Lecture 4 The Big Picture Flashcards
In the context of zoos, what do we mean by ‘wild animal’?
• Animals in the wild habitat either endemic or native or reintroduced to similar region where original habitat was lost.
• Non-domesticated animals held for conserving/preserving the species
Wild animals do NOT have breeds.
What is the overarching goal of wild animal population management?
Prevention of extinction and preservation of biodiversity.
What is the problem atm with conservation?
- Rapid depletion of biodiversity
* The sixth mass extinction.
What are justifications for maintaining biodiversity?
- Bioresources (natural products consumed directly or marketed)
- Ecosystem services
- Aesthetics and intangible values
- Ethics (the right to exist)
What three levels of conservation of diversity does the IUCN recognize? Which two are we dealing with?
• Genetic level
• Species level
Ecosystem level
What is the IUCN?
• International union of conservation of nature
What is an important part about why conservation matters?
Extinction
What is the background rate of extinction?
• 10 species per year (average across 5 billion years ago including mass extinctions)
What is the current rate of extinction?
• The current rate is typically around 10,000x the background rate
How many species are there approximately?
10 million.
What is the difference between the current and the background rate of extinction?
10,000x different.
What are the main causes of extinction?
• Human associated (impacts on environment set to worsen over near future)
• Stochastic (random events experienced more by small populations) - tend to impact more after humans have reduced or separated populations
Deterministic (predictable events that have long-term effects) - population, deforestation, climate change
What does threatened mean?
at does threatened mean?
• High risk of extinction within a short time frame.
What are the three classifications of endangerment?
- Vulnerable
- Endangered
- Critically Endangered
