Conservation Ecology — Flashcards

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An ecosystem is a self-sustaining, self-regulating structural and functional unit of nature. It consists of a community of living beings and their physical environment, and both interact with each oth…

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An ecosystem is called an open system because it receives solar energy as input, uses it for productivity, transfers energy from one trophic level to the next, and releases waste matter as output. Nut…

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An ecosystem provides free services such as soil formation, soil protection, fresh air, climate regulation, nutrient cycling, pollination, grazing grounds, and support for wildlife. For example, plant…

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Habitat loss is the greatest threat to biodiversity today. Forests are cut, natural habitats are converted into agricultural land, and roads, pipelines, and industrial development destroy living space…

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Tropical rain forests have depleted from about 14% to 6%. This sharp reduction means many species lose their habitats, and biodiversity declines rapidly. Forest loss in tropical regions is a major con…

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Habitat loss increases the risk of floods, droughts, crop failure, disease spread, and water contamination. It also alters carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur cycles, which can increase acid rai…

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Genetic erosion is a process in which the already limited gene pool of an endangered species becomes even smaller when individuals die before meeting and breeding with others. This reduces genetic div…

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Habitat fragmentation breaks a large habitat into small isolated parts. Endangered species living in these patches may not find mates from other groups, so breeding becomes difficult. As a result, uni…