Human Impact on Biodiversity Loss

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a direct way humans reduce biodiversity?

Overharvesting of plant species (correct)

Introduction of non-native competing species

Habitat fragmentation due to road construction

Increased edge habitat creation

What was a significant contributing factor to the extinction of the Dodo bird?

Increased pollution and altered climate conditions

The introduction of animals that competed with it for food resources (correct)

Natural over predation from other bird species

Habitat loss due to volcanic activity

How does habitat fragmentation affect the movement of species?

It has no impact on the movement of species

It creates barriers to the normal movement of species for purposes such as feeding, mating, and migrating (correct)

It allows more ease of movement as a species population grows

It encourages migration to new habitats

What is the primary effect of habitat fragmentation on a population?

Reduced genetic variation and increased isolation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following species require large undisturbed tracts of land?

Mountain lions, wolves, and tigers Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the amount of edge habitat when a large tract of land is fragmented?

It increases as there are more edges in smaller tracts Signup and view all the answers

What are species called when they are introduced by humans to a non-native area?

Exotic species Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of edge habitat?

It is adjacent to other kinds of land/habitats Signup and view all the answers

How do ships contribute to the spread of exotic species?

By using ballast water that often contains viable organisms Signup and view all the answers

What impact does the increase of edge habitat have on forest interiors?

It allows species like raccoons and skunks to penetrate further into the forest, impacting other organisms Signup and view all the answers

Why might an exotic species thrive in a new environment?

Due to having access to unexploited resources and a lack of natural controls. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the zebra mussel introduction in the Great Lakes?

Depleted food supplies and clogged water intake valves Signup and view all the answers

Other than overexploitation and direct removal, what is a way in which humans affect biodiversity?

By changing animal and plant habitats Signup and view all the answers

What is a typical outcome of genetic isolation in a fragmented population?

Loss of genetic variation due to genetic drift Signup and view all the answers

What tends to happen when an exotic species establishes itself successfully in a non-native environment?

They rarely can be brought under control once established. Signup and view all the answers

What is a natural barrier that has been overcome by human activity, according to the provided text?

Various land and water barriers Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Human Activity and Biodiversity Loss

Human activities significantly alter biodiversity.
Direct removal (overexploitation): Humans directly remove species, like overhunting the Dodo bird.
Indirect impacts: Human activities alter animal and plant habitats.
Habitat modification/fragmentation: Creating smaller, isolated habitat patches leads to negative biodiversity impacts.
Introduction of non-native species (exotic species): Introduction of species to new environments can cause significant issues.

Habitat Fragmentation Impacts

Reduces contiguous habitat, impacting species movement (feeding, mating, migration).
Creates more edge habitat: This changes the overall species composition (e.g., increase in raccoons, skunks).
Divides populations, reducing gene flow and increasing genetic isolation, leading to a loss of genetic variation.

Introduction of Exotic Species

Exotic species (non-native) are transported across geographical barriers by humans.
Accidental introduction: Ballast water in ships can transport species to new environments (e.g., zebra mussel).
Lack of natural predators/controls in new environment: Invasive species can thrive and outcompete native species.
Zebra mussels in the Great Lakes: A strong example of negative impacts of exotic species. Depletes resources, clogs infrastructure.
Successful established exotic species often outcompete native species who lack natural defenses.

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Description

This quiz explores how human activities impact biodiversity through direct removal of species, habitat fragmentation, and the introduction of exotic species. It examines the consequences of these actions on ecosystems and species populations. Test your knowledge on the importance of conserving biodiversity and its challenges.