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Week 9 lecture 3 1st half

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  • What is Conservation Biology?

    Conservation Biology is a scientific discipline that studies threats to biodiversity and how to mitigate them.

  • What is the main goal of Conservation Biology?

    The goal is to maintain diversity of genes, populations, species, habitats, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, and the processes occurring at each level.

  • Which disciplines does Conservation Biology integrate?

    It is interdisciplinary, integrating biological, physical, social sciences, economics, and natural-resource management techniques.

  • Name some fields related to Conservation Biology.

    Population biology, taxonomy, ecology, genetics, zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens, ecosystems, law, policy, ethics, and economics.

  • List key characteristics of Conservation Biology.

    Multi-disciplinary, applied, mission-driven, crisis-oriented, policy-connected, and continually ongoing.

  • Why is Conservation Biology increasingly important?

    Due to increasing demands and pressure on the world’s ecosystems and the human population explosion.

  • What human activity is shown to impact ecosystems in the images?

    Use of pesticides and agricultural chemicals that can harm ecosystems and biodiversity.

  • What does the image of dead fish along a shoreline illustrate?

    It illustrates the impact of pollution or environmental degradation causing mass mortality in aquatic life.

  • What trend does the human population graph show?

    Human population size has increased exponentially, especially after the Industrial Revolution.

  • What historical events influenced human population growth?

    Agricultural revolution, metalworking, plowing and irrigation, Industrial Revolution, and disease outbreaks like the Bubonic plague.

  • How does Conservation Biology address biodiversity threats?

    By studying threats scientifically and developing strategies to mitigate them across multiple levels of biological organization.

  • What role do zoos and botanical gardens play in Conservation Biology?

    They serve as conservation centers for species preservation, education, and research.

  • What does 'crisis-oriented' mean in Conservation Biology?

    It means the field often responds urgently to immediate threats to biodiversity and ecosystems.

  • How is policy connected to Conservation Biology?

    Conservation Biology informs and influences laws and policies to protect biodiversity and natural resources.

  • What is the significance of maintaining ecosystem processes?

    Processes like nutrient cycling and energy flow are essential for ecosystem health and biodiversity maintenance.

  • Why is Conservation Biology considered mission-driven?

    Because it aims to actively conserve biodiversity and prevent species extinctions.

  • What is the impact of human population explosion on ecosystems?

    It increases resource demand and habitat destruction, leading to biodiversity loss.

  • How does Conservation Biology use genetics?

    To understand genetic diversity and manage populations for long-term survival.

  • What is the importance of taxonomy in Conservation Biology?

    Taxonomy helps identify and classify species, which is critical for conservation prioritization.

  • What does 'multi-disciplinary' imply for Conservation Biology?

    It involves collaboration across various scientific and social fields to address complex conservation issues.