Glossary - Chapter 2

Question 0

Teratology

Answer 0

The study of the causes of birth defects

Question 1

Biomimetics

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Indigenous Species

Answer 2

Species that are native to the area

Question 3

Gene Pool

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Vavilov Centre

Answer 4

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

Question 5

CITIES

Answer 5

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Question 6

Niche

Answer 6

The role an organism plays in its species

Question 7

Endemic

Answer 7

A species that is indigenous to a particular area and is not naturally found elsewhere

Question 8

Wildlife and Countryside Act

Answer 8

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

Question 9

SSSIs

Answer 9

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Question 10

NNRs

Answer 10

National Nature Reserves

Question 11

SPAs

Answer 11

Special Protection Areas

Question 12

SACs

Answer 12

Special Areas of Conservation

Question 13

MNRs

Answer 13

Marine Nature Reserves

Question 14

Ramsar Site

Answer 14

A wetland site designated to protect its biodiversity

Question 15

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Answer 15

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

Question 16

EU Common Fisheries Policy

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Inbreeding

Answer 17

Describes breeding between closely related individuals. It increases the risk of recessive genes producing offspring with disadvantageous characteristics

Question 18

Cryopreservation

Answer 18

The preservation of material 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 inserted artificially into a chosen female to cause her to become pregnant

Question 20

Embryo Transfer

Answer 20

The transfer if 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.

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.

Question 22

RSPB

Answer 22

Royal Society of the Protection of Birds

Question 23

Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ESS)

Answer 23

An agri-environmental scheme where farmers receive payments for farm management practices that benefit the wildlife and the environment