Methods of Conserving Biodiversity Flashcards
What are examples of information that is required when setting conservation priorities?
- Species population size
- Causes of population change
- Value for money
- Opportunity for future monitoring
What does IUCN stand for?
International Union for Conservation of Nature
What are the 3 main roles of the IUCN?
- Coordinating global conservation data
- Investing in nature-based solutions
- Compiling the Red List
What is the IUCN Red List?
A list of all species that the IUCN have assessed and categorised based on their vulnerability
How many categories does the Red List have?
Nine - Least Concern to Extinct (also Data Deficient and Not Evaluated)
What are some of the factors the IUCN takes into account when categorising a species?
- Population dispersal
- Threats to survival
- Population change over 10 years
What are EDGE species?
Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species which have few close relatives (e.g. pandas, echidnas)
What are endemic species?
Species only found in one geographical area (e.g. kangaroos, glacier bears)
What are keystone species?
Species that have a huge influence on their environment/ecosystem which other species rely on for survival (e.g. beavers, grey wolves)
What are flagship species?
Species that are well-known and popular which are used to encourage conservation efforts (e.g. Bengal tiger)
How are species legally protected in the UK?
The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)
How does The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) protect species?
- Establishes designations
- Prevents animals from being killed
- Prevents animals from being injured
- Prevents uprooting of wild plants
What are some examples of designations in the UK?
SSSI, NNR, SAC, SPA, LNR, MNR, MCZ, MPA, Ramsar sites, Natura 2000 sites
What does CITES stand for?
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
How does CITES protect species?
CITES establishes trade controls to regulate and monitor the trade of species
How is CITES sub-divided?
Appendix I and Appendix II
What does CITES Appendix I enforce?
A total ban on the trade of species threatened with extinction (except for CBR programmes)
What does CITES Appendix II enforce?
A partial ban on the trade of species that may become threatened if further exploitation is unsustainable
Which 3 organisations regulate sustainable exploitation?
- IWC
- EU CFP
- ITTO
What does IWC stand for?
International Whaling Commission
What does the IWC enforce?
A ban on whaling in an effort to support whale populations until they recover
What are the 3 special circumstances in which whaling can occur?
- Aboriginal subsistence (e.g. Inuits)
- Scientific whaling (e.g. Japan)
- Commercial whaling (e.g. Norway)
What does EU CFP stand for?
EU Common Fisheries Policy
What does the EU CFP enforce?
Regulates fishing methods, times, net sizes and quotas for all EU member states
What does ITTO stand for?
International Tropical Timber Organisation
What does the ITTO enforce?
Encourages sustainable management of tropical forests and is responsible for 90% of global tropical timber trade
What does CBR stand for?
Captive Breeding and Release
What is the difference between in-situ and ex-situ?
In-situ programmes are carried out in the species’ native habitat whereas ex-situ programmes are carried out away from the species’ native habitat
How is a species assessed for a CBR programme?
- Threat to population
- Success of in-situ conservation
- Genetic diversity of any captive population
- Realism of keeping a captive population
- Likelihood of release success
What are the 4 reasons why keeping a species in captivity may be difficult?
- Habitat size (e.g. whales)
- Food requirements
- Species interdependence (e.g. pollinators)
- Financial constraints
How might breeding success be increased?
By providing a large gene pool as well as biotic and abiotic conditions which replicate the species’ original habitat
What are the 5 artificial methods of increasing breeding success?
- Artificial insemination
- Embryo transfer
- Cryopreservation
- Micropropogation
- Animal cloning
What factors must be assessed before releasing a species into the wild?
- Sexual maturity
- Habitat availability
- Presence of predators and competitors
What does hard release mean?
Individuals are released with no post-release support (used for species that rely on instincts)
What does soft release mean?
Individuals are released with post-release support including the provision of food and predator exclusion
Which issues do captive-bred individuals face in the wild?
- Lack of survival skills and instincts
- Recognising poisonous foods
- Developing hunting skills
- Recognising predators
What is a seed bank?
A store for seeds in which they are cryopreserved (e.g. Svalbard Seed Bank)
What does CS stand for?
Countryside Stewardship (an agri-environmental scheme which provides incentives for farmers to manage their land in an environmentally friendly way)
What does CS aim to achieve?
- Protect habitats
- Maintain/improve biodiversity
- Reduce chemical use (e.g. pesticides)
What is an example of a CS feature?
Beetle banks which provide habitats for aphid predators and reduce reliance on pesticides
What are examples of unintentional habitat creation?
- Reservoirs
- Hedgerows
- Ornamental gardens
What are examples of intentional habitat creation?
- Wetlands
- New woodlands (e.g. Northern Forest)
- Artificial coral reefs
How can desired species be encouraged into a habitat?
By altering biotic and abiotic factors
What is rewilding?
The mass restoration of an ecosystem by allowing nature to repair itself (e.g. Yellowstone National Park - trophic cascade)
What features must be taken into account during habitat conservation?
- Habitat area
- Habitat shape
- Age structure
- Ease of colonisation
- Biological corridors
What is cryopreservation?
The storage of genetic material by freezing for future use in breeding programmes
What is artificial insemination?
Collecting semen from a male individual and inserting it into a female individual to produce offspring
Why is artificial insemination more effective than natural breeding?
- 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
What is embryo transfer?
Embryos from females of endangered species are collected and fertilised before being implanted into females of a more common species
What is micro-propogation?
A form of tissue culture where many genetically identical plants are produced from a single parent plant
