Chapter 56: Conservation Ecology Flashcards
Chapter 56
What is conservation biology?
seeks to conserve biological diversity at all fields; integrating several fields: ecology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, etc…
Chapter 56
What are the three main components of biodiversity?
- genetic diversity
- species diveristy
- ecosystem diversity
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What is genetic diversity?
- comprises genetic variation within a population & between populations
- extinction reduces genetic diversity
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What is species diversity?
- def: variety of species in an ecosystem
- endangered: one that in danger of extinction
- threatened: likely to become endangered
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What is ecosystem diveristy?
- the variety of ecosystems in the biosphere
- human activity is reducing this diversity
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What is human biophilia?
it allows us to recognize the value of biodiveristy for its own sake
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What are ecosystem services?
- def: encompasses all the processes in which natural ecosystems & their species help sustain human life
- examples:
purification of air & water
detoxification & decomposition of wastes
crop pollination, pest control, & soil preservation
moderation of weather extremes
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What are the four main threats of biodiveristy?
- habitat loss
- intoduced species
- overharvesting
- global change
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Describe habitat loss
- human alteration of habitat
- greatest threat to biodiveristy
- smaller populations in habitat fragments are more vulnerable to extinchtion
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Describe introduced species
- humans move them from native locations to new regions
- consequently, they can spread rapidly
- these species can disrupt community by preying on or outcompeting native organisms
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Describe overharvesting
- human harvesting at rates that exceed ability of their populations to rebound
- species w/ restricted habitats & large organisms w/ low reproductive rates
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Describe global change
- includes alterations in climate, atmospherc chemistry & broad ecological systems
- ex: acid precipitation (ph < 5.2); can be caused by air pollution
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What two approaches do biologists correlate to conservation?
- small population approach
- declining population approach
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What is the small population approach?
- studies processes that cause extinction once population size have reduced
- small population is prone to inbreeding and genetic drfit and loss of genetic variation
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What is declining population approach?
- focuses on threatened & endangered populations that show a downward trend
- emphasized environmental factors that caused population to decline
