Central Question: How can we protect Earth’s diverse ecosystems?

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Answer the following questions for each chapter section and then answer the Central Question.

4.1–4.5 Science

  • How do species and ecosystem diversity differ?

  • What are the major characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic biomes?

  • How does species diversity vary by latitude, in biodiversity hotspots and on islands?

  • What types of species have especially great influences on biodiversity?

  • How does biodiversity change during ecological succession?

  • What are the similarities and differences between allopatric and sympatric speciation?

4.6–4.8 Issues

  • How does habitat fragmentation affect biodiversity?

  • What are valuable ecosystem services and what factors threaten them?

  • How do invasive species change terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems?

4.9–4.12 Solutions

  • What are the stated goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity?

  • How has the number of protected areas grown over time?

  • What unique roles can NGOs play in conserving species and ecosystem diversity?

  • What factors make active management necessary for sustaining protected areas?

  • How does integrating protected areas with local communities help sustain biodiversity?

Answer the Central Question:

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Species and Ecosystem Diversity and You

It is the rare individual who can establish a large protected area on his or her own. However, there are many opportunities to contribute to the protection of natural ecosystems through organizations dedicated to nature protection or through work on established protected areas. The first step in getting involved is to learn about the opportunities.

□Learn about conservation opportunities in your region.

Familiarize yourself through the Internet with the size, location, and conservation mission of nearby protected areas. Once you have explored neighboring nature reserves online, visit those that interest you most, if possible.

□Get involved with protected area management.

Most conservation areas operate on limited budgets and need volunteers or interns to help with the management of protected areas. There are often opportunities to work on habitat restoration, invasive species control, and many other conservation-related projects. Check out local state fish and game agencies or departments of natural resources who need volunteers. A summary of government-related volunteer programs across the United States may be found at www.volunteer.gov.

□Join and become active in conservation organizations.

If you don’t have enough time to volunteer, consider becoming an active member of a conservation organization such as Sierra Club, Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, or the Natural Resources Defense Council. As a member, your voice will be amplified through an organization with far more influence than any single individual. Such membership also provides many opportunities to learn more about conservation programs and challenges across your region and around the world.

□Support wildlife-friendly products.

Whenever you can, put your buying power to work by purchasing wildlife-friendly products. Again, the average person cannot make a large financial difference, but as such products become more popular, they become more competitive. There are many initiatives around the world to help sustain wildlife and their habitats through wildlife-friendly farming, ranching, and forestry practices. You can easily learn more about such efforts online. Check out www.goodguide.com to see how many household products “score” on an environmental level.