Envirothon- Biodiversity and Endangered Species

Page 49: Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on earth.
It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems.
The more plant, insect, and animal species there are in one area, the greater the biodiversity and generally the healthier the ecosystem.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found.
The United States Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) enforces regulations pertaining to this act.

Endangered: Any species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Threatened: Any species likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Conserve: Use of all methods and procedures necessary to bring any endangered or threatened species to the point at which the measures provided under the Act are no longer necessary.
Keystone species: A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

Loss of Habitat: The most significant cause of endangered animals is habitat loss.
Invasive Species: Introduced species generally outcompete native species for resources.
Overexploitation of Resources: Human actions that directly cause a decline in a species population.
Pathogens and Disease: Native populations have little resistance to the invading pathogen introduced into their environment by invasive species or humans.
Environmental Pollution: Addition of pollutants and toxins into a habitat that negatively affect a species.