Conservation Biology

Scientists have named and described how many species

2 million

How many estimated species are there?

8.7 million

Humans are rapidly pushing many species to what

Extinction

The time period of humans causing a sixth extinction is called what

The Anthropocene

Conservation biology

Applied science which seeks to preserve species, habitats, and ecosystems

Conservation biology integrates what 6 fields

Ecology

Physiology

Molecular biology

Genetics

Economics

Evolutionary biology

Conservation biology is not what

Environmentalism(not political)

4 levels of biodiversity

Genetic diversity

Species diversity

Ecosystem diversity

High taxonomic diversity

Genetic diversity

Genetic variation within and between populations

Natural and human cultivated species are currently losing what

Genetic diversity

Natural populations of animals restricted to nature preserves what

Loose genetic variation

What 2 human activities have imperiled genetic diversity

Shifts in agricultural practices

Shift in animal use

Species diversity

the variety of species in an ecosystem or throughout the biosphere

Endangered species

Species in danger of becoming extinct throughout a significant portion of its range

Threatened species

Species likely to become endangered in the near future

What percent of birds mammals and amphibians are threatened extinction

12%, 21%, 32%

Ecosystem diversity

Variety of habitats, communities, ecosystems in biosphere

Human activity is reducing what

ecosystem diversity

More than 50% of what have been converted into other ecosystems

Wetlands

Some major branches on the tree of life are represented by what

A handful or even a single species

Higher level taxonomic loss of these species would mean what

Disappearance of a whole family/class of organisms

2 justifications for biodiversity conservation

Self interest

Ethical/theistic/philosophical

Species related to agricultural crops have important what

Genetic qualities

Loss of species means loss of what

Genetic diversity

Genetic diversity if organisms has potential for great what

Human benefit

Ecosystem services

Processes by which ecosystems help sustain human life

4 Examples of ecosystem services

Purification of air and water

Detoxification of waste

Cycling of nutrients

Moderation of weather

What type of motivations underpin many conservation efforts

Ethical, aesthetic, and spiritual motivations

In the 19th century, it was widely believed that humans require what to maintain mental health

Interactions with nature

5 major threats to biodiversity

Habitat destruction

Change in ecosystem processes

Introduced species

Overharvesting

Climate change

Grasslands are disappearing globally at what rate

2% per year(southern hemisphere

Most grasslands in the northern hemisphere were destroyed by when

End of 19th century

Every habitat fragment becomes a biological what

Island

Smaller populations support less what

Genetic variation

Edge effects

Conditions bordering an ecosystem that can alter species composition

Human activities often spread what between continents

New/exotic species which become invasive

What 5 things makes a species vulnerable to extinction

Endemism

Rarity

Small population

Ecological specialization

Usefulness to humans

Endemism

Species restricted to a small area

Rarity

Species with low population densities(can be spread out)

Small population size

Low numbers of individuals with decreased genetic diversity

Ecological specialization

Organisms with specific niches(cannot adapt to habitat change)

Conserving species requires resolving conflicts between what

Habitat needs and human demands

Have whale populations fully recovered from whaling

No

Does whale hunting or watching make more money

Whale watching