PROTECTED AREAS

Question 1

Size

Answer 1

Is it better to have one large reserve or many smaller ones?
Depends on the location of the habitats → If the habitats to be preserved aren’t located reasonably close to each other it will be necessary to keep them separated. However there is a higher risk of suffering edge effects.
Bigger is better because one large area can support more species, niches etc. They can support larger vertebrates and top carnivores.

Question 2

Edge Effects

Answer 2

At the edge of a protected area (called ecotone), there is a change in abiotic factors (e.g. more wind, or warmer and less humid conditions compared to the interior of the reserve).
→ Edge effects attract species that are not found deeper in the reserve, and may also attract exotic species from outside the reserve, leading to increased predation and competition.

Question 3

Shape

Answer 3

The best shape for a reserve is a circle because this has the lowest edge effects. Long thin reserves have large edge effects. In practice, the shape is determined by what is available and where the habitats to be conserved are located. Parks tend to be irregular shapes.

Question 4

Corridors

Answer 4

Corridors are strips of protected land that link reserves. These allow individuals to move from reserve to reserve and so increase the size of the gene pool (genetic diversity) and allow seasonal migration. But corridors can help spread disease across reserves and it may also make it easier for
poachers to act.

Question 5

Buffer Zones

Answer 5

Buffer zones are transitional areas characterized by compatible land uses. They are established around protected areas to minimize the impacts of human activity and land disturbance. For example, a nearby large town or extensive disturbance (e.g. logging) can directly impact a national park if it is not surrounded by an area that buffers (protects) it from effects of the disturbance.