Methods of Conserving Biodiversity

Question 1

What are examples of information that is required when setting conservation priorities?

Answer 1

• Species population size
• Causes of population change
• Value for money
• Opportunity for future monitoring

Question 2

What does IUCN stand for?

Answer 2

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Question 3

What are the 3 main roles of the IUCN?

Answer 3

• Coordinating global conservation data
• Investing in nature-based solutions
• Compiling the Red List

Question 4

What is the IUCN Red List?

Answer 4

A list of all species that the IUCN have assessed and categorised based on their vulnerability

Question 5

How many categories does the Red List have?

Answer 5

Nine - Least Concern to Extinct (also Data Deficient and Not Evaluated)

Question 6

What are some of the factors the IUCN takes into account when categorising a species?

Answer 6

• Population dispersal
• Threats to survival
• Population change over 10 years

Question 7

What are EDGE species?

Answer 7

Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species which have few close relatives (e.g. pandas, echidnas)

Question 8

What are endemic species?

Answer 8

Species only found in one geographical area (e.g. kangaroos, glacier bears)

Question 9

What are keystone species?

Answer 9

Species that have a huge influence on their environment/ecosystem which other species rely on for survival (e.g. beavers, grey wolves)

Question 10

What are flagship species?

Answer 10

Species that are well-known and popular which are used to encourage conservation efforts (e.g. Bengal tiger)

Question 11

How are species legally protected in the UK?

Answer 11

The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)

Question 12

How does The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) protect species?

Answer 12

• Establishes designations
• Prevents animals from being killed
• Prevents animals from being injured
• Prevents uprooting of wild plants

Question 13

What are some examples of designations in the UK?

Answer 13

SSSI, NNR, SAC, SPA, LNR, MNR, MCZ, MPA, Ramsar sites, Natura 2000 sites

Question 14

What does CITES stand for?

Answer 14

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Question 15

How does CITES protect species?

Answer 15

CITES establishes trade controls to regulate and monitor the trade of species

Question 16

How is CITES sub-divided?

Answer 16

Appendix I and Appendix II

Question 17

What does CITES Appendix I enforce?

Answer 17

A total ban on the trade of species threatened with extinction (except for CBR programmes)

Question 18

What does CITES Appendix II enforce?

Answer 18

A partial ban on the trade of species that may become threatened if further exploitation is unsustainable

Question 19

Which 3 organisations regulate sustainable exploitation?

Answer 19

• IWC
• EU CFP
• ITTO

Question 20

What does IWC stand for?

Answer 20

International Whaling Commission

Question 21

What does the IWC enforce?

Answer 21

A ban on whaling in an effort to support whale populations until they recover

Question 22

What are the 3 special circumstances in which whaling can occur?

Answer 22

• Aboriginal subsistence (e.g. Inuits)
• Scientific whaling (e.g. Japan)
• Commercial whaling (e.g. Norway)

Question 23

What does EU CFP stand for?

Answer 23

EU Common Fisheries Policy

Question 24

What does the EU CFP enforce?

Answer 24

Regulates fishing methods, times, net sizes and quotas for all EU member states

Question 25

What does ITTO stand for?

Answer 25

International Tropical Timber Organisation

Question 26

What does the ITTO enforce?

Answer 26

Encourages sustainable management of tropical forests and is responsible for 90% of global tropical timber trade

Question 27

What does CBR stand for?

Answer 27

Captive Breeding and Release

Question 28

What is the difference between in-situ and ex-situ?

Answer 28

In-situ programmes are carried out in the species’ native habitat whereas ex-situ programmes are carried out away from the species’ native habitat

Question 29

How is a species assessed for a CBR programme?

Answer 29

- Threat to population - Success of in-situ conservation - Genetic diversity of any captive population - Realism of keeping a captive population - Likelihood of release success

Question 30

What are the 4 reasons why keeping a species in captivity may be difficult?

Answer 30

- Habitat size (e.g. whales) - Food requirements - Species interdependence (e.g. pollinators) - Financial constraints

Question 31

How might breeding success be increased?

Answer 31

By providing a large gene pool as well as biotic and abiotic conditions which replicate the species' original habitat

Question 32

What are the 5 artificial methods of increasing breeding success?

Answer 32

- Artificial insemination - Embryo transfer - Cryopreservation - Micropropogation - Animal cloning

Question 33

What factors must be assessed before releasing a species into the wild?

Answer 33

- Sexual maturity - Habitat availability - Presence of predators and competitors

Question 34

What does hard release mean?

Answer 34

Individuals are released with no post-release support (used for species that rely on instincts)

Question 35

What does soft release mean?

Answer 35

Individuals are released with post-release support including the provision of food and predator exclusion

Question 36

Which issues do captive-bred individuals face in the wild?

Answer 36

- Lack of survival skills and instincts - Recognising poisonous foods - Developing hunting skills - Recognising predators

Question 37

What is a seed bank?

Answer 37

A store for seeds in which they are cryopreserved (e.g. Svalbard Seed Bank)

Question 38

What does CS stand for?

Answer 38

Countryside Stewardship (an agri-environmental scheme which provides incentives for farmers to manage their land in an environmentally friendly way)

Question 39

What does CS aim to achieve?

Answer 39

- Protect habitats - Maintain/improve biodiversity - Reduce chemical use (e.g. pesticides)

Question 40

What is an example of a CS feature?

Answer 40

Beetle banks which provide habitats for aphid predators and reduce reliance on pesticides

Question 41

What are examples of unintentional habitat creation?

Answer 41

- Reservoirs - Hedgerows - Ornamental gardens

Question 42

What are examples of intentional habitat creation?

Answer 42

- Wetlands - New woodlands (e.g. Northern Forest) - Artificial coral reefs

Question 43

How can desired species be encouraged into a habitat?

Answer 43

By altering biotic and abiotic factors

Question 44

What is rewilding?

Answer 44

The mass restoration of an ecosystem by allowing nature to repair itself (e.g. Yellowstone National Park - trophic cascade)

Question 45

What features must be taken into account during habitat conservation?

Answer 45

- Habitat area - Habitat shape - Age structure - Ease of colonisation - Biological corridors

Question 46

What is cryopreservation?

Answer 46

The storage of genetic material by freezing for future use in breeding programmes

Question 47

What is artificial insemination?

Answer 47

Collecting semen from a male individual and inserting it into a female individual to produce offspring

Question 48

Why is artificial insemination more effective than natural breeding?

Answer 48

- Individuals do not need to be transported between different CBR programmes - Avoids the dangers of injury and death in natural mating for large species - Avoids the risk of individuals not accepting each other

Question 49

What is embryo transfer?

Answer 49

Embryos from females of endangered species are collected and fertilised before being implanted into females of a more common species

Question 50

What is micro-propogation?

Answer 50

A form of tissue culture where many genetically identical plants are produced from a single parent plant