ECOL1000 - Biodiversity & Natural Resources

Ecosystem function

physical, chemical, and biological processes that produce, transform, and move energy and materials in an ecosystem

Ecosystem service

direct and indirect benefits that humans receive from natural ecosystems

Ecosystem goods

tangible material benefits that humans receive from natural ecosystems

Ecological diversity

variety within an ecosystem’s structure (ex. niches, communities, habitats, trophic levels)

Less biodiversity…

decreased resilience

Non-native species

species living in areas where they don’t naturally occur; often human caused

Pest

any organism that damages human environments or infrastructure

Zoonosis/zoonotic disease

animal pathogen that spreads to infect humans and cause disease

Vector

general insect that transmits a pathogen to a plant or animal

extinct

99% of all species that have ever lived on Earth are…

Historical extinction rate (pre-human)

1-2 species per million years

Large-bodied, specialized species

Most likely to go extinct

Flagship species

charismatic species chosen for single-species conservstion

Umbrella species

species whose habitats indirectly safeguard other species

Boreal forests