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Conservation Biology definitions Flashcards

Conservation Biology definitions
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  • Conservation Biology
    The ongoing effort to preserve Earth's species, habitats, and ecosystems to maintain biodiversity, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity, against threats like habitat loss and climate change.
  • Genetic Diversity
    Variation in the genetic makeup among individuals within a species, encompassing differences within and between populations, crucial for adaptability and survival.
  • Species Diversity
    A measure of the variety of species in a community, considering both the number of species (richness) and their relative abundance.
  • Endemic Species
    Species unique to a specific geographic location, not found naturally anywhere else, often requiring special conservation efforts due to their limited distribution.
  • Barcoding
    A taxonomic method using genetic markers to identify and classify species, aiding in biodiversity studies and conservation efforts.
  • Ecosystem Diversity
    Variation in ecosystems across the planet and within regions, encompassing different habitats, communities, and ecological processes, contributing to overall biodiversity.
  • Ecosystem Services
    The benefits humans obtain from ecosystems, including provisioning (e.g., food, water), regulating (e.g., climate control), supporting (e.g., nutrient cycles), and cultural (e.g., recreational) services.
  • Habitat Fragmentation
    The process where large, continuous habitats are divided into smaller, isolated sections, often due to human activities, leading to reduced biodiversity and increased edge effects.
  • Edge Effects
    Changes in population or community structure at the boundary between two habitats, often intensified by habitat fragmentation, leading to increased edge territories and altered environmental conditions.
  • Pollution
    The introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the environment, exceeding the ecosystem's capacity to absorb them without damage, often leading to adverse effects on wildlife and human health.
  • Climate Change
    Long-term alteration in average weather patterns, often linked to increased greenhouse gases, leading to global temperature rise, extreme weather events, and impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity.
  • Greenhouse Gases
    Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit thermal radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
  • Mass Extinctions
    Widespread, rapid decreases in Earth's biodiversity, often due to catastrophic events, leading to the extinction of a significant number of species in a relatively short geological period.