Methods of conserving biodiversity Flashcards
What do we need to think about before we decide how to target conservation activities
- population size
- what are the causes of threat?
- what species are present?
- cost of project
What does IUCN stand for
- the international union of conservation of nature
What are the roles of the IUCN
- assess’ habitats and status of species - they compile a red list
- they protect coasts and oceans
What is the IUCN red list of threatened species
- list of species that are given a status and they monitor them over time
- it shows which species are improving
- it also tells us where they are, habitat and threats to the species
How are species categories assessed in the IUCN red list
- population of species
- number of mature adults
- area of habitat
What are endemic species and give a case study
- those that live in a limited area such as a mountain range, lake or island
- tree lobsters were only found at ball’s pyramid
What are keystone species and give a case study
- an organism that helps hold the system together. maintains ecology and community
- grey wolves of yellowstone
What are flagship species and give a case study
- a species selected to act as an ambassador, icon or symbol for a defined habitat, issue, campaign or environmental cause
- panda - WWF - they attract the public attention and spread awareness
What is the wildlife and countryside act 1981
- it protects animals, plants and habitats in the uk.
Why can some species not be kept in captivity
- expense
- some species are too big
- difficult to recreate habitats and conditions
How can keeping species in captivity and captive breeding programmed help wildlife conservation
- it will increase population numbers
- selectively breeding - controls genes
Problems associated with breeding in captivity
- some animals don’t do well in captivity
- animals may not develop the skills they need to survive in the wild
- animals may have a fear of humans
What are the 5 methods of increasing the success of captive breeding
- cryopreservation
- artificial insemination
- embryo transfer
- micropropagation
- cloning of animals
What are problems associated with the release of captive-bred animals
- possibility of interbreeding
- unaware of predators
- unable to hunt
What are some points to consider before the release of any individuals to the wild
- how mature are they
- are they able to survive
- are they fearful of humans
- are they in the right habitat
What is meant by the term hard release
- no support given after release
- people don’t walk away, they still monitor the population
What is meant by the term soft release
- they are released with help and support
What is a seed bank
- it is a store for seeds
- can store CWR’s
Why is svalbard’s seed bank important
- they preserve CWR’s
- they preserve seeds of plants that are vulnerable or extinct in the wild
What are some problems associated with seed banks
- a power failure
- seeds with high H2O content will have a harder time freezing
How does designating land protect habitats
- gives the land legal protection
- stop private land owners/ smaller land owners to do what they want
What is an agri-environmental scheme
- provide funding to farmers to farm in a way that supports biodiversity etc
What do agri-environmental schemes aim to achieve
- increase biodiversity
- protect habitats
-improve soil and air quality
What are 3 examples of features that can be added or maintained
- planting fruit trees
- beetle bank
- field buffer strips
What are 3 examples of higher payment features
- maintenance of saltmarsh
- control of invasive plant species
- management of lowland heathland
