conservation Flashcards
name 7 reasons why conservation is important
- medicines
- future supply of resources
- physiological research
- genetic resources
- ecosystem services
- biological control
- biomimetics
why are medicines a reason why conservation is important
plants have valuable medicinal properties and can be used to make drugs to treat diseases and cancers
eg. tropical marine sponges can treat HIV and AIDS
-poppies - for codeine, morphine, painkillers
- yew tree - taxine
why are future supply of resources a reason why conservation is important
-plants that are known to be edible but yet still cultivated - potential food source
- animal species currently being hunted
- nature provides fibres, oils, timbers
eg. fibres like cotton, silk, paper
-biofuels - algae, corn, sugar
why is physiological research a reason why conservation is important
organisms being research and monitored can help aid the understanding of behaviour and properties of humans
eg. squid’s nerves are similar to ours but wider making them easier to study
- kangaroos give birth at the very early stage of development - helps to understand embryos and unborn babies
why is genetic resources a reason why conservation is important
use genetics from plants and animals to breed with other plants and animals for desirable characteristics
eg. sugar cane - sugarcane mosaic protected from wild sugarcane in Indonesia
what is ecosystem services
things that nature does that makes conditions more habitable
eg:
- soil maintenance
- seed dispersal
- interspecies relationships (remove 1 = impact all)
- habitat provision eg. coral
- atmospheric conditions eg. transpiration
- biogeochemical cycles (detritivores + decomposers)
- water cycles
- nutrient Cycles
why is biological control a reason why conservation is important
living organisms can control the number of pests eg. predators, herbivores, pathogens, parasites etc..
eg. ladybirds used to control of aphids on crops
why is biomimetics a reason for conservation
improved man-made systems that mimic biologically produced substances/ mechanisms
eg. the Gherkin building is based off the exoskeleton of a marine sponge
what does EDGE stand for
evolutionary distinct and globally endangered species
what does an edge species mean
they are a species that have few or no close relatives in the tree of Life, genetically unique
eg. elephants, pandas
what is a flagship species
a species that acts as an icon for a specific habitat, a famous well-known species that encourages funding and interest for ecosystem
eg. tigers, elephants, pandas
what is a keystone species
an organism that holds an ecosystem together - has a large impact on the ecosystem even in small numbers
eg. wolves, sea otters (+most top predators)
what is an endemic species
species only found in one geographical location
eg. koalas, kiwis
what is the IUCN
global database of threatened species
what does the IUCN do?
-coordinates global data on biodiversity
-increases the understanding of the importance of biodiversity
-deploys nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food, and sustainable developments
what are the categories for the IUCN list?
least concern, near threatened, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, extinct in wild
extinct
why would a species change its IUCN category
- mistake in initial categorizing
- the main threat is no longer present
- main threat increases or new threat develops
give an example of a species which changed its IUCN category
the white headed vulture - was vulnerable but now is critically endangered as population declined due to poisoning and persecution
name 6 Ways humans influence biodiversity
- Direct exploitation
- deliberate eradication
- introduced species
- habitat destruction
- change in biotic factors
- change in abiotic factors
what is direct exploitation and how does it influence biodiversity
directly taking +/ exploiting species for specific products:
eg.
- over exploiting food eg. cod, tuna, sharks etc..
- for fashion eg.
fur coats - leopards, tigers, fur seals etc..
leather bags and shoes - crocodiles + alligators
feathers - kingfishers, parrots
- for pets eg. parrots, lizards, snakes, tortoises, tropical fish etc..
- entertainment eg. zoos - marine life eg. orcas, dolphins
- for furniture or ornaments eg.
jewellery from shark teeth
tropical wood eg. mahogany
coral + seashells sold to tourists
- for traditional medicines eg. seahorses believed to treat infidelity, baldness etc..
what is deliberate eradication and how does it influence biodiversity
species are killed because they threaten the humans or interfere with human activity:
- animals that propose threats eg.
sharks, poisonous snakes etc.. - pathogens eg. malaria and mosquitoes
- predators of livestock eg. wolves, Puma, Lions etc.
- animals that eat crops eg. deer, rabbits
- agricultural pests eg. insects, fungi, birds
- forestry pests eg. deer, squirrels, beavers
what are introduced species and how does it influence biodiversity
introduced may cause indigenous species to die out:
eg.
- introduced competitors eg. the red and grey squirrel in the UK
- introduced predators eg. ground nesting birds on Oceanic Islands (eg. new zealand) threatened by cats, dogs, rats, pigs etc..
-introduced pathogens eg. tree pathogens brought to the UK eg. Dutch elm disease
- species that hybridize ( a species that is closely related to indigenous species can cross-breed producing fertile hybrids) - natural gene pool changed to unnatural, new added genes eg. red deer threatened by hybridization with sika deer
what is habitat destruction and how does it influence biodiversity
human activities that cause complete habitat destruction ( usually due to land use change)
eg. deforestation eg. st helena redwood=extinct
- ploughing of grassland
- Reservoir creation
- mineral extraction
- urban expansion
what is change in biotic factors and how does it influence biodiversity
the survival of species is affected by the change in presence or abundance of another species in the habitat
eg.
- pollinators - many species rely on pollination, without them they cannot reproduce eg. bees
- seed dispersal species - animals that disperse seeds (on which plants rely on) are vital and are going endangered eg. elephants, rhinos, hippos etc
- food chain impacts - foods by humans eg. overexploitation of turtle eggs = decline in Turtles - this increases their food species (prey) eg. jellyfish
what is change in abiotic factors and how does it influence biodiversity
human activities alter a habitat - not destroyed but altered/ changed to a point that is outside a species tolerance level
( most likely affects species with specialised habitat requirements eg. coral)
eg.
- water availability eg. draining areas of Wetlands effects nesting sites for water Birds, Turtles, lizards etc..
-oxygen levels - drops in levels = reduced survival of aerobic organisms ( could be reduced by discharge ing organic wastes (sewage))
- temperature
- pH (eg. pollutant gases) - denatures enzymes + harms tissue vulnerable to acid eg. fish eggs, gills ..
- water turbidity
- physical damage
how do CITES do conserve biodiversity
regulate the international trade of endangered species (+ their products)
^^ - doesn’t stop hunting but trade, makes hunting less appealing
what are the three appendixes of CITES
appendix 1 - list of most endangered species, species currently threatened with extinction,
trade only allowed with permit, some exceptions but mostly complete ban on trading
appendix 2 - list of species not currently threatened by Extinction but could be if trade is not controlled
not complete ban but constrictions eg. only trading certain types, sizes, amounts etc..
still need permit
appendix 3 - species not at risk of extinction but trade is unavailable in certain countries
eg. if species population in specific country is very small
special circumstances
what are some examples of species or products protected by CITES
group of mammals protected = primates + Whales + dolphins
products of elephants protected = tusks - ivory
group of invertebrates protected = coral
name a UK law protecting wildlife
wildlife and countryside act
what does the wildlife and countryside act include
legal protection: banning damaging activities eg.
- bans certain methods of killing or taking wild animals
- restrict introduction of certain animals and plants
- designation of protected areas eg. SSSIs, NNRs ..
name some examples of species protected by the wildlife and countryside act
badgers, native UK birds, birds of prey, bats etc..
name 3 types of protected areas in the UK
SSSIs
SPAs
SACs
NNRs
MNRs etc..
what do some management activities within a protected area in the UK include
-maintaining a plagioclimax eg. controlled burning, grazing, coppicing etc..
- removal of introduced species
- fencing off visitors
- restricting building development
- provision of food sources or nesting sites eg. planting trees
- activity restrictions eg. fishing, use of pesticides etc..
- activities in encouraged eg. planting vegetation, coppicing, providing food etc..
name some examples of wildlife benefiting from protected areas in the UK
- red squirrel
- great crested newt
- sand lizard
name a type of habitat benefiting from protected areas in the UK
wetlands
name an example of a protected area
lundy island (MNR, MPA)
what does IWC stand for
international whaling commission
what does the IWC aim for
aims to control (not ban) wailing to ensure sustainable exploitation
what is involved in the IWC
- total protection of some species
- setting limits on numbers allowed to be taken
- designated sanctuaries where no wailing can take place
- protection for mothers and calves
- carrying out research
what does CFP stand for
(EU) common Fisheries policy
what is the aim of CFP
to ensure sustainable harvesting of fish
what are some problems involved with CFP
- quotas set were inappropriate and it failed to prevent the killing of undesired fish
- if fish were undersized or the limit of number of fish allowed is crossed, fish would be discarded/ wasted
what does ITTO stand for
international tropical timber organisation
what is the aim of ITTO
for sustainable logging - tropical timber is sustainably sourced, controlled!
why is the legal protection of species somtimes limited
- financial cost
- can be hard to enforce ( especially in more remote areas)
- not in every country
what is ex situ conservation
conserving wildlife outside of their natural habitat
( captive breeding)
why are some species better in captive breeding than others
- species with a higher captive population are better - higher genetic diversity, larger gene pool allows for less inbreeding
- higher frequency of births - the population can be replaced quicker
- lighter/smaller species - require less resources eg. food, so are less expensive
- endangered species - in much more need for captive breeding 40
- reproduce rapidly - short pregnancies
- young maturity age
what are some problems with captive breeding
- inbreeding if captive population is too small eg. condors
- species may be too big or mobile to keep effectively in captivity eg. great white sharks, blue whales etc..
- diet may be difficult to provide eg. pandas, koalas
- maybe unable to recreate suitable abiotic conditions eg. giant squid, polar bears, tropical coral ( species in extreme environments)
- unable to house large groups that would have been in the wild eg. flamingos
-low breeding success rate eg. giant panda
name four ways to increase breeding success in ex situ conservation
- artificial insemination
- embryo transfer
- provision of suitable abiotic factors
- recreating population Dynamics and conditions for breeding
what is artificial insemination
sperm from male is taken and injected into female
- increases success rate + allows pregnancy with no contact from a male
what is embryo transfer
female is given hormones to stimulate egg release, sperm is taken + egg is fertilised,
embryo is implanted into a different female
^^ this allows a single female to have multiple offspring at only one time
how does provision of suitable abiotic factors increase breeding success in ex situ conservation
factors are manipulated to increase breeding success rate eg. temperature, light, salinity etc..
name some examples of recreating population Dynamics and conditions for increasing breeding success
- creating the right male to female ratio
- managed so there is no inbreeding
- features eg. nesting sites
- may require to be kept in large groups with greater space to be able to breed eg. flamingos
name 5 problems with releasing captive bred organisms into the Wild and their Solutions
P - possible association with humans ( positive = may go up to the Hunters)
S - dress up as animals/ use puppets
P- may not be immune to local diseases
S- vaccinate them
P- loss of habitat/ original threat may still exist
S- release into protected areas
P- unsuitable age/ sex ratio
S -only release suitable ones/ ratio
P- low genetic diversity
S - avoid inbreeding in captivity +/ release in large numbers (higher pop. = greater diversity)
P - lack of Survival Skills eg. hunting + avoiding predators
S- train them
P- lack of social skills
S - release in groups
what is a soft release programme?
providing support once released eg. food, monitoring, health checks etc..
- may also be initially released into a fenced off area
what is a hard release programme
no support - released into the Wild and left
name five type of protected habitats
MNR
SSSI
NNR
LNR
MCZ
MPA
ramsar
SPA
SAC
natura 2000 site
what is MNR and give an example
marine nature reserve
Isle of Man
what is SSSI and give an example
site of specific scientific interest
national parks
what is NNR and give an example
national nature reserves
Yellowstone
what is LNR and give an example
local nature reserves
Wildlife Trust
what is MCZ and give an example
protected areas of Coast protecting the life within
-UK waters
what is MPA and give an example
to protect marine habitats
Galapagos marine reserve
what is ramsar and give an example
identifies areas of wetland of international importance
Abberton Reservoir
what is SPA and give an example
to protect vulnerable bird species
Ashdown Forest
what is SAC and give an example
conservation of natural habitats
Asby complex
what is natura 2000 site and give an example
ensures long-term survival of most vulnerable habitats and species
thymen
name seven parts of habitat management ( design of habitat)
-habitat area
- biological corridors
- habitat shape
- habitat diversity
- light levels
- water depth
- vegetation age structure
what is meant by habitat area for habitat management
the size of the habitats:
- must be large enough to support a viable population - large enough for no inbreeding/ big enough gene pool
- organisms higher up the food chain often have lower population densities eg. tigers, and so would need a much larger area than other species for a viable population
some species require other species for Inter species services eg. monkeys eat fruit off trees, and so require enough variety and number of trees provided for them
larger = more breeding sites + resources
some species eg. frogs, newts, benefit from smaller habitats where it is too small to support predatory organisms eg. fish that eat eggs and tadpoles
what is habitat fragmentation
splitting habitat into smaller sections:
- limits resources and food supplies
- fewer available mates - smaller gene pool, increased inbreeding
what is meant by biological corridors for habitat management
isolated areas of the same habitat allowing the dispersal of young animals if there is a local breeding surplus + mixing populations and gene pools
greater access to breeding sites
decreased risk of inbreeding
what is meant by habitat shape for habitat management
the perimeter of habitat may have a strip weather conditions overlap/ combine
^ some species may benefit from this
-for example a long thin oval habitat would have an increased Edge effect vs a broad round habitat
- this would mean eg. more wind penetration, reduced shade, invasive species/ predators/ poachers + an increased risk of fragmentation
( harder to protect)
what is meant by habitat diversity for habitat management
natural habitats = lots of variety in habitat conditions
- this increases biodiversity as different species colonise the areas best suited/ adapted for them
what is meant by light levels for habitat management
shading of trees affects plant growth on the floor beneath them
by selecting individual trees ( selective felling), you can create suitable conditions for the smaller plants that need more light
- a range in light levels allow for more biodiversity
what is meant by water depth for habitat management
most aquatic plants and animals colonise areas of specific water depth
as water depth increases, the plant community changes as root anchorage + nutrient absorption from sediment becomes more difficult
- a range in water depths allow for more biodiversity
what is meant by vegetation age structure for habitat management
natural Woodlands have trees of all ages
^ old trees die and create a clearing for new trees
- unnatural Woodlands with only new trees would have few clearings, low ground light levels = little biodiversity
- by selective felling and leaving the dead trees, a natural woodland can be replicated
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