APES Unit 2: Biodiversity

individual

single member of a species

population

individuals of the same species living in the same area

community

multiple populations of different species living and interacting in the same area

ecosystem

interactions between biotic and abiotic factors with a flow of energy and cycling of material

benefits of high biodiversity

more resilient, stable, and are better able to respond and recover from environmental stressors

genetic diversity

difference in DNA among individuals of the same species and population

species diversity

the number and variety of species in a particular area

ecosystem (habitat) diversity

the number and variety of ecosystems or habitats within a given region

benefits of high genetic diversity

resilient, a species is able to bounce back after environmental disruptors

what does a loss of habitat lead to?

first a lost of specialists, then a loss of generalists

specialists

use a specific set of resources and are easily affected by changing conditions; they have a survival advantage when conditions are constant

generalists

use a variety of resources, have a high range of tolerance, and are adaptable to many environments; they have an advantage when conditions change

species richness

the total number of species in a community

species evenness

a measure of the comparative numbers of individuals of each species present in a community

why are high biodiversity ecosystems resilient?

they have many different niches available to continue ecosystem functions

how can biodiversity indicate a disturbance?

lowered biodiversity can indicate a change in conditions outside a species’ range of tolerance

categories of ecosystem services

Provisioning

Regulating

Cultural

Supporting

provisioning services

products obtained from ecosystems

examples of provisioning services

energy, food, transportation

regulating services

benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes

examples of regulating services

flood prevention, climate regulation, erosion control

cultural services

nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems

examples of cultural services

educational, recreational, heritage, spiritual

supporting services

services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services

examples of supporting services

maintaining of biodiversity, nutrient recycling, primary productivity

natural disruptions to ecosystems

wildfires, droughts, pesticide pollution, climate change, deforestation

ecological tolerance

the range of conditions that an organism can endure before injury or death (individuals and species)

invasive species

species that are living outside of their normal habitat which threaten native species (mostly by human activities)

how to get rid of/mitigate invasive species

incentivize people to kill them for money

causes of biodiversity loss (HIPPCO)

Habitat loss

Invasive species

Population

Pollution

Climate Change

Overharvesting

do invasive species tend to be generalists or specialists?

generalists

Why do invasive species pose a threat to biodiversity?

they tend to reproduce rapidly and outcompete native species. They have no natural predators or controls in their new environment

the Endangered Species Act

protects biodiversity in the USA - forbids actions that destroy habitats or endangered species

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES treaty)

protects endangered species worldwide by banning international transport and trade of endangered species or their body parts

biodiversity preservation strategies

captive breeding programs, wildlife corridors, national parks/reserves

island biogeography theory

the closer an island is to the mainland and the larger it is, the higher its species diversity

adaptation

populations adapt over time to adopt characteristics that are best for their survival (survival of the fittest)

Succession

a change in the type of plants and animals in an uninhabited area

primary succession

occurs on bare ground where no soil or ecosystem existed before - creates soil (first stages are fast, climax stage lasts the longest and is the most constant)

secondary succession

series of changes that occur only after a disturbance (plants and soil previously present) which restores the community to its original condition (faster than primary succession)

pioneer species

first plants to grow on new ground, can live without much soil and are tolerant of full sunlight and low nutrient levels (lichens, mosses)

indicator species

are intolerant of ecosystem disturbances, their absence shows a change in conditions. they provide a food source for higher trophic levels, increasing an area’s biodiversity

keystone species

holds a community together - its removal dramatically alters the structure and function of a community

trophic cascade

indirect impact of the removal of one species on the food chain/web