Species Extinction Causes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to species extinction causes and conservation strategies.

Environmental Contaminants

Substances that negatively impact wildlife, such as pesticides and drugs like diclofenac, which cause death and population declines in various animal species.

Brodifacoum

A second-generation anticoagulant poison that is highly toxic to birds and mammals.

Monofluoracetate (1080)

A commonly used poison in Australia and New Zealand to control mammal pests, which can affect non-target bird species.

White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)

A vulture species in South Asia that has experienced drastic population declines due to poisoning from diclofenac.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process by which continuous habitats are divided into smaller patches, leading to population declines and increased predation.

Hyperpredation

A phenomenon where the introduction of a new prey species leads to increased predation pressures on endemic species.

Population Viability Analysis (PVA)

A method used to estimate the probability of extinction for a population based on various biological and environmental factors.

Exotic Predators

Non-native species that, when introduced, can threaten endemic wildlife by altering existing predator-prey relationships.

Unsustainable Harvesting

Excessive removal of species beyond their capacity to replenish, often driven by human demand for profit.

Genetic Drift

The process by which random events cause allele frequencies to change in a population, which can be significant in small populations.

Environmental Stochasticity

Random environmental changes that can affect population dynamics, especially in small populations.

Conservation in National Parks

Protected areas designated for the preservation of biodiversity where conservation activities take precedence over other land uses.

Community Conservation Areas

Areas managed by local communities that may prioritize species of direct benefit to humans, sometimes overlooking broader ecological needs.

Legislative Change

Legal modifications that can aid conservation efforts, such as bans on hunting endangered species.

Captive Breeding

A conservation strategy where endangered species are bred in controlled environments to increase population numbers before reintroduction.