Ch. 7 Biodiversity and Conservation

Biodiversity

The variety of live across all levels of ecological organization

Species diversity

the number or variety of species in a particular region

Genetic diversity

the differences in DNA among individuals with species and populations

ecosystem diversity

the number and variety of ecosystems within a given area

extirpation

The disappearance of a particular population from a given area, but not the entire species globally

endangered species

A species in danger of becoming extinct in the near future

threatened species

Species that is likely to become endangered.

habitat fragmentation

Splitting of ecosystems into small fragments

poaching

the illegal capture or killing of an organism

Endangered Species Act

a major law that protects biodiversity

captive breeding

the process of breeding and raising organisms under controlled conditions

Species Survival Plan

program to protect species

biodiversity hotspots

an area that both supports an especially high number of endemic species and is rapidly losing biodiversity

endemic

species that are only found in that specific geographic area