ESS topic 3 - Not my Flashcards

biodiversity

the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Habitat diversity

variety of different ecosystems or habitats within a specific area

Species diversity

The number and relative abundance of species in a biological community.

genetic diversity

The variety of different inherited traits within a species.

Habitat diversity and genetic diversity

various habitats offer different environmental conditions, promoting genetic adaptations within populations.

Habitat diversity and species diversity

presence of diverse habitats can support a variety of species, promoting species diversity.

Genetic diversity and species diversity

as it allows for the emergence of unique traits and adaptations that can lead to the formation of new species.

Species diversity and Habitat diversity

as a variety of species interact with their environments, influencing habitat characteristics.

Why are the three types of diversity important

Promote resilience and avoid tipping points

Conservation strategies

Citizen science, NGO and indigenous

citizen science

community members, regardless of their scientific background, can actively participate in local biodiversity data collection by reporting species observations

government funded agency

government agencies conduct environmental surveys, allocate financial resources, and set conservation policies

Evolution

Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.

natural selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Genetic variation

The variety of different types of genes in a species or population.

Survival of the fittest

Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

Inheritance

individuals pass on their beneficial genetic variation (traits) to the next generation.

types of natural selection

inheritance, survival of the fittest, genetic variation and reproduction

Speciation

the generation of new species through evolution.

example of Speciation

Galápagos Islands, immigrant finch began breeding with a local female finch

How to measure biodiversity

simpson reciprocal index

richness

number of distinct species present in the ecosystem (singular)

evenness

how evenly the individuals within each species are distributed. (if there is an equal amount of different species in the area)

How have humans impacted nature and species lives

Increasing human population leads to more infrastructure built, resulting in loss of habitat

Threats of biodiversity (3) direct

Over-harvesting, illegal pet trade and poaching

Over-harvesting

natural resources such as fish, trees, and plants are excessively removed from an ecosystem.

Poaching

illegal hunting, capturing, or killing of wild animals due to the demand for valuable animal parts

• fe: rhino horns are very valuable which makes them more prone to being captured and killed

illegal pet trade

illegal trade in exotic animals which may lead to extinction

Indirect threats of biodiversity (3)

Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, invasive species.

Habitat loss

deforestation, urbanisation and agriculture results in habitat loss for many species

climate change

carbon emission effects the abiotic factors of many animals

pollution

industrial chemicals, agricultural run-off and plastic waste threat to biodiversity

invasive species

these are introduced by humans into an ecosystem and may outcompete native organisms for limited resources.

how does invasive species disrupt an ecosystems equilibrium

competition for limited resources, predation on native species and carry diseases

example of invasive species

Burmese python in South Florida, was introduced from illegal pet trade then have been a predator to marsh and cottontail rabbits.

Consequences of multiple human impacts

Ecosystems lose resilience from multiple disturbances, ecosystem can become unstable and normal system functions cannot be maintained

different stakeholder in conservation

NGO, goverment, business and individual

how can goverment help conservation

legislation and resource allocation

how can NGO help conservation

spread awareness, research, monitoring and funding

global conservation status

An indication of whether a species still exists and how likely extinction of the species will occur in the near future.

See entire glossary

where to find global conversation status

IUCN red list

why should we preserve habitat and species

aesthetic, ecological, economic and ethical

which stakeholders can preserve habitat and species

individuals, communities, NGO

how will preserving habitat and species improve the economy

ecotourism and awareness

large vs small reserve

large - can fit more species and a large food web

small - easy to manage

One large reserve vs. several smaller reserves

several small reserves create a greater edge effect than one large reserve.

edge effect

increase or decline in abundance or occurrence of a species near the edge

biosphere reserve —> Buffer Zones:

Buffer Zones: Limited human activity, acts as a protective shield for the core.

mixed conservation approach

uses both habitat and species to conserve keystone species

flagship species

large and charismatic species used as icon for biodiversity conservation

What is rewilding?

A form of ecological restoration that aims to increase biodiversity and restore natural processes.

• ex: gorongosa national park - reintroduced zebras, buffalo and elephants, which grew wildlife. Local communities have helped to reforest the area around Mount Gorongosa.

rewilding strategies

- Reintroduction of apex predators and keystone species

- topping agriculture and resource harvesting

- wildlife corridors

how will introducation of apex predator and keystone species restore biodiversity

apex predators can regulate population preventing over grazing and keystone species are a key role in food web making the ecosystem more resilient

over grazing

too many livestock for a long time in an area without leaving time for its vegetation to recover.

how will wildlife corridors restore biodiversity

restoring natural landscapes features

• eg forest river which helps species migrate easier for food and new areas to adapt for better env conditions

rewilding example

gorongosa national park - reintroduced zebras, buffalo and elephants, which grew wildlife. Local communities have helped to reforest the area around Mount Gorongosa.

abundance

The total number of individuals of a species or type present in a given area, in a given ecosystem or within a particular habitat

species conservation example

california condor - 27 indivdual in 1960

- captive breeding, habitat protection

- over 500 individuals today

ecosystem or area that has been protected to preserve biodiversity

yellow stone national park and ecosystem - temperate forest

selection pressures

natural forces that promote the reproductive success of some individuals more than others

what factors affect speciation to form

geographic isolation, natural selection, and the accumulation of genetic differences