Biodiversity Quiz

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

• Biodiversity is usually greater in tropical regions near the equator due to warm temperatures and abundant rainfall.
• Tropical rainforests cover less than 10% of Earth's surface but harbor approximately 90% of the world's species, showcasing their richness in biodiversity.

Marine Biodiversity

• Marine biodiversity is generally higher in coral reef ecosystems, which are often referred to as the "rainforests of the sea" for their diversity and productivity.

Threats to Biodiversity

• A primary reason for the likely slowing of biodiversity in the future is habitat loss, driven by human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and pollution.

Biodiversity Processes

• Biodiversity encompasses various processes including evolution, species interactions, ecological systems, and genetic variation within species.

Conservation Biology Focus

• The focus of conservation biology is to understand and protect biodiversity from threats like habitat degradation, climate change, and invasive species.

Origin of Conservation Biology

• The term 'conservation biology' originated in the 1980s as a response to increasing awareness of biodiversity loss and the need for scientific research to inform conservation efforts.

Interdisciplinary Nature

• The interdisciplinary nature of conservation biology is based on integrating knowledge from ecology, genetics, sociology, economics, and policy-making to address conservation issues comprehensively.

First International Conference on Conservation Biology

• 'The First International Conference on Research in Conservation Biology’ was convened by Michael Soule, a prominent figure in the field, to foster discourse and collaboration among scientists.

Motivation for the Conference

• The conference was prompted by the urgent need to address the rapid loss of biodiversity and to develop strategies for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.