Human Impacts of Biodiversity
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46 Terms
What is biodiversity?
The variety of life, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
What are the three levels of biodiversity?
Genetic variation, species richness, and ecosystem diversity.
What is background extinction?
The normal rate at which species naturally go extinct.
What is a mass extinction?
A period when many species go extinct in a short time.
How fast is the current extinction rate?
About 1,000 times the natural background rate.
About what percentage of species are threatened or endangered?
About 36%.
How do humans reduce biodiversity?
By destroying habitats, polluting ecosystems, overusing resources, introducing invasive species, and causing climate change.
Why is habitat destruction increasing?
Human population growth increases demand for food, fuel, and land.
What is deforestation?
The removal of forests.
What is desertification?
The conversion of land into desert due to poor land use, deforestation, agriculture, and drought.
What is overexploitation?
Harvesting resources faster than they can be replaced.
What is an example of overexploitation?
Overfishing.
What is bycatch?
The accidental capture of non-target species.
Name three damaging fishing methods.
Trawling, driftnets, and longlining.
Why is removing top predators harmful?
It disrupts food webs and ecosystem balance.
Why is freshwater limited?
Most Earth's water is saltwater or frozen in glaciers.
What is subsidence?
Land sinking due to excessive groundwater removal.
What is biological magnification?
Toxins become more concentrated at higher trophic levels.
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
A huge accumulation of plastic trapped by ocean currents.
Why do seabirds eat plastic?
They mistake it for food.
What is acid rain?
Rain made acidic by air pollution.
What causes dead zones?
Nutrient pollution leading to eutrophication and low oxygen.
What is an invasive species?
A non-native species that harms native ecosystems.
Why are invasive species successful?
They often have no natural predators.
What problems do invasive species cause?
They outcompete native species, spread rapidly, and reduce biodiversity.
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere.
Name three greenhouse gases.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and water vapor.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Heat is trapped in the atmosphere instead of escaping into space.
What causes climate change?
Increased greenhouse gases from human activities.
What are predicted effects of climate change?
Rising temperatures, melting ice caps, sea level rise, and shifting rainfall.
What evidence shows climate change is occurring?
Rising CO₂ levels, increasing temperatures, and melting glaciers.
Why do environmental problems increase?
Human population and resource demands continue to grow.
What is the tragedy of the commons?
Shared resources are overused because individuals act in their own interest.
Give examples of common resources.
Forests, fisheries, oceans, and clean air.
Why is biodiversity important?
It provides medicine, food, ecosystem services, and genetic diversity.
What are ecosystem services?
Natural processes like oxygen production, carbon storage, nitrogen fixation, water purification, flood control, and erosion prevention.
What is intrinsic value?
Nature has value simply because it exists.
What is the Precautionary Principle?
Take action to prevent environmental harm even if all evidence is not yet complete.
What is conservation?
Protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems.
What is a biodiversity hotspot?
An area with many unique and endangered species.
What is preservation?
Protecting land with little or no human use.
What is mixed-use conservation?
Protecting habitats while allowing limited human use.
What is restoration?
Repairing damaged ecosystems.
Why must conservation include economics?
Conservation must balance environmental protection with human needs.
How can individuals help protect biodiversity?
Educate themselves, teach others, vote, and make environmentally responsible choices.
Why is education important for conservation?
It helps people make informed decisions that protect the environment.