3.3 Biodiversity Flashcards
what is biodiversity
the variety in the vast array of life on Earth
what is the cause of variation within a species
the variety of alleles found in the gene pool
the bigger the gene pool, the more genetically diverse the species is
give five economic reasons for conserving biodiversity
purification of air and water waste decomposition stabilising atmosphere and world climate provides genetic diversity nutrient recycling
give five ethical reasons for conserving biodiversity
spiritual enrichment cognitive development reflection recreation aesthetic experiences
what are the 3 main roles that zoos have in conservation of biodiversity
- education in illegal animal trade
- scientific research in control of disease, behaviour and breeding techniques
- captive breeding programmes to reduce extinction and maintain genetic diversity
how do zoos overcome inbreeding
- not allowing organisms to repeatedly breed with same partner
- selecting the partners via IVF or inter zoo swapping
- keeping mating records
give ethical concerns of keeping animals in zoos
animals behave unnaturally
used to pull in crowds
poor or unsuitable conditions
exhibition may reduce wild populations
how do seed banks operate
- seeds collected from number of different plants
- seeds are x-rayed to check for fully formed embryos and ensures only viable seeds are collected
- seeds are dried to remove water - increases storage time
- seeds stored in the cold which increases storage time
- some seeds are periodically germinated to check viability
give advantages of storing seeds
less space required so more species can be held
small sample is collected so will not affect population
easy to store because they are dormant
cost-effective
what is in-situ conservation
conservation of natural habitats and ecosystems
give a method of in situ conservation
establishments of natural reserves eg wildlife parks
what things can damage habitats
providing housing for people
providing food for people
providing energy and transport
