A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity

What is biodiversity an abbreviation for?

Biological diversity

What does diversity mean?

Variety or multiformity, a condition of being different in character and quality

What is the opposite of diversity?

Unity

What is the study of life called?

Biology

What does biodiversity refer to?

The variety or multiformity of life

At what levels does biodiversity exist?

Ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity

What is ecosystem diversity?

Variety in the combinations of species living together in communities

What contributes to ecosystem diversity?

Varied environments on Earth and geographical ranges of organisms

What is species diversity?

The many different species on the evolutionary tree of life

What are examples of variations in species diversity?

Varied body plans, internal structures, life cycles, and modes of nutrition

What is genetic diversity?

Variety in the gene pool of each species

What causes genetic diversity within species?

Variation between geographically separated populations and within populations

What is a problem for species with only a few surviving individuals?

Low genetic diversity and issues due to inbreeding

How many species have been named and described?

Fewer than two million

What is the estimated range for the number of eukaryotic species on Earth?

Between 2 and 10 million

Why is it difficult to estimate the number of prokaryotic species?

Too many uncertainties exist for reliable estimates

How do we deduce relative levels of past biodiversity?

From fossil evidence

What are mass extinctions?

Periods when many species disappeared rapidly

When was the most recent mass extinction?

66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period

What caused the mass extinction 66 million years ago?

A huge asteroid collided with Earth

What were the consequences of the asteroid collision at the end of the Cretaceous period?

Environmental disruption and extinction of species like non-avian dinosaurs

What caused the previous four mass extinctions?

Volcanic activity and major changes to the atmosphere and global climate

What happens to biodiversity between mass extinction events?

It gradually increases due to the evolution of new forms of life

What is predicted to cause the sixth mass extinction?

Human activities

What is species extinction?

A natural process where species disappear

What happens when species extinction is balanced by the evolution of new species?

Biodiversity does not decrease

What is the current rate of species extinction compared to normal?

Between 100 and 1,000 times higher than normal

What are the five main anthropogenic causes of species extinction?

Overharvesting, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and global climate change

What is overharvesting?

Humans taking plants and animals from ecosystems faster than they can reproduce

What are examples of overharvesting?

Shark finning, elephant tusks, and tiger bones

How much land is cultivated or used for livestock today?

Over 13 billion hectares

What major human activity causes habitat destruction?

Agriculture

What happens when alien species are introduced to ecosystems?

They can drive native species to extinction

What are deliberate introductions of invasive species?

Examples include possums and domestic cats in New Zealand

What are examples of accidental introductions of invasive species?

Transport of species on boats and airplanes

What is pollution?

Release of harmful substances into the environment

What are major sources of pollution?

Fossil fuel burning, agriculture, mining, and pharmaceuticals

What is global climate change?

Rapid changes in temperature, rainfall, and other environmental variables caused by human activities

What can happen to coral species due to global climate change?

They may not adapt quickly enough to survive rising sea temperatures

What is ecosystem loss?

The collapse and disappearance of interacting and interdependent components of an ecosystem

What are the eight categories of causes of ecosystem loss?

Land-use change, urbanization, overexploitation, mining, dams, drainage, fertilizer leaching, and climate change

What is the main cause of ecosystem loss?

Land-use change for agricultural expansion

What is urbanization?

Growth of towns and cities leading to land-use change and ecosystem loss

How has the urban area of the world changed since 1992?

It has doubled in size

What is overexploitation of natural resources?

Overuse of resources like fuelwood, bushmeat, and fishing

What is an example of overexploitation threatening ecosystems?

Overshing of cod on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland

How does mining and smelting cause ecosystem loss?

Direct destruction and pollution from acid rain and toxic metals

What are the effects of building dams and water extraction?

Loss of river and lake ecosystems

What happened to the Colorado River due to water extraction?

It rarely flows to the Pacific Ocean

What are the effects of drainage or diversion of water?

Loss of wetlands such as the Mesopotamian Marshes in Iraq

What is eutrophication?

Excessive nutrient enrichment leading to algal blooms

What causes eutrophication in rivers and lakes?

Leaching of fertilizers

What happens to ecosystems when physical variables like temperature change?

Ecosystems adapted to specific conditions are lost

What is the "biodiversity crisis"?

Unprecedented losses of ecosystems and species due to human actions

What is IPBES?

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

What does IPBES do?

Assesses the state of biodiversity and produces reports

What is citizen science?

Data collection by individuals monitoring ecosystems over time

How much of the terrestrial environment has been altered by humans?

75%

How much of marine environments have been altered by humans?

66%

What are current rates of species extinction predicted to rise to in the future?

10,000 times higher than normal

What caused the previous five mass extinctions?

Unstoppable forces like asteroid strikes and volcanic activity

What makes the current sixth mass extinction stoppable?

It is largely caused by human actions

What are in situ conservation methods?

Conserving species in their natural habitats

What are examples of in situ conservation?

National parks and nature reserves

What are the benefits of in situ conservation?

Species remain in their natural abiotic environments and maintain normal behavior patterns

What are ex situ conservation methods?

Preserving species outside their natural habitats

What are examples of ex situ conservation?

Zoos, botanic gardens, and seed banks

What is rewilding?

Returning degraded ecosystems to natural states with minimal human intervention

What is germplasm?

Stored living material like seeds, tissue, or sperm for future propagation

What is the EDGE of Existence project?

Identifying Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangere species for conservation

What criteria does the EDGE project use?

Species with few or no close relatives and those in danger of extinction

Why is overpopulation a key factor in biodiversity loss?

It intensifies human activities threatening species and ecosystems

What is the main goal of biodiversity conservation?

Averting the biodiversity crisis by addressing causes of extinction and ecosystem loss