4.1.2 h and i methods of maintaining biodiversity Flashcards
define conservation
preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources
what are the two categories of conservation?
in situ conservation
ex situ conservation
what is in situ conservation?
within the natural habitat
what is ex situ conservation?
out of the natural habitat
what is an extinct species?
no organisms of the species exist anywhere in the world
what is an extinct in the wild species?
organisms of the species only exist in captivity
what is an endangered species?
a species in danger of extinction
what is a vulnerable species?
a species that is considered likely to become endangered in the future
define sustainable development
economic development that meets the needs of people today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs
what does in situ conservation maintain?
genetic diversity of a species and the evolutionary adaptations that enable a species to adapt continuously to changing environmental conditions
what are environmental areas that have been specifically designated for conservation of wildlife?
marine, aquatic and terrestrial nature reserves
what are active management techniques for wildlife reserves?
controlled grazing
restricting human access
controlling poaching
feeding animals
reintroduction of species
culling or removal of invasive species
halting succession
what is succession?
a natural process where early colonising species are replaced over time until a stable mature population is achieved
why is controlled grazing needed in wildlife reserves?
to allow species to recover or to keep a controlled number of animals in a habitat to maintain it
why must human access be restricted in wildlife reserves?
to prevent plants being trampled or animals from being scared
how is poaching controlled?
by creating defences to prevent access, issuing fines or removal of rhino horns
why must in the animals be fed in wildlife reserves?
to ensure more organisms live to reproducing age
what does reintroduction of species mean?
adding species to areas that have become locally extinct or whose numbers have decreased significantly
what is an invasive species?
an organism that is not native to an area and has negative effects on the economy, the environment or health
they compete with native species for resources
what do marine reserves preserve?
species-rich areas which are being devastated by non-sustainable fishing methods
what are the ex-situ conservation methods?
botanic gardens
seed banks
captive-breeding programmes eg zoos, aquariums
what occurs in botanic gardens?
plant species are grown with soil nutrients, sufficient watering and the removal and prevention of pests
what is a seed bank?
an example of a gene bank
seeds are carefully stored so that new plants can grow in the future
they are dried and stored at -20 degrees to maintain their viability by slowing down the rate at which they lose the ability to germinate
how long will the seeds in a seed bank remain viable?
centuries
what plants do seed banks not work for?
most tropical banks
what do captive-breeding programmes produce?
offspring of species in a human-controlled environment
what are captive-breeding programmes run by?
zoos and aquariums
what do scientists working in captive-breeding programmes hope to do?
create a stable, healthy population of a species and then gradually reintroduce it into it’s natural habitat
what do captive-breeding programmes provide animals with?
shelter, abundant supply of nutritious food, absence of predators, veterinary treatment
how is genetic diversity maintain in captive-breeding programmes?
an international catalogue with genealogical data on individuals so mating can be arranged where genetic diversity is maximised
what are the mating techniques for captive-breeding programmes?
artificial insemniation
embryo transfer
long-term cryogenic storage of embryos
why would some organisms born in captive-breeding programmes not be suitable for release?
may be a loss of resistance to disease or new diseases in the wild that they aren’t resistant to
they don’t have certain survival behaviours like not being able to search for food
genetic make-up may be too different to wild species so they can’t interbreed
there isn’t enough natural habitat for them to survive
what do the international union for the conservation of nature do?
publish a red list detailing the current conservation status of all threatened animals so countries can work together to conserve these species
what does the treaty of the convention on international trade in endangered species do?
CITES regulates the international trade of wild plants and animal specimens and their products
safeguards certain species from over-exploitation
more than 35000 species of animals and plants protected by this treaty
what happened at the Rio Convention?
1992
historic meeting of 172 countries
convention on biological diversity requiring countries to develop national strategies for sustainable development to ensure the maintaining of biodiversity
what is the countryside stewardship scheme?
operated from 1991-2014
offered governmental payments to farmers and other land managers to enhance and conserve the English landscape
specific aims included:
sustaining the beauty and diversity of the landscape
improving, extending and creating wildlife habitats
restoring neglected land
improving opportunities for countryside enjoyment
