

Answer 13

abiotic factors, biotic factors, and interactions

Question 14

what causes loss in biodiversity?

Answer 14

loss of keystone species, habitat loss, introduced species, population growth, pollution, overconsumption, extinction, climate change, and wildlife population reductions

Question 15

how do we protect biodiversity?

Answer 15

stop over-harvesting, refuges/reserves/parks, restoration, legislation that protects endangered habitats and species, protecting biodiversity hotspots, and focus on island biogeography

Question 16

what does HIPPO stand for?

Answer 16

main threats to biodiversity (descending order of importance)
- Habitat loss (main cause of extinction)
- Invasive/introduced species
- Pollution
- Population growth (humans)
- Over-harvesting

+ C - climate change

Question 17

what populations are undergoing reductions?

Answer 17

• tigers/rhino (hunting)
• sharks/bluefin tuna (overharvesting)
• Atlantic salmon/orangutan (deforestation
  for palm oil)
• giant salamander (pollution)
• climate change (polar bear)
• polar bear (climate change
• crayfish (invasive species taking over)

Question 18

Rio Declaration (1992)

Answer 18

states that “the precautionary principle” provides that “a lack of scientific certainty should not preclude states from adopting cost-effective measures to control environmental risks”

Question 19

Problems with the Rio Convention

Answer 19

no defined thresholds for serious damage and does not suggest a best practice approach

Question 20

UN Convention of Biological Diversity

Answer 20

international legal instrument that addresses the conservation of biodiversity, sustainability and equal sharing of benefits from resources (overall - encourage actions to a sustainable future)

Question 21

Other management/legislation on biodiversity

Answer 21

• Birds Directive 2009 (EU)
• Habitats Directive 1992 (EU - covers threatened plants and non-bird animals)
• Natura 2000 network (EU - to ensure future management is sustainable, fills obligations under UNCB. centerpiece of EU nature/biodiversity policy)
• Water Framework Directive 2000 (EU)
• Marine Strategy Frameworks Directive 2008 (to achieve Good Environmental Status/MSFD subregions for EU countries)

Question 22

When GES has been achieved?

Answer 22

• biodiversity maintained
• non-indigenous species do not adversely alter the ecosystem
• the population of commercial fish species
  is healthy
• elements of food webs ensure long-term
  abundance and reproduction
• minimized eutrophication (too many
  nutrients)
• seafloor integrity ensures ecosystem
  function
• minimal contaminants (concentrations
  with no effects, below dangerous levels in
  seafood)
• marine litter causes no harm
• introduction of energy does not adversely
  affect ecosystem
• alteration of hydrographical conditions does not adversely affect the ecosystem

Question 23

Environmental Impact assessment (EIA)

Answer 23

Assessing the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment

Question 24

What does SPA stand for?

Answer 24

Special Protection Areas (ex. protected sites for birds in Birds Directive)

Question 25

What does SAC stand for?

Answer 25

Special Areas of Conservation (ex. habitat directive)

Question 26

How do we manage biodiveristy

Answer 26

monitoring, conservatiton, legislation