Zane 1-4 Flashcards
What is the primary goal of marine conservation?
- Protecting species, habitats, and ecosystems.
- Ensuring the sustainability of ecosystem services for humans.
- Addressing human pressures on marine environments.
Why is biodiversity important in marine ecosystems?
- Biodiversity supports ecosystem resilience and functionality.
- Provides ecosystem services like food, medicine, and climate regulation.
- Enhances the ability of ecosystems to recover from disturbances.
What are the main drivers of biodiversity loss in marine environments?
- Habitat loss and fragmentation.
Overfishing and illegal fishing. - Pollution, including plastics and chemicals.
- Climate change and ocean acidification.
- Invasive species.
How does habitat fragmentation affect marine species?
- Reduces genetic diversity by isolating populations.
- Disrupts species’ ability to find food, mates, and shelter.
- Increases vulnerability to environmental changes.
What is the concept of an ecological niche?
- The role and position a species has in its environment.
- Includes the range of conditions necessary for survival.
- Defines interactions with other species and the ecosystem.
Why is marine conservation considered a global priority?
- Marine ecosystems are interconnected and impact global biodiversity.
- Oceans regulate climate and support global food security.
- Marine resources are critical for economic and social well-being.
What are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)?
- Designated regions where human activities are regulated to protect marine ecosystems.
- Aim to preserve biodiversity and restore fish populations.
- Vary in size, restrictions, and management practices.
What role does the European Union play in marine conservation?
- Implements policies like the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
- Aims to protect 30% of marine areas by 2030.
- Supports international agreements and promotes sustainable fisheries.
What is the significance of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for marine conservation?
- Provides legal protection for endangered and threatened species.
- Helps in the recovery of species like sea turtles and marine mammals.
- Imposes regulations to reduce threats like bycatch and habitat destruction.
What are the key principles of marine ecosystem management?
- Maintaining ecosystem integrity and function.
- Applying precautionary approaches to manage uncertainties.
- Integrating stakeholder engagement and traditional knowledge.
What are the effects of overfishing on marine ecosystems?
- Depletes fish stocks and disrupts food webs.
- Leads to the decline of predator species and trophic cascades.
- Reduces genetic diversity and resilience of fish populations.
How does climate change impact marine ecosystems?
- Causes ocean acidification, affecting calcifying organisms like corals.
- Leads to rising sea temperatures and shifting species distributions.
- Intensifies storms and sea level rise, affecting coastal habitats.
What are the consequences of pollution on marine life?
- Toxic substances can accumulate in the food chain, harming wildlife.
- Plastics and debris cause physical injuries and ingestion risks.
- Nutrient pollution leads to algal blooms and dead zones.
Why are invasive species a threat to marine biodiversity?
- Compete with native species for resources and habitat.
- Can introduce diseases and alter ecosystem dynamics.
- Often lack natural predators, leading to population explosions.
What is the concept of trophic cascades?
- Indirect effects that predators have on lower trophic levels.
- Example: removal of apex predators leads to an increase in herbivores, which can overgraze vegetation.
- Can drastically alter ecosystem structure and function.
How do human activities contribute to habitat loss in marine environments?
- Coastal development and land reclamation destroy habitats like mangroves and wetlands.
- Dredging and bottom trawling damage seafloor habitats.
- Pollution from agriculture and industry degrades water quality.
What is the impact of illegal fishing on marine conservation efforts?
- Undermines regulations designed to ensure sustainable fisheries.
- Leads to overexploitation of marine species.
- Hinders recovery efforts of endangered species.
What role does quantitative modeling play in marine conservation?
- Helps predict the impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems.
- Supports the design and assessment of conservation strategies.
- Informs decision-making by simulating different management scenarios.
How does stakeholder engagement support marine conservation?
- Involves communities in conservation efforts, enhancing compliance and support.
- Integrates traditional and local knowledge with scientific data.
- Helps address conflicts and balance conservation with economic interests.
What are the challenges of balancing conservation with economic activities like fishing?
- Ensuring sustainable harvest levels while protecting biodiversity.
- Mitigating the socio-economic impacts of conservation measures on communities.
- Addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
- Sicherstellung nachhaltiger Erntemengen bei gleichzeitigem Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt.
- Abmilderung der sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen von Erhaltungsmaßnahmen auf die Gemeinden.
- Bekämpfung der illegalen, nicht gemeldeten und unregulierten Fischerei (IUU).
What is the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030?
- A plan to protect biodiversity in Europe by expanding protected areas and restoring ecosystems.
- Aims to protect 30% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030.
- Promotes sustainable use of marine resources and enhances ecosystem resilience.
What is the concept of the Minimum Viable Population (MVP)?
- The smallest population size needed to ensure species survival in the long term.
- Accounts for environmental variability and genetic factors.
- Critical for species conservation planning and recovery.
What are ecologically functional populations (EFPs)?
- Populations that are large enough to maintain their ecological roles within ecosystems.
- Ensure the continued provision of ecosystem services.
- Important for maintaining ecosystem integrity and function.
How does the precautionary principle apply to marine conservation?
- Involves taking proactive measures to prevent harm to the environment when scientific certainty is lacking.
- Emphasizes caution in the face of uncertainty, particularly with high-risk activities like deep-sea mining.
- Guides the development of regulations and management practices.
What is the role of Marine Protected Areas in climate change mitigation?
- Protect carbon-rich ecosystems like mangroves and seagrasses, which act as carbon sinks.
- Preserve habitats that are crucial for species adaptation to climate change.
- Serve as refuges for species affected by changing ocean conditions.
How do case studies support marine conservation education?
- Provide real-world examples of conservation challenges and successes.
- Illustrate the application of theoretical concepts in practical scenarios.
- Enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
What are the benefits of using field visits in marine conservation courses?
- Allow students to observe conservation practices and ecosystems firsthand.
- Facilitate the understanding of complex ecological interactions.
- Provide opportunities for hands-on learning and data collection.
What is the significance of the IUCN Red List for marine conservation?
- A comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of species.
- Helps identify species at risk of extinction and prioritize conservation efforts.
- Provides data on species population trends and threats.
What is the extinction vortex?
- A self-reinforcing cycle where small populations decline further due to genetic, demographic, and environmental factors.
- Increases the likelihood of extinction as populations become smaller and more isolated.
- Highlights the urgency of intervention for endangered species.
What are the advantages of using genetic markers in marine conservation?
- Allow for the assessment of genetic diversity and population structure.
- Help track gene flow and connectivity between populations.
- Support the identification of distinct populations for conservation management.
How has the Endangered Species Act (ESA) helped in marine conservation?
- Reduced threats like bycatch and habitat loss for marine species.
- Facilitated the recovery of species such as the humpback whale and green sea turtle.
- Enforced legal protections that limit human activities harming endangered species.
What is the importance of stakeholder engagement in marine conservation?
- Ensures that conservation measures are socially acceptable and economically viable.
- Helps address conflicts between conservation goals and local livelihoods.
- Promotes long-term sustainability by involving those directly affected by conservation policies.
What are some examples of successful species recovery under the ESA?
- Significant population increases in marine mammals like sea otters and whales.
- Improved nesting success and population growth in sea turtles.
- Stabilization of fish populations through targeted management actions.
What are the implications of habitat loss on marine ecosystems?
- Leads to the decline of species that depend on specific habitats for survival.
- Reduces the overall biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems.
- Impacts ecosystem services like fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection.
Why is the concept of ecological niche important in conservation planning?
- Helps identify the specific habitat requirements of species.
- Guides the design of protected areas to include critical habitats.
- Aids in understanding species interactions and potential threats.
How do MPAs contribute to sustainable fisheries?
- Protect spawning and nursery habitats, ensuring the replenishment of fish stocks.
- Provide refuges where fish populations can recover without fishing pressure.
- Enhance fishery yields through the spillover of adult fish into adjacent areas
What role does the EU play in international marine conservation?
- Advocates for the establishment of Marine Protected Areas beyond national jurisdictions.
- Supports global biodiversity agreements and marine governance frameworks.
- Promotes sustainable fishing practices and combats illegal fishing.
How does climate change exacerbate the threats to marine biodiversity?
- Accelerates the degradation of coral reefs through bleaching and acidification.
- Shifts species distributions, leading to mismatches in predator-prey relationships.
- Increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, impacting coastal ecosystems.
What is the role of quantitative modeling in marine conservation?
- Provides insights into population dynamics and ecosystem responses to human activities.
- Supports the design of conservation strategies by predicting outcomes under different scenarios.
- Assists in the evaluation of management measures and their effectiveness.
Why is maintaining genetic diversity important in marine populations?
- Enhances the adaptability and resilience of populations to environmental changes.
- Reduces the risk of inbreeding depression and associated health issues.
- Supports the long-term survival and evolutionary potential of species.
How does habitat fragmentation affect marine ecosystems?
- Isolates populations, reducing genetic exchange and increasing vulnerability.
- Alters species interactions and can lead to the decline of key species.
- Complicates conservation efforts by creating smaller, disconnected areas of habitat.
What are some practical measures to address human pressures on marine ecosystems?
- Implementing sustainable fishing practices and reducing bycatch.
- Establishing and enforcing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
- Reducing pollution through waste management and water quality regulations.
How do MPAs help in mitigating the impacts of climate change?
- Protect critical habitats like coral reefs and mangroves that act as natural barriers.
- Maintain biodiversity, which supports ecosystem resilience to climate impacts.
- Serve as reference sites for studying the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems.
What is the role of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in marine conservation?
- Provides valuable insights into local species and ecosystem dynamics.
- Enhances conservation strategies by incorporating indigenous practices.
- Builds trust and collaboration with local communities.
How can quantitative models aid in assessing the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems?
- Simulate scenarios to predict the outcomes of different management strategies.
- Evaluate the potential effectiveness of conservation measures.
- Help identify critical areas for protection and restoration efforts.
Why is stakeholder engagement critical in marine conservation?
- Ensures that conservation strategies are aligned with local needs and realities.
- Increases compliance and support for conservation initiatives.
- Helps in balancing conservation goals with socio-economic considerations.
- Gewährleistet, dass die Erhaltungsstrategien auf die lokalen Bedürfnisse und Gegebenheiten abgestimmt sind.
- Erhöht die Akzeptanz und Unterstützung von Erhaltungsinitiativen.
- Hilft dabei, Erhaltungsziele mit sozioökonomischen Überlegungen in Einklang zu bringen.
How do invasive species disrupt marine ecosystems?
- Compete with native species for resources, leading to declines in native populations.
- Introduce new predators or diseases, further stressing native species.
- Alter habitat structure and ecosystem processes, impacting biodiversity.
What are the key components of a successful marine conservation strategy?
- Effective protection of critical habitats and species.
- Strong legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms.
- Integration of scientific research, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive management.
What are the challenges in implementing MPAs effectively?
- Ensuring sufficient size and connectivity to support species’ life cycles.
- Balancing conservation goals with economic activities like fishing and tourism.
- Securing funding and political support for long-term management and enforcement.
How does the extinction vortex accelerate species decline?
- Small populations suffer from reduced genetic diversity and increased inbreeding.
- Demographic and environmental stochasticity further reduce population size.
- This self-reinforcing cycle makes recovery increasingly difficult without intervention.
What are the benefits of restoring degraded marine habitats?
- Enhances biodiversity by providing habitat for a wide range of species.
- Improves ecosystem services such as coastal protection and water purification.
- Supports the recovery of fish populations and other marine resources.
What are the main objectives of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)?
- Ensure sustainable fishing practices to maintain fish stocks at healthy levels.
- Prevent overfishing and reduce bycatch through strict regulations.
- Promote the socio-economic viability of fishing communities.
How does pollution affect the reproductive success of marine species?
- Toxic substances can disrupt hormonal systems, reducing fertility.
- Contaminated environments may lead to lower survival rates of offspring.
- Microplastics and other pollutants can physically damage reproductive tissues.
What strategies can be employed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing?
- Strengthening international regulations and cooperation.
- Improving monitoring, control, and surveillance systems.
- Encouraging consumer awareness and responsible seafood choices.
What role do marine reserves play in protecting endangered species?
- Provide safe havens where species can recover without human interference.
- Preserve critical habitats necessary for breeding, feeding, and migration.
- Support population growth and genetic diversity by limiting exploitation.
What are some examples of ecosystem services provided by marine environments?
- Carbon sequestration by seagrasses, mangroves, and salt marshes.
- Fisheries and food production from healthy fish stocks.
- Coastal protection from storm surges and erosion by coral reefs and wetlands.
How does stakeholder involvement enhance the management of MPAs?
- Ensures that management plans reflect the needs and knowledge of local communities.
- Builds a sense of ownership and responsibility towards conservation outcomes.
- Facilitates conflict resolution and promotes cooperative decision-making.
What are the implications of declining fish stocks on marine biodiversity?
- Alters food webs and ecosystem dynamics by removing key species.
- Increases pressure on remaining fish populations, leading to further declines.
- Reduces the availability of marine resources for human use.
How do case studies contribute to our understanding of marine conservation?
- Provide real-world examples of how conservation strategies are applied.
- Highlight successes and challenges in different ecological and socio-economic contexts.
- Offer valuable lessons for improving future conservation efforts.
What makes small populations particularly vulnerable to extinction?
- Small population size increases the risk of genetic drift and inbreeding.
- Greater sensitivity to demographic and environmental stochasticity.
- Reduced ability to adapt to environmental changes.
How does genetic drift affect small populations?
- Causes random changes in allele frequencies, which can lead to the loss of genetic diversity.
- Increases the risk of losing beneficial alleles, reducing the population’s adaptability.
What is the Allee effect, and how does it relate to small populations?
- The Allee effect refers to a decline in individual fitness at low population sizes.
- In small populations, it becomes harder to find mates, which can lead to reduced reproduction rates.
What is inbreeding depression?
- The reduced biological fitness in a population due to breeding between closely related individuals.
- Leads to an increase in the expression of deleterious recessive alleles.
How can inbreeding depression affect population survival?
- Reduces individual fitness, leading to lower survival and reproduction rates.
- Increases the likelihood of genetic disorders, making populations more vulnerable to environmental stressors.
What strategies can be used to mitigate inbreeding depression in conservation?
- Introduce new genetic material through translocations or managed breeding programs.
- Maintain larger population sizes to reduce the likelihood of inbreeding.
What is demographic stochasticity?
- Random fluctuations in population dynamics, such as birth and death rates, due to chance events.
- Has a more pronounced effect on small populations where individual variations can significantly impact overall population trends.
How does demographic stochasticity increase extinction risk?
In small populations, random variations can lead to skewed sex ratios, failed breeding seasons, or sudden population declines.
How can conservation efforts address demographic stochasticity?
- Increase population size to buffer against random fluctuations.
- Implement measures to stabilize population dynamics, such as habitat restoration or species reintroductions.
What is environmental stochasticity?
- Random environmental variations, such as changes in weather patterns, food availability, or natural disasters, that can impact populations.
- Affects all populations but is particularly dangerous for small populations with limited resilience.
Why are small populations more affected by environmental stochasticity?
- Smaller populations have less genetic diversity and fewer individuals to buffer against environmental changes.
- A single catastrophic event can lead to significant population declines or even extinction.
What conservation strategies help mitigate the effects of environmental stochasticity?
- Protect diverse and large habitat areas to provide refuges during adverse conditions.
- Implement adaptive management practices to respond quickly to environmental changes.
What are the primary categories of species risk in the IUCN Red List?
Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, and Data Deficient.
What criteria does the IUCN use to classify species?
- Population size and trends.
- Geographic range and area of occupancy.
- Degree of population fragmentation.
- Impact of threats and conservation actions in place.
How does the IUCN Red List assist in global conservation efforts?
- Provides a scientific basis for prioritizing conservation actions.
- Informs policy decisions and resource allocation for species protection.
- Raises awareness of the status and threats to biodiversity.
