Reasons for species becoming endangered/extinct

Question 1

natural selection

Answer 1

existing species do not have the ability to survive in a changing environment

Question 2

deforestation

Answer 2

removal of large areas of forest

Question 3

habitat destruction

Answer 3

wetland drainage for agricultural land or building

Question 4

loss of hedgerows

Answer 4

increase field size for the use of machinery

Question 5

pollution

Answer 5

unregulated industry polluting rivers

Question 6

hunting & collecting

Answer 6

collecting parts for profits

Question 7

competition from domestic animals

Answer 7

invasive species outcompetes native species

Question 8

conservation

Answer 8

the maintenance of the biosphere and enhancement of biodiversity locally including: habitat protection by nature reserves and SSI; international cooperation restricting trade - breeding programmes by zoos and botanic gardens plus sperm banks and seed stores and reintroduction programmes

Question 9

what does conservation of species ensure?

Answer 9

ensures the conversation of existing gene pools

Question 10

Nature Reserves & SSSIs

Answer 10

• prevent biodiversity from being damaged or destroyed
• manages to improve & maintain habitat quality
• act as living gene banks

Question 11

Restriction on trade

Answer 11

• reduce the number of individuals killed
• less harvesting of organisms -> increased biodiversity

Question 12

Zoo Breeding Programmes

Answer 12

• animals on the edge of extinction can be taken into zoos
• animal from several subspecies can breed
• can outbreed with animals from different zoos

Question 13

Sperm/Seed banks

Answer 13

• can be used to store genes
• can be sent around the world as a part of breeding programmes
• store genetics (though seeds degrade so samples are thawed & germinated & another generation of seeds is periodically collected)

Question 14

Reintroductions

Answer 14

where a species has been lost individuals can be reintroduced under specific conditions

Question 15

why is conservation of species important?

Answer 15

• the uniqueness of each species is intrinsically valuable
• selective breeding has lost genetic diversity
• conserving alleles that may be advantageous in the future
• medical uses (antibiotics)
• undiscovered drugs