Habitat conservation Flashcards
new habitats may be created when ________ is the main aim or the ______ of old habitats i.e. _- ___ conservation.
conservation, restoration, in-situ
Name at least 3 habitats created intentionally as a result of conervation
- wetlands
- new woodlands
- wildflower meadows
- artificial coral reefs
- rewilding
name at least 3 habitats created unintentionally
- reservoirs
- roadside verges
- hedgerows
- flooded gravel pits
- shipwrecks
in-situ conservation protects only individuals of species. T or F
F - it protects whole communities of species
name the 7 features of habitats that may affect success of conservation
- age structure
- habitat shape
- habitat area
- habitat diversity
- biological corridors
- light levels
- water depth
why is habitat area important? + how is it managed?
- large enough to support pop. (no inbreeding)
- large for territory/food accessible all year round
+ restrict/control logging
+ plant a variety of trees i.e. fruit
why is biological corridors important? + how it managed?
- links isolated areas of habitat (can re-colonise another)
- allows mixing of gene pool
- animals avoid hazards when moving
+ adding/conserving corridors
why is habitat shape important? + how it managed?
- shouldn’t be oval/thin as increases edge effect (more vulnerable to external factors)
- many animals need core habitat conditions
+ increase size/change shape
+ restrict logging
why is age structure important? + how it managed?
- natural woodland = different age structures
- older trees die, increase light, increase ground plants
- increase ecological niches
+ selective felling = create clearings
+ leaving dead wood = niches
why is habitat diversity important? + how managed?
- habitats not uniform
- local variations, increase niches = more biodiverse
+ coppicing/pollarding
why is light levels important? +how managed?
- shade reduces ground vegetation
+ selective felling
why is water depth important? + how managed?
- plants with emergent vegetation: shallow H2O (hold to sediment)
- deeper H2O: root anchorage/absorption of nutrients harder
+ plagioclimax prevent hydrosere
name the 4 features of temperate woodlands
- regular H2O supply
- 4 distinct seasons
- Summers not very hot, winters not very cold (no major temp extremes)
- leaves change colour and fall
5 reasons why temperate woodlands are important
- high biodiversity = higher ecological stability
- resources = timber/charcoal
- recreation
- climate control = carbon sequestration
- soil erosion
- biogeochemical cycles
name the 4 threats to temperate woodlands
- deforestation for other land uses
- fragmentation
- management change (i.e. coppicing/pollarding)
- introduced species
name the 3 conservation techniques for temperate woodlands
- designated protected areas i.e. Sherwood Forest NNR
- legal protection of ancient woodlands
- conservation management (i.e. coppicing, planting new woodland, selective felling, planting mixed species)
Name the 4 features of tropical rainforests
- distinct stratification
- warm/hot
- high rainfall
- low seasonality
5 reasons why tropical rainforests are important
- high biodiversity (more likely to find medicines/genetic resources)
- resources
- climate regulation (carbon sequestration)
- management of hydrological cycle
- soil maintenance
Name at least 4 of the 6 threats to tropical rainforests
- climate change
- deforestation: fuelwood collection/timber harvesting/urbanisation
- agricultural expansion
- mineral extraction
- reservoirs
- tourism
name the 3 ways to conserve tropical rainforests + example
- debt for nature swaps
- establishment of protected areas
- sustainable exploitation (international tropical timber agreement)
+ Belize: rio bravo conservation area: funded by donations, conservation charities and ecotourism
name the 6 features of tropical coral reefs
- shallow H2O = high light levels
- warm, stable temp.
- low turbidity
- specific salinity (if changes can be killed by osmosis can’t regulate H2O conc.)
- nutrition systems
- cnidarians
the structure of corals
- cilia = projections on coral polyp, trap plankton
- photosynthetic symbiotic algae = provides O2 + glucose
- reef substrate = calcium carbonate from coral
Name the 5 reasons why tropical coral is important
- fisheries
- climate control = calcium carbonate formed using CO2
- medicine = produce chemicals i.e. treat HIV/AIDS
- erosion protection = absorb energy from waves, dissipate energy
- tourism
Name at least 5 out of the 8 threats to tropical coral reefs
- physical damage by human activities
- souvenir collection
- sedimentation: lowers light, decrease photosynthesis
- Pollution: acidification
- fishing: reduce fish pop. reduce interdependency
- introduced species: from ballast H2O/escaped fish from fish farms
- loss of associated habitats i.e. mangroves reduce turbidity
- climate change: high temps = coral bleaching
conservation for tropical coral reefs (5)
- control of fishing: length of fishing season/no take zones/quotas
- Marine protected areas: fixed mooring buoys/divers not to touch coral/kick sediment
- collection of coral banned
- artificial reefs: sinking structures
- sustainable exploitation: CITES
name the 3 features of deep coral reefs
- cold/dark
- slow coral growth
- no symbiotic photosynthetic algae
3 reasons why deep coral reefs are important
- support large biomass of fish
- for research
- fisheries
name the 3 threats to deep coral reefs
- deep water trawling
- oil/gas exploration
- ocean acidification
name the 2 methods to conserve deep coral reefs
- establishment of protected areas i.e. Darwin Mound SAC Scotland
- control of damaging activities
Name the 3 features of oceanic islands
- isolation: species will evolve to exploit every niche, every island unique conditions
- endemic species: evolved to that island
- few/no indigenous mammals: difficult for terrestrial mammals to colonise
2 reasons why oceanic islands are important
- supports endemic species
- foundation for coral reefs
name the 4 threats to oceanic islands
- introduced species
- exploitation of species i.e. dodo, giant tortoise
- habitat destruction: urbanisation etc.
- climate change: sea level rise
how do introduced species affect oceanic islands
- native species not adapted to new predator i.e. rats on South Georgia Island
- Introduced herbivores eat native plants
- introduced plants outcompete native ones
- introduced pathogens: kill native species i.e. avian malaria in hawaii
name the 2 methods to conserve introduced species
- eradication of introduced species
- control of developments/visitors
name the 4 features of mangroves
- halophytic trees
- intertidal areas
- low oxygen availability (anaerobic)
- tropical climates
name 5 out of the 7 reasons why mangroves are important
- coastal erosion protection: absorb energy
- fisheries: nursery grounds protect fish
- protection of coral reefs: sedimentation at mangroves
- carbon sequestration (x5 more than rainforests)
- medicines: antimicrobial medicines like MRSA
- resources (timber)
- genetic resources: halophytic so could introduce genes
name the 4 threats to mangroves
- clearance for urbanisation/aquaculture
- logging
- climate change (sea level rise)
- coastal development i.e. ports/hotels
name the 3 methods to conserve mangroves
- designated protected areas i.e. in Sri Lanka they are protected
- reforestation/recolonisation
- control of damaging activities
name the 6 features of antarctica
- very low temps
- low precipitation
- high albedo
- extreme seasonal changes
- high levels of marine nutrients and so life
- little terrestrial life
the 5 reasons why antarctica is important
- scientific research (little light pollution, unique wildlife)
- ice albedo
- carbon sequestration: krill eat algae, faeces sink to seabed
- H2O store: stores 70% of freshwater, global sea levels stable
- resources: has minerals
name the 6 threats to antarctica
- climate change: less albedo, increase sea levels etc.
- ozone depletion: UV kills algae and so krill
- tourism
- overfishing i.e. patagonian toothfish, decrease sperm whales
- scientific research: increase risk of pollution/wildlife disturbance
how do tourists threaten antarctica
- introduction of pathogens
- pollution (fuel, sewage,waste)
- disturbance of wildlife
name the 5 methods in conserving antarctica
- the Antarctic Treaty
- control of fisheries: fisheries closed if pop. overexploited
- waste management: waste removed
- tourism control
- no military activity
name at least 5 different aspects of the Antarctic Treaty
- ban nuclear activity
- ban on commercial mining
- promotes conservation
- no military activity
- no permanent accommodation
- visitors wear protective clothing
- leave no litter/waste
- do not disturb wildlife
- visitors accompanied by trained guides
when planning conservation strategies it is important to identify…
- age structure
- survival rates
- size
- distribution
name the 4 new technologies used in ecological research
- satellite/radio tracking
- DNA databases/eDNA
- Image recognition
- Acoustic monitoring, sonograms
what does satellite/radio tracking involve?
- radio: monitoring position, used in air/water
- geolocator tags: light i.e. small bird migration
- satellite: whole migration routes, monitor habitat change i.e. IR emitted from surface can measure vegetation density/temp (limitation: no signal under H2O)
what does eDNA and DNA databases involve?
- traces of DNA left i.e. from shedding of skin
- identify where an organism has originated by comparing it to databases (contains regional pop.)
- limitations: eDNA degrade in hot temps, disperse in H2O and does not state exact time
what does image recognition involve?
- image databases: allow individuals to be recognised
+ provide info on lifespan/pop./social groupings
+ limitation: few species have unique features - camera traps: monitor presence of species
what does acoustic monitoring, sonograms involve?
- sonograms : records sounds made by organism
- evidence of: abundance, activity, presence, behaviour, physiology
+ limitations: don’t know if 1 or many, can’t pinpoint exact location
