Global Ecosystems- Serengeti

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

Savanna grassland ecosystem covering 30000km2 in Tanzania and SW Kenya
Animals- wildebeest,zebra,buffalo.lions,leopards, cheetahs

Question 2

4 main threats

Answer 2

Hunting and poaching-
1970-80 poaching for ivory+rhino horns= black rhino pop drop to 2

Increasing population-
Land use conflicts, areas used for farming etc, increased hunting with population

Fire-
Uncontrolled fires damage trees and damage grass roots so it can’t grow back

Invasive Species-
Mexican poppy out-competes native plants and crops making areas unsuitable for farming
1994 canine distemper virus killed 1/3 Serengeti lions

Question 3

Management

Answer 3

Monitoring through aerial wildlife surveys
Legislation protection of species
Disease monitoring and vaccination programmes
Controlled burning of built up dry grass
Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) created

Question 4

Success of management strategies

Answer 4

WMA- provide locals with food source and income from legally traded animal products
Poaching decline and pop of animals increasing
1996 outbreak of rinderpest stopped entering park due to vaccination

Question 5

Threats that remain

Answer 5

Human pop increase causes more building near park each year- land conflicts
Outside WMAs poaching kills 40000 Serengeti animals each year
Negative tourism- construction has environmental impact, vehicles cause air+noise pollution, can disturb and distress animals