F212 3 Maintaining Biodiversity Flashcards
Reasons to Maintain Biodiversity
Ecological
Organisms rely on other organisms in the food chain
Regulation of the atmosphere
Formation and fertilisation of soil
Crop pollination
Reasons to Maintain Biodiversity
Economic
Tourism and leisure Drugs Fuels - e.g. biomass Plants and Animals are sources of food Clothing
Reasons to Maintain Biodiversity
Ethical
All organisms have the right to survive
All organisms have the right to live in the way they have adapted to live
Loss of habitat and biodiversity prevents organisms from living in their natural habitat
Reasons to Maintain Biodiversity
Aesthetic
Natural beauty
Enjoyment
Important for our physical, intellectual and emotional health
In Situ Conservation
Definition
Attempting to minimise human impact on the natural environment and protecting it
Ex Situ Conservation
Definition
Conserving an endangered species through activities that take place outside its normal environment
Ex Situ Conservation
Seed Banks
Seeds are that are stored in very dry or freezing conditions in a seed bank remain viable for years
As the seed moisture decreases by 1% or temperature decreases by 5°C the life span of the seed doubles
Seeds are tested regularly for viability
Seeds can be used for habitat reclamation or repopulation
In Situ Conservation
Home
National Parks
Areas of Scientific Interest
Reserves
Repopulation
In Situ Conversation
Abroad
Reintroducing Natural Fauna
In Situ Conservation
Legislation
To stop hunting, logging and clearing land for agriculture
Country specific
Can be difficult to persuade countries to get involved
Hard to enforce
In Situ Conservation
Conservation Parks
Comprehensiveness - how many species are represented in the area and what are the prevailing environmental conditions
Adequacy - is the area large enough for the long term survival of all the species living in it
Representativeness - is there a full range of diversity within each species and set of environmental conditions
In Situ Conservation
Advantages
Plants and animals are conserved in their natural environment
Permanently protects biodiversity
Permanently protects natural and cultural heritage
Facilitates scientific interest
Can restore ecological integrity
In Situ Conservation
Disadvantages
Protected animals can come out of reserves to raid crops
Legislation is difficult to enforce
Can be hard to get the agreement of foreign governments
Ex Situ Conservation
Seed Banks - Advantages
Seeds are produced in large numbers so can be collected from the wild with minimal impact
Large numbers can be stored in a small space
Lots of individuals for research
The seeds are stored and germinated in proceed surroundings
Captive bread organisms can be reintroduced to the wild
Ex Situ Conservation
Seed Banks - Disadvantages
Any collection of wild seeds will cause some disturbance
Collected samples may not be representative of genetic diversity in the wild
Seeds stored may lose viability
Conclusions from research based on small samples may not be representative of he entire species
Ex Situ Conservation
Animals
Captive breeding
In vitro fertilisation, artificial insemination and embryo transfer techniques used with domestic and wild animals
Research in similar domestic species can speed up progress with wild animals
- endangered individuals are saved from experimentation until the final stages
Ex Situ Conservation
Captive Breeding - Difficulties
Very expensive
Failure to breed successfully
Limited space means limited number of individuals meaning limited genetic diversity
Animals have to survive reintroduction to the wild
Animals have to be accepted by wild members of the species
Reproductive physiology is species specific so each species has to be researched in depth
Ex Situ Conservation
Seed Banks and Botanic Gardens
Scientists at botanical gardens remove samples of seeds and germinate them periodically
They plant the seeds in Petri dishes of nutrient agar in controlled conditions
Germination rate and success is measured
Scientists are able to measure the condition of stored seeds
Research continues into physiology of seed dormancy and germination hopefully leading to better storage methods
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ( CITES )
Purpose
Prohibits commercial trade in wild plants
Permits trade in artificially propagated plants
Regulates and monitors trade of selected plant and animal species
Makes it illegal to trade in products from endangered species e.g. rhino horn
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ( CITES )
Definition
1973
An international agreement to ensure that international trade doesn’t threaten species
Rio Convention on Biodiversity
Purpose
Partners share genetic material
Partners share scientific knowledge and technologies
Partners must adopt ex-situ methods of conservation
Promoted the sustainable use of resources
Rio Convention on Biodiversity
Definition
1992
150 government leaders signed up to the agreement in Rio
Environmental Impact Assessment
Purpose
To find out if the construction of the development will damage or pollute the habitat
Check or threatened or endangered species on the site
Identifies ways the effect of he development could be minimised
Promotes the exchange of information between the public and the local authority
Environmental Impact Assessment
Definition
An assessment of the environmental impact of a development e.g. a shopping centre or power station
