Introduction to Biodiversity Flashcards

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to biodiversity, ecosystem services, island biogeography, ecological tolerance, and ecological succession, providing a comprehensive review for exam preparation.

What is biodiversity in an ecosystem composed of?

Biodiversity includes genetic, species, and habitat diversity.

How does genetic diversity affect a population's response to environmental stressors?

The more genetically diverse a population is, the better it can respond to environmental stressors.

What is species richness?

Species richness refers to the number of different species found in an ecosystem.

What does a higher level of biodiversity indicate about an ecosystem's resilience?

Higher biodiversity typically correlates with higher ecosystem resilience to disturbances.

How is evenness defined in terms of species in an ecosystem?

Evenness is a measure of how balanced the population sizes are among different species in an ecosystem.

What is the Shannon Wiener Diversity Index used to measure?

The Shannon Wiener Diversity Index measures both species richness and relative abundance (evenness) in communities.

What impact does a population bottleneck have on genetic diversity?

A population bottleneck reduces genetic diversity, making the population more vulnerable to environmental disturbances.

What is inbreeding depression?

Inbreeding depression occurs when closely related individuals reproduce, resulting in a higher chance of harmful genetic mutations.

How does higher species diversity contribute to ecosystem resilience?

Higher species diversity increases the likelihood that some species can survive disturbances and stabilize ecosystems.

What are the four categories of ecosystem services?

The four categories of ecosystem services are provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting.

What is the effect of human activities on ecosystem services?

Human activities can disrupt ecosystem services, leading to ecological and economic consequences.

What is island biogeography?

Island biogeography is the study of ecological relationships and distribution of organisms on islands.

How do larger islands compare to smaller islands in terms of species support?

Larger islands can support more species due to greater ecosystem diversity and a lower extinction rate.

What is ecological tolerance?

Ecological tolerance refers to the range of conditions that an organism can endure before injury or death occurs.

What defines primary succession?

Primary succession begins in areas with no previous soil formation, such as bare rock.

What defines secondary succession?

Secondary succession occurs in areas where soil already exists but where most plant life has been removed by disturbance.

How do pioneer species contribute to the succession process?

Pioneer species help break down rock and create soil, allowing later successional species to thrive.