Habitat conservation Flashcards
Why is in situ conservation the most important method of wildlife conservation
the wildlife species are still living in their natural habitat where the conditions for survival are appropriate and the entire community of species are present together
What are the several general approaches to habitat conservation
Landownership; designated protected areas and habitat creation and management
How can land ownership be used to conserve wildlife
Conservation organisations purchase areas to protect Species that live there or will do so once The conditions are suitable
What sort of organisations purchase land for wildlife conservation
RSPB, National Trust, woodland trust
What are designated protected areas
Are protected area establishes the legal status of the protection
Why might an area have to become a designated protected area
The owners of the habitat that needs protection may not wish to manage their land for the benefit of wildlife
What is a site of special scientific interest
Protect areas with the best examples of UK Flora, fauna, geological or physiological features
What is an OLD in terms of the SSSI
This is when the landowner of an SSSI wishes to carry out an operation likely to damage it has to inform the conservation organisation
What is a national nature reserve
Best examples of SSSI Are usually have the best examples of complete communities of species or habitat types
What are special areas of conservation
A habitat that has been identified as having international importance Habitats for vary wildly between different countries and may restrict activities
What are special protection areas
Designated under EU birds directive, place I’ve been identified as having International importance for birds
What are Ramsar sites
An intergovernmental agreement that protects wetlands
Why were voluntary agri-environmental schemes Created
Angri-environmental schemes Recognise that much of the British landscape was produced by farming and can only be conserved by the continuance of appropriate farming practices
How do the voluntary environmental schemes Attract farmers
By providing financial support to farmers to reward and encourage environmentally beneficial developments
What are the aims of the agri-environmental schemes
Conserve wildlife, maintain an enhanced landscape quality and character, Protect the historic environment, promote public access and understanding and protect natural resources
What might the farmers receive an annual payment for? (Agri-environment scheme)
Beetle Banks, Headrow Stonewall and ditch management, field buffer strips, Wild bird seeds, low input grasslands, Protected archaeological sites, management to reduce soil erosion and protection of infield trees
Why do farmers need to plant wild bird seeds
To provide Winter Bird food
Why do farmers need field buffer strips
To protect Rivers
Why do farmers need low input grasslands
To protect wildflowers
What might farmers receive higher payments for? (agri-environmental scheme)
Wildflower-rich grass field margins
Unharvested conservation field headlands for winter bird food
Water Meadow restoration
Public access
What is unintentional habitat creation
When a human activity create a new habitat unsuitable for the current species that suitable for new wildlife
What are examples of unintentional habitat creation
Reservoirs, flooded sand and gravel pits, roadside verges, hedgerows And ornamental Gardens
What is intentional habitat creation
When the abiotic and biotic factors in an area are altered to make species colonise into the space
What are the first species that will colonise an area
Mobile species such as birds and many insects
What can affect natural colonisation
If the habitat is isolated from other similar areas species may need to be introduced by humans
What habitants of intentionally created for wildlife conservation
Wetlands, New Woodlands, wildflower meadows And artificial reefs
How does size of habitat affect success of conservation
The area must be large enough to support viable populations As the population doesn’t want to drop solo that interbreeding Occurs
What’s the typical size of Intentionally created habitat areas
In general species that are higher on food chains have low population density meaning a larger habitat area may be needed
What’s the territory of a single tiger
Up to 100 km² so a large area is needed to support a viable population
What’s the problem with a small habitat size
Unable to support small populations of less abundant species which possibly could make it unsuitable for other species if services were being provided for
What species benefit from small habitats
Frogs, toads and newts
Why do frogs toads and newts prefer small ponds
As Small ponds are unable to support predatory fish that eat the eggs and tadpoles
What are biological corridors
Ways in which I said it areas of the same habitat can be connected it means if a population dies out in an area then recolonisation from other areas as possible allows young individuals to move to other suitable habitats without coming into contact with hazards
what will the perimeter of a habitats conditions be like?
the conditions will be a combination of the two neighbouring habitats
how might habitat shape affect the species that live in that area
some species benefit form conditions near the edge of a habitat (etc higher light levels), some species might however require the core habitat conditions
what is habitat diversity?
natural habitats are rarely uniform and usually have local variations in conditions, producing a greater range of possible niches
what is the benefits of greater range of niches?
increases biodiversity as different species colonise the areas to which each is best adapted
what is a biological niche?
the role in which an organism plays in a ecosystem and the conditions they require
how can light levels affect habitats?
the shading effect of dense tree cover inhibits the growth of plants on the woodland floor
How can the shading effect of trees be reduced?
this can be reduced by selectively felling trees to create suitable conditions for smaller plants that need more light
how can water depth affect a habitat?
many plants and animals that live in aquatic habitats will colonise areas with a particular water depth.
what makes a plant dominant?
those that can absorb the most sunlight often by being taller
How do plants with emergent vegetation remain upright?
plants with emergent vegetation above the water level can only support their weight in shallow water where their roots can get a firm hold in the sediments
what happens to the plant community as water depth increases?
The plant community changes as root anchorage and nutrient absorption from the sediments becomes more difficult
