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Environmental science > Chapter 2 ! > Flashcards

Chapter 2 ! Flashcards

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1
Q

what are 7 reasons for the importance of conserving biodiversity ?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A
  • Resources,
  • new food species,
  • biomimetics,
  • medicines,
  • physiological research,
  • pest control species,
  • genetic resources
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2
Q

What are 5 resources and an example of what theyre used ?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A
  • wood (furniture)
  • fibres (cotton or wool)
  • oils (soaps)
  • fuels (wood)
  • food (plants and animals)
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3
Q

what is a new food species ?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

Some are genetically modified organisms

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4
Q

What is biomimetics?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

Taking inspiration from animals features to improve our design of manufactures items

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5
Q

what is an example of biomimetics (to do with planes) ?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A
  • Copying spayed fingertip of soaring birds helps to reduce wind turbulence and drag
  • Copying feather structure of birds to improve wind design
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6
Q

How can we use animals to improve our medicines? and an example

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

Some plants and animals produce chemicals that are toxic to animals but used in the right dose humans can use them to their advantage
E.G - poppies are used to produce painkillers, morphine and codiene

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7
Q

What is physiological research

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

some species have become better adapted to their environment, we can study this to possibly help us with medical research

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8
Q

what is an example of physcological research to do with hippos ?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

Hippo skin secrets an acid which acts as natural sunscreen, its being studied to help treat the skin of burns victims

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9
Q

What are pest control species

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

These are predators, herbivores, parasites and pathogens that can control agricultural pests

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10
Q

what is genetic resources ?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

These are genetically modified crops to help with durability and improve variety

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11
Q

what is crop wild relative species (CWS)

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

Wild plants of same/ closely related species to commercial crops with new characteristics which can be bred into the commercial crops

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12
Q

what are 3 examples of desirable characteristics that can be introduced ?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A
  • disease resistant
  • drought resistent
  • improved taste / appearance
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13
Q

what is a centre of diversity ?

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

Areas of the world that have high concentration of closely related of an important crop species.

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14
Q

what are examples of places of centres of diversity ? (6)

Importance of conserving biodiversity

A

places include :
- Mediterranean centre (wheat oats pea clover)
- middle eastern centre,
- central asian centre,
- central American centre,
- south American centres,
- Ethiopian centres

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15
Q

What is an ecosystem services and some examples of these services ?

A

Species influencing the conditions on earth that are benificial to humans.
- atmospheric composition,
- hydrological cycle,
- biogeochemical cycles,
- soil maintenance,
- interspecies relationships,
- food,
- pollination,
- seed dispersal,
- habitat provision

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16
Q

Examples of direct exploitation (6)

Threats to Biodiversity

A
  • Food,
  • Fashion,
  • Pets and entertainment,
  • furniture and ornaments,
  • traditional medicines,
  • other products
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17
Q

What is the eradication of predators and competitors ?

Threats to Biodiversity

A

Animals that are killed because they threaten humans or interfere with human activities

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18
Q

Changes in abiotic factors in habitats humans

A
  • water availability,
  • dissolved oxygen,
  • temperature,
  • pH,
  • water turbidity,
  • physical damage
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19
Q

changes in biotic factors

A
  • pollinators,
  • seed dispersal species,
  • food chain impacts,
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20
Q

what are examples of introduced species

A
  • introduced species,
  • introduced predators,
  • introduced pathogens,
  • species that hybridise,
  • loss of species that control abiotic factors
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21
Q

Examples of habitat destruction

A
  • deforestation,
  • ploughing of grassland,
  • reservoir creation,
  • urban expansion,
  • mineral extraction
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22
Q

what is an endemic species ?

A

species that is not found in any other area E.G - Madagascar, lemur

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23
Q

What is a keystone species ?

A

Animals that have an important role in maintaining ecological structure of a community

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24
Q

What is a flagship species ?

A

Animals with a high public profile, usually get charities to donate E.G - pandas or tigers
[Flagship = flag = attention = animals that bring attention]

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25
what is an EDGE species?
species that have few or no close relatives on the evolutionary tree
26
what are Threatened Habitat species?
Species whose survival is at stake due to habitat destruction
27
what is The IUCN (international union for conservation of nature)
the IUCN categorises species according to their venerability to extinction
28
Examples of methods of conserving biodiversity - Legislation / protocols
- legal protection of habitat and species (wildlife and countryside act of 1981), - legal designations, - trade controls (CITES - appendix I + II)
29
what are some examples of protected areas ?
- sites of special interest (SSSI) - national nature reserve (NNR) - special area of conservation (SAC) - special protection area (SPA)
30
organisations which aim to achieve sustainable exploitation
- International whaling commission (IWC), - common fisheries policy of the European union (EU CFP) - international tropical timber organisation (ITTO)
31
What are 3 ways whaling can occur ?
- 'Aborigional subsistence' - whaling is permitted for cultured that have hunted wales for food - 'Special permit whaling' or 'Scientific whaling' - killing whales for scientific research - Commercial whaling - different county use the IWC for international whaling quotas
32
methods of conserving biodiversity - things to consider in a captive breeding programmes
these inhibit success : - conditions for breeding, - population interactions and breeding success, - breeding habitat, - gene pool size - hybridisation
33
what is ex-situ conservation ?
conservation away from where they normally live
34
Key features for success in a release programme
key features of success : - large and suitable habitat, - low predation risk etc - hard release = releasing species with - no post release support - soft release = post release support is involved
35
what are seed banks and why are they used?
seed banks are used to store the seeds of wild plants so that they don't go extinct
36
Methods of conserving biodiversity - factors contributing to habitat conservation
- land ownership, - designated protected area, - voluntary agri-environmental schemes
37
what to consider when designing a habitat
things to consider : - habitat area, - biological corridors, - habitat shape, - habitat diversity, - light levels, - water depth, - vegetation age structure
38
what abiotic habitat features increase biodiversity ?
- water, - dissolved oxygen, - temperature, - light levels, - pH, - mineral nutrients, - salinity
39
control of biotic habitat features
- food, - control of predation, - control of competitors, - pollination, - seed dispersal, - control of pathogens, - species re-introductions (re-wilding in Scotland) - control of ecological succession (grazing, mowing and burning) - population control
40
ecological features of temperate boradleaf woodland
Ecological features - no major temp extremes - water available all year round
41
Importance of temperate broadleaf woodland
Importance - high biodiversity - woodland resources - recreation - hydrological cycle
42
Threats to a temperate broadleaf woodland
Threats - woodland clearance - habitat fragmentation
43
Conservation efforts of temperate broadleaf woodland
Conservation efforts - woodland management
44
Ecological features of a Tropical rainforest
ecological features - Biodiversity - High Precipitation - Shallow Soils
45
what is the importance of tropical rainforests ?
Importance - forest resources - climate maintenance - soil maintenance
46
What are threats to tropical rainforest ?
Threats - Fuelwood collection - Timber harvesting - clearance for alternative land uses
47
what are conservation efforts of a tropical rainforst ?
Conservation efforts - Brazil, in 2014 a reserve to protect 6,680 km2 of rainforest
48
ecological features of a Tropical coral reefs
Ecological fatures - coral nutrition - reef building corals - Abiotic conditions
49
What is the importance of tropical coral reefs ?
Importance - Fisheries - medicinal discoveries - Climate control - Erosion control - erosion protection - Tourism
50
what are some threats to tropical coral reefs ?
Threats - Physical damage - Collection of ornaments and souvenirs - sedimentation - pollution - coral bleaching - introduced species - Fishing - coastal developments - loss of associated habitats
51
what are the conservation efforts to protect tropical coral reefs ?
Conservation efforts - marine protected areas - control fishing - control of tourism - sustainable exploitation - Reef creation
52
waht are the ecological features of Deep water coral reefs ?
Ecological features - Slow Growth Rates - Biodiversity - Coral Structure
53
what is the importance of deep water coral reefs ?
Importance - Rich and Unique Ecosystems - Indicator of Ocean Health
54
what are threats to threats deep water coral reefs ?
Threats - over-exploited fish - Bottom Trawling - Deep-Sea Mining
55
What are the conservation efforts to protect deep water coral reefs ?
Conservation efforts - protected areas (Darwin mounds SAC off coast of Scotland)
56
what are the ecological features of an oceanic island ?
Ecological features - isolation and biodiversity - lack of mammal predators
57
What is the importance of oceanic islands ?
Importance - high proportion of endemic species
58
What are threats to oceanic islands ?
Threats - exploitation of species - introduced species - habitat change / destruction
59
What are conservation efforts to protect oceanic islands ?
Conservation efforts - Hawaii have eradication the introduced species of rats
60
what are some ecological features of Mangroves ?
Ecological features - tropical forests - near intertidal areas with saline water - extremes in conditions such as temperatures and the availability of water
61
What is the importance of mangroves ?
Importance - Biodiversity - coastal erosion protection - fisheries - protection of coral reefs - resources (timber) - medicinal resources (herbs)
62
what is a threat to mangroves ?
Threats - urban developments
63
what is a conservation method to protect mangroves ?
Conservation efforts - all of the remaining in Sri Lanka have been legally protected in 2015
64
What are ecological features of Antarctica ?
Ecological features - large land mass - -49 degrees - lots of marine life in surrounding sea - high avg altitude
65
What is the importance of antarctica ?
Importance of Antarctica - resources - control of natural resources (70% of earths fresh water) - research
66
What are threats to antarctica ?
Threats - global climate change - Ozone depletion - Tourism - Scientific research - overfishing
67
What conservation efforts are in place to protect antarctica ?
Conservation methods - Antarctica treaty 1959 - control of tourism - waste management - NO MILITARY ACTIVITY - no resource exploitation

Environmental science (7 decks)

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