Conservation of Biodiversity Flashcards
What are ecosystem services? Give an example. Why are they a reason to conserve biodiversity?
When a species influences the conditions on earth in a way beneficial to us.
Examples:
- Photosynthesis and respiration change atmospheric conditions
- Evapotranspiration in Hydrological cycle
- Most biogeochemical cycles
- Pollination
- Seed dispersal
We would lose all these benefits if not conserved
Why do crops often have lower genetic diversity? Why is this a problem?
They are produced from a small number of original ancestors.
Low diversity can lead to disease and environmental change susceptibility plus greater risk of inbreeding
What is a genepool?
The total number of different genes present in a species’ population
What are vavilov centres?
Areas with high amounts of Crop Wild Relatives (CWRs) such as the middle east and central america
What is a desirable CWR trait. Give an example
- Disease resistance (wild sugar cane immune to mosaic virus)
- Salt Tolerance (sea kale not affected by salt like normal kale)
- Drought resistance (Amazonian plants bred with cocoa)
- Higher yield (wild oil palms have higher yield)
- Improved taste (pineapple)
- Nutrient uptake (wild wheat forms symbiosis with fungi more easily)
What is a CWR? (meaning + definition) and why is it a reason to conserve biodiversity?
A Crop Wild Relative, a closely related or identical species to a domestic crop that has not been domesticated
Because we may not have gotten all we can from the CWRs
What is an introduced species? Why may we introduce them?
A non-native animal introduced to a foreign environment
- Pest control
- Accidentally
- Indirectly through habitat change
How can we use animals for Physiological research?
- Kangaroo babies in pouches can be used to study development
- Marine sponges cannot reject grafts
- Bat and Dolphin echolocation could inspire ultrasound tech
- Squids have large nerves that can be studied
What is physiological research?
Studying the adaptations of natural species to better understand and counter human health problems
What kind of chemical is produced by some plants can be used in medicine.
Give an example of a plant.
Alkaloids
- Poppies produce painkillers
- Cinchona trees protect from malaria
- Willow bark makes aspirin
- Taxol from Yew trees can treat some cancers
- Mexican yams produce anti-inflammatory chemicals
- Tropical sponges treat AIDS
Give an example of Biomimicry in material design (only one)
The strong and flexible silk of spiders can inspire airbags and body armour
Give an example of Biomimicry for adhesion
- Gecko pads make glue-less adhesion
- Hooked plant seeds helped make Velcro
- Hydrophobic lotus flowers inspire self cleaning glass
Give an example of Biomimicry in Architecture
- Termite mounds are designed with air cycling updrafts can be used to make ventilation
- Light and strong bird bones inspired lightweight construction materials
Give an example of biomimicry in infection control
Shark skin repels bacteria, mimicking the texture for a coating makes for a good anti-bacterial surface
What is biomimetics, why is it a reason to conserve biodiversity?
Using knowledge of plant or animal adaptations to improve design of manufactured items.
We may not yet have gleaned everything we can from animals and plants
Why is ‘New Food Species’ a reason to conserve biodiversity?
Indigenous species are usually better adapted to their local conditions, and can then be selectively bred into domestication
Name 2 reasons to conserve biodiversity
- Resources
- New food species
- Biomimetics
- Medicines
- Physiological research
- Pest control species
- Genetic resources
- Ecosystem services
