Ch.4.3: Natural and Human Disruptions to Ecosystems

tectonic plates

broken surface pieces formed from interior molten rock flowing to surface

the locations of continents and oceans have an impact on _____. this determines________

climate, where plants and animals live

what has the movement of continents allowed for?

species to move to new environments and evolve to new conditions

how does movement of continents cause speciation

populations are separated geographically, and populations adapt to new habitats

how long ago was the last ice age?

18000 years ago

the changes in earth’s climate have changed what?

locations of different biomes (deserts, grasslands, forests)

as Earth’s climate cools and warms, raising the sea levels, how can species be affected?

either adapt and evolve, or go extinct

all species either _____ or _______

go extinct, evolve into new species

Extinction

when all members of a species dies out

what are Endemic species, how are they affected by extinction?

species only found in one area, vulnerable to extinction

endemic species extinction example

Golden toad of cloud forest in Costa Rica because clouds from Caribbean didn’t reach it’s habitat anymore

what are Cosmopolitan species, and how are they affected by extinction

broad area that they can live, less susceptible to extinction

Local extinction

species dies out in one area but is found elsewhere

Ecological/ Functional Extinction

so few members are left they can’t fulfill their role in communities

Biological extinction

a species is no longer found on Earth

mass extinction

when 75% or more species die out in a short time period (2.5 million years)

Background extinction

normal rate of species going extinct