Chapter 56 - Conservation Biology and Global Change

Movement lanes

________ can help disperse people and maintain them.

Human actions

________ are changing natural disturbances, trophic systems, energy flow, and chemical cycling across the biosphere- ecosystem processes on which we and all other species rely.

Biodiversity

________ tends to decline when habitat fragmentation grows and edges become more widespread.

California

Overgrazing, flood control, water diversions, lowering of water tables, and invasion by non- native plants have all had an impact on nearly 90 % of native riparian (streamside) ecosystems in ________, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Toxic wastes

________ and medicines have contaminated the environment with hazardous chemicals that often remain for extended periods of time and become progressively concentrated in food webs at higher trophic levels (biological magnification)

Humans

________ have already had a significant impact on certain ecosystems, while others are changing at a rapid pace.

contiguous United States

More than half of the wetlands in the ________ have been drained and converted to agriculture and other purposes since European settlement.

Habitat loss

________, invasive species, overharvesting, and global change are the four primary threats to biodiversity.

Sustainable Biosphere Initiative

The ________ seeks to collect ecological data for the development, administration, and conservation of Earth's resources.

Fertilizer nutrients

________ can contaminate groundwater and surface- water aquatic environments, where they can promote excessive algal growth (eutrophication)

plant nutrients

Because agriculture depletes ________ in ecosystems, substantial supplements are generally necessary.

Biodiversity hotspots

________ are also extinction hotspots, making them excellent candidates for conservation.

Sustainable development

________ may enhance people's lives while protecting biodiversity.