Eco Ch 23 Conservation Biology and Ch 25 Global Ecology

Extinction vortex

A small population
declines even
further and
becomes ever more
vulnerable to
processes that lead
to extinction.

Earth’s biota is becoming increasingly…

homogenized

homogenized

• Introduction and expansion of non-native
species.
• Habitats that favor generalists and pioneer
species.

Habitat loss

Conversion of an
ecosystem to another use.

Habitat fragmentation

Breaking up
continuous habitat into patches amid a
human-dominated landscape.

Habitat degradation

Changes that
reduce quality of the habitat for many,
but not all, species.

Invasive species

non-native, introduced
species that sustain growing populations and
have large effects on communities

“genetic rescue”

introducing individuals
from other populations to diversify the
gene pool.

Ex-situ Conservation

removing remaining
individuals and allowing them to multiple in
sheltered conditions with human care.

Surrogate species

Protecting
habitat for one species, such as
the red-cockaded woodpecker,
can result in protection of other
species as well (specialized
habitat).

flagship species

a charismatic organism that
people will want to give
protection to, such as the giant
panda.

Umbrella species

Protection of its habitat
will serve as an “umbrella” to protect many
other species with similar habitat
requirements

How much carbon does soil contain compared to plants?

Twice as much

Anthropogenic release of C to the
atmosphere from:

• The terrestrial pool results from land use
change, mostly deforestation (8%)
• The geologic (rock and sediment) pool, from
extraction and burning fossil fuels (92%).
• Most is released to the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide (CO2), some as methane
(CH4)

Climate change

directional change in
climate over a period of at least three
decades.

Weather

Current state of the atmosphere at
any given time

Climate

Long term description of weather,
averages and variation

Greenhouse effect

Warming of Earth by
atmospheric absorption and re-radiation of
infrared radiation emitted by Earth’s
surface.