chapter 56: Conservation Biology and Global Change

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to conservation biology and global change.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Conservation Biology

The study of biodiversity with the goal of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and environmental degradation.

Extinction Vortex

A downward spiral in which a small population becomes even smaller due to genetic, environmental, and demographic problems, increasing its risk of extinction.

Minimum Viable Population (MVP)

The minimum number of individuals required for a population to survive long-term, essential for assessing extinction risk.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process in which large continuous habitats are divided into smaller, isolated fragments, impacting biodiversity.

Sustainability

The ability to meet human needs today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Biological Magnification

The process where toxins become more concentrated at each higher level of a food chain.

Microplastics

Tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items or from synthetic products.

Eutrophication

The process by which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, leading to oxygen depletion and harm to aquatic life.

Introduced Species

Species that are non-native to an ecosystem and whose introduction can cause harm to native species and the ecosystem.

Landscape Ecology

The study of how the arrangement of habitats across large areas affects ecological processes.

Zoned Reserve

A conservation model where protected natural areas are surrounded by managed buffer zones allowing sustainable human activities.

Carbon Cycle

The biogeochemical cycle that regulates the exchange of carbon among the Earth's oceans, soil, rocks, and atmosphere.