conservation of biodiversity

Question 1

causes of anthropogenic climate change

Answer 1

pollution - degradation of habitats
overexploitation
introduction of invasive species
habitat destruction
climate change

Question 2

example of an extinct species that is gone because of human activity

Answer 2

Splendid poison frog from the humid forests of Panama
- logging, expansion of urban areas and conversion of forests for agriculture and illegal pet trade led to extinction

Question 3

ecosystem services

Answer 3

• supply of resources (food, water, timber, medicine)
• basic services essential for survival (shelter, decomposition of waste, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, flood and climate regulation)

Question 4

keystone species

Answer 4

a species who is so important for the structure and functioning of the ecosystem that its presence or absence can impact biodiversity & stability

Question 5

example of keystone species

Answer 5

Dipterocarps
- dominant tree species in Southeast Asian rainforests
*home to many life forms
*carbon storage
*food source to many
*shelter for underlying layers of the forest

threats
*deforestation
*felling for timber
*endangered species living by them like orangutang

Question 6

why are coral reefs important

Answer 6

*home to a range of organisms - 25% of marine life
*sustain food webs
*provide food & medicine
*protect coasts from erosion and storms

Question 7

threats to coral reefs

Answer 7

*pollution
*overfishing
*unsustainable tourism
*coastal development
*ocean acidification

Question 8

what is IPBES

Answer 8

intergovernmental platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services

*assesses and aims to strengthen them
*stated that over a million plant and animal species are threatened w extinction

Question 9

what is IUCN

Answer 9

international union for conservation of nature

• aims to address challenges in conserving nature and resources
  *red list of ecosystems has 9 categories
• E, EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC, DD, NE

Question 10

threats to biodiversity

Answer 10

pollution
overexploitation
destruction of habitats
habitat fragmentation
invasive species
pests and diseases

Question 11

conservation

Answer 11

the protection of life and sustainable use of resources
- in situ = in the natural environment, national park/wildlife sanctuary/marine reserve
- ex situ = in a zoo/botanical garden/aquarium

Question 12

germplasm

Answer 12

gene banks that store biodiversity when the number of individuals of a species is too small to sustain the species or when poaching is very high
- i.e. animal in zoo, plant in botanical garden or seeds, sperm, eggs in laboratories

Question 13

captive breeding

Answer 13

breeding in captivity to prevent extinction of a species. reintroduced to the wild once again

Question 14

reclamation of degraded ecosystems

Answer 14

restoration of a natural ecosystem to what it once was, often with the help of indigenous people who have a deep knowledge of the land