NRS Exam 2

Originating from human sources

A method of species identification using DNA and other genetic technology

Organisms whose genetic code has been altered by scientists using recombinant DNA technology

Warming of the Earth caused by carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere that allow the sun’s radiation to penetrate and warm the Earth but prevent the heat generated by sunlight from re-radiating. Heat is thus trapped near the surface, raising the planet’s temperature

Gases in the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide, that are transparent to sunlight but that trap heat near the Earth’s surface

An approach to controlling undesirable plants or animals that has the goal of minimizing harm to the ecosystem and people, while being cost-effective

International Union for the Conservation of Nature is a major international conservation organization; previously known as The World Conservation Union

A species that increases in abundance, often because of human changes to the environment, and thereby threatens native species through competition, predation, or by changing ecosystem properties or dynamics

Hypothesis that attributes the success of invasive species to the absence of specialized natural predators and parasites in their new range

A human disease that originated from transmission from another species of animal

Inability of a species’ social structure to function once a population of that species falls below a certain number or density of individuals

The rate of species loss expected to occur in the absence of human impact

Random variation in birth, death, and reproductive rates in small populations, sometimes causing further decline in population size. Also called demographic variation

Random variation in birth, death, and reproductive rates in small populations, sometimes causing further decline in population size. Also called demographic variation

A species that has been so reduced in numbers that it no longer has a significant ecological impact on the biological community.The state in which a species persists at such reduced numbers that its effects on the other species in its community are negligible

The number of breeding individuals in a population

Occurring in a place naturally, without the influence of people (e.g., gray wolves are endemic to Canada)

Random variation in the biological and physical environment. Can increase the risk of extinction in small populations

Presently alive; not extinct

The condition in which no members of a species are currently living

A species no longer found in the wild, but individuals may remain alive in zoos, botanical gardens, or other artificial environments

Tendency of small populations to decline toward extinction

Local extinction of a population, even though the species may still exist elsewhere

Reduced genetic variability that occurs when a new population is established (“founded”) by a small number of individuals

The state in which a species persists at such reduced numbers that its effects on the other species in its community are negligible.A species that has been so reduced in numbers that it no longer has a significant ecological impact on the biological community

The movement of genes from one population to another through movement of individuals or gametes

Loss of genetic variation and change in allele frequencies that occur by chance in small populations

The practice of intentional introduction of genetic variation into the population of a rare species to keep it from extinction

No individuals are presently alive anywhere

Lowered reproduction or production of weak offspring following mating among close relatives or self-fertilization

A subdiscipline of biogeography devoted to exploring species diversity on island and in isolated natural communities

Formula for the relationship between island size and the number of species living on the island; the model can be used to predict the impact of habitat destruction on species extinctions, viewing remaining habitat as an “island” in the “sea” of a degraded ecosystem

A species that no longer exists in a place where it used to occur, but still exists elsewhere

A radical reduction in population size (e.g., following an outbreak of infectious disease), sometimes leading to the loss of genetic variation

The present mass extinction event that is just beginning

The number of species found in an area increases with the size of the area (i.e., more species are found on large islands than on small islands)

Random variation; variation happening by chance