Insect Apocalypse Lecture 10 - Habitat Loss

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards derived from lecture notes on habitat loss and its impact on biodiversity.

Habitat loss

The destruction or alteration of natural environments, often due to human activity.

Grassland management

Different practices that affect land use and biodiversity in grasslands, such as fallow, traditional, and intensive management.

α-diversity

A measure of species diversity within a specific area, often calculated using the Shannon-Weaver index.

Fallow management

A type of land management where no crops are grown and the land is left to recover.

Intensive grassland management

A form of land management that involves frequent mowing and heavy fertilization.

Conservation value

An assessment of the importance of a species or habitat in terms of its risk of extinction.

Arthropod decline

A decrease in the population and diversity of arthropods, such as insects and spiders.

Trophic levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Urbanization gradients

The changes in biodiversity and species composition as one moves from rural to urban environments.

Species richness

The number of different species represented in a given ecological community.

Functional traits

Characteristics of organisms that influence their function in the ecosystem, such as feeding behavior.

Rainforest biodiversity

The wide variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms found in rainforest ecosystems.

Pharmaceuticals from rainforests

Medicinal drugs that are derived from compounds found in rainforest plants.

Primary forest

A forest that has never been disturbed by human activity.

Secondary forest

A forest that has regrown after being cleared or disturbed.

Oil palm production

The cultivation of palm trees for oil, which can lead to biodiversity loss.

Species composition

The identity and abundance of species present in an ecological community.

Ecological functions

The processes that occur within an ecosystem, such as nutrient cycling and energy flow.

Ecosystem services

The benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, such as clean air and water.

Pulp production

The process of creating paper products from wood, often contributing to deforestation.

Landscape-level drivers

Factors that impact biodiversity across larger geographic areas.

Shannon-Weaver index

A mathematical formula used to calculate species diversity in a community.

Thermal gradients

Changes in temperature that can affect biodiversity and species distribution.

Beetle diversity

The variety of beetle species found in a specific habitat.

Butterfly communities

Groups of butterfly species that coexist in a particular habitat.

Extensively managed grasslands

Grasslands that are maintained with minimal human intervention.

Semi-intensive meadows

Grasslands managed for grazing or hay production but with some conservation practices.

Apple orchards

Cultivated areas for growing apple trees, impacting local biodiversity.

Vineyards

Areas dedicated to the cultivation of grapevines, affecting surrounding ecosystems.

Urban habitats

Areas within cities that provide environments for wildlife.

Diversity measures

Quantitative assessments used to evaluate species diversity in ecosystems.

Local land-use intensity

The degree of human activity and resource extraction in a given area.

Agricultural land cover

The extent of land used for agriculture, impacting local biodiversity.

Biodiversity loss

The reduction in the variety and abundance of species in an ecosystem.

Tropical rainforest loss

The rapid destruction of tropical rainforests, often for agriculture and development.

Arthropod biomass

The total mass of arthropods in a given area.

Threatened species

Species that are at risk of extinction.

Community composition changes

Alterations in the species types and their relative abundances in an ecosystem.

Landscape connectivity

The degree to which the landscape facilitates or impedes movement among population patches.

Ecological resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.

Conservation strategies

Approaches and practices aimed at preserving biodiversity and ecosystems.

Environmental evidence

Research and data supporting environmental science findings.

Invasive species

Non-native species that disrupt local ecosystems.

Ecological niches

Roles that species play in their ecosystems, including resource use and habitat.