threats to biodiversity

Question 1

The biodiversity crisis

Answer 1

the loss of our natural diversity at an alarming and dangerous rate

Question 2

Habitat loss

Answer 2

• usually linked to how humans use land
• Land change use: destruction of natural (underdeveloped) land in order to obtain resources in or on that land; mining, making neighborhoods, agricultural runoff, oil spills, mining runoff, and fragmentation by roads or damns

Question 3

Habitat fragmentation:

Answer 3

breaking up a habitat into smaller, unattached pieces.

• it creates more edges therefore the habitats are more vulnerable to “edge effects”
• It also breaks and isolates populations; this means that the number of organisms in each new fragmented population is smaller and the gene pool is reduced (vulnerable to negative affects of inbreeding)

Question 4

Edge effects

Answer 4

the influenced of adjacent habitat on the edge habitat, resulting in environmental difference between the edge and interior; exposed to more sun, weather, pollution, less air moisture, chemicals

Question 5

How do we protect animals?

Answer 5

• creating wilderness areas
• wildlife preserves
• marine protected areas

Question 6

How can we restore fragmented areas?

Answer 6

• connection allows gene flow, increased genetic diversity, increased biodiversity, increased ecosystem function, and increased ecosystem services

Question 7

Reconnect fragmented habitat

Answer 7

• wildlife corridors (trees, shrubs, grass that connects fragmented populations); Florida corridor and Yellowstone to Yukon corridor
• crossing structures: human made ( crossing road) animal underpasses

Question 8

introduce new genetic diversity into isolated population

Answer 8

• invasive species: a non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harmNon-native species: species not naturally found in an ecosystemendemic species: native species that is naturally found no where else on earth; example= pigeon mountain salamander

Question 9

How do invasions start?

Answer 9

Transport: movement to a non-native habitat

Introduction: alive in new, non-native habitat

establishment: high reproductive capacity, habitat generalism, dietary generalism, no predators

Question 10

how to prevent invasive species?

Answer 10

• prevent invasions in the first place
• kill off or move all individuals of an invasive species
• manage invasive populations ( use another predator to control or limit growth)