Biodiversity and Conservation: Topic 3

The total variety of life on Earth, including species, habitat and genetic diversity.

The number of different species present in a community (richness) and their relative abundance (evenness).

Measures the variety of habitats within an ecosystem or biome.

The variety of genes within a population of a species.

Using scientific methods to quantify biodiversity, allowing us to identify areas of high biodiversity and prioritize conservation efforts.

Assessing the impact of human activity on biodiversity over time by comparing changes in species, habitat or genetic diversity.

The process of understanding and managing the interactions between organisms and their environment.

A process where species evolve and diversify over time due to natural selection, genetic variation, and environmental pressures.

Measures the variety of habitats within an ecosystem or biome.

A process where species evolve and diversify over time due to natural selection, genetic variation, and environmental pressures.

Random changes in an organism's genetic makeup that may be beneficial, harmful, or have no impact on its survival. These changes are the raw material for evolution.

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully. This drives evolutionary change over time.

The formation of new species when populations become isolated and evolve differently over time. It increases biodiversity.

The movement of the Earth's crustal plates, which can cause the formation of land bridges, physical barriers, and environmental changes that influence evolution.

Events that cause a widespread extinction of species on Earth. They can lead to new directions in evolution and increase biodiversity.

The differences in climate, food supply, and other environmental conditions that influence the distribution of species and their evolution.

Environmental changes that challenge species by altering their habitats and resources. Species that adapt survive, while those that don't become extinct.

Individuals within a population that possess traits better suited to their environment, giving them a higher chance of survival and reproduction.

The rate of species extinction is currently much higher than in the past, primarily due to human activities. These activities include habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, overharvesting, and hunting.

The IUCN's "Red List of Threatened Species" classifies species based on their risk of extinction. Factors considered include population size, specialization, distribution, reproduction, habitat quality, trophic level, and extinction probability.

Tropical biomes are highly diverse ecosystems but face unsustainable exploitation. This leads to significant biodiversity loss and disruption of crucial ecological services.

Conservation efforts often face conflicts in developing countries between using resources for economic development and protecting biodiversity. Balancing these needs is critical.

The justification for protecting species and their habitats can be based on aesthetic, ecological, economic, ethical, and social values.

International, governmental, and non-governmental organizations play a role in biodiversity conservation. Their effectiveness depends on their resources, media presence, and political influence.

International conventions like CITES aim to promote collaboration between nations for biodiversity conservation.

Conservation approaches include protecting habitats, focusing on specific species, or combining both methods.

Designing protected areas needs careful consideration of size, shape, potential human impacts, and wildlife movement corridors.

Various species-based conservation strategies are used to protect biodiversity, including CITES, captive breeding, flagship species, and keystone species.