Herptiles and Insects Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Herptiles and Insects Deck (15)
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1
Q

Nearly _____ of the more than 5,700 known amphibian species are now threatened with extinction

A

1/3

2
Q

Reptiles include

A

Turtles/tortoises
lizards
snakes
crocodiles and alligators

3
Q

Amphibians include

A
Newts
salamanders
frogs
toads
caecilians
4
Q

Reptiles

A
phylum - chordata
class - retile
scales, plates, shells
appendages have nails
ectothermic
have lungs
lay eggs/hard shell
miniature adults
5
Q

Amphibians

A
Phylum - chordata
class - amphibia
moist, smooth skin
no nails
Ectothermic
lungs/gills and breathe through their skin
lay eggs/soft gel-like
metamorphosis
6
Q

Why are population assessments difficult for herptiles

A

secretive, many are small, many are nocturnal, many have cryptic coloration
many are very wary of predators

7
Q

Six major threats

A

habitat loss, disease and parasites, pollution, Invasive species, global climate change, unsustainable use

8
Q

Disease and parasitism

A
Boreal Toad: high elevations in CO
under review federally
listed for CO
decline linked to chytrid fungus
fungus interferes with normal respiration through skin
>80% decline
9
Q

Pollution

A

Metals, pesticides, acids, rain, estrogenic chemicals

Deformities during development

sexual development affected by pesticides

10
Q

Climate change

A

interaction with chytrid fungus

sex is temp-dependent in many herps

11
Q

Invasive species

A

bull frog is non-native in western US and is eating many native frog and fish species

12
Q

Unsustainable use

A

over-collection for food, pet trade, ornamentation, biological supply

13
Q

Insect importance to ecosystem components

A

trophic links (sole food source of many herbs, bats, birds, mammals)
Pollinators
waste disposers

14
Q

Insect biodiversity

A

insects represent 90% of individual multicellular life forms on earth and majority of species known
not even half of insect species have been discovered

15
Q

Conservation issues for insects

A
climate change
habitat
invasive species
over-collection
disease
synergy between factors