Populations and sustainability Flashcards
2 animals found in the Tera Region (South of Nepal)?
- Bengal tiger
- Greater one-horned rhinoceros (endangered)
What’s the forest in the Terai Region under pressure from?
- expansion of agriculture into forested areas
- grazing from farm animals
- overexploitation of forest + resources
- replacing traditional crops with modern ones
What does the forest provide locals with? (TR)
- fuel
- building materials
- tools
- medicines
What have the WWF and the Nepalese gov done to ensure conservation and development? (TR)
- introduced initiatives in which locals can exploit and look after forest
- have created forest corridors ( needed for dispersal and survival of tigers)
- counteract poachers and illegal felling
What has the WWF Scheme done to reduce demand for firewood? (TR)
- introduced biogas plants and wood efficient stoves
What has the Terai arc project done?
- built waterholes
- monitored endangered species
- eradicated invasive species
Has community involvement combined with governmental and non- governmental (WWF) leadership been successful? (TR)
Yes. Bengal tigers are using corridors and their population is steadily growing.
What has happened to the density bof goat and sheep compared to the density of wildlife in Maasai Mara (Kenya)?
- density of wildlife has dropped
- density of goat and sheep has increased
Why did farmers consolidate their land to form conservancies? (MM)
- to generate tourist income
- conservancies receive payment for wildlife conservation (PWC) schemes.
What are the disadvantages of conservancies? (MM)
- livestock must be moved out of reserve during tourist season where no one receives PWC.
- farmers have constraints on how they use their land
why has the human population in the Galapagos Islands grown?
increased demand for marine products and ecotourism.
What’s happening to some of the species in the GI?
50% of vertebrate species and 25% of plant species are endangered
how has the GI been disturbed?
- more waste, pollution and demand for oil
- oil spill in 2001 negatively affected marine ecosystems
- building and conversion of land for agriculture has caused destruction and fragmentation of habitats.
How have the resources in the GI been exploited?
- in 19th century, 200,000 tortoises killed in less than half a century.
- Charles Darwin Research Station has a captive breeding programme to increase their numbers
- death of many sharks due to market for shark fins
What are the effects of introduced species on the GI?
- alien species out- compete, eat, bring disease, destroy habitats of native species
- cats hunt lava lizard + young iguanas.
- red quinine out compete native trees
- goats feed on giant-tortoise food supply and disrupt their nesting sites
How have the effects of human activity in the GI been managed?
- Charles Darwin Research Station search arriving boats and tourists for foreign species
- natural predators released to reduce no of pests
- culling (slaughter) against feral goats and pigs
- there are zones where no extraction of resources is allowed
What are the issues concerning Krill in the antarctica?
- modern technology means that large amounts of krill can be harvested very quickly
- natural predators can’t adapt as easily to find krill elsewhere
How is overexploitation of krill controlled? (A)
- There’s a trigger level catch size in particular areas
- fishing conducted equally across all areas, up to the total catch limit
Protected areas in Antarctica
- within sanctuaries, it’s illegal to hunt and kill whales
- monitoring whaling activity to ensure sanctuary is effective
How does long-line fishing kill Albatrosses and Petrels (birds) and is it prevented? (A)
- they swallow the hooks
- weighted lines used which sink more quickly and used at night to avoid breeding, nesting and feeding times
What are farmers given financial incentives for in The Lake District?
- reduce chemical use
- safeguard hedges
- take care of habitats present
Why are spruce and pine trees an issue in LD and what’s the solution?
- support limited biodiversity
- SOLUTION - generate more varied planting and felling patterns
Why are invasive trees (like laurel) an issue in LD and what’s the solution?
- their dense canopy blocks sunlight reaching floor and roots produce toxic chemicals which stop other plants growing
SOLUTION - invasive plant species physically removed
What are the issues concerning mires in LD and what’s the solution?
- mires (habitat for lichens, mosses) provide breeding ground for moorland birds.
- mires under threat from burning, grazing and drainage for agriculture
- peat extraction also threatens habitat
SOLUTION - mires rewetted and grazing controlled in areas with rare plants
What are the issues concerning cliff communities in LD and what’s the solution?
- provide habitat for wheatear and nesting site for golden eagle
- damaged by walkers and climbers
SOLUTION - seasonal restrictions on walking, paths well maintained to prevent people walking off them.
Why are good paths maintained in Snowdonia National Park?
- so rare plants are not trodden on
Why is rubbish maintained in Snowdonia National Park?
- gutters become blocked by rubbish causing erosion of paths
What are farmers encouraged to do in SNP?
- plant hedges
- conserve ancient woodland
What have farmers done on mountains?
reduced sheep grazing
What are the issues concerning farmers digging open drainage ditches in SNP and what’s the solution?
- causes poor water quality in rivers and increases flood risk
SOLUTION - ditches blocked by hale bales
concerning conifers being planted as cash crops in SNP and what’s the solution?
- dries out moorland
SOLUTION - block drainage ditches to slow water flow and keep land moist.
define carrying capacity
the maximum population size that can be maintained over a period in a habitat
define limiting factor
factor whose magnitude slows down the rate of a natural process if it’s at low levels
define preservation
maintenance of habitats and ecosystems in their present condition, minimising human impact
define conservation
- the protection and management of ecosystems so that their natural resources can be used without them running out
- involves human intervention
