Geol 2000: Lessons in Extinction
Order by
27 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 No members of a species remain alive | extinct |
| Not extinct | extant |
| Restricted to a certain area | endemic |
| Local extinction, gone from a particular area | extirpation |
| Individuals remain, but only in captivity | extinct in the wild |
| Still persists, but is so rare that its ecological role is negligible | ecologically extinct |
| What species exhibit key ecological functions that are not always proportionate to their abundance? | Keystone species |
| How many known species of plants and animals are there? | 1.4-1.6 million |
| What is the estimated total of plants & animals on Earth? | 12.5 million |
| How many species have gone extinct for every species that currently exists? | 1000 |
| When were the 5 mass extinctions? | Permian, Devonian, Ordovician, Triassic, Cretaceous |
| Name the top 2 causes of extinction | loss of suitable habitat & competition, predation & disease associated w/alien invaders |
| What caused the extinction of the ivory-billed woodpecker? | habitat loss (deforestation) |
| What is causing the demise of understory plants of the southeast? | competition w/alien plants (kudzu, honeysuckle) |
| What are the primary causes of the extinction of native Hawaiian birds? | habitat loss, avian diseases, & introduced predators |
| What caused the extinction of the nenes? | predation by alien animals (mongooses, dogs, cats) |
| What caused the demise of the American Chestnut? | fungus blight (disease) |
| What is causing the demise of the Nashville crayfish? | pollution |
| What caused the extinction of the Carolina parakeet? | killed in large numbers b/c they were thought to be an agricultural pest |
| What caused the demise of the Stellar's sea cow? | overharvest |
| What is causing the decline in the West Indian Manatee population? | accidents (watercraft) |
| What caused the decline in the black-footed ferret? | loss of food base (poisoned prairie dogs) |
| What caused the extinction of the passenger pigeon? | overharvest, loss of habitat, limits on social biology |
| What are 5 possible causes for the decline in amphibians? | loss of habitat, pollution, disease, UV radiation, acid rain |
| What is the leading killer of amphibians? | chytridiomycosis |
| What is the extinction rate in rainforests alone? | 50,000 species/yr |
| What is the rainforest destruction rate? | 149 acres/min |
First Time Here?
Welcome to Quizlet, a fun, free place to study. Try these flashcards, find others to study, or make your own.