T3 (Biodiversity) Case Studies

Question 1

Hotspot Example

Answer 1

Madagascar

• only home of lemurs
• of over 40 lemur species, most endangered or at risk of becoming so

Question 2

Darwin’s Natural Selection: Worms

Answer 2

Natural selection for Noctural worms (eat at night)
Natural selection against Diurnal worms (eat at day)
1. Population variation = 2 types worm
2. Variations favourable = Nocturnal as birds eat during day so eat only diurnal
3. More offspring produced then survive - 100/500 survive and reproduce
4. Survivors have favourable traits - more nocturnal survive and reproduce
5. Gradual population change = nocturnal population increases, diurnal decreases

Question 3

Darwin’s Natural Selection: Polar Bears

Answer 3

Natural selection for Thick coats polar bears (kept warm in harsh winter conditions)
Natural Selection against thin coats polar bears
1. Population Variation = thick, think and medium coats
2. Variations favourable = thick coats
3. More offspring produced then survive = 1/2 cubs survive due to extreme temps
4. Survivors have favourable traits = more thick coats survive and reproduce
5. Gradual population change = thick coats population increase, thin decrease

Question 4

Darwin’s Natural Selection: Ostriches

Answer 4

Natural selection for fast runners ostriches
Natural selection against slow runners
1. Population variation = slow and fast runners
2. Some variations favourable = fast (reach 40mph) can outrun predators (Jackals reach 35-40mph)
3. More offspring produced then survive = 10 eggs but rodents break into eggs and eat fetus before hatched
4. Survivors have favourable traits = fast ostriches survive and reproduce
5. Gradual population change = fast increase, slow decrease

Question 5

Darwin’s Natural Selection: Rabbits

Answer 5

Natural Selection against berry/flower eaters rabbits
Natural Selection for grass eaters rabbits
1. Population Variations = grass-eaters and berry/flower-eaters
2. Some variations favourable = grass-eaters have food and survive (drought = plants can’t produce extras (berries/flowers) only keep green)
3. More offspring then survive = rabbits have babies all year but eaten by foxes/hawks and die from starvation due to drought
4. Survivors have favourable traits = grass-eaters survive and reproduce
5. Gradual population change = grass increase, berry/flower decrease

Question 6

Isolation causing Speciation

Answer 6

Islands of Galapagos = separated & different environmental & biological conditions
Populations of animal/plant from mainland South America e.g. ancestral population of mockingbirds spread onto different islands = geographically isolated. They evolve differently according to island conditions

Question 7

Speciation

Answer 7

Spotted Owl North America

• geographically isolated = 2 varieties (Northern Spotted Owl and Mexican Spotted Owl)
• time and isolation eventually = unable to interbreed and produce fertile offspring therefore 2 different species

Question 8

Plate Tectonics and Evolution: movement of plates apart

Answer 8

Separation of Australia = preservation of distinct flora + fauna e.g. Kangaroos

Question 9

Movement of plates through different climatic zones = new habitats

Answer 9

Northward movement of Australian plate and subsequent drying of much of the continent = changes in the selective forces on species = evolution of drought-tolerant species

Question 10

Subduction (oceanic under continental) = new island arcs

Answer 10

New Zealand = pacific plate being subjected under Indian/Australian plate

Question 11

Subduction (oceanic under continental) = mountain areas and volcanic action

Answer 11

Andes of South America

Cascade Range North West USA

Question 12

Subduction (oceanic under oceanic) = new islands

Answer 12

Formed this way:

Japan, Philippines

Question 13

Continental Plates Colliding = mountain ranges

Answer 13

Himalayas - Indian plate being pushed against large Asian plate

Question 14

Continental plates moving apart = rift valleys and lakes // new land from rising magma

Answer 14

Lake Victoria in East African rift valley
//
Iceland

Question 15

Hotspots caused by movement of plates over areas where magma rises = chains of islands

Answer 15

Galapagos Islands

Hawaii

Question 16

Mass Extinction 5 (most recent)

Answer 16

Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction

• 65mn yrs ago
• likely causes = asteroid impact, volcanic eruptions of India’s Deccan Traps, Tectonic Plate Movements
• 76% species killed

Question 17

Mass Extinction 4 (2nd youngest)

Answer 17

The End Triassic Extinction

• 199-214mn yrs ago
• likely cause = floods of lava from Atlantic Ocean opening
• 80% species killed

Question 18

Mass Extinction 3 (middle)

Answer 18

The Permian-Triassic Extinction

• 251mn yrs ago
• likely causes = comet/asteroid impact, flood volcanism from Siberian traps, Plate Movement
• 96% species killed

Question 19

Mass Extinction 2 (second oldest)

Answer 19

The Late Devonian Extinction

• 364mn yrs ago
• likely cause = global cooling
• 75% species killed

Question 20

Mass Extinction 1 (oldest)

Answer 20

The Ordovician-Silurian Extinction

• 439mn yrs ago
• likely cause = sea level drop or rise
• 86% species killed

Question 21

Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Destruction Examples

Answer 21

• 13mn hectares forest cleared annually
• 50% global wetlands lost since 1900
• Giant Panda reduced to far west China: bamboo forests reduced 50%

Question 22

Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Fragmentation Example

Answer 22

• 50% England/Wales Woodlands now pockets of less than 20 hectares

Question 23

Threats to Biodiversity: Climate Change Examples

Answer 23

• UK flowers second ‘spring’: bluebells moving North to cooler temp
• polar bears lack ice to hunt seals = not enough fat for winter hibernation / can’t feed cubs
• Less fish Peru coast due to El nino change

Question 24

Threats to Biodiversity: Over-Exploitation Examples

Answer 24

• 20% human population dependent on fish as main source of protein (over-fishing an issue)
• Grand Banks area off Newfoundland over-fishing from 1950s with factory trawlers = cod stocks collapsed 1980s, ban cod fishing 1992 = 30,000 jobs lost
• Over 70% fish species fully exploited or depleted

Question 25

Threats to Biodiversity: Alien Species Examples

Answer 25

- Purple Loosestrife flower of Europe introduced in USA where few insect predators = spread "purple peril" - New Zealand brush tail possum introduced (from Australia), no predators = damage (70mn possums eat 21,000 tonnes vegetation a night) - Zebra mussel introduced USA = up to 700,000 per square m in freshwater lakes/rivers = damage fish, reduce dam / power plant capacity (no predator)

Question 26

Economic Value of Conserving Biodiversity Example

Answer 26

- Rosy Periwinkle (plant endemic to Madagascar) used in cancer treatment

Question 27

Conservation Organisations: IGOs (Inter-governmental Organisations)

Answer 27

1. UNESCO: encourage international peace and universal respect for human rights by promoting nations collaboration 2. International Whaling Commission: Conservation and management of whales/whaling (88 member govs) 3. UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme): 1972, provide sustainable development, monitor global environment, helping authorities formulate/ implement environmental policies, coordinate UN activities on environment, develop environmental sustainability programmes, develop international environmental law 4. IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): help global societies conserve nature, ensure resource use is equitable and ecologically sustained

Question 28

Conservation Organisations: GOs (Governmental Organisations)

Answer 28

1. United States Environmental Protection Agency: protect americans from human health risks and environment, reduce environmental risk, protect environment and human health with laws, ensure environmental protections place in US policy, ensure info access to all in society, promote diversity in ecosystems, ensure USA leadership role in environmental protection

Question 29

Conservation Organisations: NGOs (Non-governmental Organisations)

Answer 29

1. Wildlife Conservation Society: conserve world's largest wild places in 16 priority regions and work with organisations to change laws to respect environments they work in, campaign change wildlife protection policies, work with local govs 2. Sea Shepherd: saving whales to safeguard ocean ecosystem biodiversity, intervene at sea (direct action) 3. Greenpeace: acts to change attitudes/behaviours, protect environment and promote peace, expose environmental destruction, political lobbying, citizen action and consumer pressure to bring change 4. WWF (World Wildlife Fund): stop degradation of planet, conserve, use of renewables, pollution and waste reduction, sustainability, conserve important habitat and species (global priority places)

Question 30

International Conventions on Biodiversity (Timeline)

Answer 30

- Stockholm conference (research prompted, and acceptance development + environment linked) to UNEP creation - 1987 Montreal Protocol - WCS (World Conservation Strategy) 1980: outlined global priorities for action + recommended each country have own national strategy, importance of making users of natural resources their guardians, maintain ecological processes + life support systems, preserve genetic diversity - 1991 Caring for the Earth: A strategy for sustainable living: stated benefits sustainable use natural resources and sharing resources equally - 1992 Rio Earth Summit: examine progress since Stockholm, elaborate strategies to halt environmental degradation, promote sustainable development, conserve natural resources, equitable sharing of benefits of utilisation of genetic resources - Agenda 21: world action plan sustainable development C21st - 2000 Millennium Summit = Millennium Development Goals - time-bound + measurable goals (complete by 2015 e.g. environmental sustainability, eradicate extreme poverty + hunger, achieve universal primary education etc.) - 2001 EU heads of state agreement: halt biodiversity decline by 2010 FAILED - 2005 World Summit, New York: outlined global priorities and recommended national strategies for natural resource conservation - Rio +20 2013: how to build green economy - Paris Climate Agreement 2015: global action plan to avoid dangerous climate change, limit warming below 2 degrees

Question 31

Conservation Body

Answer 31

CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Flora and Fauna) - Agreement between Govs - Animals classified based on threat to them by international trade (Appendix 1, 2 + 3 (cannot be traded, strict regulations to trade, included at specific request)) + protects species, many countries signed, treaty across borders, legally binding, prevents trade threatening extinction, imports/exports through licensing system - hard to enforce, implementation varies between countries, countries must make own national laws to ensure CITES applied, prioritises animal over habitat protection, voluntary, consequences not severe

Question 32

Conservation: Botanical Gardens + Seed Banks

Answer 32

- Kew Gardens London = largest botanical garden in world, 25,000 plant species - Global Seed Vault Svalbard

Question 33

Conservation: Keystone Species

Answer 33

- Beavers (engineers that create habitats) | - Sea Otters (small predators that keep herbivore no. low enough that produces can survive)

Question 34

Successful Reintroduction Programme

Answer 34

Black-footed Ferrets - Since 1991 state + federal agencies with native American tribes, private landowners, non-profit organisations + north American zoo community reintroduced thousands into the wild - 28 reintroduction sites - 150-220 ferrets reintroduced a year - no. wild born ferrets relocated to other sites to bolster populations - monitored by scientists + volunteers: night-time spotlight surveys - late summer efforts to locate litters in wild - Biologists use live traps + transponder chip readers to identify ferrets - Winter snow-tracking surveys conducted to locate ferrets

Question 35

Protected Area

Answer 35

Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA), Malaysian Borneo - Yayasan Sabah Forest Management Area of commercial hardwood forest containing protected areas, rehabilitated areas and commercial forestry areas - DVCA covers 43,800ha of almost entirely hardwood trees - threat commercial logging - to east = 30,000ha Innoprise-FACE Foundation Rainforest Rehabilitation Project, west = Innoprise-IKEA Project - project funding from state foundation Yayasan Sabah + companies e.g. Shell, BP - High international profile - Field centre managed by locals, local school nature interest = employment, education, training - long-term research programme Yayasan Sabah + UK Royal Society = awareness of conservation + scientific info - Maliau Basin + Imbak Canyon conservation areas linked by commercial forest corridors - movement of animals as conservation areas within wider forest allows survival e.g. orang-utan - 1990s hotel established - ecotourism flourishes = revenue + international profile - June 2013 Sabah State Assembly reclassified forests as protected areas - created largest protected area in Malaysia 500,000ha Limitations: - oil palm plantations close to protected area = neg for ecotourism tourists don't want agriculture close - people close to protected area = illegal poaching + logging - DVCA funding raised by logging + land conversion = conflict activities for funds and aims protected area - currently designated a conservation area, could change in leadership changes