11.8 Methods Of Maintaining Biodiversity

Question 1

Maintaining BD

Answer 1

Conservation is the preservation and careful management of the environment and of the natural resources.
By conserving the natural habitat, organisms chances of survival are maintained, allowing them to reproduce. As a consequence, species and GBD can be safeguarded.

Question 2

Ways to conserve BD

Answer 2

1. in situ conservation - within natural habitat
2. ex situ conservation - out of natural habitat

Scientists are currently trying to conserve a number of species to prevent their extinction. Species are classified for the purposes of conservation, according to their abundance in the wild:

1. extinct - no organisms exist
2. extinct in the wild - species only exist in captivity
3. endangered - a species in danger of extinction
4. vulnerable- species considered likely to become endangered in the near future.

Non-threatened and categories of least concern follow below; many conservation techniques focus on increasing the numbers of organisms from species that are classified as endangered.

Scientists promote SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - economic development that meets needs of people today without limiting the ability of the future generations to meet their needs.

Question 3

In situ conservation

Answer 3

Takes place inside an organisms natural habitat. This maintains not only the genetic diversity of species, but also the evolutionary adaptations that enable a species to continuously adapt to changing environmental conditions.

By allowing the endangered species to interact with other species, it also preserves the interdependent relationships. In situ is generally cheaper than ex situ.

Marine (saltwater), aquatic (freshwater) and land nature reserves are examples of areas that have been specifically designated for conservational reasons.

Question 4

Wildlife Reserves Techniques

Answer 4

Active Management techniques:

1. controlled grazing - only allowing livestock to graze a particular area of land for a certain period of time.
2. restricting human access - for example, not allowing people to visit a beach during the seal reproductive season.
3. controlling poaching - creating defences to prevent access, issuing fines etc.
4. feeding animals - can help to ensure more organisms survive to reproductive age.
5. reintroduction of species - adding species to areas that have become locally extinct, or whose numbers have decreased a lot.
6. culling or removal of invasive species - an invasive species is an organism that is not native to an area and has negative effects on the economy, environment or health.
7. halting succession - succession is a natural process in which early colonising species are replaced over time until a stable mature popn. is achieved.

Question 5

Marine Conservation Zones

Answer 5

MCZ are less well established than terrestrial ones. Lundy Island is currently the only statutory marine reserve.