Conservation

Species extinction is the most obvious aspect [blank] the loss of biodiversity. For example, species form the bulk of the examples in a comprehensive assessment of the state of the planet published [blank] the early 21st century by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, an international effort coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme. The subject of conservation is broader than [blank] , however. Even a species that survives extinction can lose much of its genetic diversity as local, genetically distinct populations are lost from most of the species' original range. Furthermore, ecosystems may shrink dramatically [blank] the area and lose many of their functions, even if their constituent species manage to survive. Conservation is involved with studying all these kinds of losses, understanding the factors responsible for them, developing techniques [blank] prevent losses, and, whenever possible, restoring biodiversity.