Conservation Biology & Biodiversity - Chapter 18

What is biodiveristy?

The variety of living things, including different species, genes, and ecosystems.

A type of biodiversity service: Direct Services

Things we get from nature, like food, medicine, wood, and clothing.

A type of biodiversity service: Indirect Services

Things nature does for us, like cleaning water and helping control the climate.

Ecosystem service: Provisioning

Gives us things like food, water, and fuel.

Ecosystem service: Regulating

Helps control things like climate, flooding, and pollution.

Ecosystem service: Cultural

Gives people benefits like recreation, beauty, and traditions.

Ecosystem service: Supporting

Includes natural processes like making soil and cycling nutrients that help the ecosystems work.

The field of conservation biology:

It is the study of protecting plants, animals, and their habitats.

What are the 3 levels at which biodiversity can be measured?

1. Genetic diversity

2. Species diversity

3. Ecosystem diversity

Genetic Diversity (a biodiversity measurement)

The variety of genes in a species.

Species Diversity (a biodiversity measurement)

The variety of species in an area.

Ecosystem Diversity (a biodiversity measurement)

The variety of different ecosystems and habitats.

Where does the greatest biodiversity occur on Earth and what 3 factors are behind this?

They are found in tropical rainforests and coral reefs near the equator because they get lots of sunlight, have a stable climate for a long time, and stay warm and wet year-around.

What are biodiversity hotspots?

They are places with many species that are also at high risk of being destroyed.

What are the 2 types of extinction events?

1. Background extinction happens naturally over time

2. Mass extinction is when many species go extinct in a short period of time

What 3 factors influence a species extinction risk?

It lives in a small area, has a small population, or can only survive in very specific conditions.

What evidence is there that we may be living in a current mass extinction event?

Species are going extinct much faster than normal because of human activities.

One example of an reversible disturbance is:

A forest fire caused by lightning is reversible because the forest can grow back over time.

One example of an irreversible disturbance is:

Building a shopping mall where a rainforest used to be is irreversible because the habitat is permanently destroyed.

What are the 4 main ways that human activities affect the planet?

By destroying habitats, overusing natural resources, introducing invasive species, and causing pollution and climate change.

A strategy that has been used currently for effective conservation:

Creating protected areas like national parks so plants and animals have safe places to live.