Conservation of Life on Earth Flashcards
(38 cards)
1
Q
“Background extinction rate”
A
- occurs naturally because of competition, specialization, restricted geographical range, local catastrophes, small populations, few populations, migration losses, low genetic diversity, speciation, aggregating species, poor dispersal ability, large home range, population declines
2
Q
what is background rate
A
- Paleontologists: average species survival is ~4 million years
- 99% of species have become extinct
- If 15 million species–> 4 species per year
3
Q
current extinction rate
A
- 129 bird species–> extinct in last 400 years= ~1 species every 3 year
- but only out of 10,000 current bird species
- but if total is 15 m species–> ~500 species per year
- 2 orders of magnitude higher than background
4
Q
extinction debt
A
- populations become so low–> hard to find mates, inbreeding–> extinction inevitable, though may persist for many years
5
Q
causes of loss
A
- habitat destruction
- exploitation of organisms
- exotic invasive organisms
- environmental degradation
- climate change–> habitat change
6
Q
habitat where impacts are greatest because of habitat loss
A
- tropical forests
- wetlands
- prairies
- coral reefs
7
Q
Ivory billed woodpecker
A
- extinct
- inhabited old river-bottom forests
- all logged by 1940s
8
Q
natural prairie
A
most threatened ecosystem in temperate zone
- due to agriculture and ranching
9
Q
great plains bison (buffalo)
A
- reduced from 10s of millions to just few 100s by late 1800s
- somewhat restored
10
Q
Habitat loss
A
agriculture, ranching, commercial, water projects, recreation, logging, mining
11
Q
exploitation of organisms
A
- commercial harvesting (fishing, passenger pigeon, whales)
- specific markets (ivory, pangolins, bear gall bladders, parrots, cycads)
12
Q
pangolins
A
- most trafficked mammal in world
- for meat and scales that are used in traditional medicine
- 8 species (all are endangered or threatened)
13
Q
Cycads
A
collectors item
14
Q
exotic invasive organisms
A
- rats (islands)
- mongooses
- brown tree snake
- diseases (chytrids for amphibians, white nose disease for bats, canine distemper for lions)
15
Q
brown tree snake
A
- invaded Guam
- all native birds eliminated or decimated
- eats young birds and eggs
16
Q
Harlequin Frog
A
- Central America
- one of many frog species rendered extinct by an invasive chytrid fungus accidentally introduced from Korea
17
Q
White nose disease
A
- bats
- decimated many bat species in NE US
18
Q
environmental degradation
A
- grazing–> erosion
- fertilizers, pesticides–> eutrophication
- acid rain–> dead lakes in Adirondacks
- oil spills (ex: Gulf of Mexico rupture)
19
Q
climate change
A
- leads to habitat change
- arctic temperatures–> starving polar bears
- sea levels–> loss of salt marshes and mangroves
- extreme weather–> hurricanes, flooding, drought
- ocean temperature and acidification–> coral reef bleaching
20
Q
values to us
A
- provisioning
- supporting
- cultural/aesthetic
21
Q
provisioning
A
- food
- wood products
- minerals
- pharmaceuticals
22
Q
supporting
A
= ecosystem service
- fresh water
- clean air
- soil fertility
- climate regulation
23
Q
cultural/aesthetic
A
- education
- recreation
- appreciation
24
Q
Wilson’s 3 wealths
A
- material
- cultural
- biological
25
"sensitivity analysis"
- vary all the survival and fecundity parameters
- see what helps most
- then coupled with what is most feasible to do
26
turtle exclude device
- sed by shrimp industry
- traps shrimp and lets turtles escape
27
laws/treaties
- US: Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act
- NYS: Freshwater Wetland Act
- International: convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Convention on Biological Diversity
28
Protected areas
wilderness, parks, forests, easements
29
endangered species act
if an animal is endangered, its habitat needs to be protected
30
best protection for biodiversity
- protected areas
31
how much is already protected
- 15% of Earth, only 6% is first four IUCN categories
- only a few % in marine areas, but climbing more rapidly than terrestrial as more is available
- local people often resist because fear loss of jobs/revenue
- review shows that its more likely to have a positive effect in all IUCN categories
32
fragmentation
- small populations that may become extinct or succumb to inbreeding
33
solutions
- overpasses, tunnels, corridors
- restoration, remediation, reintroduction, zoos
- accommodation
- climate amelioration
- personal
34
accommodation
- sustainable agriculture, sustainable technology for fishing (ex: turtle excluders), sustainable forestry
35
climate amerlioration
- abandon fossil fuels, biodegradable
products (not plastics)
36
personal
less consumption, opt for sustainable solutions, join environmental organizations, be aware and critical
37
california condor
- was down to 12 animals
- largest in north America of scavenging birds
- living in one national park in california
- fed on poisoned carcasses that were put out to kill coyotes
- brought remaining into captivity--> after a while, released into wild--> worked (population numbers inc)
- new total population= more than 450
- released into Grand Canyon ad some other places like reservations
38
florida panther population
- serious inbreeding in late 20th century--> population crashing
- solution= import healthy panthers from Texas
