2. Conservation of Biodiversity

Question 1

importance of conserving biodiversity

Answer 1

resources
biomimetics
new food species
medicines
physiological research
pest control species
genetic species
ecosystem services

Question 2

resources

Answer 2

wood
fibres
oils
fuels
food

Question 3

new food species

Answer 3

indigenous species are usually better adapted than introduced species to local conditions such as climate, pests and soil conditions and therefore may have higher survival rates. Selective breeding may be needed to enhance desires

Question 4

biomimetics

Answer 4

involves the use of knowledge of the adaptations of other species, to improve the designers of manufactured items. all species have evolved over long period of time, developing adaptations that increase their chances of survival.

Question 5

vehicle design - biomimetics

Answer 5

the splayed wingtip feathers of soaring birds reduce wind turbulence and drag. copying the feather structures has improved aircraft wing designs to help increase fuel efficiency.

Question 6

infection control - biomimetics

Answer 6

bacteria do not stick easily to shark skin. A coating material that imitates shark skin is used in hospital operating theatres to help control bacterial infections

Question 7

architecture - biomimetics

Answer 7

the mounds that terminates construct above the ground absorb sunlight and become hot. The hot air inside riser creating a convection current. This draws stale air out of lower parts of the nest and creates a natural solar-driven ventilation system.

Question 8

adhesion - biomimetics

Answer 8

seeds of some plants have burrs with hooks that can stick to the fur of passing animals and aid seed dispersal

Question 9

materials - biomimetics

Answer 9

some natural materials have properties that can be applied to the manufacture of synthetic materials. The lightweight, flexible, strong silk produced by spiders is being copied to produce better car airbags and bod armour.

Question 10

Medicines

Answer 10

plants need to protect themselves from herbivores. Some plants use thorns, spikes, and bad tastes but others produce chemicals that are toxic to the animals that may eat them.

Question 11

physiological research

Answer 11

some species have evolved to become adapted to specific environmental conditions. Studying these could give a greater understanding of human health problems.

Question 12

pest control species

Answer 12

A wide range of predators, herbivores, parasites, and pathogens are used to control agricultural pests. Some may be indigenous species, while others may have to be introduced.

Question 13

Genetic Resources

Answer 13

Many populations of wild plants have genetic characteristics that may be used in breeding programmes to improve cultivated crop varieties

Question 14

ex situ

Answer 14

conservation away from where they would normally live. it often involves the breeding of species in captivity so that some of the young produced can be released to boost the wild population.

Question 15

in-situ

Answer 15

conservation in a habitat suitable for the species that will live there.

Question 16

habitat size - keeping species in captivity

Answer 16

some species require such large habitats that they cannot be kept in captivity. This is often the case for large animals like whales

Question 17

food requirements - keeping species in captivity

Answer 17

some species have feeding requirements that cannot easily be provided, for example, insectivorous bats, or fish that eat plankton.

Question 18

species interrelationships - keeping species in captivity

Answer 18

some species have complicated species interrelationships such as plants with symbiotic mycorrhizal root fungi relationships, plants with specific pollinators, or the large blue butterfly that overwrites in ants nests.

Question 19

financial constraints - keeping species in captivity

Answer 19

keeping animals in zoos, or plants in botanic gardens, is expensive and there is not enough money available to keep all endangered species in captivity

Question 20

captive breeding programs

Answer 20

conditions for breeding
population interactions and breeding success
breeding habitat
gene pool size
hybridisation

Question 21

conditions for breeding

Answer 21

the precise timing of breeding is vital to increase survival chances of the young. Breeding is often triggered by stimuli such as day length, light energy, temperature, amount of food or stored body fat. if needs are not met, they won’t breed.

Question 22

population interactions and breeding success

Answer 22

in captivity, the mixing of breeding and non-breeding individuals may cause conflict and reduce the survival of eggs and chicks. some species breed more successfully if breeding adults are seperate from the other adults.

Question 23

breeding habitat

Answer 23

some species only breed if they have a suitable habitat such as one that includes a suitable site for courtship display, social grouping, an area for hunting, or a nest site.

Question 24

gene pool size

Answer 24

most captive breeding populations have small gene pools which increases the risk of inbreeding. harmful recessive genes may be common in the population but they can only be ‘expressed’ and cause undesirable characteristics in the offspring if both parents have it

Question 25

hybridisation

Answer 25

a species in the wild includes individuals that naturally interbreed to produce fertile offspring. in captivity, individuals may inter-breed closely related species or varieties that would not have naturally met in the wild.