BIOS-1073 Lecture Notes - Lecture 30: Catharanthus Roseus, Endangered Species, Overexploitation
Document Summary
Scientists have named and described 1. 8 million species. Biologists estimate 10-100 million species exist on earth. Conservation biology ? seeks to preserve life, integrates several fields. Variety of species in an ecosystem or throughout the biosphere. Endangered species ? in danger of becoming extinct. Threatened species ? likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. 12% of birds, and 21% of mammals are threatened with extinction. Species related to agricultural crops can have important genetic qualities. In the us, 25% of prescriptions contain substances originally derived from plants. The rosy periwinkle contains alkaloids that inhibit cancer growth. Human alteration of habitat is the greatest threat to biodiversity throughout the biosphere. In almost all cases, habitat fragmentation and destruction lead to loss of habitat in the biosphere. Those that humans move from native locations to new geographic regions. Humans have deliberately introduced some species with good intentions.
