3.2 Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is biodiversity?
The variety of life on Earth, including species, genetic, and ecological diversity.
How many species exist on Earth?
Scientists estimate between 3 to 11 million species, though only about 1.5 million have been identified.
Which groups of organisms are the most undercounted?
Insects and bacteria.
How does biodiversity support ecosystems?
It provides key connections between species and their environments, helping regulate ecosystems.
What are ecosystem services?
Essential ecological processes that make life possible, such as pollination, oxygen production, water filtration, and climate regulation.
What is instrumental value?
The usefulness of biodiversity to humans, often measured in economic terms.
What is intrinsic value?
The inherent worth of species, regardless of their usefulness to humans.
What is genetic diversity?
The variation in genes within a species, which helps populations adapt to changing environments.
What is species diversity?
The variety and relative abundance of different species in an ecosystem.
What is ecological diversity?
The variety of ecosystems, including different habitats, niches, and trophic levels.
What are endemic species?
Species that are native to a specific area and found nowhere else.
What are the main threats to biodiversity?
Habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and overexploitation.
How do oil palm plantations impact biodiversity?
They reduce ecological and species diversity by replacing diverse rainforests with monocultures.
What happens when biodiversity declines?
Ecosystem services weaken, leading to climate instability, food shortages, and loss of medicinal resources.
What is conservation biology?
The scientific study of biodiversity preservation and ecosystem restoration.
What is an endangered species?
A species at high risk of extinction.
What is a threatened species?
A species likely to become endangered in the near future.
What is the IUCN Red List?
A global inventory that classifies species based on their risk of extinction.
What is single-species conservation?
A conservation strategy focused on protecting one specific species.
What is an ecosystem-based conservation approach?
A strategy that protects entire ecosystems to benefit multiple species.
What is conservation genetics?
The study of genetic diversity to support conservation efforts.
How can cloning help conservation?
It can increase population sizes of endangered species.
What is CITES?
An international treaty regulating the trade of endangered species.
What is the Endangered Species Act (ESA)?
A U.S. law that protects endangered and threatened species.
