Term
in order to maintain a functional ecosystem, three types of biodiversity must be maintained
What are they? |
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Definition
Genetic
Species
Ecological |
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Term
| Define: Genetic Diversity |
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Definition
| How large the gene pool is |
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Term
| define: Species Diversity |
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Definition
| how many different organisms there are |
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Term
| define: Ecological Diversity |
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Definition
| how many different types of habitats there are |
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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? |
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Definition
a: 1.7 million
b: between 3 to 50 million
found: deep ocean or tropics
Type of organisms: microbes, plants, insects |
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Term
| North America & Europe contain about how much of the world's species? Why? |
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Definition
| 10-15% and it has to do with climate. It's not too hot nor too cold. |
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Term
| Define: Biodiversity Hotspots |
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Definition
| Places where many endemic species live and endemic species are species that are only found in one location. |
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Term
| What are some benefits of Biodiversity |
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Definition
Food
Industrial/Commercial products
Ecological Benefits
Medicine
Aesthetic/Cultural Benefits |
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Term
| Food regarding Biodiversity |
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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 |
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Term
| Industrial/commercial products |
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Definition
wood, rattan, cane, bamboo, rubber, oils, waxes
likely many other products |
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Term
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Definition
more than half of all prescription drugs contain natural products
pharmaceutical companies are actively looking for species, in tropics |
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Term
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Definition
Maintain ecological processesànutrient cycling
Genetic library
Suppression of pests and disease causing organisms
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Term
| Aesthetic/Cultural Benefits |
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Definition
Recreation
Appreciation of wilderness |
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Term
| types of losses to Biodiversity |
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Definition
loss of abundance
ecosystem disruption
extinction |
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Term
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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 |
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Term
| How are humans causing extinction? |
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Definition
habitat destruction (main cause)
invasive species: non-native species who thrive in their new habitat who has no biological controls/natural predators
pollution |
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Term
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Definition
toxic substances
persistent pesticides
heavy metals
human population growth
overharvesting |
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