Glossary

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 an 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 identified 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 flora and fauna)

Question 7

Niche

Answer 7

The niche of species is the role it plays in t’s habitat which includes how it makes use of the resources and responds to other species in its habitat

Question 8

Endemic

Answer 8

An endemic species is indigenous to a particular area and is not naturally found elsewhere

Question 9

Wildlife and countryside act

Answer 9

A UK act of parliament that provides protection for many wildlife species and designated protected areas

Question 10

SSSI

Answer 10

Site of special scientific interest

Question 11

NNR

Answer 11

National nature reserve

Question 12

SPA

Answer 12

Special protection area

Question 13

SAC

Answer 13

Special area of conservation

Question 14

MNR

Answer 14

Marine nature reserve

Question 15

Ramsar site

Answer 15

A wetland site designated to protect it’s biodiversity

Question 16

International whaling commission

Answer 16

IWC

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

Inbreeding

Answer 18

Describes breeding between closely related individuals

Inbreeding increases the risk of recessive genes producing offspring with disadvantageous characterstics

Question 19

Cryopreservation

Answer 19

The preservation of material by freezing

Eg. the freezing of semen for artificial insemination

Question 20

Artificial insemination

Answer 20

A form of selective breeding where semen is collected from a chosen male and is inserted artificially into the chosen female to cause a pregnancy

Question 21

Embryo transfer

Answer 21

The transfer of fertilised eggs or embryos from a female of a rare species into females of a closely related more common species to enable more young to be produced than could be achieved naturally.
Also used in livestock breeding

Question 22

Micro-propagation

Answer 22

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 may be raised on agar under sterile conditions

Question 23

RSPB

Answer 23

Royal society for the protection of birds

Question 24

Environmental stewardship scheme

Answer 24

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