Population and Sustainability- MODULE 6 Flashcards
Carrying population/capacity
The maximum stable population size of a species that an ecosystem/environment can support
Conservation
Maintenance of biodiversity through human action or management.
A dynamic process that involves the protection, management and reclamation of ecosystems
HUMAN ACTIVITY
aim of conservation
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
MAINTAIN BIODIVERSTIY
Preservation
The protection of ecosystems so they’re kept exactly as they are
sometimes by banning or restricting human interference
The first stage of primary succession is the pioneer community.
Which of the following statements about a pioneer community are correct?
1 species produce large numbers of wind-carried seeds or spores
2 biomass is low
3 many species are lichens and mosses
A 1, 2 and 3
B Only 1 and 2
C Only 2 and 3
D Only 1
A
typical population growth curve
5 step process
reproduction
rate is higher
than death rate
as time doubles
population
more than
doubles
reproduction
rate is much
higher than
death rate
population
growth is
slowing
reproduction
rate is similar
to death rate
Immigration
e,g
movement of indvidual organisms into a particular area increases population size.
E.g millions of Christmas island red crabs migrate each year from forest to coast to reproduce. dramatically increassing coastal population of red crabs
Emigration
movement of individual organisms away from a partiular area decreases population size
what is interspecific competition
competition between different species
Intraspecific competition
competition between members of the same species for the same resource
what are sustainable resources
a renewable resource that is being economically exploited in such a way that it will not diminish or run out
what are the aims of sustainability
-preserve the environment
-ensure resources are available for future generations
-allow humans in all societies to live comfortably
-allow less economically developed countries to develop, through exploiting their natural resources
-create a more even balance in the consumption of these resources between more economically developed countries and less economically developed countries
what is coppicing
a tree trunk is cut close to the ground. New shoots form from the the cut surface and mature. eventually these shoots are cut and new ones replace them. shoots have many uses including fencing
what is rotational coppicing
woodland divided into sections. trees only cut in a particular section until all have been coppiced.
Coppicing then begins in another area, allowing time for newly coppiced trees to grow. process continues until you get to the original coppiced trees.
no trees block sunlight
no succession
maintains biodiversity
affects of rotational coppicing on biodiversity
maintains biodiversity as trees never grow enough to block out the light
Hence, succession cannot occur and so more species survive
what is pollarding
trunk is cut higher up so that deer and other animals cannot eat the new shoots as they appear
Large scale timber production methods of sustainability
-selective cutting (only the bigger trees)
-Replace trees through replanting (rather than natural regeneration)
-Plant trees an optimal distance apart to reduce competition
-Manage pests and pathogens
-Ensure areas of forest remain for indigenous people
Disadvantages of large scale timber production sustainability methods
felling of large area of trees
habitats destroyed
soil minerals reduced
bare soil susceptible for erosion
role of trees is important
techniques to combat overfishing
-quotas provide limits on numbers of certain species caught in a particular area
-use of nets with different net/mesh sizes to allow immature fish to escape
- allow only commercial and recreational fishing at certain times of year -> protect breeding season
-Fish farming to protect wild species -> Controlled environment = constant supply also -prevent loss of wild species
species present in The Terai Arc
(border of Nepal and India)
-Bengal Tiger
-Asian elephant
why are the species present in The Terai Arc at risk
(border of Nepal and India)
-Deforestation for houses
-Competition with humans e.g: get shot
conservation management strategies for species present in The Terai Arc
(border of Nepal and India)
-plant mint around crops to deter animals that don’t like the taste
-Provide people with solar cookers, biogas generators, so don’t use wood for food
Conservation management strategies for The Massai MAra (kenya)
-Make money from their land through conservation and ecotourism projects rather than farming
-farm in sustainable way
Conservation management strategies for Peat Bogs (uK)
-Environmental stewardship scheme : gives farmers money to use peat bogs in sustainable ways e.g: reduce surface runoff
lower number of livestock using peat bogs
remove livestock over winter
how are the effects of human activities controlled in THe Galapagos islands
-Eradication programmes remove wild goats from smaller islands, wild dogs from larger islands
-Quinine trees kept in check using chemical herbicides and uprooting young trees
-Marine protected area around islands, sets limits and controls on fishing
-When visiting, no bringing live plants or animals , no moving them between islands. only visit with licenced guide
how are the effects of human activities controlled in Antartica
-Internally protected by the Antartic Treaty + is treated as a native reserve
-Commerical whaling banned completey in 1994 in surrounding oceans
-Seal hunting banned
-Fishing occours within limit set by scientists
-All waste (food waste) + sewage must be taken away by a ship+ have to treat sewage before release
-Tourist restrictions
-ships banned from using thick oil
how are the effects of human activities controlled in in The Lake district
replanting native tree species
how are the effects of human activities controlled in snowdonia
power station located inside mountain
phase one of a population growth curve
period of slow growth
-the small numbers of individuals that are initially present reproduce, increasing the total population. For population size to increase, the birth rate is higher than the death rate
phase 2 of a population growth curve
period of rapid growth. number of breeding indivs increses, total population multiplies exponentially.
no constraints act to limit population explosion
phase 3 of a population growth curve
A stable state, Further population growth is prevented by external constraints.
During this time, the population size fluctuates, but overall its size remains relatively stable
-Birth rates and death rates are approximately equal
slight fluctuations can by accounted for by fluctuations in limiting factors e.g presence of predators
Density independent factors
factors that have an effect on the whole population regardless of its size. can dramatically change pop. size
e.g: earthquakes, fires volcanic eruptions, storms
competitive exclusion principle
where two species are competed for limiting resources, the one that is better adapted to use their resources more effectively will ultimately eliminate the other
example of interspecific competition (squirrel)
between red and grey squirrels for food and territory in Uk.
Grey squirrel native to north America brought into UK (1870s). Population rapidly increased and resulted in native red squirrel disappearing from many areas.
This is primarily because grey squirrels can eat a wider range of food and can store more fat as it is larger than red squirrel .
This increases its chances of survival and therefore its ability to reproduce, thus increasing its population.
increasing pop. of grey squirrels further reduces the food available to red squirrels, reducing their ability to reproduce and survive
stages of intraspecific competition graph
1)when a resource is plentiful in a habitat (such as food or space), all organisms have enough of the resource to survive and reproduce. = increase in pop. size
2) because of increased population, many more indivs share the food or space available. Resources now limited: not enough for all organisms to survive. pop. will decrease in size
3) Less competition exists as the smaller population means less organisms are competing for the same resources. Enough resources for all organisms. Means more organisms survive and reproduce, resulting in pop. growth.
cycle events repeat
stages of predator prey population relationship graph 1 - 4
1)Increase in prey pop. provide more food for predators.
Allow more to survive and reproduce. increase predator pop.
2)Increased predator pop. eats more prey organisms , causing a decrease in prey pop. Death rate of prey pop. is higher than its birth rate
3)Reduced prey pop. can no longer support large predator pop. Intraspecific competition for food increases, resulting in a decrease of size predator pop.
4) reduced predator numbers results in less prey population being killed. More prey organisms survive and reproduce , increasing prey population.
cycle begins again
other factors affecting predator prey relationship
-availability of food plants for prey
-presence of other predators
-seasonal changes causing change in abiotic factors
Importance of Conservation - three categories
economic
social
ethical
ethical reasons for Importance of Conservation
-all organisms have right to exist
-most play important role within ecosystem
-we should not have right to decide which organisms survive and which to live without
-moral responsibility for future generations to conserve wide variety of existing natural ecosystems
economic reasons for Importance of Conservation
-provide resources humans need to survive
-provide income
-
social reasons for Importance of Conservation
-many people enjoy natural beauty of wild ecosystems as well as using them for activities which are beneficial to health = relaxation , exercise
what does (CITES) stand foragreement
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
what does (CBD) stand for; conservation agreement
Rio Convention on Biological Diversity
what does CSS stand for
Countryside Stewardship scheme
aims of CSS
q
-sustainable beauty of countryside
- maintain footpaths and remove litter/provide bins
- improve habitats for animals
- Preserve archeological and historical sites
aims of CBD
-sustainable use of organisms/habittats, ecosystems
-share genetic resources
-share scientific knowlege
-promote ex situ conservation
-Raise the profile ogf biodiversity with governments
international cooporation on diversity issues
aims of CITES
-Regulate and moniter trade in selected species
-ensure trade in animals does not threaten wild populations
-prohibit the commercial trade of wild plants
-allow artificially propogated plants to be sold
-less endangered plants can be traded
