AS Conservation

Question 1

Afforestation

Answer 1

Planting trees to increase the area of forest.

Question 2

Artificial insemination

Answer 2

A form of selective breeding where semen is collected from a chosen male to be inserted artificially into the chosen female to cause her to become pregnant. It also allows semen to be stored for later use or the transport of semen without having to bring the animals together.

Question 3

Biodiversity

Answer 3

A measure of the variety and abundance of wildlife species. A common quantitative method of measuring biodiversity is Simpson’s Diversity Index.

Question 4

Biological control

Answer 4

The control of pests using living organisms, usually predators or pathogens.

Question 5

Biological corridor

Answer 5

A habitat that links other habitats so that animals can move between them.

Question 6

Biomimetics

Answer 6

The study of living organisms so the knowledge gained can be applied to engineering or other technological developments.

Question 7

Captive breeding and release programmes (CBR)

Answer 7

A method of boosting wild populations by keeping a breeding population in captivity. Some of the offspring produced may be released to join the wild population.

Question 8

Centre of diversity

Answer 8

A geographical region with a high plant biodiversity, especially of the wild relatives of crop species.

Question 9

Cloning

Answer 9

An artificial form of asexual reproduction.

Question 10

Convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES)

Answer 10

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (of wild fauna and flora). CITES is an international agreement that controls the international trade in certain species of plants and animals and their products.

Question 11

Crop wild relatives (CWRs)

Answer 11

These are wild plant varieties or species that are closely related to domesticated crops. CWRs may contain genetic characteristics that can be used in crop breeding programmes.

Question 12

Cryopreservation

Answer 12

The storing of eggs, semen and embryos by freezing for future use.

Question 13

CSS

Answer 13

Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

Question 14

Culling

Answer 14

Reducing the population of a species by selective killing.

Question 15

Debt for nature swaps

Answer 15

These are agreements whereby an organisation agrees to pay part of a country’s debt in return for a commitment to a wildlife conservation programme.

Question 16

Deforestation

Answer 16

The action of removing trees, resulting in a reduction in forest area.

Question 17

Embryo transfer

Answer 17

The transfer of fertilised eggs or embryos from one female to another, such as from a rare species into a female of a closely related species that is more common. This enables more young to be produced than could be achieved through normal breeding. It is also used in livestock breeding.

Question 18

Endemic

Answer 18

An endemic species is indigenous (‘native’) to a particular area and is not naturally found elsewhere. (It is also used in disease epidemiology to mean a disease that is normally present).

Question 19

Eradication

Answer 19

The reduction of the population of a species by removal or culling.

Question 20

Evolutionary, distinct and globally endangered (EDGE) species

Answer 20

These are species that are threatened with extinction and have few relatives that are genetically similar. This genetic uniqueness means they should be a high priority for conservation.

Question 21

Exoskeleton

Answer 21

A skeleton on the outside of an organism, as found in insects and crustaceans.

Question 22

Ex-situ conservation

Answer 22

The conservation of a species in an area which is not its natural habitat.

Question 23

Flagship species

Answer 23

High-profile species that can be used to raise support for the conservation of their habitat and all the other species that live there.

Question 24

Hard release

Answer 24

The release of animals from captivity where they are not provided with post-release support such as food.

Question 25

In-situ conservation

Answer 25

The conservation of a species in its natural environment.

Question 26

International union for conservation of nature (IUCN)

Answer 26

This is an organisation of 1300 government and non-governmental organisations that provides information on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Meetings every four years drive their global agenda and have produced major agreements such as CITES and the Ramsar convention.

Question 27

International whaling commission (IWC)

Answer 27

The IWC is an international organisation which aims to ensure the sustainable exploitation of whales.

Question 28

Keystone species

Answer 28

A species that has much more important ecological functions within their ecosystem than their abundance might suggest. Such roles may include the control of the populations of other species, the provision of food or species that control structural habitat features, such as beavers creating dams.

Question 29

Peat bog

Answer 29

A wetland area with an accumulation of dead plant material, especially moss.

Question 30

Range of tolerance

Answer 30

The range of conditions within which a species can survive.

Question 31

Red list

Answer 31

The categorisation of species (by the IUCN) according to their vulnerability to extinction, eg, Extinct, Extinct in the wild, Critically endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near threatened, Least concern, Data-deficient

Question 32

Red list priority species

Answer 32

EDGE, Flagship, Endemic, Keystone

Question 33

Re-wilding

Answer 33

The process of creating habitats that are similar to the conditions present before the natural habitat was changed by human actions.

Question 34

Seed bank

Answer 34

A store of the seeds of wild plants or plants of particular importance to humans, eg CWRs.

Question 35

Soft release

Answer 35

The release of animals from captivity where they are provided with post-release support such as food.

Question 36

Vavilov centre

Answer 36

An area of the world, identified by the Russian zoologist Nikolai Vavilov, where crop plants were first domesticated and where wild varieties are still found.

Question 37

Vegetative propagation

Answer 37

Asexual reproduction in plants

Question 38

Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)

Answer 38

A UK law that provides protection for many wildlife species and designated protected areas such as SSSIs. Most birds and many mammals are protected.