the diversity of bio
Approximately how many species go extinct each year? Is this number increasing, decreasing or staying the same? Why?
Experts have calculated that around 0.01-0.1% of species go extinct each year.This number would most likely increase due to more human interference with the environment every year.
equilibrium model
Explains variation in species richness on different islands by considering effects of isolation and area on rates of immigration and extinction
directional selection
Form of natural selection in which the entire curve moves; occurs when individuals at one end of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals in the middle or at the other end of the curve
What are fossils and how do scientists use them to understand evolution?
Fossils are the remains of organisms from the past. They are used to help scientists understand evolution by seeing what the differences are between the fossils and the organisms of today and they would also help give scientists an estimate of when certain genes first appeared.
What are five threats to biodiversity?
H-abitat loss I-nvasive species P-ollution human P-opulation O-verexploitation
explain how harmful bacteria can become genetically resistant to antibiotics
Harmful bacteria can become genetically resistant to antibiotics because, the first time that antibiotics are used, the bacteria who are immune will still survive and reproduce whereas the ones that aren't would die out. After time, the antibiotic resistant gene would be present in the whole population.
A common farming practice is too breed a female horse with a male donkey. The result is a very robust animal- the mule. Most mules however, are sterile, and therefore, cannot reproduce. Are horses and donkeys members of the same species?
Horses and donkeys are not the same members of the species because their offspring are not fertile.
Is there a relationship between hotspots and population density of humans? Between hotspots and violence/war?
Human density in hotspots varies quite a lot, and researchers have found that Hotspots hold more people than we would think. Researchers have found that hotspots are regular centers of war.
Overexploitation
Human harvesting of wild plants or animals at rates exceeding ability of populations of those species to rebound
where does genetic drift occur?
In small populations when an allele becomes more or less common simply by chance
Mississippi River Basin
Largest river basin in N. America, 3rd in the world. Includes 70 mill people, 30 states One of the most productive farming regions in the world.
The key factor driving the extinction vortex __________________________________________ to enable evolutionary responses to environmental change
Loss of the genetic variability
Many popular products from hand soap to clothing advertise that they have antibacterial qualities. Most microbiologists recommend against their routine use in our daily lives. How can you explain this?
Microbiologists do not recommend this because if you use the antibacterial soap everyday then, the resistant bacteria will begin to grow in numbers until eventually, all of the bacteria would become resistant to the antibacterial soaps.
stabilizing selection
Natural selection that favors intermediate variants by acting against extreme phenotypes
Could stabilizing selection lead to the creation of a new species?
No, stabilizing selection could not lead to the creation of a new species because stabilizing selection would only lead to a smaller range but the same average so overall, there would not be a change in genes.
Who first coined the term "hotspots" with reference to biodiversity? When?
Norman Myers coined the term 'hotspots' in 1988.
Not everyone is a fan of the Endangered Species Act. What is one criticism of it? What person or group makes this claim?
One criticism of the Endangered Species Act is that it relies too much on science. This thought comes from some members of the United States Congress.
If frog species go extinct, what might be the impact on humans?
One of the many effects on humans if amphibians go extinct would be that various health effects could possibly go away. This is because of the fact that a large amount of pharmaceutical products, "come from compounds found in secretions from the skin of certain amphibians" (MindTap Exploring Environmental Science for AP).
reproductive isolation
Separation of species or populations so that they cannot interbreed and produce fertile offspring
List five reasons that hotspots are in peril.
Some of these reasons include habitat loss, poaching, over harvesting, pollution, and invasive species
island biogeography
Species richness on islands depends on island size and distance from mainland
biome
Terrestrial regions inhabited by certain types of life, especially vegetation. Examples include various types of deserts, grasslands, and forests.
What is the Endangered Species Act?
The Endangered Species Act helps prevent the extinction of at risk species by protecting them from threats that are both natural and at risk. This act was enacted in 1973.
What is the IUCN and what is the name of the list it compiles of the conservation status of species worldwide?
The IUCN is the International Union for Conservation of nature. The list that this compiles is called the Red List of Threatened Species. This list tells us the health of the world's biodiversity.
Name two non-profit groups that are working to preserve or protect endangered species worldwide. How are these groups funded?
The World Wildlife Fund as well as The Jane Goodall Institute. The World Wildlife Fund receives its money from donations from the public. While The Jane Goodall Institute receives its money through donations, partnerships, as well as sponsorships.
Approximately how many species are considered "endangered" worldwide? How many are considered "endangered" in the US?
The number of endangered species in the world is 41,415 species. In the US, there are 1,300 species that are endangered.
Many species of birds have elaborate mating rituals that include bird calls, nest construction, and courtship displays. A researcher is comparing two populations of birds with similar morphology that live in similar niches. Male birds in one population build a nest before attempting to court a female, while males in the other population build the nest in cooperation with the female. Is it likely the researcher will classify these birds as the same species? Justify your reasoning.
The researcher will most likely not classify these birds as the same species because the two species' have very different ways of mating. The researcher can also see that when the nest is being built if a female is also present which would help differentiate the two species as well.
Describe the threats to many of the world's amphibian species and explain why we should avoid hastening the extinction of amphibian species through our activities.
There are various threats to the amphibian species' of the world. One example would be the fact that the embryos lack shells to protect them. Scientists give three main reasons as to why humans should care that amphibians are going extinct. Reason one is that they are biological indicators to changes in their environment. Another is that adult amphibians consume more insects than birds do. If the amphibians die off, this could lead to a trophic cascade. Lastly, they also play a very important role in the health of humans. This is because various health products actually contain compounds from amphibians.
Describe the role of the American alligator as a keystone species.
They create gator holes which could hold freshwater and give animals a temporary habitat to live in. The alligators also help with the creation of some nesting and feeding sites for other organisms. In addition, the American alligator also helps prevent vegetation from invading open water and shorelines.
What are the two criteria that an area must meet in order to qualify as a hotspot?
To qualify as a hotspot the area must have at least 1,500 species of vascular plants and it would have had to lose at least 70 percent of its primary native vegetation.
What have universities and federal agencies done to prevent dead zones?
- make a watershed-wide plan -restore millions of riverside wetland and forest acres at cost of billions of dollars -establish a nitrogen credit system with incentives for the agricultural industry to reduce nitrogen-based fertilizers
what percent of -birds -amphibians -mammals have gone extinct in the last 50 years?
-12 of birds -32 of amphibians -23 of mammals
Things that students can do to conserve biodiversity.
-Stop using fertilizers -Grow wildlife friendly gardens -Reduce, recycle, reuse
Problems due to fragmentation
-edge effects -small area -isolation
smaller fragments have:
-fewer habitat types -fewer species -smaller populations -higher extinction rates
possible solution to lower rate of extinction?
-habitat corridors -links between fragmented habitats -allow species movement between habitats
disadvantages of habitat corridors
-increased disease transmission -increase predation risk -increased spread of fire -reduced genetic variation BETWEEN fragments
advantages of habitat corridors
-increased species richness -"rescue effect" -maintain genetic variation -altitudinal migration
list and describe the four main parts of biodiversity
-species diversity which is the number of different species' that reside in an ecosystem. -genetic diversity which is the difference of genes found in a population or species. -ecosystem diversity which is about the diversity between Earth's ecosystems such as deserts and wetlands. -functional diversity This is about the diversification of processes in ecosystems.
five common myths about evolution through natural selection
-survival of the fittest also means the survival of the strongest -the beginning of life can be explained by evolution -humans had evolved from either monkeys or apes -there is a grand plan in evolution by natural selection where species will eventually become more well adapted -there is no importance of evolution by natural selection due to it just being a theory.
what makes a species vulnerable to exinction?
-vulnerability to introduced species -overexploitation -rarity -habitat loss/fragmentation
Could directional selection lead to the creation of a new species?
Yes, directional selection could lead to the creation of a new species if the changes are very drastic to the original populations to the point where the two would no longer be able to mate.
Could disruptive selection lead to the creation of a new species?
Yes, disruptive selection could lead to the creation of a new species because disruptive selection favors the extremes rather than an average. The genes in the extreme and average organisms could not be compatible due to the difference in the genes.
two limitations on evolution through natural selection
a change in the conditions of an environment and the population's ability to reproduce
what is an evolutionary tree? how does it help describe evolution?
a diagram that shows the guessed relationships between various species based on their characters that are descendants of a common ancestor. The tree helps describe evolution because it shows how one species turned into another and which species descended from which.
Name four specific reasons a species may become endangered
a low birth rate in the species, the overhunting from humans, there being a genetic vulnerability in the population, and habitat loss.
species evenness
a measure of the relative amount of species that reside in an ecosystem
endangered species
a species of either a plant or animals that is at a really high risk of extinction
keystone species
a species that plays a large and important role in an ecosystem by helping sustain other populations of the same ecosystem.
genetically modified organism (GMO)
an organism whose genetic foundation has been changed by the process of genetic engineering.
what type of species are especially vulnerable to small area effects? give examples
area-sensitive species with large home ranges EX: -spider monkey -jaguar -white- plumed antbird
How much might conservation efforts cost per year per hotspot?
around $160 mill
generalist species
as a raccoon has a very broad niche, they can live in various different habitats, and survive in wide-ranging habitats
edge effects
changes in a community or population structure that happen near the boundary of two habitats
what is a mutation
changes in the DNA of a gene
List six factors that threaten many species of frogs and other amphibians with extinction.
climate change, an increase in levels of UV radiation, viral and fungal diseases, parasites, habitat loss and fragmentation, and pollution.
What are three conservation responses to species-specific threats?
controlling of invasive species, captive breeding, and incentives to reduce hunting.
why is biodiversity declining
due to human activities such as overhunting and deforestation
What should be the "primary response to the biodiversity crisis"?
establishment and effective management of protected areas.
what is the theory of scientific evolution through natural selection
explains as to how life has changed on Earth over the last billions of years and why there are a wide variety of species' in ecosystems today.
disruptive selection
form of natural selection in which a single curve splits into two; occurs when individuals at the upper and lower ends of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals near the middle
What is the biggest threat to species? (It is not species-specific.)
habitat loss
Name four species-specific threats.
hunting, direct exploitation, disease, and predation.
native species
is a species that would usually live in a specific ecosystem and thrive in it. For instance, Red Foxes are native to North America
ecological niche
is everything that affects a species' survival as well as its reproduction.
habitat
is the place that a population lives
specialist species
like a Giant Panda, have very narrow niches, they can't live in many habitats, or they could only tolerate a small range of conditions.
threatened species
likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future
Rare species are the ______________ to extinction, though common species can also become extinct.
most vulnerable
What three genetic adaptations have helped humans to become such a dominant species?
our powerful, resistible thumbs, our ability to walk on two legs, as well as our intricate brain.
what are the scientific contributions of edward o. wilson?
presented people with the issues and principles of biodiversity more throughly than anyone else at that point.
Why should we care about biodiversity?
1. Genes are a main part of biodiversity and plants as well as animals are a main source of genes for hybridization as well as genetic engineering. 2. There are certain species' that help us humans control more invasive species without us having to use poisons. 3. Without biodiversity we would have less food choices to eat (animals, plants, etc.) 4. Various types of medicines, fertilizers, as well as pesticides are dependent on plants and animals in order to be made. 5. Biodiversity is also often subject to people due to their aesthetic. 6. Plants and animals spark scientific interest in many different aspects of science. 7. The more biodiversity there is the more stable the environment is and that means we won't need to worry as much. 8. The various types of biologically diverse ecosystems help take care of the other species' in the environment. 9. In the future, there will be more new discoveries and with that, many more reasons to appreciate biodiversity.
World's fish stocks have been reduced by _____ since the start of industrial fishing
90%
genetic drift
A change in the allele frequency of a population as a result of chance events rather than natural selection.
what are introduced exotics? - how do they thrive?
species that humans have moved from native locations to new geographic areas -In absence of their native competitors, predators, parasites, and pathogens, introduced species may spread rapidly
nonnative species
species that were accidentally or intentionally introduced into an ecosystem. One example of this would be the African honey bees that are found in North and South America.
Estimates of current rates of extinction worldwide are based on primarily on.....
species-area relationships and rates of tropical deforestation
biodiversity hot spot
A place that is rich in vegetation however, the human activities have resulted in it needed help and rescue. I think??
indicator species
such as the Wood Stork, are species whose decline in numbers could serve as a warning that an ecosystem or community is being threatened.
Not every animal that is listed as "endangered" goes extinct. Name two species that used to be considered endangered but are now considered 'success stories'
the Giant Panda and the Gray Wolf.
extinction vortex
A small population is prone to positive-feedback loops that draw it down
How is a species added to the endangered species list?
A species is added to the Endangered Species Act when it is determined to be either: has its habitat threatened, been overused for human purposes, and other factors that have been affecting its survival.
Adaptation
A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce
Name two government agencies that are working to preserve or protect endangered species in the United States. How are these agencies funded?
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services as well as the National Park Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services are funded through Congress. The National Park Service gets its budget approved by the U.S. Congress.
species diversity
the amount of different species that live in an ecosystem
biological evolution
the change in the genes of a population that could lead to the forming of a new species
what is the biodiversity crisis?
the current rapid decline in biodiversity
functional diversity
the differences of processes of cycling that occur within earth's ecosystems
ecosystem diversity
the diversity of earths biological groups (ex. deserts and forests)
artifical selection
the effect of humans purposefully breeding animals to select for desirable traits
natural selection
the improved fitness of certain individuals in the population that allows for survival and production is the primary mechanism by which populations change over time
explain how geological processes can affect biodiversity
the locations of land water play an important role in where animals and plants are able to live. As well as the fact that, the moving of continents that let species to be able to move and adapt to different ecosystems. In summary, geological processes affect biodiversity because it affects as to where species are able to live and thrive.
species richness
the number of different species in an ecosystem
artifical selection -name one example as well
the process where humans select the desirable genetic traits and then selectively breed organisms to make a population with many organisms containing the desirable traits. One example of artificial selection could be when humans breed an apple and a pear to create a pear the color of an apple
synethetic biology
the production of new sequences of DNA using genetic information produced by humans to create artificial organisms that would not be found in nature
ecotone
the transitional area that is in the middle of two biomes
genetic diversity
the variations of genes that are found in either a population or species
biodiversity
the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
why do amphibians go extinct at a higher rate?
their skin allows toxic substances to enter easily
what happens to the rate of extinction on islands?
they are much higher compared to rates on mainlands
what do mutations do
they could give some organisms an advantages that others lack
We define conservation outcomes at three scales of ecological organization. List them.
threatened species, key biodiversity areas and landscapes.
The fragmentation of habitats into patches that are ____________ to support populations is a major cause of extinction...
too small
speciation
when a species evolves into two or more separated species from when two populations of one species have been separated for a long period of time that their genes have changed over time.
genetic engineering -name one example
when humans insert a gene into an organism to give it a new trait. Genetic engineering for instance, could be when scientists use it to modify a crop.
allopatric vs sympatric speciation
Allopatric speciation is speciation that results when a population is separated by a physical barrier. It is also referred to as geographic speciation. Sympatric speciation is speciation that occurs without physical separation of members of the population.
How does an endangered species differ from a threatened species? How does it differ from an extinct species?
An endangered species is a species that is at a really high risk of becoming extinct while a threatened species is a species that could become an endangered species in the foreseeable future. An endangered species differs from an extinct species because an extinct species is a species that is no longer on Earth.
For the past 10 to 25 years, farmers have planted crop seeds that have been genetically modified to withstand treatment with a common weed killer called Roundup®. This allows the farmers to spray their fields to get rid of weeds without harming their crops. Recently, more and more farmers have discovered that their fields have Roundup-resistant pigweed growing along with their crop. Explain how this happened.
At first, the crops that were not resistant to Roundup would have died, while the ones who were resistant would have survived and been able to reproduce. The numbers for the ones who weren't resistant to Roundup would have decreased while the ones who did survive would have increased. Slowly, over time the resistant weeds would be the only type of weeds left.
name a species that has gone extinct in the last 20 years. include its common name, scientific name, and where it used to be located.
Caribbean Monk Seal, otherwise known as the Monachus tropicalis, that used to reside in the subtropical waters of the Caribbean Sea, western Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Gulf of Mexico .
