Chapter 3 - Ecology Kamalvir Pablay

The number and variety of biotic organisms found within a specific region as well as the number and variety of ecosystems within and beyond that region

To legally guard a species that is considered one of the following:

• -Endangered
• -Threatened
• -Special Concern

from harm

Example: Tigers are on the verge of extinction, so they need protection

A place where there is a larger amount of biodiversity in a small area than normal

Example: Lake Malawi

All the populations of the different species that interact in a specific area or ecosystem.

Example: Lake Ontario is a community

An abundant species that have the largest biomass in a community.

Example: Kangaroo Rats

A species that creates a huge difference in the health of an ecosystem and its population numbers.

Example: Sea otters are a keystone species because they consume sea urchins

When a species is rare or endangered in wildlife so it is brought into a safe place where everything is controlled to be bred until a specific population number is reached.

Example: Black-Footed Ferrets were under a captive breeding program

A species that causes dramatic changes in an ecosystem such as changing the landscape to the point where a new ecosystem is created.

Example: Beavers because they create dams in streams of water that other organisms use to survive and thrive

The series of changes in an ecosystem that occurs over time, following a disturbance.

Example: Flooded forests caused by beavers

The destruction of habitats, which usually results from human activities

Example: Deforestation, causing the loss of the habitats for birds, insects and other animals

When forests (or a forest) is cleared for human uses and not replanted, leading to erosion, climate change, and more.

A species that is accidentally, or purposely brought into a new location where it is not native.

Example: Zebra Mussels were accidentally brought in to North America

A species (usually an alien species) that takes over a habitat for/of native species

Example: Zebra Mussels are an invasive species

The use or extraction of a resource until it is depleted

Example: Passenger Pigeons were overexploited by hunters in the early 1900s

Graph of the Angry Bears and their decline to becoming endangered

The death of a population and all of its species.

Example: Passenger Pigeons have gone extinct

The accelerated rate of extinctions

The renewal of destroyed or abandoned ecosystems through active human intervention

Example: The Don Valley Brick Works has been effected by Restoration Ecology

The regrowth of a forest through 2 ways

• 1) Natural Processes
• 2) Planting of seeds or trees in an area where a forest was cut down

The use of an alien species to control the population growth or spread of an undesirable species.

Example: Parasitoid fly was brought in to control the European gypsy moth

The use of biotic organism to clean up contaminated ares naturally

Example: Bioremedation is used at contaminated sites such as gas stations to clean up the soil of toxins

The use of organisms to add essential nutrients to depleted soils