Chapter 2-Conservation Of Biodiversity Flashcards
What are biomimetics?
Involves theknowledge of the adaptions of other species, to improve the designs of manufactured items
What are some examples of Biomimetics for vehicle designs?
- Splayed wingtips and feathers: reduces wind turbulence and drag: increases fuel efficiency
- Shark scales: reduces friction while swimming: aircrafts & ship surfaces: reduces fuel consumption
What are some examples of Biomimetics for infection control?
Shark skin: bacteria skin doesn’t stick easily: hospitals & operating theaters
What are some examples of Biomimetics for architecture?
Bird wing bones: light& strong: used in lightweight bridges & roofs
Mounds termites create: hot air rises/ creates a convection current: used in office blocks: natural ventilation
What are some examples of Biomimetics for materials?
Silk by spiders: car airbags & body armor
What are some examples of Biomimetics for adhesion?
Gecko toes: have adhesion pads: attempts to copy so that glue is not needed
Plant seeds: burrs & hooks: copied in Velcro
What is physiological research?
Animal species maybe more useful than humans for this research
Eg. marine sponge: proteins that prevent the rejection of grafts for the rejection of human organs
Eg. Hippopotamus skin: secretes a natural SPF: studied to help burn victims
What are CWRs?
- crop wild relative species
- new genes to improve crop genetic characteristics may be found in the wild relatives of the cultivated crops
Characteristics introduced by CWRs:
- Disease resistance
- salt tolerance (can grow in saline soil)
- resistance to drought
- high yield
- improved taste
- Increased nutrient uptake
What are Gene-Pools?
Total number of different genes present in all individuals in a population in a particular species
How is atmospheric composition regulated
Regulated by abiotic and biotic factors that work to cancel each other out which creates a dynamic equilibrium
What is direct exploitation & what are the factors?
-How the population of species has been reduced by over-exploitation for resources or deliberate eradication
Food: turtles, cod, swordfish, tuna, sharks- extinct due to this: dodo,great auk
Fashion: animal skins: fur coats (leopard, fur seals (almost extinct in 1900s))
Furniture: timber from tropical rainforests &black piano keys (tropical ebony wood) white (elephant ivory)
Pets& entertainment: zoos & marine life centers (sea world)
What are some examples of traditional medicine exploiting resources?
- Tiger skin: cure for a range of diseases & dung for alcoholism
- Rhinos: horns for small pox & nosebleeds
- seahorses: treat infertility& baldness
