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| biological diversity (biodiversity) |
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Definition
| the sum total of all organisms in an area, taking into account the species, their genes, their populations, and their communities. |
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| the number or variety of species in the world or in a particular region. |
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| evenness/relative abundance |
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| the extent to which the number of individuals of different species are equal or skewed. |
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| generates new species, adding to species richness (globally). |
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| decreases species richness (globally). |
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| A scientist who classifies species, using an organism's physical appearance and/or genetic makeup, and who groups species by their similarity into a hierarchy of categories meant to reflect evolutionary relationships. |
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| plural of genus - level of classification which is above species and below family. Made up of one or more closely related species. |
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| populations of a species that occur in different geographic areas and differ from one another in some characteristics. |
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| the differences in DNA composition among individuals within species and populations. |
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| populations with little genetic diversity |
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| are vulnerable to environmental change for which they are not genetically prepared. |
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| when genetically similar parents mate and produce weak or defective offspring. |
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| the number and variety of ecosystems. |
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| insects show a staggering predominance over all other forms of life. |
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| 40% are beetles: beetles outnumber all non-insect animals and all plants. |
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| Our knowledge of species numbers is incomplete for many reasons |
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| Many species are tiny and easily overlooked, many are difficult to identify, and some areas of Earth remain little explored. |
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| species richness generally increases as one approaches the equator. |
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| greater amounts of solar energy, heat, and humidity at tropical latitudes lead to more plant growth, making areas nearer to the equator more productive and able to support larger number of animals. |
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| similar temperatures and rainfall from day to day and season to season help ensure that single species won't dominate ecosystems, but instead, that numerous species can coexist. |
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| polar and temperate regions may be relatively species poor because |
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| glaciation events repeatedly forced organisms out of these regions and toward more tropic latitudes. |
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| human disturbance can sometimes increase habitat diversity, but only on a local scale |
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| at larger scales, human disturbance decreases diversity because species that rely on large unbroken expanses of single habitat will disappear. |
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| when the last member of a species dies and the species ceases to exist(golden toad). Occurs naturally. |
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| the disappearance of a particular population from a given area, but not the entire species globally (tiger). Occurs naturally. |
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| background rate of extinction |
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Definition
| disappearance one by one for independent reasons, at a rate of about one species out of 1,000, every 10,000 years (1 extinction annually per 1 to 10 million species). |
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| extinctions rising far above the background rate for discrere times in Earth's history. |
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| Today's ongoing mass extinction is different from past for two primary reasons |
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1. We are causing it.
2. We will suffer as a result of it. |
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| an updated list of species facing high risks of extinction. |
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| Biodiversity loss also means |
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| loss of genetic diversity, ecosystem diversity, and species diversity. |
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| summarizes trends in the populations of 695 terrestrial species, 344 freshwater species, and 274 marine species. |
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| Four primary causes of population decline and species extinction |
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Definition
1. habitat alteration
2. invasive species
3. pollution
4. overharvesting |
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agriculture (farming/grazing)
forest clearing
hydroelectric dams
urban and suburban sprawl |
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intentional/unintentional introductions.
If they survive, they often have no limiting factors (predators) and may spread quickly. |
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| air, water, agricultural runoff, etc. |
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| Ultimate reasons behind proximate threats to biodiversity |
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| growth in population and growth in consumption. |
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| the manipulation of Earth's climate system is beginning to have global impacts on biodiversity. |
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| Biodiversity provides ECOSYSTEM SERVICES free of charge! |
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| clean air, protect against flooding/drought, insurance against disease/drought, boost economies, etc. |
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| High levels of biodiversity tend to |
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| increase the stability of communities and ecosystems. |
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| ability to weather disturbance, bounce back from stress, or adapt to change. |
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| the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life. |
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| the scientific discipline devoted to understanding the factors, forces, and processes that influence the loss, protection, and restoration of biological diversity. |
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