ENVS 1.2 - Wildlife Conservation (Key Words)

Question 1

Biomimetics

Answer 1

The study of living organisms so the knowledge gained can be applied to engineering or technological developments.

Question 2

Teratology

Answer 2

The study of the causes of birth defects.

Question 3

Indigenous Species

Answer 3

Species that are native to the area.

Question 4

Gene Pool

Answer 4

The total variety of different genes in all the members of a population.

Question 5

Vavilov Centre

Answer 5

An area of the world, incentivised by the Russian zoologist Nikolai Vavilov, where crop plants were first domesticated and where wild varieties are still found.

Question 6

CITES

Answer 6

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (of wild fauna and flora).

Question 7

Niche

Answer 7

The niche of a species is the role it plays in its habitat, which includes how it makes use of resources and responds to the other species of its habitat.

Question 8

Endemic

Answer 8

An endemic species is indigenous to a particular area and is not naturally found elsewhere. (The word is also used in disease epidemiology to mean a disease which is normally present.

Question 9

Wildlife and Countryside Act

Answer 9

A UK Act of Parliament that provides protection to many wildlife species and designated protected areas.

Question 10

SSSIs

Answer 10

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Question 11

NNRs

Answer 11

National Nature Reserve

Question 12

SPAs

Answer 12

Special Protection Areas

Question 13

SACs

Answer 13

Special Areas of Conservation

Question 14

MNRs

Answer 14

Marine Nature Reserves

Question 15

Ramsar Site

Answer 15

A wetland site designated to protect its biodiversity.

Question 16

International Whaling Commission

Answer 16

The IWC is an international organisation that aims to ensure the sustainable exploitation of whales.

Question 17

EU Common Fisheries Policy

Answer 17

The European Union agreement to manage fishing and aquaculture. It attempts to balance the needs of the Member States and their fishing industries with sustainable exploitation of the environment.

Question 18

Cryopreservation

Answer 18

The preservation of materials by freezing, such as the freezing of semen for artificial insemination.

Question 19

Artificial Insemination

Answer 19

A form of selective breeding where semen is collected from a chosen male and is inverted into the chosen female to cause her to become pregnant.

Question 20

Embryo Transfer

Answer 20

The transfer of fertilised eggs or embryos from a female of a rare species, into females of closely related, more common species. This enables more young to be produced than could be achieved through normal breeding. It is also used in livestock breeding.

Question 21

Micro-propagation

Answer 21

A tissue culture method where large numbers of plants can be produced from a tissue sample from an original plant, without the need for seeds. The young plants may be raised on agar under sterile conditions.

Question 22

RSPB

Answer 22

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Question 23

ESS - Environmental Stewardship Scheme

Answer 23

An agri-environmental scheme where farmers receive payments for farm management practices that benefit wildlife and the environment. Higher payments are available for organic farms.