Natural science exam 3 questions and answers

Background extinction rate - Correct Answers normal rate of extinction; usually low and steady Bioaccumulation - Correct Answers accumulation of chemicals in the environment in the tissues of organisms Biological extinction - Correct Answersoccurs when a species no longer exists anywhere on Earth Biomagnification - Correct Answersincrease of long-lasting chemicals in the tissues of organisms at successively higher trophic levels Endangered species - Correct Answershas so few individuals that species could soon become extinct Habitat fragmentation - Correct Answerswhen large intact area of habitat is split into smaller, isolated patches HIPPCO - Correct Answersecosystem threats and extinction causes (H = habitat destruction, degradation and fragmentation; I = Invasive species; P = population growth and resulting increased use of resources; P = pollution; C = climate change; O = overexploitation) Invasive species - Correct Answersnonnative species that negatively affects species and the environment where it was introduced to Mass extinction - Correct Answersmultiple species become extinct in a short time period Threatened species - Correct Answershas enough to survive in short term but is declining and likely to become endangered in the future Discuss why the extinction of species might matter to human society - Correct Answers· Extinction rates have increased by a factor of 1000 · Ecosystem services and resources List the characteristics that make species vulnerable to extinction and explain in detail how each characteristic makes extinctions more likely - Correct Answers· K-selected species - take longer to reproduce and raise offspring · Specialists - rely on certain factors in their environment · Rare - trouble finding mates, less genetic diversity · Narrow distribution - if something happens to their habitat, they don't have a lot of other options to move to. · Fixed migratory patterns · Commercially valuable - overexploitation; exotic pet market, products (furs, ivory, etc) Biodiversity hotspot - Correct Answersgeographic areas that are unusually rich in biodiversity and threatened by human activities Buffer zone - Correct Answersprotected areas around national parks. The inner core is completely protected, locals can sustainably extract resources from buffer zones, and it is most effective when there is a partnership between the locals and conservation goals of the reserve Deforestation - Correct Answersclearing or removing of forests, often to make more land available or gather resources Migratory patterns - Correct Answersthe regular (often seasonal) movement of animals from one region to another Pathogen - Correct Answersan organism that produces disease in a host organism. Need host to reproduce Reservoir (in the context of zoonotic diseases) - Correct Answerspopulation where a disease can be permanently maintained Territory - Correct Answersa specific area of land that an individual, group, or species actively protects Wildlife corridor - Correct AnswersHabitat strips that connect larger chunks of intact habitat Wildlife refuge - Correct Answersprotected habitat to protect species and ecosystem services Zoonotic disease - Correct Answersdisease caused by animal pathogens that enter the human population Vector - Correct Answersorganism that transmits a pathogen to a host Seed banks - Correct AnswersRefrigerated, low humidity storage that preserves seeds; 3 million seeds world-wide Describe strategies that can be used to protect species that are threatened because they are commercially valuable - Correct Answers· Disrupt market for poached products · Legislation · Attach economic incentives to keep animal in their natural habitat. (lion alive can generate 50x more money than a lion that's been hunted) (ecotourism) Explain how habitat fragmentation threatens species and what strategies can be used to address these problems - Correct Answers· It confines them to a smaller area than what they're used to or need. It also becomes risky for the animals to travel between each fragmented piece of their habitat. · Wildlife refuges, Wildlife corridors, Buffer zones Emerging infectious disease - Correct Answersa disease caused by a pathogen that has increased in incidence, geographic range, or impact on human or animal health (think of COVID) Triage - Correct Answersseparate ecosystems into those that are resilient (can recover if not overwhelmed) and those that are fragile Aquifer - Correct Answersdeepest layer of groundwater; caverns or porous layers of sand/rock through which water flows Dredging - Correct Answersscraping the bottom of a body of water often to clear built up sediment that settled in a spot Fishery - Correct Answersconcentrations of aquatic species suitable for commercial harvest Freshwater - Correct Answerswater with low concentrations of dissolved salts and other dissolved solids. Provides drinking water. Make up 2.5% of earths water Groundwater - Correct Answersfreshwater found in the ground Marine reserves - Correct Answersareas declared off-limits to fishing, dredging, mining, and waste disposal Ocean acidification - Correct Answerswhen the ocean absorbs CO2 and it dissolves and reacts in the saltwater, producing carbonic acid Reliable surface runoff - Correct Answersthe stable amount water that enters surface waters each year and is available for human use in an area (subtract amount lost to seasonal floods) Runoff - Correct Answersfreshwater from precipitation/melting ice that flows into surface water Surface water - Correct AnswersFreshwater that flows or is stored in bodies of water on Earth's surface Virtual water - Correct Answersfreshwater not directly consumed but used to produce food and other products Water footprint - Correct Answersmeasure of total volume of water used directly or indirectly Watershed - Correct Answersland area that delivers runoff to the same body of surface water Wetlands - Correct Answersecosystems where the land is saturated with water permanently or seasonally. Identify the 6 most important direct causes of species extinction and ecosystem threats. Explain how each threatens biodiversity. - Correct Answers· H = Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation = (destruction, degradation à animals have to find a new home)( fragmentationà animals are confined to a small area and if they leave they are exposed to danger) · I = Invasive species = outcompete species in the same environment. · P = population growth and the use of resources = as growth increases, the demand for resources increses · P = pollution = bioaccumulation · C = climate change = may change migratory patterns. For sea animals, may change location that they can survive. · O = overexploitation = can threaten, endanger, or extinct species. For each of the following approaches to preserving biodiversity, explain the goals and limitations of each approach: legislation like the Endangered Species Act; wildlife refuges; seed banks and botanical gardens; zoos and aquariums. - Correct Answers· legislation like the Endangered Species Act o goals = protects listed endangered species and boosts their populations. o Limits = not all eligible species get listed, conflicts with business interests, enforcement can be difficult. · wildlife refuges o goals = protect habitat to protect species and ecosystem services. o Limits = limited funds, often used for activities like hunting/mining, popularity can threaten the park. · seed banks and botanical gardens o goals = preserve genetic diversity for the future, insurance against disasters. o Limits = funding and space, seeds can't survive indefinitely, climate change can threaten. · zoos and aquariums o goals = educate the public, breed threatened species to help repopulate, serve as a genetic reservoir. o Limits = not all species are suited for captivity, funding and space, Reintroduced populations need to be large enough to avoid future extinction, doesn't address factor that led to species becoming threatened in the first place Describe the ecosystem approach to sustaining terrestrial biodiversity. Explain the rationale behind each step. Apply this approach if given a scenario. - Correct Answers· Identify = map ecosystems and inventory species and ecosystem services. · Triage = separate ecosystems into those that are resilient (can recover if not overwhelmed) and those that are fragile · Maximize = protect the most endangered ecosystems/species; emphasize plant biodiversity and ecosystem services; restore as many degraded ecosystems as possible · Incentivize = financial incentives (tax break, subsidies) for biodiversity-friendly development; provide education and technical help to interested private land owners Describe the biological characteristics shared by many invasive species and how these make them successful invaders. - Correct Answers· Generalists · R-selected species · Hard to remove · Sneaky · No enemies in new environment · Often brought here for a specific reason Explain how invasive species are a threat to conservation and the steps that can be taken to control them. - Correct Answers· They typically outcompete the other species around them and they are hard to control and or get rid of one they "move in." · To control them: o Prevent accidental transport: inspect foreign goods; regulations on ballast water, check your car and clothes for "hitchhikers" - Prevent new introductions: don't dump unused bait, don't plant invasive nonnative plants, don't release pets