6.6.3 conservation & preservation

Question 1

conservation

Answer 1

maintenance of biodiversity, including diversity between species, genetic diversity within species, & maintenance of variety of habitats/ecosystems

Question 2

preservation

Answer 2

maintenance of habitats for & ecosystems in present condition, minimising human impact

Question 3

what does conservation require

Answer 3

human intervention

Question 4

name 3 ways the increasing human population is threatening biodiversity

Answer 4

1. over-exploitation of wild populations for: food (eg. cod in north sea), sport (eg. sharks) & commerce (eg. pearls from mussels)
2. habitat disruption & fragmentation due to more intensive agriculture, increased pollution or widespread building
3. species introduced to ecosystem by humans which out-compete native species leading to extinction

Question 5

list some management strategies used for conservation

Answer 5

• raise carrying capacity by providing extra food
• move individuals to enlarge populations/encourage natural dispersion between fragmented habitats by developing dispersal corridors
• restrict dispersal of individuals by fencing
• control predators/poachers
• vaccinate from disease
• preserve habitats by preventing pollution/disruption or intervene to restrict progress of succession (eg. coppicing)

Question 6

why conserve? - ethics
pro v. con

Answer 6

pro
- essential
- every species has value
- humans have ethical responsibility

con
- subjective argument
- arguments for human activities which go against conservation (eg. burn fossil fuels) are objective & fuelled by economics

Question 7

economic/social reasons to conserve

Answer 7

• plant/animal species provide valuable food source
• genetic diversity in wild strains may be needed in future to breed for disease-resistance/improved yield in plants/animals & drought resistance in plants
• natural environments valuable source of beneficial organisms (eg. drugs)
• natural predators of pests can act as biological control agents which is preferable to causing pollution with artificial chemicals

Question 8

reasons to conserve - indirect economic value of species

Answer 8

• eg. insect species responsible for pollination & without this, harvests may fail meaning farmers would go out of business
• other communities important in maintaining water quality, protecting soil & breaking down waste products
• reduction in biodiversity may reduce climatic stability meaning future flooding/droughts & economic cost
• ecotourism & recreation provide social/financial value which depends on maintenance of biodiversity