Chapter 2 - Wildlife Conservation

Question 0

Define: Teratology

Answer 0

The study of the causes of birth defects.

Question 1

Define: Biomimetics

Answer 1

The study of living organisms so the knowledge gained can be applied to engineering or technological developments.

Question 2

Define: Indigenous Species

Answer 2

Species that are native to the area.

Question 3

Define: Gene Pool

Answer 3

The total variety of different genes in all the members of a population.

Question 4

Define: Valivov Centre

Answer 4

An area of the world, identified by the Russian zoologist Nikolai Valivov, where crop plants were first domesticated and where wild varieties are still found.

Question 5

Define: CITES

Answer 5

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (of wild fauna and flora).

Question 6

Define: Niche

Answer 6

The niche of a species is the role it plays in its habitat, which includes how it makes use of resources and responds t the other species in its habitat.

Question 7

Define: Endemic

Answer 7

An endemic species is indigenous to a particular area and is not naturally found elsewhere.

Question 8

Define: Wildlife and Countryside Act

Answer 8

A UK Act of Parliament that provides protection for many wildlife species and designated protected areas.

Question 9

Define: SSSI

Answer 9

Site of Special Scientific Interest

Question 10

Define: NNR

Answer 10

National Nature Reserve

Question 11

Define: SPA

Answer 11

Special Protection Area

Question 12

Define: SAC

Answer 12

Special Area of Conservation

Question 13

Define: MNR

Answer 13

Marine Nature Reserve

Question 14

Define: Ramsar Site

Answer 14

A wetland site designated to protect its biodiversity.

Question 15

Define: International Whaling Commission

Answer 15

The IWC is an international organisation that aims to ensure the sustainable exploitation of whales.

Question 16

Define: EU Common Fisheries Policy

Answer 16

The European Union agreement to manage fishing and aquaculture. It attempts to balance the needs of the Member States and their fishing industries with sustainable exploitation of the environment.

Question 17

Define: Cryopreservation

Answer 17

The preservation of material by freezing, such as the freezing of semen for artificial insemination.

Question 18

Define: Artificial Insemination

Answer 18

A form of selective breeding where semen is collected from a chosen make and is inserted artificially into the chosen female to cause her to become pregnant.

Question 19

Define: Embryo Transfer

Answer 19

The transfer of fertilised eggs or embryos from a female or a rare species, into females of closely related more common species. This enables more young to be produced than could be achieved through normal breeding. It is also used in livestock breeding

Question 20

Define: Micro-Propagation

Answer 20

A tissue culture method where large numbers of plants can be produced from a tissue sample from an original plant, without the need for seeds. The young plants may be raised on agar under sterile conditions.

Question 21

Define: RSPB

Answer 21

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Question 22

Define: ESS

Answer 22

Environmental Stewardship Scheme - An agri-environmental scheme where farmers receive payments for farm management practices that benefit wildlife and the environment. Higher payments are available for organic farms.

Question 23

Why is wildlife conservation important?

Answer 23

- Knowledge and Understanding
  > Human Behaviour (social structures)
  > The interdependence of life on Earth
- Biomimetics
- Aesthetic and Recreation (ecotourism)
- Morals (wrong to kill unnecessarily)
- Ethics (LEDCs use wildlife as food)
- Medical Benefits (physiological research)

Question 24

What are the ways in which humans threaten wildlife?

Answer 24

- Unsustainable exploitation for human gain (food, fashion) - Pets and Entertainment - Furniture and Ornaments - Traditional Medicines (snakes believed cure arthritis) - Eradication of predators and competitors - Introduced Species (American Mink killed UK Water Voles) - Disease (Malaria carried by Mosquitoes) - Changes in Abiotic Factors - Habitat Destruction

Question 25

What type of human activities cause habitat destruction?

Answer 25

- Deforestation (create farmland/exploit timber) - Flooding (reservoir construction) - Mining - Urbanisation

Question 26

What are the different types of conservation methods used to conserve wildlife?

Answer 26

- Legal Protection - Trade Controls (CITES) - Banning damaging activities (Wildlife and Countryside Act) - Designation of legally protected areas - Sustainable management of exploitation (IWC/CFP) - Captive breeding and release

Question 27

What are the Appendices of CITES and what do they represent?

Answer 27

- Appendix I, species threatened with extinction are banned from trade (e.g. blue whale). - Appendix II, species that may be threatened with extinction are traded with close control (e.g. polar bear). - Appendix III, certain countries require assistance in protection of species (e.g. walrus in Canada).

Question 28

What are the methods of increasing the success of captive breeding?

Answer 28

- Cryopreservation (egg, sperm and embryo storage) - Artificial Insemination (semen inserted into chosen female) - Embryo Transfer (transfer of embryos from female of rare species into female of closely related more common species) - Micro-Propagation of plants (tissue sample produces large number of plants without needing seeds)

Question 29

What are the problems with seed banks?

Answer 29

- Viability of seeds decline with increasing periods of storage - Expensive to regularly germinate seeds - Hard to store large seed e.g. coconuts - Seeds with higher water content hard to store

Question 30

What we the different types of conservation methods used to conserve habitats?

Answer 30

- Protected Areas (Land ownership/designation) - Habitat Management > Counteract undesirable change (e.g. coppicing) > Provide suitable conditions for particular desired species - Habitat Creation (e.g. reservoirs)

Question 32

What are the problems of releasing captive-bred animals?

Answer 32

- May not recognise food species or poisonous foods - May be poor hunters of unable to avoid predation - No immunity to local diseases - May not be accepted by indigenous population - Specific behavioural patterns for survival not learnt - Other species colonised and taken over niche

Question 34

What are some of the features that can be provided to benefit particular species?

Answer 34

- Providing bird/bat nest boxes - Stopping drainage to raise water table in wetland habitat - Planting hedges (biological corridors) - Uncultivated patches for skylarks to nest - Nectar plants for butterflies - Delaying mowing until wildflower seeds dispersed