Chapter 56: Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology – Flashcards

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type of biology that uses ecology, physiology, molecular biology genetics, and evolutionary biology to conserve diversity at all levels
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conservation biology
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division of ecology dedicated to the repair of ecosystems and the environment
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restoration ecology
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What are the three types of diversity?
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genetic, species, and ecosystem
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What is the impact of the loss of genetic diversity?
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harder for a species to adapt- escape the extinction vortex
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What is the impact of the loss of species diversity?
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change the way an ecosystem functions/ could loose medicinally valuable species
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What is the impact of the loss of ecosystem diversity?
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extinction of one species could have a negative effect on other species
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species that are in danger of extinction at all locations
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endangered species
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those species considered likely to become extinct in the near future
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threatened species
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How does habitat loss reduce biodiversity?
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-single greatest threat -could mean extinction for species who have no where else to go -can occur over immense regions
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how do introduced species reduce biodiversity?
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free from predators/pathogens/parasites that limit growth takes away resources from native species
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how does over exploitation reduce biodiversity?
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could mean population depletion/extinction
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What do conservation biologists who adopt the small-population approach study?
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processes that cause extinction once population sizes have been severely reduced
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downward population spiral in which inbreeding and genetic drift combine to make a small population shrink and eventually become extinct
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extinction vortex
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Why is genetic drift the key issue in the small-population approach?
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-it becomes harder for the species to adapt -small populations are prone to negative feedback loops of inbreeding and genetic drift that draws the population down the extinction vortex
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on what type of population does the declining-population model focus?
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threatened or endangered populations (even if they are above its minimum viable population)
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What is the emphasis for study in the declining-population model?
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research must be evaluated in a case-by-case basis, carefully analyzing decline before correcting it
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positive effects of movement corridors
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promote dispersal and reduce inbreeding in declining populations
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negative effects of movement corridors
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allows the spread of disease
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narrow strip/series of small clumps of habitat connecting otherwise isolated pieces of habitat
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movement corridors
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explain the concept behind a zoned reserve
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-tries to develop a social and economic climate that protects the environment for the long term
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extensive region which includes areas with relatively low human disturbance and areas that have been altered for economic gain
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zoned reserve
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What is the goal of restoration ecology?
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initiate/speed up the recovery of damaged ecosystems
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what are the two main strategies of restoration ecology?
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bioremediation and biological augmentation
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using organisms (usually prokaryotes) to detoxify polluted environments
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bioremediation
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using organisms to add essential materials into a degraded ecosystem
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biological augmentation
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economic development that meets the needs of people without limiting the ability of future generations
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sustainable development
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all processes through which natural ecosystems help to sustain human life
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ecosystem services
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What are the four major threats to biodiversity?
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habitat loss, introduced species, overharvesting, and global change
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non-native species/ exotic species
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introduced species
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the minimal population size at which a species is available to sustain its numbers
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minimum viable population
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an estimate of the size of the population based on the number of males and females that can successfully breed; generally smaller that the total population
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effective population size
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relatively small area with numerous endemic species (species that are found nowhere else in the world) and a large number of endangered and threatened species
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biodiversity hot spot
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amount of added nutrient (usually nitrogen or phosphorus) that can be absorbed by plants without damaging ecosystem integrity
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critical load
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translocation of a species to a favorable habitat beyond its native range to protect the species from human caused threats
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assisted migration
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the warming of the earth due to the atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide and certain other gases, which absorb reflected infrared radiation and reradiate some of it back towards earth
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greenhouse effect
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