Managing Ecosystems Sustainably Flashcards
What do most people think about conservation?
They think its not important and don’t care about it
What is the first reason of this view of conservation?
Humans need more space to build more houses and for farming
What is the second reason of this view of conservation?
It costs too much money and the results are not worth it or short lived
What is the third reason of this view of conservation?
Poor people need the lands for their livelihoods and to feed their families
What is the fourth reason of this view of conservation?
Poor people can make lots of money from poaching
What is the fifth reason of this view of conservation?
Endangered animals are killed because they eat livestock and trample crops
What is the sixth reason of this view of conservation?
Poor people are uneducated so don’t understand the importance of conservation
What is the first way to manage small scale timber production?
Coppicing
What is coppicing?
-cutting the trunk of a deciduous tree close to ground but let it grow back
-grow back into thin woody stems which can be harvested for fences/firewood
-cycle continues
What is the second way to manage small scale timber production?
Pollarding
What is pollarding?
-Is like coppicing but trunks cut up higher
-Stops large herbivores e.g deer to stop them eating new shoots as they can’t reach
What is the third way to manage small scale timber production?
Rotational Coppicing
What is rotational coppicing?
Divide woodland into section and cut one section each year
What are the 4 advantages to coppicing?
-Supply of carbon neutral fuel
-Supply of wood for manufacturing
-Increased light to woodland floor
-Increased biodiversity in the area
What is the first way to manage large scale timber production?
Clear felling
What does clear felling provide us with?
Large-scale wood for timber
What are the disadvantages of clear felling?
-Destroys habitats
-Reduces soil mineral levels
-Soil is more susceptible to erosion
What could clear felling involve?
Leaving each section of woodland to mature for 50-100 years before felling allowing biodiversity to increase
Why is this way of clear felling not used?
Timescale is too long and not cost effective
What is the modern way of sustainable forestry (clear felling) which avoids this?
-Plant a tree for each felled
-Only remove the largest tree
-Care for trees and allow them to grow
What is on the rise as the human population grows?
Demand for fish and seafood
What is important about the fishing industry?
Has high economical value and provides livelihoods for millions
Who proposed the 3 principles for sustainable management of fisheries?
Marine Stewardship
What is the first principle proposed?
Fishing must take place at a level to allow it to continue indefinitely
Why is it important that fishing takes place at this level?
Over-fishing can be avoided but if it does happen its to be reduced until stocks recover.
Why is this principle good for the sustainable management for fisheries?
Can rapidly increase the productivity and is good for profitability
What is the optimum for fisheries?
To keep fish populations at carrying capacity and to harvest the excess
What is the second principle proposed?
Fishing must be managed to maintain the structure, productivity, function and diversity of ecosystem
What does this principle mean to the local habitat/ecosystem?
Shouldn’t be permanent damage and the effects that occur are minimised
What is the third principle proposed?
Fishery must adapt to changes in circumstances and comply with local, national and international regulations
What is aquaculture?
Breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants.
What can aquaculture provide?
Sustainable fishing stocks
How can aquaculture be used to restrict the impact on oceanic fish stocks?
Raise the stocks in aquaculture
What is happening to aquaculture?
Is expanding rapidly especially in the developing world and is expected to feed more people than traditional capture fisheries in the future
What has increased the human impact on the environment?
Rapid population growth since 18th century
What is increasing as the population is increasing?
The need for space for infrastructure and farming, food, clean water and resources
What is the effect of the increasing need for resources?
Means that human are having a disproportionate effect on other species
What are the human activities that are influencing animal and plant populations?
-Climate Change
-Introduction of non-native species
-Hunting
-Loss of habitats
What has the large scale burning of fossil fuels led to?
A large increase in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which has resulted in higher global average temperatures
What are the effects of the higher global average temperatures?
-Changes in weather patterns
-Melting polar ice caps
-Rising sea levels causing floods and salination of soil
-Rising ocean temperatures and acidity
What have these effects changes?
The habitats of some species which puts survival at risk e.g. polar bears
What can the introduction of non-native species occur due to?
-Travel
-Keeping animals as pets
-Growing attractive plants in gardens
-Introduction of biological pest control
Why can non-native species be problematic?
As they often have no natural competitors, predators or pathogens which help to limit population growth so populations can grow very quickly
How can non-native species negatively affect native species?
Through competition and disease
What can hunting result in?
Over exploitation of a natural resource
What does this over exploitation mean for some populations?
They are hunted so much that they are unable to recover so end up in extinction
Why must harvesting animals for food be carried out in a sustainable way?
To ensure extinction doesn’t occur
How does habitat loss happen?
Humans cut down forests and drain wetlands to create lands for farming
As habitat loss happens, what also occurs?
Pollution of water, soil and air
As habitat area is reduced, what will species do?
-Search for other suitable habitats
-Compete for remaining habitat
Overall, what then happens to habitats?
The range becomes so small that a species is unable to survive and becomes extinct
How can we control the effects of human activities?
Control measures are in place across the globe to help mitigate the impact of human activities
Give some examples of the control measures put in place.
-Prohibiting import/export of species
-Reducing sources of greenhouse gases
-Increasing capacity of “sinks”
