Ecology: Conservation of Global Biodiversity Part 1

biodiveristy

the variety of life present in an area spanning all levels of ecological organization

what are the 4 levels of ecological organization?

1) genetic diversity within species

2) species diversity between species

3) community diversityiversity

4) ecosystem diversity

biodiversity hotspot

a region with disproportionately high biodiversity given its area

what are the 4 common criteria of a biodiversity hotspot?

1) large scale areas

2) quantify diversity using species richness

3) focus on vascular plants

4) limiting to areas with major impacts of human activity

how can large areas as a criteria limit our understanding of global patterns of biodiversity?

can hide smaller scale patterns in a particular ecosystem

how can using species richness as a criteria limit our understanding of global patterns of biodiversity?

ignores species abundance and evenness

how can vascular plants as a criteria limit our understanding of global patterns of biodiveristy?

ignores biodiversity of other animal and fungal species that may be more common in that area than vascular plants

how can studying only areas with major human impacts as a criteria limit our understanding of global patterns of biodiveristy?

human activities can reduce species diveristy

fact vs. value

statement based on reason and empirical observation vs. statement based on ethic, aesthetics and belief

Example: a) We should prioritize saving lions over insects because lions are more important. b) Endangered species have a higher risk of extinction and need conservation attention.

Which statement is a fact and which is a value?

a)= value

b)= fact

instrumental value

focus on the economic value that a species or ecosystem can provide

what are the 4 services of instrumental values of biodiversity?

1) provisioning services

2) regulating services

3) recreational services

4) supporting services

provisioning services

benefits in the form of tangible products dervied from natural products

regulating services

benefits that keep natural systems within certain bound

recreational services

benefits of attracting people who are spending money

supporting services

benefits that allow ecosystems to exist

Value of a forest is lumbar and value of animals is meat/fur is an example of what service?

provisioning

Vegetation on landscapes, such as a campus, control flooding since they absorb the water. This is an example of what service?

regulating

People going to national parks are an example of what service?

recreational

Decomposers breaking down dead leaves and returning nutrients to the soil so plants can grow is an example of what service?

supporting

intangible and intrinsic values

focus on the value that a species or ecosystem can provide outside of economic change

whats the one service of intangible and intrinsic values of biodiversity?

cultural services

cultural services

benefits that provide aesthetic, identity-affirming, or spiritual value to people

Certain animals or plants having spiritual significance to a community is an example of what service?

cultural

Google is cutting down a huge part of a forest in Finland for a data center. A huge fine comes with that, but google is willing to pay it. This is an example of what?

instrumental values conflicting with intrinsic value

when extinction is greater than speciation what occurs?

biodiveristy loss

There have been

how did the K-Pg mass extinction (cretaceous-paleogene) show how the resetting of an ecological system create new opportunities animals?

asteroid kicked up absurd amount of dust that blocked out the sun in many places and dinosaurs suffered extinction rates which opened up opportunity for mammals to diversify

whats an hypothesis for why mammals were able to diversify after K-Pg mass extinction?

ability of mammals to hibernate or burrow underground

what happens to biodiversity after mass extinction?

new ecological conditions, adaptive radiations of previously small groups, different resources for small groups, fewer competitors and predators

true or false: the current extinction rate is 100-1000x higher than the historic average

true

what human activities are getting us closer to a 6th mass extinction?

overhunting, habitat destruction, and effects of industrialization

what constitutes a critically endangered species on teh red list?

80% decline in 10 years

what constitutes an endangered species on the red list?

50% decline in 10 years

what constitutes a vulnerable species on the red list?

20% decline in 10 years

how are the eastern whales an example of a global decline in genetic diveristy?

before whaling the pop size was 14,500, but after whaling a genetic bottleneck effect occurred dropping the population to 1250 so many genetic variations were lost