BIOL 101 Chapter 16: Conservation Ecology

conservation biology

ecology, physiology, molecular biology, and genetics in efforts to conserve biological diversity

what is the biggest threat to biodiversoty

human activities

what are the three levels of biodiversitt

genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity

genti diversity

genetic variation within a population and between populations

this recudes genetic variation and diversity required for microevolution within a species

species diversity

the number of species in an ecosystem or across the biosphere

endagered and threatened species

extinctions may also happen at the local population level, being lost in one area but existent in another

ecoystem diversirt

human activity is reducing ecostsyem diversitt, the variety of ecosystems in the biosphere

the locacl extinction of one species can have a nagative impact on other species in an ecosystem

what are the four major threats to biodiversity

habitat loss and fragmentation, introduces species, overharvesting, global change

habitat loss and fragmentation

human alteration of habitat

loss of 73% of speies that have become extinct

small populations in small habitats and vulnerable to extinction

threat to aquatic biodiversity

introduced species

humans move from native locations to new geographic regions

without natural predators, they spread rapidly and prey on native organisms

overharvesting

harvesting populations at rates exceedin their ability to rebound. repcies withr estircited havitats and large organisms with low reproductive rates

global change

alterations in climate, atmosogeric chemistry and broad

acid precipitation is fall that contain acids

harming soil and water

what are human caused changes that r messing the eartch

nutrient enrichment, toxin acumulation, climate change, ozone depeltion

nutrient enrichment

humans remove nutirned from one part of the biosphere and adds them to another

critital oad is the amount of added nutrient that can be absorved by plants without damaging ecosystem integirty

agricultural runoff and sewage cause phytoplankton blooms in aquatic ecosystems

toxins in the enviornment

toxins can be in ecosystms for long periods of time and some are metabolized or accumulate in animal tissues

Biological magnifacation

toxins are passed up the food chain and concentracted in organisms at higher trophic levels

what chloriated hydrocarbons are subject to biological magnifications

PCBs pesticieds, DDT (interferes with egg shell productions)

silent spring

brought attention to DDT and banned in 1971

pharmaceuticals

enter freshwater ecosystems throuh human sewage and agricultural runoff

sec steriods can shift the s3x ration toawrds femals in some pecies of fish

plastic waste

marine waste

microplastics are formed from the breakdown of larger peices by wave action and UV light

marine animals die after mistaking plastic debris for food