BIO 108 Review

• Biological diversity (biodiversity)


  Variety of life on earth such as the animals, plants, fungi, and micro-organisms like bacteria.
• How is Earth biodiverse?

  - Identified/described >2 million species on Earth.

  - Many species are yet to be discovered. (Estimates on true number of species vary)

  - New species are continually discovered
• What are the three main components of biodiversity?

  1. Genetic diversity

  2. Species diversity

  3. Ecosystem diversity
• What is a population?

  Group of individuals of the same species living un the same area and interbreed, producing fertile offspring.
• Variation in populations (genetic diversity) of a species is not necessary for evolution.

  TRUE OR FALSE

  False; it is necessary.
• What is genetic diversity?

  - Genetic variation within a population and between populations of a single species
• What is species diversity?

  Most well-known and easily recognized unit of biodiversity. It is all the variety of species of animals, plants, fungi, and micro-organisms that occur in an area.
• What do most biodiversity studies/monitoring programs measure?

  The number of species at a site or in a particular habitat.
• What causes high rates of species extinction?

  Ecosystem degradation by humans. Human activities threaten Earth's species diversity.
• What is an ecosystem?


  Where species live, connect, and interact.
• What is ecosystem diversity?

  The variety of different habitats in a region and their patterns and linkages across the landscape.
• What reduced ecosystem diversity?

  Human activity
• What are benefits of biodiversity?

  It has a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and thereby sustaining ecosystem services to human populations.
• Loss of species also means loss of ___ ___

  Genetic diversity
• What are the 4 ecosystem services?

  1. Provisioning

  2. Regulating

  3. Cultural

  4. Supporting
• Provisioning services


  The products that we obtain from nature including our food, raw materials, medicines, energy, water, and genetic resources. Supports agriculture, forestry, fishery, and pharmaceutical industries.
• Regulating services


  Benefits humans receive beyond raw materials (provisioning services), such as climate regulation, purification of water and air, pollination, and pest control.
• Supporting services


  Ecosystem services that are critical to biosphere viability. Examples: production of oxygen, absorption of CO2, cycling of biomass, nutrients & water, and providing habitats.
• Cultural services


  The intangible, non-material benefits people obtain from nature and ecosystems.
• What are two types of species loss?

  1. Extinction

  2. Extirpation
• What is extinction?


  A species is considered to extinct when it exists nowhere on the globe.
• Extant species


  Species that still exist today.
• Extirpation


  A species is considered extirpated when it no longer exists in a defined geographic region but it can be found elsewhere, i.e. local extinction.
• Endangered species


  Facing imminent extinction
• Threatened species


  Likely to become endangered if no action is taken.
• What are the four major threats to biodiversity?

  1. Habitat loss

  2. Invasive species

  3. Overexploitation

  4. Global climate change
• Habitat loss


  Human alteration of habitat is the greatest threat to biodiversity; contributes to endangerment of over 80% of all species. Leads to loss of biodiversity.
• Invasive species


  Are introduced species that negatively impact the environment, economy, or society. Introduced species are those humans have accidentally or deliberately introduced into areas beyond their native range. Without their native predators, parasites, and pathogens, introduced species may spread rapidly.
• Overexploitation


  Human harvesting of wild plants or animals at rates exceeding the ability of populations of those species to recover. Large animals with low reproductive rates are especially vulnerable to overexploitation.
• Global climate change


  The climate is changing more rapidly than ecosystems and species can adjust.
• Species may take advantage of a warming climate by expanding their ranges BUT

  Habitat loss and fragmentation may limit expansion and a warming climate also expands the range of pests and diseases
• Species that are less mobile will need to adapt in place or face extirpation and possibly even extinction BECAUSE


  Many organisms with limited genetic diversity may not be able to adapt as quickly as the environment changes.
• Climate change is creating warmer, drier conditions THEREFORE

  Increased frequency of droughts and longer fire seasons are creating intense and more frequent wildfires.
• What is a collapsed ecosystem?

  Ecosystems that are no longer viable.
• What is evolution?


  The theory that binds our survey of biodiversity.
• What are theories?


  The unifying explanation of the natural world. Theory means "body of knowledge" not "hypothesis." In everyday speech, theory is used to mean a hunch or speculation. Don't confuse scientific and everyday meanings of theory!
• What are traits within scientific theories?

  Is a broad, natural explanation for a wide range of natural phenomena. Are strongly supported by many different lines of evidence and are widely accepted as valid. (Have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation. Have withstood rigorous scientific testing, challenge, and debate.) Fact-supported theories are not "guesses" but reliable accounts of the real world.
• Scientists make ___ and then form and test ___

  Observations, hypotheses.
• What is inquiry?


  The search for information and explanation.
• Scientific process


  Includes making observations (collecting data), forming logical hypotheses, and testing the hypotheses.