AP Environmental Science: Unit 2 Biodiversity

Biodiversity

the number, variety, and variability of Earth's organisms that consists of three level of diversity

Species Diversity

number of different species (species richness) combined with the relative abundance of individuals within each of those species (species evenness)

Genetic Diversity

variability in the genetic makeup among individuals within a single species and is vital to the sustainability of life on Earth

Ecosystem Diversity

Earth's variety of deserts, lakes, oceans, forests, wetlands, coral reefs, etc.

Ecosystem Services

important environmental benefits provided to people such as clean air and water and fertile soil

Extinction

the elimination of a species from Earth

Endangered Species

a species that faces threats that may cause it to become extinct within a short period of time

Threatened Species

a species whose population has declined to the point that it may be at risk of extinction

Endemic

species not found anywhere else

Genetic Resistance

the ability of one or more organisms in a population to tolerate a chemical designed to kill it
(Ex: antibiotics and bacteria)

Habitat Fragmentation

the breakup of large areas of habitat into small isolated patches and is a major threat to long-term survival of many species

Biodiversity Hotspot

relatively small areas of land that contain an exceptional number of endemic species that are at high risk from human activities

Invasive Species

foreign species that spread rapidly in a new area where they are free of predators, parasites, or resource limitation that may have controlled their populations in their native habitat

Biotic Pollution

the introduction of a foreign species into an ecosystem in which it did not evolve; often upsets the balance and interferes with functioning in the ecosystem

Indicator Species

provides an early warning of environmental damage; amphibians are an example because they lay gelatinous, unprotected eggs and breathe through their permeable skin

Conservation Biology

the study of how humans impact organisms and of the development of ways to protect biological diversity

In Situ Conservation

done through the establishment of parks and reserves to preserve biological diversity in nature

Ex Situ Conservation

involves conserving biological diversity in human-controlled settings such as zoos, aquaria, and seed banks

Restoration Ecology

the study of the historical condition of a human-damaged ecosystem with the goal of returning it as close as possible to its former state

Habitat Corridors

strips of habitat that connect isolated habitat fragments

ESA -- Endangered Species Act

authorizes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect endangered and threatened species

CITES -- Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species

bans hunting, capturing, and selling of endangered and threatened species and regulates the international trade of these species

Wildlife Mangement

the application of conservation principles to manage wild species and their habitats for human benefit or the welfare of other species

species richness

The number of different type of species

species abundance

The total number of species represented

species evenness

The distribution of species in a community

Predators

The most likely threatened organism after habitat fragmentation

Generalist species

Organisms with a very broad niche

Specialist species

Organisms likely to become extinct due to their limited niche

keystone species

a species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem

bottleneck effect

A change in allele frequency following a dramatic reduction in the size of a population

ecological tolerance

the range of conditions in which a species can survive

Succession

A series of predictable and orderly changes within an ecosystem over time.

primary succession

succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists

secondary succession

Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil

pioneer species

First species to populate an area during primary succession

Externality

Externalities are unintentional side effects of an activity affecting people other than those directly involved in the activity. A negative externality is one that creates side effects that could be harmful to either the general public directly or through the environment