Chapter 3: Biodiversity

Question 1

Biodiversity

Answer 1

Refers to the variety of life on Earth.
Bio: living parts of an ecosystem
Diversity: # of species in an area and its relative abundance

Question 2

Species Diversity

Answer 2

• variety of species per unit area
• measured with Simpsons
• in communities= # of species (richness) and relative proportions (evenness)

Question 3

Comment on relative values of biodiversity. Why is the value of D in one area higher than the other one?

Answer 3

• pollution
• recent colonization
• agricultural management

Question 4

Habitat Diversity

Answer 4

-Range of different habitats in and ecosystem/biome
-associated with variety of ecosystem niches
ex.
Low D: desert (sand/some vegetation)
High D: woodland (soil/river/trees)

Question 5

Hotspot

Answer 5

Areas high in biodiversity

Question 6

Genetic Diversity

Answer 6

Range of genetic material present in a population of a species or gene pool.

Ex.
Low genetic D: cheetahs (more prone to extinction, if env. changes, less likely to have genes to help survive

Question 7

Gene Pool

Answer 7

Different types of genes in 1 individual.

Large gene pool=high genetic diversity

Question 8

Conservation

Answer 8

Keeping what we have

Question 9

Endemic Species

Answer 9

Species not found anywhere else (not widely spread, very specialized)

Question 10

Increase/Conservation of habitat Diversity means

Answer 10

Increase/conservation in other 2 diversities

Question 11

Speciation

Answer 11

Formation of a new species, when populations of a species become isolated and evolve differently

Question 12

Fitness

Answer 12

How well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment

Question 13

Evolution

Answer 13

Development of new species over very long periods of geological time

Question 14

Natural Selection

Answer 14

Nature does the choosing, unlike artificial selection (selective breeding)

Occurs when a population of 1 species has genetic diversity

Question 15

Reproductive Isolation

Answer 15

Populations must become isolated from one another, so genes can’t be exchanged between them

Question 16

Geographic Isolation

Answer 16

Physical barrier that cause populations to become separate

Question 17

Cause of Isolation

Answer 17

-environmental change 
(Mountain formation)
-change in river courses
-sea level change
-climatic change
-plate movements

Question 18

Plate Tectonics

Answer 18

Movement and forming of plates in surface of Earth.

Question 19

Movement of Earth’s plates have caused:

Answer 19

• Isolation of populations
• creation of physical barriers
• land bridges
• climatic variations
• changes in food supplies

Question 20

Types of Boundaries

Answer 20

1. Convergent (collide)
   Eurasian P.👉🏼Himalayas👈🏼Indian P.
2. Divergent (divide)
   Pacific P.👈🏼Pacific-Antarctic Ridge👉🏼Antartic P.
3. Transform (neither destroy nor form)
   African P.👆🏼Dead Sea Transform👇🏼Arabian P.

Question 21

Mass Extinction

Answer 21

Period in which at least 75% of the total # of species on Earth are wiped out

Total: 5

Question 22

Causes of Mass Extinction

Answer 22

All have been abiotic factors

• drop in sea levels (as glaciers formed)
• comets/asteroid impacts
• extreme climate change

Question 23

How many species on Earth?

Answer 23

Total is unknown, but there are 1.8 million on museums

Question 24

What are the current rates of species loss?

Answer 24

Between 30,000-60,000 species/year, and human activities increase this rate

Question 25

Causes of Species loss

Answer 25

Natural: - volcanos - ice ages - meteor impacts Human - pollution - introduction of invasive species - habitat destruction - hunting

Question 26

Conflict between exploitation, sustainable devices and conservation in LEDCs and MEDCs

Answer 26

Most tropical biomes occur in LEDCs, but they can't sustain them since they don't have the money. Activities like logging give the country and income, so there's a debate. MEDCs can preserve, since they don't rely on the forest's income

Question 27

Tropical Biomes contain:

Answer 27

some of the most globally biodiverse areas

Question 28

The Red List

Answer 28

Shows threatened species in several categories

Question 29

Factors that determine the conservation status:

Answer 29

1. Population size 2. Tropic level 3. Distribution 4. Quality of habitat 5. Geographic range 6. Probability of extinction 7. Degree of fragmentation/specialization 8. Reduction in population size 9. Reproductive potential behavior

Question 30

Arguments/Reasons for preserving Biodiversity

Answer 30

- Aesthetic - Ecological - Economic - Ethical - Social

Question 31

Conservation Organizations

Answer 31

Non-Governmental Org. (NGO's) ex. Greenpeace Intergovernmental Org. (IGO's) ex. UNEP

Question 32

In Situ vs. Ex Situ

Answer 32

In Situ: conservation of species in their natural habitat Ex Situ: " outside their natural habitat ex. Zoos

Question 33

Designing Protected Areas

Answer 33

- Area (big) - Edge Effects (big bc. pops. are bigger) - Shape (circle) - Corridors (to migrate) - Buffer Zones (minimize disturbance from outside)

Question 34

Successful protected areas should have:

Answer 34

PELHI ``` Partial/complete gov. funding Educational/management programs Local support High profile animals Involvent of gov. agencies ```

Question 35

Species-based conservation strategies

Answer 35

CITES Zoos Protected Areas

Question 36

CITES (Contention in International Trade in Endangered Species)

Answer 36

- international agreement | - aimed in regulating trade in endangered species

Question 37

Umbrella species

Answer 37

Within the umbrella species, others inside the umbrella are protected

Question 38

Flagship species

Answer 38

'Charismatic' species that appeal to the public

Question 39

Keystone species

Answer 39

Species that plays a unique/crucial role in the ecosystem

Question 40

Threats to species

Answer 40

``` Trade in souvenirs Fashion Habitat loss Medicine Exotic pet trades ```

Question 41

``` Saved Species Description Ecological Role Pressure on Species Methods of Restoring Pop. ```

Answer 41

Island Fox Description -small fox -Lives in SOMETHING islands on California -brownish fur coat on its head, reddish on sides and white on belly -feeds on insects and fruits Ecological Role -as deer mice and land birds inc., island fox dec. Pressure on Species -since the bald eagle was gone of the island, so people introduced the golden eagle, but they started to feed on the foxes, killing them rapidly. Methods of Restoring Pop. -conservation efforts made people reintroduced the bald eagle, and the golden eagle was relocated -foxes started to breed again until they were no longer on the Endangered classification

Question 42

``` Endangered Species Description Ecological Role Pressure on Species Methods of Restoring Pop. ```

Answer 42

Red Panda Description -Lives in South East Asia in countries like Bhutan and China -they have a unique red/brownish fur coat (camouflage) and pointy ears, as well as a long tale used for balance -live near water and feed on small seeds and fruits Ecological Role -they are the Ambassadors of clean air and water for millions of people - Pressure on Species Methods of Restoring Pop.