Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Biodiversity, Land Use, Preserving Nature, etc.
For APES Class!
18
Environmental Studies
11th Grade
03/29/2010

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

in order to maintain a functional ecosystem, three types of biodiversity must be maintained

 

What are they?

Definition

Genetic

Species

Ecological

Term
Define: Genetic Diversity
Definition
How large the gene pool is
Term
define: Species Diversity
Definition
how many different organisms there are
Term
define: Ecological Diversity
Definition
how many different types of habitats there are
Term
scientists have identified __a___ of species and predict there are about __b___ species more out there.  Where are they found? what type of organisms are they?
Definition

a: 1.7 million

b: between 3 to 50 million 

found: deep ocean or tropics

Type of organisms: microbes, plants, insects

Term
North America & Europe contain about how much of the world's species? Why?
Definition
10-15% and it has to do with climate. It's not too hot nor too cold.
Term
Define: Biodiversity Hotspots
Definition
Places where many endemic species live and endemic species are species that are only found in one location.
Term
What are some benefits of Biodiversity
Definition

Food

Industrial/Commercial products

Ecological Benefits

Medicine

Aesthetic/Cultural Benefits

Term
Food regarding Biodiversity
Definition

In MDCs much of the food comes from farms.  Exception is seafood.

 

Nuts, seeds, oil, mushroom are "wild" caught food used worldwide

 

Up to 80,000 wild plants could be used by humans

The economics of not harnessing that ability include

harder to search and find and pick

costs more, takes more time, etc.

 

Many potential food sources are being destroyed, especially in the tropics, before they can be discovered 

Term
Industrial/commercial products
Definition

wood, rattan, cane, bamboo, rubber, oils, waxes

 

likely many other products

Term
Medicine
Definition

more than half of all prescription drugs contain natural products

 

pharmaceutical companies are actively looking for species, in tropics

Term

Ecological Benefits

 

Definition

Maintain ecological processesànutrient cycling

 Genetic library

 Suppression of pests and disease causing organisms

Term
Aesthetic/Cultural Benefits
Definition

Recreation

Appreciation of wilderness

Term
types of losses to Biodiversity
Definition

loss of abundance 

ecosystem disruption

extinction

Term
Extinction
Definition

more than 99% of all species that have ever existed are dead

mass extinction (dinosaurs and marine organisms)

human cause extinctions

extinctions have increased over the last 150 years

Term
How are humans causing extinction?
Definition

habitat destruction (main cause)

invasive species: non-native species who thrive in their new habitat who has no biological controls/natural predators

pollution

Term
pollution
Definition

toxic substances

persistent pesticides

heavy metals

human population growth

overharvesting

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