56 Chapter Flashcards
(25 cards)
Conservation biology
The integrated study of ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology, molecular biology, and genetics to sustain biological diversity at all levels.
Three levels of biodiversity
Genetic diversity
Species diversity
Ecosystem diversity
Endangered species
A species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Threatened species
Are those considered likely to become endangered in the near future.
Ecosystem diversity
The variety of the biosphere’s ecosystems
Biophilia
Our sense of connection to nature and all life
Ecosystem services
A function performed by an ecosystem that directly or indirectly benefits humans.
Four major types of threats to biodiversity:
Habitat loss, introduced species, overharvesting, and global change
Introduced species, or exotic species
Are those that humans move intentionally or accidentally from the species’ native locations to new geographic regions.
Overharvesting
Refers generally to the harvesting of wild organisms at rates exceeding the ability of their populations to rebound.
Global change alters…
The fabric of earth’s ecosystems at regional to global scales.
Acid precipitation
A type of global change which includes rain, snow, sleet, or fog with a pH less than 5.2
Population conservation focuses on…
Population size, genetic diversity, and critical habitat
Extinction vortex
A downward population spiral in which inbreeding and genetic drift combine to cause a small population to shrink and, unless the spiral is reversed, become extinct.
Minimum viable population (MVP)
The smallest population size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers and survive.
Effective population size
An estimate of the size of a population based on the numbers of females and males that successfully breed; generally smaller than the total population.
Movement corridor
A series of small clumps of a narrow strip of quality habitat (usable by organisms) that connects otherwise isolated patches of quality habitat.
Biodiversity hot spot
A relatively small area with numerous endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species.
Zoned reserve
An extensive region that includes areas relatively undisturbed by humans surrounded by areas that have been changed by human activity and are used for economic gain.
Urban ecology
Examines organisms and their environment in urban settings.
Critical load
The amount of added nutrient, usually nitrogen or phosphorus, that can be absorbed by plants without damaging ecosystem integrity.
Biological magnification
A process in which retained substances become more concentrated at each higher trophic level in a food chain.
Greenhouse effect
The warming of earth due to the atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide and certain other gases, which absorb reflected infrared radiation and reradiate some of it back toward earth.
Assisted migration
The translocation of a species to a favorable habitat beyond its native range to protect the species from human-caused threats.
