The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is composed of scientists that compile a list of the most threatened species that is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. The chart below shows the percent of species that are endangered in four different taxonomic groups.
Identify the taxonomic group with the greatest number of species threatened with extinction.
Most reptile species are r-selected species. Describe the characteristics of an r-selected species.
Identify an ecological benefit provided by high biodiversity.
Explain how a loss of genetic diversity could make a population more vulnerable to extinction.
Describe how habitat fragmentation can lead to loss of species.
A team of researchers is studying the impact of habitat fragmentation on an endangered reptile species. They want to determine how the size and isolation of habitat patches affect the population density of the reptiles.
Habitat Patch Size (sq km) | Isolation Distance (km) | Population Density (reptiles/sq km) |
|---|---|---|
50 | 0 | 120 |
50 | 10 | 85 |
25 | 0 | 95 |
25 | 10 | 60 |
10 | 0 | 75 |
10 | 10 | 40 |
5 | 0 | 50 |
5 | 10 | 20 |
Identify a hypothesis for the experiment
Identify an independent variable for the experiment.
Justify a claim about a conclusion based on the results of the experiment.
Destruction of habitat for mining mineral resources also poses a threat to reptile species. The waste from the mining process is stored in piles next to the mining site.
Identify the term for the piles of mining waste.
Explain how mining waste could threaten reptile biodiversity.
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