Conservation and biodiversity Flashcards
What does IN SITU conservation mean?
IN SITU conservation means ON SITE conservation - it involves protecting species in their NATURAL HABITAT.
Why is conservation important to maintain?
Conservation is important to ENSURE THE SURVIVAL of ENDANGERED SPECIES - species which are at risk of EXTINCTION because of a LOW population, or a THREATENED HABITAT.
Methods of IN SITU conservation include:
> Establashing protected areas
Establishing PROTECTED AREAS such as NATIONAL PARKS and WILDLIFE RESERVES (also known as nature reserves) - habitats and species are protected in these areas by RESTRICTING URBAN DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT and FARMING.
A similar idea has been introduced to SEA ecosystems with MARINE CONSERVATION ZONES, where human activities (like fishing) are controlled.
Methods of IN SITU conservation include:
> Controlling or Preventing the introduction of species.
Controlling or Preventing the introduction of species that THREATEN local biodiversity. For example, grey squirrels are not native to Britain. They compete with the native red squirrel and have caused a population DECLINE. so they’re controlled in some areas.
Methods of IN SITU conservation include:
> Protecting habitats
Protecting habitats - e.g. controlling water level to conserve wetlands and coppicing (trimming trees) to conserve woodlands. This allows organisms to CONTINUE LIVING in their NATURAL HABITAT.
Methods of IN SITU conservation include:
> PROMOTING particular species
This could be by protecting FOOD SOURCES or NESTING SITES.
Methods of IN SITU conservation include:
> Protection through governmental law
Giving LEGAL PROTECTION to ENDANGERED SPECIES, e.g. making it illegal to kill them.
Advantages of in situ conservation.
One advantage of in situ conservation is often that both the SPECIES and their HABITAT are conserved.
> larger populations can be protected and its LESS DISRUPTIVE than removing organisms from their habitats
> The chances of the populations RECOVERING are GREATER than with EX SITU METHODS.
Disadvantage of Ex situ conservation
It can be difficult to control some factors that THREATENING a species.(E.G. such as poaching , predators, disease or climate change)
What is the definition of Ex Situ?
EX Situ conservation means OFF SITE conservation - it involves protecting a species by REMOVING part of the population from a THREATENED HABITAT and placing it in a NEW LOCATION.
Ex-situ conservation is often a LAST RESORT.
Methods of Ex Situ conservation include:
> Relocation, explain?
RELOCATING an organism to a SAFER AREA, e.g. five white rhinos were recently relocated from the Congo to Kenya because they were in danger from POACHERS who kill them for their IVORY.
Ex-situ conservation is often a LAST RESORT.
Methods of Ex Situ conservation include:
> Breeding , explain?
Breeding organisms in CAPTIVITY then REINTRODUCTING them into the wild when they are strong enough, e.g. sea eagles have been reintroduced into Britain through a captive breeding programme. Breeding is carried out in ANIMAL SANCTURIES and ZOOS.
Ex-situ conservation is often a LAST RESORT.
Methods of Ex Situ conservation include:
> Setting up Botanic gardens, explain?
BOTANIC GARDENS are controlled environments used to grow a variety of RARE plants for the PURPOSE of CONSERVATION, Research, Display and Education. Endangered plant species, as well as species that are extinct in the wild, can be grown and reintroduced into suitable habitats.
Ex-situ conservation is often a LAST RESORT.
Methods of Ex Situ conservation include:
> Seed banks, explain?
Seeds can be frozen and stored in seed banks for over a century, without losing their FERTILITY.
Seed banks provide a useful source of seeds if NATURAL RESERVES are DESTROYED, for example by DISEASE or other NATURAL disasters.
International cooperation is important in ….
Species conservation
