Biomes
Name one biome.
pick 1: desert, forest, grassland or tundra
What is biodiversity?
the variety and variability of organisms on Earth (or a specific habitat).
Characterists of primary and secondary succession?
elative timescale, starting point, soil, pioneer species
Two examples of negative human activity on the environment.
pick 2: excessive vehicle use, pollution, excessive use of fossil fuels, deforestation, exploitation of resources.
Simpson's Index of Diversity.
What is a biome?
an area that shares a combination of average yearly temperature and precipitation (climate).
The impact of invasive species on biodiversity?
they overpower all other organisms and imbalance the food chain.
What is primary productivity?
rate that solar energy is converted into org.
compounds via photosynthesis over
a unit of time.
One impact of human activity on rainforests.
pick 1: deforestation leading to fragmenatation, agricultural expansion, climate change, mineral extraction.
Name one strategy to help rainforests.
pick 1: legislation and international agreement, sustainable harvesting, debt for nature swaps, creation of protected areas
Characteristics of a desert.
low amounts of precipitation and latitude of 30 degrees north and 30 south.
Two methods to conserve biodiversity.
pick 2: national parks, nature reserves, conservation zones, extracted resources
What is gross primary productivity?
the total amount of sun energy (light) that plants capture and convert to energy (glucose) through photosynthesis.
Two impacts of human activity on Antarctica.
pick 2: ozone depletion, tourism, climate change, overfishing, scientific research, mineral extraction.
Two strategies to conserve Antarctica.
pick 2: legislation and international agreement, protected areas, fisheries regulation, prohibited activities such as mineral extraction, protection from non-native animals or plants
Characteristics of a tropical rainforest.
warm, humid temperature and abundant precipitation year-round.
Three benefits to conserving biodiversity?
pick 3: diversity in genetics, ecological services, medical resources, food, wood, oil, fuels, cultural value
What is net primary productivity?
the amount of energy (biomass) leftover
for consumers after plants have used some for respiration.
Name two legislative acts to conserve ecosystems.
pick 2: The First Forest Code in 1965, CAR (Cadastro Ambiental Rural in 2010, The Endangered Species Act of 1973.
What is EDGE?
The EDGE of Existence program is the only global conservation initiative to focus specifically on threatened species that represent a significant amount of unique evolutionary history.
What are the main climate zones?
polar climate, tropical zone, and temperate zone.
Two legislation/protocols to conserve biodiversity.
pick 2: protection of species, CITES, IWC, EUCFP, ITTO, IUCN
What is ecological efficiency?
the portion of incoming solar energy that is captured by plants & converted into biomass (NPP or food available for consumers).
Name one corporation that destructs the rainforest.
pick 1: Cargill, Walmart, IKEA.
What is the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978?
The Antarctic Conservation Act regulates what types of materials can be taken to Antarctica and specifies how these materials must be used, stored, and disposed of.