CHAPTER 15

Relatively small areas of land that contain an exceptional number of endemic species and are at high risk from human activities.

The number and variety of Earth’s organisms; consists of three components: genetic diversity, species richness, and ecosystem diversity.

The scientific study of how humans affect organisms and of the development of ways to protect biological diversity.

Environmental benefits, such as clean air, clean water, and fertile soil, provided by an ecosystem.

A species whose population has declined to the point that it may be at risk of extinction.

Organisms that are native to or confined to a particular region.

Foreign species that spread rapidly in a new area if free of predators, parasites, or resource limitations that may have controlled their population in their native habitat.

The study of the historical condition of a human damaged ecosystem, with the goal of returning it as closely as possible to its former state.

The number of different species in a community.

A species whose population has declined to the point that it may be at risk of extinction.