populations and sustainability

Question 1

what does the population growth curve look like?

Answer 1

• lag phase (small founder population)
• exponential growth phase (max breeding rate)
• stationary phase (fluctuations so population is at carrying capacity)

Question 2

what is carrying capacity?

Answer 2

maximum population an ecosystem can support

Question 3

what is a limiting factor of a population?

Answer 3

limits populations growth or reduce it

Question 4

what are abiotic limiting factors?

Answer 4

• light intensity
• temperature
• light quality (wavelengths)
• pH
• water availability
  they are mostly density independent

Question 5

what are biotic limiting factors?

Answer 5

• predation
• competition
• migration
• disease
  they are density dependent

Question 6

what is the effect of interspecific competition?

Answer 6

• reduce overall resource level
• results in smaller populations
• better adapted species survive

Question 7

what is the effect of intraspecific competition?

Answer 7

• competition for the same resources such as territory
• leads to fluctuations in population size

Question 8

what does the intraspecific competition graph look like?

Answer 8

1: increase - growth and breeding
2: decrease - competition
3: increase - more resources available

Question 9

what is conservation?

Answer 9

maintenance of biodiversity in ecosystems through human action or management

Question 10

what does conservation focus on?

Answer 10

• maintaining diversity between species
• maintaining genetic diversity within a species
• maintaining habitats

Question 11

what is preservation?

Answer 11

protection of an ecosystem by restricting or banning human activity so it remains its original state

Question 12

why might an ecosystem be preserved?

Answer 12

• ecological sensitivity
• archaeological sensitivity
• palaeontological sensitivity

Question 13

what are the 3 categories of reasons for conservation?

Answer 13

• economical
• social
• ethical

Question 14

what are the economic reasons for conservation?

Answer 14

• provide resources for humans
• allows human survival (medicines, timber)
• prevent soil erosion
• genetic diversity
• high biodiversity protects against biotic and abiotic stress

Question 15

what are the social reasons for conservation?

Answer 15

• benefits to human health
• ecotourism
• enjoyment of natural beauty

Question 16

what are the ethical reasons for conservation?

Answer 16

• organisms have a right to exist
• moral responsibility
• preservation of keystone species

Question 17

what are the aims of sustainable management?

Answer 17

• reserve ecosystems
• resource availability in the future
• healthy lives for humans
• allow LEDCs to develop through use of natural resources
• create an even balance between resource consumption between MEDCs and LEDCs

Question 18

how is small scale timber production sustainable?

Answer 18

coppicing where trees are cut close to the ground so new shoots can grow

Question 19

how is large scale timber production sustainable?

Answer 19

• selective cutting
• replanting trees
• place trees far apart to reduce competition
• manage pests to maximise yield

Question 20

how has fishing been made sustainable?

Answer 20

• larger mesh sizes to allow smaller fish to leave and mature
• restricting commercial and recreational fishing to certain times of the year
• protected areas

Question 21

what are the key features of the masai mara national reserve?

Answer 21

• wildlife reserve
• savannah ecosystem
• divided by a river and fertile lands

Question 22

what species inhabit the masai mara national reserve?

Answer 22

• acacia bushes
• wildebeest
• tsetse fly
• shrubs and trees

Question 23

what are the human impacts on the masai mara national reserve?

Answer 23

• tribal livestock graze on the grass and deprive it of nutrients
• trees removed for fuel

Question 24

what are the conservation methods of the masai mara national reserve?

Answer 24

• ecotourism
• limited grazing around the edges of the land
• employment of reserve ranger

Question 25

what are the challenges to overcome in the masai mara national reserve?

Answer 25

• grazing animals trample crops and threaten cultivation
• migratory wildlife bring disease and outcompete livestock
• land for homes reduces wildlife density

Question 26

what are the key features of the terai region of nepal?

Answer 26

• agricultural region with fertile land
• watered floodplains on lowlands

Question 27

which species inhabit the terai region of nepal?

Answer 27

• bengal tiger
• sloth bear
• indian rhinoceros
• pipal and bamboo

Question 28

what are the human impacts on the terai region of nepal?

Answer 28

• deforestation causing flooding
• removal of ecosystem for building

Question 29

what are the conservation techniques in the terai region of nepal?

Answer 29

• community forest groups set harvesting rules and prices
• sustainable fuel sources
• increased forest density for biodiversity