3 Biodiversity and Conservation Free Online FlashCards

What does biodiversity include?

Biodiversity is the variety of life, including variation within species, among species, and among ecosystems.

What two features shape species diversity?

Species diversity considers which species are present and how evenly individuals are distributed among them.

How can two equally species-rich communities differ in diversity?

A community with more even populations can have greater species diversity than one dominated by a single species, even when both have the same species richness.

How can biodiversity contribute to resilience, and what is its limit?

If one species declines, others may continue performing similar ecological roles. This resilience depends on the species and ecosystem; biodiversity does not guarantee resistance to every change.

What are ecosystem services?

Ecosystem services are benefits people receive from ecosystems.

How can land- and sea-use change threaten biodiversity?

Land- and sea-use change alters habitats through loss, degradation, or fragmentation, for example when forests are cleared or wetlands drained.

Name key approaches used in biodiversity conservation.

Conservation can protect habitats in place, connect and restore habitats, use resources sustainably, reduce pressures, support species recovery, and include affected local and Indigenous communities.

What does species richness measure, and what does it leave out?

Species richness is the number of species. It does not show how evenly individuals are distributed among those species.

What are provisioning ecosystem services?

Provisioning services are goods from ecosystems, such as food, fresh water, timber, and medicines.

What are regulating ecosystem services?

Regulating services are ecosystem processes that affect environmental conditions, such as pollination, water purification, flood reduction, and climate regulation.

What are cultural ecosystem services?

Cultural services are recreational, spiritual, educational, and aesthetic benefits people receive from ecosystems.

What role do supporting ecosystem services play?

Supporting services are underlying processes, such as nutrient cycling and soil formation, that help ecosystems function and sustain other services.