ESS Topic 3: Biodiversity & Conservation

survival of the fittest

organisms best adapted to their environment will be capable of producing the most offspring in a given environment and will outcompete other organisms

species diversity

the number of different species in an area and their relative abundance

genetic diversity

the variety of genes in a population

habitat diversity

the number of different environments in a specific place

biodiversity hotspot

a region with a high level of endemic biodiversity that is under threat from human activities

endemic

a species that only exists in one location

natural selection

those individuals more adapted to an environment survive to pass on their traits

speciation

the process of forming new species

geographic isolation

when different populations of one species are physically isolated from one another

continental drift

the movement of the plates on earth's surface as a result of tectonics

divergent boundary

two plates move away from eachother

convergent boundary

two plates move towards one another

transform boundary

two plates slide along in opposite directions

background extinction rate

the number of species that go extinct every year from natural processes, approximately one species per million species per year

holocene extinction event

the loss of species due to recent human activities

natural hazards

volcanos, earthquakes, floods, and other events that can negatively impact the environment

habitat fragmentation

when human behaviors divide large areas into smaller areas, with roads for example

pollution

result from human activities, degrade habitats

invasive species

a non-native species, usually introduced by humans, that outcompete the local species and disrupt habitat functioning

factors that make a species more prone to extinction

narrow range, small population size, low population densities, large body size, slow reproduction, seasonal migration, etc

IUCN Red List

a ranking system of the risk of extinction that different species face

extinct

gone, dead, is no more

endangered

is likely to go extinct soon

least concern

everything is just fine, really

reproductive isolation

when two individuals of a species have become different enough that they cannot produce offspring

mutation

the process that produces diversity between indivuals

species richness

the number of different species in an area

Simpsons Index

A numerical representation of species diversity used to compare areas to eachother

Lincoln Index

A numerical estimate of population size of a given species in an area

evolution

the gradual change in species over time as they adapt to changing environments

land bridges

a potential way that species could move from one area to another during periods of time with low sea levels

World Wildlife Fund

A major Non-Governmental Organization that works to save biodiversity on earth

threats to biodiversity

habitat fragmentation, pollution, natural disasters, resoruce overexploitation, non-native/invasive species, modern agriculture, disease spread

NGO

Independent organizations, often volunteer run

GO

Agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency that sets and enforces environmental law within one independent Nation

IGO

The IPCC, UN, or IUCN, through which many nations work together to preserve biodiversity

species-based conservation

captive breeding programs or zoos

habitat-based conservation

when efforts to save biodiversity focus on saving an area and consequently saving all the species that live there

keystone species

a species that is critical to the functioning of an ecosystem, without it the ecosystem will collapse. The grey wolf or sea otter, for example

flagship/umbrella species

charismatic species, easy to get public buy-in for their conservation. by saving this species or their habitat everything that lives with them is also saved

SLOSS

single large or several small

edge effect

the boundary of an ecosystem, occasionally less suitable for species habitat

strategies to minimize edge effect

large preservation areas, circular or round areas, buffer zones

Wildlife corridors

an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures, strategy to compensate for small protected areas