Biology Chapter on Biodiversity and Conservation

Biology Notes (1/17/25)

• Definition:

  • Resistance measures how likely a system is to change.
  • Resilience describes how quickly a system returns to its original state after a disturbance.

• Biodiversity Loss:

  • Habitat destruction/degradation is the primary cause.
  • Direct exploitation (e.g., overfishing) also contributes.
  • Invasive species (e.g., zebra mussels clogging dams) can disrupt ecosystems.
  • Disease can spread quickly if environmental changes aren't addressed.

Coral Reefs

• Issues:
  • Pollution and ocean acidification and warming contribute to coral bleaching.
  • Coral bleaching, a loss of symbiotic algae, weakens corals making them vulnerable to disease.
  • Climate change stresses coral reefs, making them susceptible to illnesses as humans.

Conservation Efforts

• Single-Species Approach:
  • Focusing on keystone species (e.g., prairie dogs) is crucial for ecosystem health.
  • Keystone species play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function, and their protection often benefits other species within the habitats.

Frogs' Threats

• Chytrid fungus: A major cause of amphibian decline.
• Habitat loss: Deforestation is a critical driver.
• Leaf litter loss: Amphibians rely on leaf litter for habitat and moisture. Amphibian populations decline when leaf litter and the trees it is associated with are removed.

Effecting the Earth

• Details on the effect the Earth is experiencing are not provided in the text.

Ecology

• Ecology (Study of our Home):

  • Studies the complex relationships between organisms and their environment.
  • It is a study of all the complex interrelation which Darwin referred to as the struggle of existence.
  • Oikos (home) and ology (knowledge)

• Ecology spans:

  • Molecular, Medical, Agricultural, Geological questions fall under the domain of ecology

• Climate Diagram:

  • Climate diagrams show average precipitation and temperature patterns.
  • These diagrams can help identify the biome or climate zone in which an area is located by observing the precipitation, temperature, and other climate factors.

• Starbucks (practices impacting the environment):

  • Starbucks does not buy organic coffee.
  • Processes of obtaining non-organic coffee contribute to and degrade the environment.
  • Eating red meat is bad for the planet as it has negative impacts on animal welfare and environment.
  • Caribou get coffee beans from forests. Eating caribou meat is better for the planet than eating red meat because coffee beans do not impact the welfare of caribou in the wild.

Explore the key concepts of resistance, resilience, and biodiversity loss in this quiz. Gain insights into the threats faced by coral reefs and the importance of conservation efforts focused on keystone species. Test your understanding of these crucial ecological topics.