The Biodiversity Crisis |
1. |
Distinguish between conservation biology and restoration biology. |
2. |
Describe the three levels of biodiversity. |
3. |
Explain why biodiversity at all levels is vital to human welfare. |
4. |
List the four major threats to biodiversity and give an example of each. |
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Conservation at the Population and Species Levels |
5. |
Define and compare the small-population approach and thedeclining-population approach. |
6. |
Explain how an extinction vortex can lead to the extinction of a small population. Describe how a greater prairie chicken population was rescued from an extinction vortex. |
7. |
Describe the basic steps that are used to analyze declining populations and determine possible interventions in the declining-population approach. Describe the case of the red-cockaded woodpecker to illustrate this approach. |
8. |
Describe the conflicting demands that accompany species conservation. |
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Conservation at the Community, Ecosystem, and Landscape Levels |
9. |
Explain how edges and corridors can strongly influence landscape biodiversity. |
10. |
Define biodiversity hot spots and explain why they are important. |
11. |
Explain why natural reserves must be functional parts of landscapes. |
12. |
Define zoned reserves and explain why they are important. |
13. |
Define restoration ecology and describe its goals. |
14. |
Explain the importance of bioremediation and biological augmentation of ecosystem processes in restoration efforts. |
15. |
Describe the process of adaptive management. |
16. |
Describe the concept of sustainable development. |
17. |
Explain the goals of the Sustainable Biosphere Initiative. |
18. |
Define biophilia and explain why the concept gives some biologists hope. |
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