The Rationale for Wildlife Conservation

Question 1

Why should we conserve and protect wildlife?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is biomimetics (biomimicry)?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Example of biomimetics: Bullet train

Answer 3

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)

Question 4

Example of biomimetics: Velcro

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Example of biomimetics: Turbine

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Medical (physiological) Research: Squid

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Medical (physiological) Research: Cattle

Answer 7

comparable organ size

study their reproductive biology - IVF

Question 8

Medical (physiological) Research: Armadillo

Answer 8

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

leprosy research - show similar disease progression to humans

Question 8

Development of new medicines: Poppies

Answer 8

Opiates
morphine/heroin
treats chronic pain

Question 8

Development of new medicines: Cinchona Tree

Answer 8

Quinine

treats malaria and swine flu

Question 8

Development of new medicines: Rosy periwinkle

Answer 8

Vinblastine/Vincristine

treats cancer

vinblastine - Hodgkins’ disease
vincristine - childhood leukaemia

Question 8

Example of domestication: Red Jungle Foul

Answer 8

domesticated to chickens

Question 8

What does domestication mean?

Answer 8

adapted over time via selective breeding to live close with humans

Question 9

Example of domestication: Wild Mustard Plant

Answer 9

domesticated to kale, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts

Question 10

Potential new food species

Answer 10

insects
fungi
plant based foods
morama bean

Question 11

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

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What is the negative impact of selective breeding/domestication?

Answer 12

reduces the gene pool

Question 13

What does CWR stand for?

Answer 13

Crop Wild Relative

Question 14

What is a CWR?

Answer 14

The wild cousins of our agricultural crops

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

Question 15

Why are CWRs so important?

Answer 15

More genetically diverse

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

Question 16

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

Answer 16

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)

Question 17

What can we do to protect CWRs and Vavilov Centres?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Developed in Vietnam due to increased flooding

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

Question 19

Examples of CWR characteristics introduced to domesticated crops: Potatoes

Answer 19

Developed in Peru

Adapted common potatoes to survive in poor soils and environments

Question 20

Examples of CWR characteristics introduced to domesticated crops: Bananas

Answer 20

Developed in Southeast Asia Help fight against threats of disease, pests and droughts

Question 21

What do we mean by the term biological control?

Answer 21

Using living organisms to control pests

Question 22

Species used for biological control: Ground beetles and Ladybirds

Answer 22

Control aphids, small insects (agricultural pests) Reduces need for pesticides Encouraged by building beetle banks (piles of wood)

Question 23

Species used for biological control: Parasitic Wasp

Answer 23

Controls aphids Used in enclosed agricultural systems Lay eggs inside of the body if the aphid and feeds off its organs and tissues

Question 24

Species used for biological control: Moths

Answer 24

Controls prickly pear Moth larvae feed on the plant

Question 25

How can predation benefit a species?

Answer 25

Controls population size Reduces competition for light,food,water,mates Natural selection- removes less advantageous traits

Question 26

Example of seed dispersal method: Exploding seeds

Answer 26

Pop when touched

Question 27

Example of seed dispersal method: Burrs

Answer 27

Some plants have hooks/sticky seeds Attach themselves to mammals and get dispersed away from the original plant

Question 28

Example of seed dispersal method: Excretion

Answer 28

Plants produce fruit that contain seeds Animals eat this fruit and disperse it via excretion

Question 29

What does pollination mean?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Example of pollination relationship: Bees

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Example of pollination relationship: Butterflies

Answer 31

Lay their eggs on the underside of leaves Pollen attaches to butterfly whilst it drinks nectar, pollen is then transferred to the next plant

Question 32

Causes of the Bee Population Collapse

Answer 32

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

Question 33

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

Answer 33

UK = £400 million per annum EU = €14.2 billion per annum

Question 34

Example of one species providing a habitat for another

Answer 34

Trees = birds and insects Beavers = build dams/home for beetles and insects Coral reefs = fish

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Moves water through transpiration Interception and infiltration

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Photosynthesis = contribute oxygen, removes carbon dioxide

Question 37

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

Answer 37

Decomposition Bacteria= change nitrogen content Worms = change texture