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Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology
Freeman - Biological Science 7th Edition
Freeman7th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9783584863285Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksFreeman 7th EditionCh. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation EcologyProblem 4
Chapter 54, Problem 4

What is the primary threat in marine environments?

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1
Identify the various threats to marine environments, such as pollution, overfishing, climate change, habitat destruction, and invasive species.
Evaluate how each threat impacts marine life and ecosystems. For example, pollution can lead to water contamination and affect the health of marine organisms.
Consider the global and long-term effects of climate change, such as ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures, which can lead to coral bleaching and disrupt marine biodiversity.
Analyze data and research studies that compare the impact levels of different threats to determine which is currently having the most significant negative effect on marine environments.
Conclude which threat is the primary one based on the severity and extent of its impact on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification refers to the decrease in pH levels of the ocean due to the absorption of excess atmospheric CO2. This process negatively impacts marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate structures, such as corals and shellfish, making it harder for them to grow and survive.
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Overfishing

Overfishing occurs when fish and other marine species are caught at a rate faster than they can reproduce. This leads to population declines, disrupts marine ecosystems, and threatens the livelihoods of communities that depend on fishing, making it a significant threat to marine biodiversity.

Pollution

Pollution in marine environments includes the introduction of harmful substances, such as plastics, chemicals, and nutrients, into the ocean. This can lead to habitat degradation, toxic algal blooms, and the death of marine organisms, severely impacting the health of marine ecosystems.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

What does species richness refer to? Select True or False for each statement.

T/Fthe number of species in an area

T/Fthe evenness of species in an area

T/Fthe functional diversity of a species in an area

T/Fthe phylogenetic diversity of species in an area

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Textbook Question

What community property does the red arrow in the model represent?

a. Low resilience

b. High resilience

c. Low resistance

d. High resistance

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Textbook Question

What is a biodiversity "hotspot"?

a. An area where an all-taxon survey is under way

b. An area where an environmental sequencing study has been completed

c. A habitat with high NPP

d. An area with high species richness and high threat to those species

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Textbook Question

Why is the common phrase "humans and animals" not accurate in biology? Suggest one way that a more scientific outlook could boost conservation efforts.

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Textbook Question

Biologists claim that the all-taxa survey now under way at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the United States will improve their ability to estimate the total number of species living today. Discuss the benefits and limitations that this data set will provide in understanding the extent of global biodiversity.

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Textbook Question

Some biologists prefer to focus efforts on preserving endangered species while others prefer to focus on preserving ecosystems. What is your advice to biologists, based on the evidence?

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