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Environmental Science > The Rationale for Wildlife Conservation > Flashcards

The Rationale for Wildlife Conservation Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Why should we conserve and protect wildlife?

A

food source
medicine - current and future
biodiversity
ecotourism
pollination
decomposition
atmospheric regulation

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2
Q

What is biomimetics (biomimicry)?

A

an innovative design concept that draws inspiration from nature and its elements and processes to solve complex human problems

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3
Q

Example of biomimetics: Bullet train

A

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)

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4
Q

Example of biomimetics: Velcro

A

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

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5
Q

Example of biomimetics: Turbine

A

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

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6
Q

Medical (physiological) Research: Squid

A

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

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7
Q

Medical (physiological) Research: Cattle

A

comparable organ size

study their reproductive biology - IVF

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8
Q

Medical (physiological) Research: Armadillo

A

produce up to 4 genetically identical babies at one time - useful for drug testing

leprosy research - show similar disease progression to humans

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8
Q

Development of new medicines: Poppies

A

Opiates
morphine/heroin
treats chronic pain

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8
Q

Development of new medicines: Cinchona Tree

A

Quinine

treats malaria and swine flu

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8
Q

Development of new medicines: Rosy periwinkle

A

Vinblastine/Vincristine

treats cancer

vinblastine - Hodgkins’ disease
vincristine - childhood leukaemia

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8
Q

Example of domestication: Red Jungle Foul

A

domesticated to chickens

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8
Q

What does domestication mean?

A

adapted over time via selective breeding to live close with humans

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9
Q

Example of domestication: Wild Mustard Plant

A

domesticated to kale, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts

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10
Q

Potential new food species

A

insects
fungi
plant based foods
morama bean

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11
Q

What is a Centre of Biodiversity/Vavilov Centre/Centre of Origin?

A

an area of the world that has high concentrations of the close relatives of important crop species (before domestication)

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12
Q

What is the negative impact of selective breeding/domestication?

A

reduces the gene pool

13
Q

What does CWR stand for?

A

Crop Wild Relative

14
Q

What is a CWR?

A

The wild cousins of our agricultural crops

useful for adapting our crops to climate change as they contain the original gene pool

15
Q

Why are CWRs so important?

A

More genetically diverse

Genetic resource we may need to solve future problems, for example disease resistance, hardiness, drought resistance

16
Q

What are the current and future risks to Vavilov Centres and CWRs?

A

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)

17
Q

What can we do to protect CWRs and Vavilov Centres?

A

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

18
Q

Examples of CWR characteristics introduced to domesticated crops: Salt tolerant rice

A

Developed in Vietnam due to increased flooding

Able to tolerate increased salinity in order to protect crop yields and food security

19
Q

Examples of CWR characteristics introduced to domesticated crops: Potatoes

A

Developed in Peru

Adapted common potatoes to survive in poor soils and environments

20
Q

Examples of CWR characteristics introduced to domesticated crops: Bananas

A

Developed in Southeast Asia

Help fight against threats of disease, pests and droughts

21
Q

What do we mean by the term biological control?

A

Using living organisms to control pests

22
Q

Species used for biological control: Ground beetles and Ladybirds

A

Control aphids, small insects (agricultural pests)

Reduces need for pesticides

Encouraged by building beetle banks (piles of wood)

23
Q

Species used for biological control: Parasitic Wasp

A

Controls aphids

Used in enclosed agricultural systems

Lay eggs inside of the body if the aphid and feeds off its organs and tissues

24
Q

Species used for biological control: Moths

A

Controls prickly pear

Moth larvae feed on the plant

25
Q

How can predation benefit a species?

A

Controls population size

Reduces competition for light,food,water,mates

Natural selection- removes less advantageous traits

26
Q

Example of seed dispersal method: Exploding seeds

A

Pop when touched

27
Q

Example of seed dispersal method: Burrs

A

Some plants have hooks/sticky seeds

Attach themselves to mammals and get dispersed away from the original plant

28
Q

Example of seed dispersal method: Excretion

A

Plants produce fruit that contain seeds

Animals eat this fruit and disperse it via excretion

29
Q

What does pollination mean?

A

The transfer of pollen to a flower or plant to allow fertilisation

30
Q

Example of pollination relationship: Bees

A

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

31
Q

Example of pollination relationship: Butterflies

A

Lay their eggs on the underside of leaves

Pollen attaches to butterfly whilst it drinks nectar, pollen is then transferred to the next plant

32
Q

Causes of the Bee Population Collapse

A

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

33
Q

How much do bees contribute to the national and EU economy?

A

UK = £400 million per annum

EU = €14.2 billion per annum

34
Q

Example of one species providing a habitat for another

A

Trees = birds and insects

Beavers = build dams/home for beetles and insects

Coral reefs = fish

35
Q

Example of how life interacts and supports other earth systems: Hydrological Cycle

A

Moves water through transpiration

Interception and infiltration

36
Q

Example of how life interacts and supports other earth systems: Atmospheric composition

A

Photosynthesis = contribute oxygen, removes carbon dioxide

37
Q

Example of how life interacts and supports other earth systems: Soil

A

Decomposition

Bacteria= change nitrogen content

Worms = change texture

Environmental Science (25 decks)

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