Chapter 56 Campbell Biology

Conservation Biology

Using knowledge of ecology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, evolution, etc to conserve biodiversity

biodiversity

3 Levels of Biodiversity

Genetic, Species and Ecosystem Diversity

Genetic Variation

comprises variation WITHIN a population and BETWEEN populations

adaptations to local conditions.

Species Diversity

the number of species in an ecosystem or across the biosphere

variety of species in an ecosystem or throughout the biosphere

endangered and threatened species

endangered species

A species whose numbers are so small that the species is at risk of extinction

threatened species

A species that could become endangered in the near future
12% birds, 21% mammals

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of ecosystems on Earth is a third level of biological diversity.

Human activity is reducing ecosystem diversity, the variety of ecosystems in the biosphere

Endangered Species

Species in danger of extinction through all or most of its range

may go extinct/ endagered in one area an not another

global extinction

a species can no longer be found anywhere

Threatened Species

Species likely to be endangered in the near future

Ecosystem Services

encompass all the processes through which natural ecosystems help sustain human life.

Processes that ecosystems carry out like air and water purification, pollination, soil preservation, etc that help sustain human life

4 main threats to biodiversity

1. Habitat Loss
2. Introduced Species
3. Overharvesting
4. Global Change

Introduced Species

Non-native species humans move intentionally or unintentionally to a new area via ships and airplanes, etc (Ex. Zebra mussels)

Free from the predators, parasites, and pathogens that limit their populations in their native habitats, such transplanted species may spread rapidly through a new region.

disrupt their new community, often by preying on native organisms or outcompeting native organisms

Habitat Loss

human alteration of habitat is the greatest threat to biodiversity throughout the biosphere

agriculture, urban development, forestry, mining, and pollution.

cause for 73% of the species that have become extinct, endangered, vulnerable

98% of the tropical dry forests of Central America and Mexico have been cut down.

habitat fragmentation

Breakup of a habitat into smaller pieces, usually as a result of human activities.

Overharvesting

human harvesting of wild plants or animals a rates exceeding the ability of population of the species to rebound

low reproductive rates, such as elephants, whales, and rhinoceroses.

global change

includes alterations in climate, atmospheric chemistry, and broad ecological systems that reduce the capacity of Earth to sustain life.
acid precipitation

acid precipiation

ain, snow, sleet, or fog with a pH less than 5.2.
The burning of wood and fossil fuels releases oxides of sulfur and nitrogen that react with water in air, forming sulfuric and nitric acids. The acids eventually fall to Earth's surface, where they cause chemical reactions that decrease nutrient supplies and increase concentrations of toxic metals.

Extinction vortex

small pop vunerable to interbreed inter breeding and gentic drift, loss of genetic variaation that enables evolutionary response and leads to smaller and smaller popualtions until none are left

mimimum viable population

MVP
. The minimal population size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers

effective population size

the number of individuals in a population who contribute offspring to the next generation

declining population approach

focuses on threatened and endangered populations that show a downward trend, even if the population is far above its minimum viable population

emphasizes the environmental factors that caused a population decline in the first place.

Movement Cooridor

In fragmented habitats,
Narrow strip or series of small habitat clumps that connect isolated patches in order to bridge fragmented habitats

Movement corridors can also promote dispersal and reduce inbreeding in declining populations

importantce of cooridor

increase the exchange of individuals among populations of many organisms, including butterflies, voles, and aquatic plants.

CONNNECT ISOLATED PATHCES

especially important to species that migrate between different habitats seasonally.

4 types of environmental change caused by humans

1. Nutrient Enrichment
2. Toxins in the Environment
3. Greenhouse Gasses + Global Warming
4. Depletion of Atmospheric Ozone

Biodiversity Hot Spot

Small area with many species found nowhere else in the world (aka endemic species) and lots of endangered species

less than 1.5% of Earth's land but are home to more than a third of all species of plants, amphibians, reptiles (including birds), and mammals. Aquatic ecosystems also have hot spots, such as coral reefs and certain river systems.

nature reserve

protected "islands" of biodiversity in a sea of habitat altered or degraded by human activity.

Zoned Reserve

Extensive region that includes areas undisturbed by humans surrounded by areas changed by human activity and used for economic gain

support human activities, but regulations prevent the types of extensive alterations likely to harm the protected area.

ex costa rica

urban ecology

examines organisms and their environment in urban settings.

quality and flow of their water and the organisms living in them.

Global Warming

The warming of the earth due to increases carbon dioxide levels

Assisted Migration

Translocation of species to a good habitat outside its native range to protect it

Ozone Layer

O3; it is depleted due to chlorine emissions which break it down into oxygen

Critical Load

The amount of an added nutrient that can be absorbed without damaging the ecosystem

usually nitrogen or phosphorus

nutrient enrichment

removes nutrients from one part of the biosphere and adds them to another.

nutrients in farm soil may run off into streams and lakes, depleting nutrients in one area, increasing them in another, and altering chemical cycles in both.

Fertilizer: human activities have more than doubled Earth's supply of fixed nitrogen available to primary producers.

eutrophication of lakes

Nutrient runoff can also lead to the eutrophication of lake

Such conditions threaten the survival of many organisms.

toxis in enviroment

elease an immense variety of toxic chemicals, including thousands of synthetic compounds previously unknown in nature, with little regard for the ecological consequences.

BIO Magnification

Biological Magnification

Toxins accumulate so their concentration increases as you go up the food chain

biomass at any given trophic level is produced from a much larger biomass ingested from the level below
top-level carnivores tend to be most severely affected by toxic compounds in the environment.

ex DDT, chemical used to control insects such as mosquitoes and agricultural pests lead to decline in the populations of pelicans, ospreys, and eagles

climate change

directional change to the global climate that lasts for three decades or more (as opposed to short-term changes in the weather).

Solutions to Address Climate Change

using energy more efficiently and by replacing fossil fuels with renewable solar and wind power. nuclear

reduce deforestation

destruction of ozone

sustainability

as a tool to establish long-term conservation priorities.

Greenhouse Effect

CO2 and water vapor absorb infrared radiation and reflect it back towards earth

Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb heat emitted from Earth's surface and then radiate much of that heat back to Earth.

Biological Effects of Climate Change

species may not be able to survive the rapid climate change projected to result from global warming.

habitats today are more fragmented

already altered the geographic ranges of hundreds of species leading to declining population sizes and shrinking geographic ranges

far north, most aaffected

ozone

Life on Earth is protected from the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation by a layer of ozone located in the stratosphere 17-25 km above Earth's surface.

The destruction of atmospheric ozone results primarily from the accumulation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals once widely used in refrigeration and manufacturing.

In the stratosphere, chlorine atoms released from CFCs react with ozone, reducing it to molecular O2- liberate the chlorine, allowing it to react with other ozone molecules in a catalytic chain reaction.

Sustainable Development

Economic development that meets the needs of people today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs

develop, manage, and conserve Earth's resources as responsibly as possible.