Untitled Flashcards Set

Biodiversity

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

Ecosystem Diversity

The number of different ecosystems in a given area.

Species Diversity

The number and relative abundance of different species in a given area.

Genetic Diversity

The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

Species Richness

The number of different species represented in a given region.

Relative Abundance

The proportion of different species in a community.

Species Evenness

When relative abundances of species are close to equal.

Bottleneck Event

An event that drastically reduces population size.

Inbreeding Depression

A reduction in fitness due to inbreeding in small populations.

Genetic Diversity Solution for Panthers

Introduce panthers from a population in Texas to increase genetic diversity.

Natural Disruption Recovery

A habitat with greater biodiversity has a higher chance of recovering after a natural disruption.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits provided by ecosystems to humans.

Cultural Services

Non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems, such as recreation and spiritual enrichment.

Provisioning Services

Products obtained from ecosystems, such as food, fresh water, and timber.

Supporting Services

Ecosystem services that maintain ecosystem function, such as nutrient cycling and habitat provision.

Regulating Services

Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes, such as climate regulation and flood control.

Island Biogeography Theory

States that the size of an island and its distance from the mainland will determine its biodiversity.

Larger and Closer Islands

Larger and closer the island, the higher the biodiversity.

Ecological Range of Tolerance

The range of conditions in which a species can survive.

Natural Disturbance

A disturbance that occurs naturally, such as droughts or hurricanes.

Periodic Disturbance

A disturbance that occurs occasionally with regular frequency.

Unpredictable Disturbance

Unpredictable events, such as asteroid impacts.

Natural Disturbances Examples

Drought, hurricane, earthquake are examples of natural disturbances.

Adaptation

An organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Fitness Traits

Traits that increase an organism’s fitness.

Primary Succession

Begins on surfaces with no soil established.

Pioneer Species

The first species to appear in an area after a disturbance.

Secondary Succession

Begins after a disturbance on a surface that already has soil established.

Climax Community

A stable community that no longer goes through major ecological changes.

Disturbance Events for Primary Succession

Volcanic eruptions, severe landslides, glaciers melting.

Disturbance Events for Secondary Succession

Fire, abandoned farmland.

Pioneer Species Examples

Lichens and mosses are examples of pioneer species.

Ecological Succession Process

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Climax Community Characteristics

Highly diverse, stable membership of species in a given ecosystem.

Connectivity in Ecosystem Resilience

How well ecosystems are connected can affect their resilience after disturbances.

Sustainable Practices

Practices that maintain natural resources without compromising ecosystem health.

Habitat Fragmentation

Breaking up ecosystems into smaller, isolated patches.

Ecosystem Restoration

Process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Biogeographic regions with significant levels of biodiversity that are threatened.

Ecosystem Functioning

The intrinsic processes that maintain the ecosystem balance.

Biodiversity Conservation

Efforts to protect biological diversity and its associated ecosystems.

Community Interaction Types

Competition, predation, mutualism, and commensalism are examples.