5 Endangered Species and Conservation

What is biodiversity?

Variety of all life

What does biodiversity provide ecosystems?

Resiliency and stability

What type of argument values biodiversity for human benefit?

Anthropocentric argument

What is intrinsic value?

Value independent of use

What are the three main biodiversity distinctions?

Genetic traits, species, habitat

What is species richness?

Number of species in an area

What is species evenness?

How evenly species and distributed

Why is biodiversity protection difficult?

Need vast land areas

What limits government control of habitat?

Private property rights

What does ESA stand for?

Endangered Species Act

What are ESA’s two main goals?

Conserve species and ecosystems

What types of species get focus under ESA?

Charismatic megafarma

What are charismatic megafarma?

Large, appealing mammals

What does “threatened” mean?

Likely to become endangered soon

What does “endangered” mean?

At risk of extinction

What does ESA mainly protect to preserve biodiversity?

Habitats

What biodiversity measure does ESA emphasize?

Population size

What is a “take”?

Killing or harming species/habitat

What happens if your land is essential habitat?

Harvesting becomes illegal

What’s “preemptive habitat destruction”?

Destroying habitat to avoid regulation

What combination increases habitat protection on private land?

Compensation and assurances

Why don’t fines work well at motivation private landowners?

Don’t motivate conservation

What policy alone isn’t effective at motivating private landowners?

Technical assistance