Conservation of biodiversity Flashcards
What is global biodiversity?
The variety and abundance of life on Earth
What resources are collected from plants and animals?
Wood, fibres, oil, fuels and food
What is wood used for?
Manufacture of buildings, tools and furniture
What are fibres used for?
Cotton, wool, paper, silk and rayon
What are oils used for?
Vegetable and animal oils are used in food, lubricants and soaps
What are some fuel examples?
Wood, charcoal, alcohol and vegetable oils
What are some examples of exploited food?
Plants, animals, algae and fungi
How does the Yeheb Tree from Somalia have the potential for commercial cultivation?
Produces edible nuts, is drought-resistant and can grow in poor soils
How does the spinach family have the potential for commercial cultivation?
May species can grow in high salt content soil, they may be used in crop breeding programmes to increase the salt tolerance of crops grown in areas where irrigation has caused soil salinisation
What is biomimetics?
The use of knowledge of the adaptations of other species, to improve the designs of manufactured items
What’s an example of soaring birds in biomimetics?
Splayed wingtip feathers of soaring birds reduce wind turbulence and drag, copying this feather structure has improved aircraft wing designs to help increase fuel efficiency
What’s an example of humpback whale flippers in biomimetics?
Have tubercles (bumps) on their flippers that channel water flow, including hydrodynamic efficiency and allowing them to turn in tight circles when swimming around shoals of fish, this is applied to ships
What’s an example of shark skin scales in biomimetics?
Scales reduce friction whilst swimming, the ridges have been copied in new designs for aircraft and ship surface coating to reduce fuel consumption
What’s an example of infection control in biomimetics?
Shark skin has scales that bacteria do not stick to easily, a coating material that imitates this is used in hospital operating theatres to help control bacterial infections
What’s an example of architecture in biomimetics?
Termite-constructed mounds above ground absorb sunlight and become hot, the hot air inside rises creating a convection current, this draws the stale air out of the mound, creating a natural solar driven ventilation system
What’s an example of high adhesion in biomimetics?
Toes of gecko lizards have pads that provide strong adhesion, there are attempts to copy this to eliminate glue
Seeds of some plants have burrs with hooks that attach to the fur of animals to aid seed dispersal, this was copied in velcro
What’s an example of low adhesion in biomimetics?
Lotus flowers have water-repelling properties, this has been copied to produce self-cleaning glass
What’s an example of material in biomimetics?
The lightweight, flexible, strong silk produced by spiders is being copied to produce better car airbags and body armour
What does biodiversity provide us with?
Resources, new food species, biomimetics, medicines, physiological research, pest control species, genetic resources, ecosystem services
How do plants protect themselves from herbivores?
Thorns, spikes, bad tastes and toxic chemicals
What is an alkaloid?
Nitrogenous organic compounds of plant origin which have pronounced physiological actions on humans
How do plants provide medicine to humans?
Alkaloid with beneficial medical effects
How has the guggul tree been used for medicine?
Contains a substance that may help to fight heart disease
How has the bark and needles from yew trees been used in medicine?
Create the cancer drug taxol
Where does morphine come from?
Opium poppy
How do marsupials aid physiological research?
They give birth at very early stages of development and allow the offspring to develop further in their pouch, which is easier to analyse than a baby of the same age in the womb
What is hipposudoric acid?
Secreted by hippopotamus skin, it’s a natural sunscreen and antimicrobial agent
How can wildlife species be used to help agricultural pests?
Ladybirds can be brought into greenhouses or farms to control aphids
What can be used to control populations?
Herbivores, pests and pathogens
How was the rabbit population in Australia controlled?
Introduction of myxomatosis (viral disease)
Why do crops lack genetic diversity?
They have been produced from a limited number of original crops
What are CWR species?
Crop Wild Relative species are wild plants of the same species or close relatives that can be bred with domesticated crops to increase genetic diversity
How has sugar cane been protected from mosaic virus?
Crossbreeding with wild sugar cane variety from Indonesia to protect it
How do CWR species help domesticated crops?
Increase genetic diversity, become disease resistant, increase salt-tolerance, resistance to drought, high yield, nutrient uptake and improved taste or appearance
How has CWR been used for increase yield?
Oil palm yields have been increased by 25% by crossbreeding with wild varieties found in central Africa
How has CWR been used for increasing nutrient uptake?
Breeding programmes with wild wheat are increasing nutrient uptake efficiency by forming better associations between the wheat plants and mycorrhizal fungi
Where are the highest concentrations of close relative crop species and who discovered this?
In parts of the world where environmental degradation threatens the survival of the remaining wild species and Nikolai Vavilov
What is a gene-pool?
Total number of different genes present in all individuals in a population of a particular species
Why do genes specific to a certain geographical region exist?
The need to be adapted to the specific, local conditions of each region
How is the Amelanistic zebra affected by gene pool size?
The inability to produce genetic pigments (a recessive allele), so inbred populations are more likely to produce the homozygous recessive gene and so show the condition
What is the importance of conserving biodiversity?
Ethics and morals, education, resources, biomimetics, medicines, physiological research, wildlife species as pest control agents and genetic resources
What are the ecosystem services that organisms contribute to?
Atmospheric composition, hydrological cycle, biogeochemical cycles, soil maintenance, inter species relationships, food, pollination, seed dispersal and habitat provision
What are some examples of inter-species relationships?
Food, pollination, seed dispersal and habitat provision
What’s special about Darwin’s orchid?
Its nectar is at the end of a 30cm long tube and the only insect with a long enough tongue is the sphinx moth, which acts as the pollinator
What’s the benefit of seed dispersal by animals over wind?
Not haphazard and the seeds can be carried longer distances, the animals will likely live in the same habitat as the plant so the seed will be in the right environment
How do trees allow habitat provision?
Allow nesting sites for birds and provide the abiotic conditions under the canopy (light, humidity, wind and temp)
What have humans exploited species for?
Meat, skin, bones, oils, feathers, teeth, fur etc
For use in: food, fashion, furniture and ornaments, traditional medicines, pets and entertainment, other products and eradication of competitors and predators
What is an example of food exploitation?
Cod in the Atlantic, sharks for shark fin soup
What is an example of fashion exploitation?
Tigers, leopards, ocelot, jaguars and other cats were killed for their coats, crocodile skin bags, feathers form peacocks
What is an example of pets and entertainment exploitation?
Hunting wildlife for sport, monkeys and apes for photos at tourists sites, yellow-headed parrot is a popular pet, shooting migrating wild birds, marine life centres, zoos
What is an example of furniture and ornamental exploitation?
Teak, ramin and mahogany wood has been exploited for desirable properties, ivory from elephant tusks and stuffed animals, jewellery with shark teeth and turtle shells, coral collection for tourism
What is an example of traditional medicine exploitation?
Tiger bones, rhinoceros horn and bear bile are traditional Chinese medicines
What is an example of other products use in exploitation?
Hunting whales for oil (lamp oil, candles, soap, lubricating oil, cosmetics and perfume