The Importance of the Conservation of Biodiversity

Question 1

What are the 5 main resources collected from wildlife?

Answer 1

• Wood (e.g. timber for construction)
• Fibres (e.g. cotton)
• Oils (e.g. vegetable oils)
• Fuels (e.g. charcoal)
• Food and future food resources

Question 2

How is biodiversity important for future food resources?

Answer 2

There are a large number of plant species with the potential for commercial cultivation as well as animals with the potential for domestication

Question 3

What is an example of a plant species with the potential for commercial cultivation?

Answer 3

Potato bean, North America

Question 4

What is an example of an animal species with the potential for domestication?

Answer 4

American Bison

Question 5

What is biomimetics?

Answer 5

A design concept that draws inspiration from nature and its processes to solve complex human problems

Question 6

Why is biomimetics important?

Answer 6

Features of living organisms may be used in the development of new structures and materials (e.g. vehicle design, architecture)

Question 7

What is an example of biomimetics?

Answer 7

The V-shaped formation of flocks of birds has been incorporated into the design of jet wings (reduces fuel requirements by 15%)

Question 8

What is the significance of poppies in the development of new medicines?

Answer 8

Poppies produce opioids such as morphine which are used to treat chronic pain

Question 9

What is the significance of willow bark in the development of new medicines?

Answer 9

Willow bark was historically used to produce aspirin which acts as a painkiller

Question 10

What is the significance of the Madagascan periwinkle in the development of new medicines?

Answer 10

The Madagascan periwinkle produces vincristine which is used to treat childhood leukaemia (increases chances of survival by 80%)

Question 11

What is physiological research?

Answer 11

Medical research on animal species which is useful for treating human diseases and health problems

Question 12

How have squids contributed to physiological research?

Answer 12

Squids have been used to increase scientists’ understanding of the human nervous system and allowed the development of treatments for Alzheimer’s due to their long nerve cells

Question 13

How have armadillos contributed to physiological research?

Answer 13

Armadillos have been used to increase scientists’ understanding of leprosy and allowed the development of vaccinations for the disease as they are one of the few animal species that can catch it

Question 14

What is biological control?

Answer 14

The use of living organisms to control the population of agricultural pests

Question 15

How have ground beetles been used for biological control?

Answer 15

Ground beetles control the aphid population (e.g. greenflies) and reduce the use of agricultural pesticides

Question 16

How have parasitic wasps been used for biological control?

Answer 16

Parasitic wasps hatch from inside a dead aphid and then lays its eggs inside other aphids (often used in greenhouses)

Question 17

Why is wildlife important for genetic resources?

Answer 17

New genes which can improve crop characteristics can be found in the wild relatives of cultivated crops

Question 18

What is a Vavilov Centre?

Answer 18

A geographical area that contains a large number of close relatives of important crop species (before domestication and selective breeding)

Question 19

How does domestication and selective breeding affect genetic diversity?

Answer 19

Genetic diversity is decreased

Question 20

What is a CWR?

Answer 20

Crop Wild Relative - a wild plant closely related to a domesticated plant used for food production

Question 21

Why are CWRs useful?

Answer 21

They contain useful genetic diversity for adapting the characteristics of important agricultural crops

Question 22

What are the examples of crop characteristics can CWRs change?

Answer 22

• Disease resistance
• Salt tolerance
• Drought resistance

Question 23

What are the examples of threats to Vavilov centres?

Answer 23

• Deforestation
• Urbanisation
• Mining and resource extraction

Question 24

What is an example of the use of CWRs?

Answer 24

CWRs have been used in Vietnam to increase the salt tolerance of rice

Question 25

How does wildlife contribute to atmospheric composition?

Answer 25

Plant species photosynthesise and animal species aerobically respire which regulates atmospheric O2 and CO2

Question 26

How does wildlife contribute to biogeochemical cycles?

Answer 26

• Plants are important in the hydrological cycle (e.g. interception increases groundwater supplies)
• Photoautotrophs sequester CO2 from the atmosphere and regulate atmospheric temperature

Question 27

What are the 3 examples of inter-species relationships?

Answer 27

• Pollination
• Seed dispersal
• Habitat provision

Question 28

What are the 4 examples of seed dispersal?

Answer 28

• Seed excretion (e.g. birds)
• Seeds sticking to fur
• Exploding seeds
• Seeds stored by hibernating animals

Question 29

What is pollination?

Answer 29

The transfer of pollen grains from the stamen to the stigma and egg

Question 30

What are 5 examples of pollinators?

Answer 30

• Bees
• Wasps
• Hummingbirds
• Bats
• Butterflies

Question 31

How do beavers provide habitats for other species?

Answer 31

Beavers are a keystone species and build dams which influence lake/river habitats

Question 32

How can predation be beneficial for a species?

Answer 32

Natural selection occurs and removes less advantageous characteristics from a population

Question 33

What are the 4 examples of threats to the global bee population?

Answer 33

• Intensive farming
• Nicotine-based insecticides
• Habitat loss
• Changes in agricultural techniques

Question 34

How do nicotine-based insecticides threaten the global bee population?

Answer 34

Insecticides such as neonicotinoids act as toxins to bees and negatively affects their co-ordination

Question 35

How is wildlife important for soil maintenance?

Answer 35

• Death and decay provide nutrients to the soil allowing for nutrient cycling to take place
• Detritivores and decomposers break down DOM which binds the soil