Chapter 5 Biology

The variety of genes or inheritable characteristics that are present in a population comprises its genetic diversity.

The number and abundance of different species

The variety of ecosystems that are present in the biosphere

The gradual process of species becoming extinct (the normal rate of extinction)

A large-scale extinction of a large percentage of all organisms on the earth (example: meteor crash made the gulf of Mexico

All materials and organisms found in the biosphere including minerals

Over of species with economic value (examples: overhunting and overfishing)

The separation of an ecosystem into small pieces of land.

Is the increasing concentration of toxic substances (when a chemical such as a pesticide gets continually more concentrated up a food chain)

Occurs when fertilizers

Non-native species that are either intentionally or unintentionally transported to a new habitat.

Those resources that are replaced by natural processes faster than they are consumed (examples: solar power

Resources that are found on the earth in limited amounts or those that are replaced by natural processes over extremely long periods of time

Using resources at a rate in which they can be replaced or recycled while preserving the long term environmental health of the biosphere (us

Species that are only found in that specific geographic area (species that originated from that area)

The use of living organisms

Adding natural predators to a degraded ecosystem (example: a farmland overrun by aphids can be restored by introducing ladybugs to eat the a

The disappearance of a species from the biosphere

Flood Protection

Mammals

Different environmental conditions that occur along the boundaries of ecosystems

An organism that plays an important role in an ecosystem (such as coral animals that provide a habitat for all reef organims)