New developments in conservation biology Flashcards
What are the underlying goals and principles of conservation biology?
Preventing local and global extinctions Protect biodiversity Prevent population declines Avoid genetic impoverishment Maintain ecosystem functions
What are the motivations to conserve biodiversity?
Aesthetic reasons
Moral/ ethical reasons
Economic reasons (financial benefit of the natural resources)
Ecosystem services (wider societal benefit)
Ecological integrity
Describe the rivet hypothesis.
Ecosystem is likened to an airplane
Extinction of each plant/ animal species is like taking a rivet out of the plane
Initially the loss only makes a small difference as there are lots of rivets
If many are removed, the plane would be unsafe and unable to do its function
What is the underlying assumption of the rivet hypothesis?
Existence of thresholds/ limits that beyond which the ecosystem would collapse
Define a flagship species.
Charismatic species (often a large vertebrate) used to anchor a conservation campaign by arousing public interest and sympathy
Define an indicator species.
Their presence, absence, population density, reproductive success and other indicators are used to monitor attributes to difficult, inconvenient or expensive to measure for other species or environmental conditions of interest
Define a keystone species.
Species that has impact on others, far beyond what might be expected from a consideration of biomass or abundance.
Define an umbrella species.
A species that needs such large tracts or threatened habitat that saving it will automatically save many other species
What impact has political pressure in Brazil had on rainforest deforestation, and what impact may it have in the future?
Political pressure led to decrease in overall deforestation
But political motivation may also lead to increase again to increase revenue
What are some recent threats to white-tailed eagles?
Hunting
Toxic compounds and biomagnification
Deforestation of old pine trees used for nesting
How can genetics be used in conservation biology?
Monitor genetic variation and risk of inbreeding depression
Identify unique evolutionary groups
Studying animal movement
Why is diversity within a population important for its continuation and recovery? Short term and long term
Short term: avoiding inbreeding depression
Long term: adapting to new environments and acquiring new functions
Why is the white-tailed eagle a useful indicator species for limnic and marine habitats?
Sensitive to pollutant in food chain like DDT
Philopatric
Inbreeding not likely to be a problem
Define limnic.
Relating to fresh water
What does philopatric mean?
Tending to return to or remain near a specific site or area
How much of all known species are supported by freshwater?
10%
How much of all vertebrate species are supported by freshwater?
1/3
What negative human activities are freshwaters a hotpot for?
Habitat degradation Pollution Flow regulation Water extraction Fisheries overexploitation Alien species introduction
What impact have human activities has on freshwater species?
Caused severe declines in the occurrence, range and abundance of many freshwater species
What is freshwater mostly used for by humans?
Agriculture
Describe the state of English and Welsh urban rivers.
Show evidence of major recovery, but this is partial and incomplete
High content of nitrates in water in farming areas of UK as well as bank reinforcements of urban areas, changing the natural flow and contents of UK freshwater
How many tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans annually, and how much of this arrives from rivers?
8-12m tonnes of plastic annually enter ocean
At least 4m tonnes from rivers
Define extinct (EX).
No reasonable doubt that the last animal has died
Define extinct in the wild (EW).
In captivity or cultivation, but exhaustive surveys have not found it in the wild
