Biodiversity and Conservation Concepts

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Biodiversity hotspot

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Region containing a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet, typically a target for conservation.

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Instrumental value of biodiversity

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Economic value that a species may have.

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Intrinsic value of biodiversity

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Inherent value that a species may have.

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Provisioning services

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Benefits of biodiversity that humans use, like lumber, fur, meat, crops, water & fiber.

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Regulating services

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Benefits of biodiversity that include climate regulation, flood control, and water purification.

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Cultural services

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Benefits of biodiversity that provide aesthetic, spiritual, or recreational value to people.

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Supporting services

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Benefits of biodiversity that allow ecosystems to exist, such as primary production and nutrient cycling.

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Mass extinction event

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Events in which 75% of living species go extinct in a 2 million year period.

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Biotic homogenization

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Process by which unique (often regional) species compositions become more similar due to invasive species and introduced species.

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Biomagnification

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Process by which the concentration of a contaminant increases as it moves up the food chain.