biodiversity and biomes; forestry, geology, and mining

biodiversity

number and variety of a different species in a given area

species biodiversity

number of species in an area

ecosystem biodiversity

number of ecosystems or habitats in an area

genetic diversity

different genes or traits available in a population

generalist species

species that uses a variety of habitats, foods, shelter to meet its needs; adapts easily

specialist species

species that has a very specific habitat, food, shelter, or other specific requirements to meet survival needs; does not adapt easily

specialization

degree of how specific a habitat, food, or shelter must be

active movement

an organism walks , flies, or swims to get around

passive movement

an organism requires an outside force to move (wind moving seeds for seed dispersal)

keystone species

a critical species that affects the survival of other species

foundation species

primary producer within an ecosystem which if eliminated, it will collapse the ecosystem

indicator species

species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment (of something bad is going to happen)

calculating % loss of a species between years

initial population-the lesser population=difference

(difference/initial population) 100= % loss

if given a % and asked for future population number from a certain year

% x population= number dropped

population- number dropped = future population

genetic variation

measure of given genetic differences within a population of species

genetic drift

random changes in the gene frequencies of a population from generation to generation

coevolution

influence of species on each other in evolution

speciation

group of a species separates from other members of the species and develops its own unique characteristics

natural selection

organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring

sexual selection

preference by one sex for certain characteristics in individuals of the opposite sex

genetic bottleneck

removing species from a gene pool so that only a few genetic traits are left

founder effect

gain of genetic variation that occurs when a new population is established by a very small number of individuals from a larger population, can result in inbreeding and more bad genetics to be passed on

threatened species

a species has a declining population

endangered species

species is likely to become extinct if not protected

critical population density

a number that if population falls below, a species has almost no chance at survival because death rates are higher than birth rates

extirpated species

species that have disappeared from an area where they once lived but still exist elsewhere

extinct

a species that once occurred but no longer exists across their original range

background extinction

extinction through natural process, usually a very small number per year

mass extinction

abrupt rise in extinction rates, usually global, 25-70% species loss, 5 mass extinction over the past 500 million years

adaptive radiations

post mass extinction where diversity increases

local extinction

no longer found in an area it once inhabited but found elsewhere in the world

ecological extinction

so few members of a species are left that it can no longer play its ecological role in its community

biological extinction

species is no longer found on the earth

causes of extinction (HIPPCO)

habitat loss/destruction/fragmentation

invasive species

population growth

pollution (pesticides, chemicals, feedlots)

climate change

overharvesting/overexploitation/overfishing

exotic species

species introduced to an area that aren’t native; has no local predators, chokes out other species in their niche, well adapted

biodiversity hotspots

areas of the world that are being destroyed rapidly

tropical rainforests, coral reefs, islands

endemic species

species that are native and only found in that localized area

ways to preserve biodiversity

captive breeding programs, preserving genetic material, zoos and parks

endangered species act (1973)

USFWS must preserve a list of threatened and endangered species

convention on International Trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) (1973)

International agreement to regulate the trade of organisms

earth summit (1992)

100 world leaders meet in rio de Janeiro and all agreed to enforce and protect species and teach environmental education to their citizens

convention on biological diversity (CBD) (1992)

the conservations of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources; 196 counters not including the US

marine mammal protection act (1972)

protected marine mammals from falling below optimum sustainable numbers

international union for the conservation of nature and natural resources

provides a global list of all the endangered and threatened speciese (red list), also controls and enforces illegal trade of poaches animals or parts

ephiphytes

plants that grow on other plants, found in temperate and tropical rain forests

stratification

allows species to avoid competition, found in rainforests due to the high amount of biodiversity (forest levels)

emergent layer

area of the forest where a few trees reach above the canopy and dominate

canopy

dense platform, tree top, blocks sunlight

undertsory

shade plants, needs emergent to fall

forest floor

area of the forest where nutrients are recycled

rainforests

location: Olympia national park (temperate); Brazil, india, Africa (tropical)

temperature: high

precipitation: 85+ inches a year

soil: nutrient poor and acidic, rapid decomposition (temperate has somewhat better soil)

flora: extremely diverse

fauna: extremely diverse

temperate deciduous forest

location: pennsylvania, europe, japan

temperature: temperate (seasons)

precipitation: up to 40 inches a year

soil: fertile, enriched with decaying litter

flora: oak, hickory beech, hemlock, maple, spring flowers

fauna: diverse amount of mammals and birds

temperate coniferous

temperature: includes temps that go below 0

flora: evergreen and conifer

taiga

location: siberia, northern canada

temperature: severe temperature

precipitation: 20-35 inches a year

soil: thin, nutrient, poor, acidic

flora: evergreen, conifers. fir, pine, spruce

fauna: moose, bear, hawks, wolves, deer, caribou

savanna

location: central africa

temperature: high

precipitation: 20-50 inches per year for 6-8 months, followed by a dry season

soil: waterlogged to dry, pours, thin, depends on fire

flora: scattered trees, grass

fauna: giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lions, leopards, beetles, snakes

temperate grassland

location: middle of the US, canada, Argentina

temperature: temperate

precipitation: 20-35 inches

soil: very rich soil

flora: mostly grass depending on the amount of precipitation, flowers

fauna: coyotes, fox, badgers, bowls, owls, snakes, grasshoppers, deer, antelope

types: prairie- us and canada, pampas- South America, steppe- central Europe and asia, veldt- Africa

chaparral

location: Mediterranean and California (wine country)

temperature: temperate

precipitation: 10-17 inches, higher in Europe (up to 40)

soil: wet winters, dry summers

flora: high biodiversity from trees to brush, needs to handle dry season, known for vineyards

fauna: some animals, lots of birds

tropical desert

location: sahara

temperature: high

precipitation: only a few inches

soil: coarse, rocky, dusty, sandy, gravely, good drainage

flora: 0- no plants

fauna: small, mostly nocturnal animals

temperate deserts

location: Mojave, Southern California

temperature: temperate

precipitation: a new inches

soil: poor

flora: cacti

fauna: small animals

coastal deserts

location: coast of Chile

temperature: severe temp

precipitation: only a few inches

soil: fine textured, salty

flora: some plants- extensive root systems near the surface

fauna: animals highly adapted for dealing with the conditions

scrublands (dry scrub)

location: edge of forests, savannas, chaparral

precipitation: less rain when lear a desert, but more otherwise

flora: grasses, herbs, neophytes

cold desert

location: greenland

temperature: severe temperature

precipitation: 3-10 inches

soil: heavy, silty, salty

flora: some plants- sage

fauna: small mammals, very few carnivores

arctic tundra

location: near the north pole

temperature: extreme temprature

precipitation: 6-10 inches

soil: permafrost

flora: shrubs, grasses, sedges, mosses, lichen, flowers

fauna: carnivores and herbivore mammals, migratory birds

alpine tundra (mountainside)

location: high altitude, snowcapped mountains

temperature: extreme temp

soil: well drained

flora: grassed, dwarf trees, shrubs

fauna: small mammals, goats, sheep, elk, birds, insects

ecotone

gradual change between biomes

edge effect

change in boundary (human or natural causes)b

biotic/abiotic shifts

pollution, erosion, sunlight shift, water access, habitat fragmentation/loss, easier introduction of invasive species

desertification

fertile land become desert, caused by draught, deforestation, and poor agricultural practices

us forest service

1/3 of us land, us department of agriculture overseen us forests, used for logging, farming, mining, extraction of oil and gas, and recreation

ecological services

climate patterns, carbon sinks, energy and nutrient cycling, producing humus for soil quality, oxygen, habitats, air and water purification, and erosion production

mitigation

less severe, reducing deforestation, harvesting correctly to avoid erosion and degradation

preservation

spare, recycling, consumer awareness

remediation

stop or fix, restricting access, sensible fire control

even aged

close height and age of trees

uneven aged

different height and age of trees

clear cutting

completely cutting everything

high grading

cutting only the best trees

seed tree cutting

most trees taken but seed trees left to regenerate

selective cutting

only specific trees

shelterwood cutting

removing all mature trees in a limited time

strip cutting

clear cutting a strip of trees that follows a contour to allow regeneration

tree plantations

farming trees, rotation cycles to harvest, single crop (mono-cropping), sometimes non-native trees, can cause erosion and flooding and disease and biodiversity

impacts of forest fires

19% of forest fires is humans fault, loss of habitat, sunlight increase which creates temperature changes around water systems, erosion and sedimentation, decrease in water quality, flooding, climate change

crown fire

fire that bounces from tree top to tree top and burns entire trees

surface fires

burns undergrowth, ground litter, small trees

serotinous plants

needs fire to open seed shells, often found in scrublands

ground fire

underground and hard to stop

prescribed burns

setting something on fire on purpose and then controlling the burn

done because fire helps break down organic matter, destroys invasive plants, and grows seedlings due to increased sunlight

triassic period

time with one continent (Pangea)

jurassic period

time when fossil fuels formed

cretaceous period

time when the rock layer (strata) formed

core

solid center, contains iron, surrounded by molten rock

mantle

solid rock, high temperatures

asthenosphere (outer mantle)

molten rock (magma), loops energy from mantle and core

lithosphere

top of mantle, bottom of crust, made-up of tectonic plates

crust

floats on mantle

*continental is older; oceanic is denser

igneous rocks

volcanic

basalt rocks

rocks that cool fast (dominated oceans)

granite rocks

crystalized under the surface

metamorphic rocks

changed from extreme heat and pressure