BLGY2155 - Population, community and conservation ecology Flashcards
What is the Living Planet Index (LPI)?
- Monitors biodiversity change over time
- organised by WWF/ZSL
Why does LPI only include certain species?
No insects or plants observed and only a small percentage of some species - tracks species which are easiest to track
What does LPI track?
Tracks: 21,000 populations, 4,000 species of fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. 15% of bird species, 12% of mammals, 5% of fish, 4% of amphibians, 2% of reptiles
What does LPI show?
A global decrease of biodiversity of 68% from 1970 to 2016
- might not accurately reflect populations due to difference in scale or sample sizes
what is important in sampling and reporting LPI?
- increasing sample size
- consider: newly discovered species aren’t covered in population monitored - rare species are more likely to go extinct but less likely to be samples
what is population ecology?
Look at trends in populations and establish why they are changing. Enables us to predict the effect management strategies would have.
what are the reasons for studying populations?
conservation
pest control
sustainable harvesting of natural resources
how does studying populations help with conservation
- Some species are naturally rare and some become rare by decreasing in population.
- Maintaining or increasing numbers requires an understanding of what controls abundance
how does studying populations help with pest control
- Pests may spread disease or predate on wildlife even when not abundant.
- Some species only become a problem in very high numbers.
how does studying populations help with sustainable harvesting of resources
- Sustainable harvesting of resources - removes individuals as quickly as the target population can bare (sustainable fisheries and forestry)
- How can we work out the maximum sustainable rate?
