The Rationale for Wildlife Conservation Flashcards
Why should we conserve and protect wildlife?
food source
medicine - current and future
biodiversity
ecotourism
pollination
decomposition
atmospheric regulation
What is biomimetics (biomimicry)?
an innovative design concept that draws inspiration from nature and its elements and processes to solve complex human problems
Example of biomimetics: Bullet train
pointed front mimics a kingfisher’s beak
reduced noise and energy usage
resolved the boom the train made when leaving the tunnel (reduced air resistance)
Example of biomimetics: Velcro
inspired by the burdock plant
small hooks found at the end of the burrs are useful for attaching to things
velcro uses the same idea of little hooks
Example of biomimetics: Turbine
the bumps on the flippers on the humpback whale allow water to flow over more smoothly
fewer turbine blades are needed for the same amount of air flow
able to spin in less windy conditions
Medical (physiological) Research: Squid
used to study the nervous system
contains the largest known nerve cell
able to regenerate their tentacles
helped us understand degenerative diseases- dementia, alzheimer’s
Medical (physiological) Research: Cattle
comparable organ size
study their reproductive biology - IVF
Medical (physiological) Research: Armadillo
produce up to 4 genetically identical babies at one time - useful for drug testing
leprosy research - show similar disease progression to humans
Development of new medicines: Poppies
Opiates
morphine/heroin
treats chronic pain
Development of new medicines: Cinchona Tree
Quinine
treats malaria and swine flu
Development of new medicines: Rosy periwinkle
Vinblastine/Vincristine
treats cancer
vinblastine - Hodgkins’ disease
vincristine - childhood leukaemia
Example of domestication: Red Jungle Foul
domesticated to chickens
What does domestication mean?
adapted over time via selective breeding to live close with humans
Example of domestication: Wild Mustard Plant
domesticated to kale, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts
Potential new food species
insects
fungi
plant based foods
morama bean
What is a Centre of Biodiversity/Vavilov Centre/Centre of Origin?
an area of the world that has high concentrations of the close relatives of important crop species (before domestication)
What is the negative impact of selective breeding/domestication?
reduces the gene pool
What does CWR stand for?
Crop Wild Relative
What is a CWR?
The wild cousins of our agricultural crops
useful for adapting our crops to climate change as they contain the original gene pool
Why are CWRs so important?
More genetically diverse
Genetic resource we may need to solve future problems, for example disease resistance, hardiness, drought resistance
What are the current and future risks to Vavilov Centres and CWRs?
Deforestation and habitat clearance- caused by urbanisation, mining, agriculture
Contamination of gene pool - GM crops, introduced species
Climate Change - droughts, temperature, sea level rise (outside range of tolerance)
What can we do to protect CWRs and Vavilov Centres?
Seed banks
Legal protection - national parks, protected status
Education - sustainable farming
Reduce combustion of fossil fuels
Invest in renewable energy
Reduce methane emissions
Remove invasive species
Examples of CWR characteristics introduced to domesticated crops: Salt tolerant rice
Developed in Vietnam due to increased flooding
Able to tolerate increased salinity in order to protect crop yields and food security
Examples of CWR characteristics introduced to domesticated crops: Potatoes
Developed in Peru
Adapted common potatoes to survive in poor soils and environments
Examples of CWR characteristics introduced to domesticated crops: Bananas
Developed in Southeast Asia
Help fight against threats of disease, pests and droughts
What do we mean by the term biological control?
Using living organisms to control pests
Species used for biological control: Ground beetles and Ladybirds
Control aphids, small insects (agricultural pests)
Reduces need for pesticides
Encouraged by building beetle banks (piles of wood)
Species used for biological control: Parasitic Wasp
Controls aphids
Used in enclosed agricultural systems
Lay eggs inside of the body if the aphid and feeds off its organs and tissues
Species used for biological control: Moths
Controls prickly pear
Moth larvae feed on the plant
How can predation benefit a species?
Controls population size
Reduces competition for light,food,water,mates
Natural selection- removes less advantageous traits
Example of seed dispersal method: Exploding seeds
Pop when touched
Example of seed dispersal method: Burrs
Some plants have hooks/sticky seeds
Attach themselves to mammals and get dispersed away from the original plant
Example of seed dispersal method: Excretion
Plants produce fruit that contain seeds
Animals eat this fruit and disperse it via excretion
What does pollination mean?
The transfer of pollen to a flower or plant to allow fertilisation
Example of pollination relationship: Bees
Symbiotic relationship
Gather pollen from flowers using tiny hairs
This pollen is then transferred to the next plant they land on
Flowers provide bees with nectar
Bees have pollen baskets on their hind legs
Example of pollination relationship: Butterflies
Lay their eggs on the underside of leaves
Pollen attaches to butterfly whilst it drinks nectar, pollen is then transferred to the next plant
Causes of the Bee Population Collapse
Reduction of wildflowers due to increased food production
Nicotine based insecticides (neonicitnoids) prevent bees from navigating/reproducing
Parasitic mites - feed off blood and kill whole colonies
Transfers of foreign diseases- due to international movement of hives
How much do bees contribute to the national and EU economy?
UK = £400 million per annum
EU = €14.2 billion per annum
Example of one species providing a habitat for another
Trees = birds and insects
Beavers = build dams/home for beetles and insects
Coral reefs = fish
Example of how life interacts and supports other earth systems: Hydrological Cycle
Moves water through transpiration
Interception and infiltration
Example of how life interacts and supports other earth systems: Atmospheric composition
Photosynthesis = contribute oxygen, removes carbon dioxide
Example of how life interacts and supports other earth systems: Soil
Decomposition
Bacteria= change nitrogen content
Worms = change texture
