Biodiversity and Conservation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to biodiversity loss and conservation strategies discussed in the lecture.

Biodiversity Loss

A mix of causes that threaten the loss of most species, with habitat loss being the primary cause.

Conservation Biologists

Professionals who seek to understand the causes of biodiversity loss and create plans for protection and restoration.

Inbreeding Depression

The reduced survival or reproduction that results when closely related individuals breed.

Deleterious Recessive Alleles

Alleles that can cause harm when expressed due to homozgosity from breeding among closely related individuals.

Genetic Variability

The magnitude of variations within a population that impacts how small it can become before facing serious inbreeding depression.

Bottleneck Effect

An event that reduces the size of populations, making them more susceptible to genetic drift and loss of genetic diversity.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

A law established in 1973 to protect imperiled species and their ecosystems, prohibiting actions that destroy these species.

Endangered Species

Species with so small a population that extinction is likely to occur.

Threatened Species

Species whose population is in decline and likely to become endangered in the near future.

DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

An insecticide that was banned in the U.S. due to its harmful effects on wildlife, leading to early successes in the recovery of certain bird species.

Habitat Conservation Plans

Agreements that allow landowners to harm some individuals of a species if the overall habitat is improved.

Safe Harbor Agreements

Legal agreements that exempt landowners from liability if they engage in activities that benefit endangered species.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

A regulation that bans international transport of rare species, including parts of plants or animals.

Captive Breeding Programs

Programs in zoos and botanical gardens aimed at breeding endangered species and reintroducing them to the wild.

California Condor

A species that suffered population decline due to hunting and poisoning, first listed under the ESA.

Forensic Science in Conservation

Methods adapted to identify the origins of organisms recovered from the black market.

Flagship Species

Large, charismatic animals chosen by organizations to promote conservation efforts and protect many other species.

Community-Based Conservation Strategies

Approaches that engage local communities in conservation planning while balancing their needs with wildlife protection.