L12 - Protected areas Flashcards
What is the most effective way of conserving biodiversity?
By ensuring the viability and sustainability of populations, communities, and ecosystems, incorporating both ecological and biological principles along with human impacts and ecosystem service provisions
What are the two main considerations in reserve design?
- Where to place the protected area.
- Whether the biodiversity in the area will be maintained
What is island biogeography theory?
A theory explaining species richness in isolated ecosystems (islands), focusing on immigration, colonization, and extinction dynamics influenced by size, topography, and other factors.
How does island biogeography relate to reserve design?
It provides a theoretical basis, suggesting strategies to balance immigration and extinction for sustainable species diversity.
Why is reserve size important?
Larger reserves:
- Have fewer edge effects.
- Support larger populations.
- Accommodate more species and habitats.
- Are less susceptible to disturbances.
What are edge effects?
Negative impacts at reserve boundaries, including:
- Lower habitat quality.
- Exotic species invasions.
- Microclimate changes.
- Avoidance by interior species.
What is SLOSS in reserve design?
“Single Large Or Several Small” reserves debate.
Single large: Better for ease of movement and larger core areas.
Several small: Mitigates risks from edge effects and catastrophic events.
Why are migration and corridors important in reserve design?
They improve connectivity, facilitating species dispersal, gene flow, and population recolonization, enhancing overall biodiversity.
What is meta-population theory in conservation?
Populations in habitat patches interact as a meta-population. Larger patches and increased connectivity reduce extinction risk and promote recolonization.
What are habitat corridors, and how do they mitigate fragmentation?
Pathways connecting habitats, providing:
- Additional habitat.
- Recolonization potential.
- Survival enhancement.
- Gene flow facilitation.
What challenges do red pandas face in Bhutan according to Tobgay and Mahavik (2020)?
- 75% of habitats lie outside core zones.
- Livestock grazing and dog presence inhibit dispersal.
- Connectivity modelling suggests corridors need extension within Bhutan and to Arunachal Pradesh.
Do protected areas (PAs) work?
PAs reduce land clearing, logging, hunting, fire, and grazing, though their effectiveness depends on management levels and funding
What did Wade et al. (2020) conclude about global forest loss?
- Forest loss is increasing despite PAs.
- Tropical deforestation is driven by agriculture.
- Northern forest loss is due to wildfires, pests, and storms
Why must reserve design consider humans?
To address the impact of people on conservation and conservation impacts on local communities, fostering coexistence and reducing conflicts.
How can conflicts between people and conservation be reduced?
Through biosphere reserves with buffer zones, coexistence strategies, and compensation mechanisms (e.g., Indawgyi Lake Biosphere Reserve in Myanmar).
