Methods of Conserving Biodiversity Flashcards
What information do you need to know before targeting conservation activities?
variety of plant and animal species
population size of species
weather/climate
the importance of each species
what is causing the population decrease
What does IUCN stand for?
International Union for Conservation of Nature
What is the IUCN?
a membership union composed of both government and civil society organisations
What does is the aim of the IUCN?
preserve species
promotes national legislation
monitors climate change
improves the lives of people through the economic conjunctions of nature
What are the roles of the IUCN?
compile red list
reduce poverty
boost food security
restore natural resources
reduce company’s environmental impact
What is the IUCN Red List?
gives species a status of vulnerability
contains both threatened and non threatened species
How is the Red List compiled?
measures pressure on species
local surveys, consultations, national red lists
70000 species are currently listed - target 160000
The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: EX
extinct
The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: EW
extinct in the wild
can only be found in captivity
The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: CR
critically endangered
extremely high risk of extinction
The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: EN
endangered
very high risk of extinction
The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: VU
vulnerable
high risk of extinction in the wild
The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: NT
near threatened
close to qualifying for a threatened category
The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: LC
least concern
How are the different categories assessed?
population size (change over past 10 years)
area of habitat
number of areas found in
number of mature adults
probability of extinction
Definition of EDGE species
Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species
Examples of EDGE species
elephants
pangolins
purple frog
pandas
EDGE Species conservation study: pygmy sloth
educational programs
monitor populations - GPS collars/backpacks
only found on an island near Panama
Definition of Endemic Species
species that are only found in a limited/defined area or habitat
Examples of endemic species
giant panda
pygmy sloth
glacier bear
Endemic Species conservation case study: Giant Panda
increase area of habitat protected by law
patrol against poaching, logging and encroachment
creating green corridors to connect isolated pandas
moved from endangered to vulnerable
Definition of Keystone species
an organism that is a fundamental part of the functioning of an ecosystem
Examples of Keystone species
the american beaver
sharks
bees
starfish
Keystone species conservation case study: starfish
when removed half of other species gradually declined
mussels overcrowded other species as were not being kept under control
Definition of Flagship species
a species chosen to raise support for biodiversity conservation
Examples of Flagship species
Giant panda
polar bear
tiger
sea turtle
Flagship species conservation case study: sea turtle
developing less harmful fishing gear (circle hooks)
protect nesting habitats
Fiji sea turtle recovery plan
Red List update: pillar coral
vulnerable - critically endangered
population has decreased by 80% since 1990
decline caused by disease, coral bleaching, sea temp rise
Red List update: oaxaca tree frog
critically endangered - near threatened
community action taken in mexico
What does CITES stand for?
Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
What does CITES do?
an international agreement to protect threatened species by regulating and monitoring trade
How does CITES work?
separate species into 3 categories
appendix 1+2 = threatened with extinction (complete ban on trade)
appendix 3 = species that are protected in at least one country (trade is closely monitored)
What does ITTO stand for?
International Tropical Timber Organisation
What does the ITTO do?
enables forest owners and communities to earn export income from sustainably produced wood
manages 80% of the world’s tropical rainforests
What is the ITTO responsible for?
90% of worldwide tropical timber trade
When was the International Whaling Commission established?
1949
88 member countries
What did the International Whaling Commission develop?
sustainable types of whaling - aboriginal subsistence whaling
What did the International Whaling Commission introduce?
moratorium (ban) on whaling across the globe
How does the International Whaling Commission help conservation?
address threats of bycatch and entanglement, ship strikes and pollution
hold workshops on safe detangling
“Save the Whales” campaign - endorsed by the UN
What does the EU Common Fisheries Policy do?
gives all EU fishing fleets equal access to EU waters
ensures sustainable fishing
guarantees incomes and stable jobs for EU fishers
How does the EU Common Fisheries Policy protect marine ecosystems?
regulates fishing methods
limits time the ships can spend at sea
sets quotas - how many fish can be caught
implements net sizes
Designations: SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest
managed by natural england (gov)
martin mere, morecambe bay
Designations: NNR
National Nature Reserve
managed by natural england (gov)
ribble estuary - important site for wintering wildfowl
Designations: SPA
Special Protection Areas
managed by JNCC
bowland fells - protects habitats of migrating birds
Designations: SAC
Special Areas of Conservation
managed by JNCC
hatton bank - birds of european interest
Designations: MNR
Marine Nature Reserve
managed by natural england
Lundy island
Designations: MPA
Marine Protected Areas
managed by Natural England
Goodwin sands
Designations: MCZ
Marine Conservation Zones
managed by natural england
the canyons
Designations: LNR
Local Nature Reserve
managed by local authority
albans wood
Designations: Natura 2000 sites
network of SPA + SAC
the foloi oak forest
Designations: Ramsar Site
wetlands of international importance
important for migratory birds
chesil beach
Why can some species not be kept in captivity?
difficult to recreate habitats
too large
too small to capture
expensive
dont understand reproductive behaviour
How can keeping species in captivity and captive breeding programmes help wildlife conservation?
young are more likely to survive
increases population numbers
reduces predation
protection from disease
increase genetic diversity
Problems associated with breeding in captivity:
causes distress
some animals do not reproduce well in captivity
domestication
no fear of humans
Cryopreservation
freezes gametes/embryos - implemented into surrogate species
preserves biological material
able to store for a long time
Artificial Insemination
used in farming and agriculture
collect semen from male and implement in female to produce offspring
removes danger of mating
useful for controlling mating
Embryo Transfer
uses genes from desirable female
artificially inseminate egg and implant into other females
given hormones to produce many eggs
produces more offspring than naturally
Micropropagation
cloning of plants
small tissue sample is placed in a growth medium
inexpensive and fast
produces thousands of plants from one parent
reduces genetic variation
Cloning of Animals
stem cells are extracted
place stem cell nuclei in empty eggs from closely related species
electric shock to start divisions
performed if females need preserving
driven by agriculture
Problems with the release of captively bred animals
can become invasive species
habituated to human contact
unable to hunt
out-competed
unaware of predators
Points to consider before the release of any organism to the wild
maturity
survival skills
population size
habitat size
predators/order of food chain
amount of food available
is the release area protected
What is meant by the term “hard release”?
no support given after release
most common with species that act on instinct (no need for survival skills) (fish, reptiles, insects)
What is mean by the term “soft release”?
some support/protection is given for a period of time after release
gradual release - enclosure size increases, food provided, predators excluded
Examples of hard release
wolves - yellowstone
What is a seed bank or seed vault?
A store of seeds - often cryopreserved or dried
Important for CWRs
Svalbard Seed Bank: Why is the seed bank important? Why might the preservation of seeds be important for future generations?
world’s largest seed bank
contain important food crop species
protected in the event of war/ natural disasters
store CWRs
preserves endangered plant species
may provide fuel/food/medicine in the future
Problems/limitations of seed banks
power failure could destroy all samples
expensive to run
freezing the seeds can damage then
some plants dont produce seeds
Who are the major landowners and managers in the UK in the aim of conservation?
The National Trust
The RSPB
The Woodland Trust
Natural England
DEFRA
The Forestry Commission
How does designating land protect habitats?
gives is a legal protected status
stops private landowners
allows small landowners to control their land
What are the key features of SSSIs and how are they protected?
best example of the UK’s plants, animals and geological features
must inform the government of operations likely to damage (ploughing, drainage, burning)
What are the key features of NNRs and how are they protected?
best example of SSIs
cover complete communities of species and habitats
What are the key features of SACs and how are they protected?
each member state must identify and protect habitats of international importance
What are the key features of SPAs and how are they protected?
each member state must identify and protect places that are of international importance for birds
What are the key features of Ramsar Sites and how are they protected?
protected by the ramsar convention
primarily protects wildfowl habitats
broadened to conserve all wetlands and their ecosystems
What is an agri-environment scheme?
provides funding to farmers and land managers to allow them to farm in a way that supports biodiversity/improves air, water and soil quality
What is the current agri-environmental scheme in the UK?
Countryside stewardship (CSS)
ran by Natural England
started 2017
What is a past agri-environmental scheme in the UK?
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Introduced in 1988
One of the first in the world
What do agri-environmental schemes aim to achieve?
incentivise landowners to protect habitats, biodiversity, water/soil/air quality
reduce agrichemicals - fertilisers and pesticides
How do agri-environmental schemes work?
outline activities the farmers/ land owners can do
activities vary in cost and difficulty (more difficult = more payment)
payment is per hectare
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Beetle Banks (mid-tier)
Provides nesting and foraging habitats for insects
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Hedgerow Management (mid-tier)
Increases the availability of blossom for invertebrates
Provides food for overwintering birds
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Nectar flower mix (mid-tier)
Provides areas of flowering plants to boost essential food sources for pollinators
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Creation of traditional orchards (higher-tier)
Range of healthy young trees
Supports insects, birds and wildflowers
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Woodland Improvement (higher-tier)
Improves biodiversity of woodland
Increases resistance to climate change
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Control of invasive plant species (higher-tier)
Reducing density of non native species to restore natural balance
Eradication of sever infestations
