3.4 Conservation of Biodiversity

Question 1

Threats to the kakapo

Answer 1

Habitat loss, introduced predators, infertility (low genetic diversity), natural disasters (small geographic range), disease.

Question 2

Predator Free 2050

Answer 2

A campaign being undertaken by New Zealand to rid itself of introduced predators by 2050

Question 3

Eradication

Answer 3

the complete and permanent elimination of all individuals of a particular species or disease from a specific area or globally.

Question 4

Supplementary feeding

Answer 4

Giving of extra food to wild populations when food resources are scarce
In situ, species-based conservation strategy

Question 5

Artificial incubation

Answer 5

carefully controlling the hatching environment of eggs removed from the wild or bred in captivity

Question 6

Artificial insemination

Answer 6

involves directly inserting sperm into a female’s reproductive tract to facilitate pregnancy without natural mating
Species-based conservation strategy

Question 7

Species brought back from the brink of extinction

Answer 7

California Condor
Bald Eagle
Giant Panda
American Bison
Southern White Rhinoceros

Question 8

Svalbard Seed Vault

Answer 8

a secure seed bank in Norway, designed to store duplicates of seeds from seed collections worldwide to ensure against the loss of genetic diversity in the event of global crises.

Question 9

Good things about zoos

Answer 9

• Conservation of endangered species
• Educational opportunities for visitors
• Breeding programs for rare species
• Protect species that are vulnerable in the wild

Question 10

“Bad” things about zoos

Answer 10

• Limited space for animals
• Artificial living environments
• Risk of disease transmission
• Ethical concerns over captivity
• Traditionally animals removed from wild populations.

Question 11

Species-based conservation

Answer 11

Conservation efforts focused on protecting specific species from extinction.

Question 12

Habitat-based conservation

Answer 12

Conservation strategy aimed at preserving and managing natural habitats to support the biodiversity within them.

Question 13

In situ vs ex situ conservation

Answer 13

In situ conservation protects species in their natural habitats, while ex situ conservation involves preserving species outside their natural environments, such as in zoos or botanical gardens.

Question 14

Flagship species

Answer 14

A species selected to act as an ambassador, icon, or symbol for a habitat, issue, or environmental cause.
Often, charismatic (cute) and recognizable. Examples include, pandas, orangutan, koala.

Question 15

Umbrella species

Answer 15

a species whose conservation provides protection to a wide range of other species that share its habitat

Question 16

National Parks

Answer 16

A natural area protected by the state (government) for the enjoyment of the general public or the preservation of wildlife.

Question 17

Advantages of National Park System

Answer 17

Conservation of biodiversity: Protects diverse ecosystems and wildlife.

Recreational opportunities: Offers public access for outdoor activities.

Economic benefits: Boosts local economies through tourism.

Question 18

Disadvantages of National Park System

Answer 18

Often skewed towards less economically valuable country (mountain ranges/deserts)

Overcrowding: Popular parks may suffer from high visitor impact.

Management of large area with limited staff can lead to less desirable outcomes (eg spread of invasive species)

Native peoples driven from traditional lands can disrupt ecological processes and maitenanc

Question 19

Advantages of achieving World Heritage status

Answer 19

International recognition: Elevates site’s cultural and natural significance.

Increased tourism: Boosts local economy through visitor spending.

Conservation funding: Attracts funds for preservation efforts.

Question 20

Disadvantages of achieving World Heritage status

Answer 20

Tourism pressure: Can lead to environmental and structural damage.

Local restrictions: May impose limitations on development and usage.

Question 21

UNESCO - World Heritage program

Answer 21

an initiative that seeks to identify, preserve, and promote cultural and natural heritage around the world deemed of outstanding value to humanity

Question 22

SLOSS (acronym)

Answer 22

The SLOSS debate (Single Large Or Several Small) concerns the effectiveness of conservation strategies, questioning whether a single large or several small reserves better preserve biodiversity.

Question 23

Edge effect

Answer 23

changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two or more habitats, often leading to increased biodiversity and ecological interactions but also potential for greater vulnerability among species.

Question 24

Ecotone

Answer 24

a transition area between two different ecological communities or biomes, where you often find a high degree of biodiversity and species from both adjacent areas.

Question 25

Nature corridor

Answer 25

a designated strip of natural habitat that connects wildlife populations, allowing for movement and genetic exchange between isolated groups.

Question 26

Buffer zone

Answer 26

an area designated around a protected region where restrictions are placed on activities to reduce the impact on the core protected area

Question 27

Conservation vs preservation

Answer 27

Conservation involves the sustainable use and management of natural resources to meet current and future human needs, while preservation seeks to protect natural resources from use and maintain them in their pristine state

Question 28

The United Nations

Answer 28

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries worldwide

Question 29

IGOs

Answer 29

An intergovernmental organization, composed of sovereign states , which is established by treaty or other agreement that acts as a charter creating the group.
(Eg. UNEP, IUCN, CBD, IPCC)

Question 30

NGOs

Answer 30

A non-governmental organization, which is a group, usually nonprofit, that operates independently of any government. Maintain a public profile, and operate through grants, donations and volunteers.

Question 31

GOs

Answer 31

A governmental organization (managed by the State), often funded by taxpayers.

Question 32

Ramsar

Answer 32

An international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, aiming to halt their degradation or loss.
(Ramsar is a city in Iran)

Question 33

CITES

Answer 33

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Question 34

Main differences between GOs and NGOs

Answer 34

Funding: GOs are government-funded; NGOs rely on private and public donations.

Autonomy: NGOs operate independently; GOs are state-controlled entities.

Scope of Influence: GOs have national authority; NGOs may have global focus.

Objectives: GOs have broader policy goals; NGOs are issue-specific.

Regulatory Power: GOs can enforce laws; NGOs advocate for policy changes.

Question 35

Examples of conservation NGOs

Answer 35

WWF, Greenpeace, Bush Heritage

Question 36

Conservation dependent species

Answer 36

those that require ongoing human intervention and management to prevent them from becoming endangered or extinct.

Question 37

Why “single large” is better than “several small” in conservation

Answer 37

Less edge effect: Minimizes interactions with human-altered environments.

Greater habitat continuity: Supports larger populations and wide-ranging species.

Lower management costs: One large area may be easier to manage.

Enhanced genetic diversity: Reduces the risk of inbreeding in isolated populations.

Question 38

Why “several small” is better than “single large” in conservation

Answer 38

Multiple habitats: Protects a greater variety of ecosystems and species.

Redundancy: Loss of one site doesn’t doom the species.

Mitigates risk: Spreads risk of disaster across multiple locations.