Module 4.2 - Biodiversity Flashcards
What is CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
International agreement by most of the world’s governments
Overall aim is to ensure that international trade in wildlife doesn’t threaten their survival
Aims of CITES
Conserve biodiversity
Regulate, monitor and prevent trade in endangered species
Ensure trade doesn’t endanger wild populations
Prohibit commercial trade in wild plants
Allow some trade in led endangered plants and animals
Allow trade in artificially propagated plants
How CITES helps conservation
Countries in agreement make it illegal to poach species
Place ban on trade of endangered species
Increase cooperation between countries
Increase awareness of impact of illegal trade
What is the Rio Convention?
Recognises human needs for food, land, medicine, clean environment as well as the need for maintaining biodiversity
International agreement by 150 governments
Overall aim is to promote sustainable development
Aims of Rio Convention
Conserve biodiversity
Sustainable use of organism/habitats/ecosystems
Share genetic resources
Share access to scientific knowledge
Promote ex situ conservation methods
Raise profile of biodiversity with governments/general public
International cooperation on biodiversity issues
Aims of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme
Improve natural beauty
Enhance landscapes for their wildlife and historical features
Improve opportunities for public access
Conserve traditional livestock and crops
Define biodiversity
The range of habitats, the number of different species and their relative abundance, and the genetic diversity within a species within an area
Define habitat
The place where an organism lives
Define species
A group of organisms similar in appearance, physiology and genetics where members are able to interbreed to produce fertile offspring
Define habitat biodiversity
The range of habitats in which different species live within an area
Define species biodiversity
The number of different species living in a habitat (species richness) and their relative abundance (species evenness)
Define genetic biodiversity
Variation between individuals of the same species
Types of non-random sampling
Opportunistic
Stratified
Systematic
Explain opportunistic sampling
Prior knowledge of a site determines sample site
May deliberately sample an area where an organism is known to be present
Advantages of opportunistic sampling
Quicker and easier than random sampling
Guaranteed results
Disadvantages of opportunistic sampling
Biased - may overestimate/underestimate abundance of particular species (e.g. researcher may be drawn to areas with larger or colourful species, overestimating its importance)
Explain stratified sampling
Divide a habitat into areas which seem different and sample each separately
Advantages of stratified sampling
Ensures all different areas of a habitat are sampled so no under representation (random sampling may miss certain areas)
Disadvantages of stratified sampling
If too many samples are taken in proportionally smaller areas, it could lead to over representation of these areas