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Methods of Conserving Biodiversity Flashcards

1
Q

What information do you need to know before targeting conservation activities?

A

variety of plant and animal species

population size of species

weather/climate

the importance of each species

what is causing the population decrease

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2
Q

What does IUCN stand for?

A

International Union for Conservation of Nature

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3
Q

What is the IUCN?

A

a membership union composed of both government and civil society organisations

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4
Q

What does is the aim of the IUCN?

A

preserve species

promotes national legislation

monitors climate change

improves the lives of people through the economic conjunctions of nature

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5
Q

What are the roles of the IUCN?

A

compile red list

reduce poverty

boost food security

restore natural resources

reduce company’s environmental impact

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6
Q

What is the IUCN Red List?

A

gives species a status of vulnerability

contains both threatened and non threatened species

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7
Q

How is the Red List compiled?

A

measures pressure on species

local surveys, consultations, national red lists

70000 species are currently listed - target 160000

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8
Q

The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: EX

A

extinct

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9
Q

The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: EW

A

extinct in the wild

can only be found in captivity

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10
Q

The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: CR

A

critically endangered

extremely high risk of extinction

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11
Q

The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: EN

A

endangered

very high risk of extinction

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12
Q

The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: VU

A

vulnerable

high risk of extinction in the wild

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13
Q

The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: NT

A

near threatened

close to qualifying for a threatened category

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14
Q

The seven categories of the red list and what they mean: LC

A

least concern

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15
Q

How are the different categories assessed?

A

population size (change over past 10 years)

area of habitat

number of areas found in

number of mature adults

probability of extinction

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16
Q

Definition of EDGE species

A

Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species

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17
Q

Examples of EDGE species

A

elephants
pangolins
purple frog
pandas

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18
Q

EDGE Species conservation study: pygmy sloth

A

educational programs

monitor populations - GPS collars/backpacks

only found on an island near Panama

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19
Q

Definition of Endemic Species

A

species that are only found in a limited/defined area or habitat

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20
Q

Examples of endemic species

A

giant panda

pygmy sloth

glacier bear

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21
Q

Endemic Species conservation case study: Giant Panda

A

increase area of habitat protected by law

patrol against poaching, logging and encroachment

creating green corridors to connect isolated pandas

moved from endangered to vulnerable

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22
Q

Definition of Keystone species

A

an organism that is a fundamental part of the functioning of an ecosystem

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23
Q

Examples of Keystone species

A

the american beaver

sharks

bees

starfish

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24
Q

Keystone species conservation case study: starfish

A

when removed half of other species gradually declined

mussels overcrowded other species as were not being kept under control

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25
Definition of Flagship species
a species chosen to raise support for biodiversity conservation
26
Examples of Flagship species
Giant panda polar bear tiger sea turtle
27
Flagship species conservation case study: sea turtle
developing less harmful fishing gear (circle hooks) protect nesting habitats Fiji sea turtle recovery plan
28
Red List update: pillar coral
vulnerable - critically endangered population has decreased by 80% since 1990 decline caused by disease, coral bleaching, sea temp rise
29
Red List update: oaxaca tree frog
critically endangered - near threatened community action taken in mexico
30
What does CITES stand for?
Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
31
What does CITES do?
an international agreement to protect threatened species by regulating and monitoring trade
32
How does CITES work?
separate species into 3 categories appendix 1+2 = threatened with extinction (complete ban on trade) appendix 3 = species that are protected in at least one country (trade is closely monitored)
33
What does ITTO stand for?
International Tropical Timber Organisation
34
What does the ITTO do?
enables forest owners and communities to earn export income from sustainably produced wood manages 80% of the world's tropical rainforests
35
What is the ITTO responsible for?
90% of worldwide tropical timber trade
36
When was the International Whaling Commission established?
1949 88 member countries
37
What did the International Whaling Commission develop?
sustainable types of whaling - aboriginal subsistence whaling
38
What did the International Whaling Commission introduce?
moratorium (ban) on whaling across the globe
39
How does the International Whaling Commission help conservation?
address threats of bycatch and entanglement, ship strikes and pollution hold workshops on safe detangling "Save the Whales" campaign - endorsed by the UN
40
What does the EU Common Fisheries Policy do?
gives all EU fishing fleets equal access to EU waters ensures sustainable fishing guarantees incomes and stable jobs for EU fishers
41
How does the EU Common Fisheries Policy protect marine ecosystems?
regulates fishing methods limits time the ships can spend at sea sets quotas - how many fish can be caught implements net sizes
42
Designations: SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest managed by natural england (gov) martin mere, morecambe bay
43
Designations: NNR
National Nature Reserve managed by natural england (gov) ribble estuary - important site for wintering wildfowl
44
Designations: SPA
Special Protection Areas managed by JNCC bowland fells - protects habitats of migrating birds
45
Designations: SAC
Special Areas of Conservation managed by JNCC hatton bank - birds of european interest
46
Designations: MNR
Marine Nature Reserve managed by natural england Lundy island
47
Designations: MPA
Marine Protected Areas managed by Natural England Goodwin sands
48
Designations: MCZ
Marine Conservation Zones managed by natural england the canyons
49
Designations: LNR
Local Nature Reserve managed by local authority albans wood
50
Designations: Natura 2000 sites
network of SPA + SAC the foloi oak forest
51
Designations: Ramsar Site
wetlands of international importance important for migratory birds chesil beach
52
Why can some species not be kept in captivity?
difficult to recreate habitats too large too small to capture expensive dont understand reproductive behaviour
53
How can keeping species in captivity and captive breeding programmes help wildlife conservation?
young are more likely to survive increases population numbers reduces predation protection from disease increase genetic diversity
54
Problems associated with breeding in captivity:
causes distress some animals do not reproduce well in captivity domestication no fear of humans
55
Cryopreservation
freezes gametes/embryos - implemented into surrogate species preserves biological material able to store for a long time
56
Artificial Insemination
used in farming and agriculture collect semen from male and implement in female to produce offspring removes danger of mating useful for controlling mating
57
Embryo Transfer
uses genes from desirable female artificially inseminate egg and implant into other females given hormones to produce many eggs produces more offspring than naturally
58
Micropropagation
cloning of plants small tissue sample is placed in a growth medium inexpensive and fast produces thousands of plants from one parent reduces genetic variation
59
Cloning of Animals
stem cells are extracted place stem cell nuclei in empty eggs from closely related species electric shock to start divisions performed if females need preserving driven by agriculture
60
Problems with the release of captively bred animals
can become invasive species habituated to human contact unable to hunt out-competed unaware of predators
61
Points to consider before the release of any organism to the wild
maturity survival skills population size habitat size predators/order of food chain amount of food available is the release area protected
62
What is meant by the term "hard release"?
no support given after release most common with species that act on instinct (no need for survival skills) (fish, reptiles, insects)
63
What is mean by the term "soft release"?
some support/protection is given for a period of time after release gradual release - enclosure size increases, food provided, predators excluded
64
Examples of hard release
wolves - yellowstone
65
What is a seed bank or seed vault?
A store of seeds - often cryopreserved or dried Important for CWRs
66
Svalbard Seed Bank: Why is the seed bank important? Why might the preservation of seeds be important for future generations?
world's largest seed bank contain important food crop species protected in the event of war/ natural disasters store CWRs preserves endangered plant species may provide fuel/food/medicine in the future
67
Problems/limitations of seed banks
power failure could destroy all samples expensive to run freezing the seeds can damage then some plants dont produce seeds
68
Who are the major landowners and managers in the UK in the aim of conservation?
The National Trust The RSPB The Woodland Trust Natural England DEFRA The Forestry Commission
69
How does designating land protect habitats?
gives is a legal protected status stops private landowners allows small landowners to control their land
70
What are the key features of SSSIs and how are they protected?
best example of the UK's plants, animals and geological features must inform the government of operations likely to damage (ploughing, drainage, burning)
71
What are the key features of NNRs and how are they protected?
best example of SSIs cover complete communities of species and habitats
72
What are the key features of SACs and how are they protected?
each member state must identify and protect habitats of international importance
73
What are the key features of SPAs and how are they protected?
each member state must identify and protect places that are of international importance for birds
74
What are the key features of Ramsar Sites and how are they protected?
protected by the ramsar convention primarily protects wildfowl habitats broadened to conserve all wetlands and their ecosystems
75
What is an agri-environment scheme?
provides funding to farmers and land managers to allow them to farm in a way that supports biodiversity/improves air, water and soil quality
76
What is the current agri-environmental scheme in the UK?
Countryside stewardship (CSS) ran by Natural England started 2017
77
What is a past agri-environmental scheme in the UK?
Environmentally Sensitive Areas Introduced in 1988 One of the first in the world
78
What do agri-environmental schemes aim to achieve?
incentivise landowners to protect habitats, biodiversity, water/soil/air quality reduce agrichemicals - fertilisers and pesticides
79
How do agri-environmental schemes work?
outline activities the farmers/ land owners can do activities vary in cost and difficulty (more difficult = more payment) payment is per hectare
80
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Beetle Banks (mid-tier)
Provides nesting and foraging habitats for insects
81
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Hedgerow Management (mid-tier)
Increases the availability of blossom for invertebrates Provides food for overwintering birds
82
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Nectar flower mix (mid-tier)
Provides areas of flowering plants to boost essential food sources for pollinators
83
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Creation of traditional orchards (higher-tier)
Range of healthy young trees Supports insects, birds and wildflowers
84
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Woodland Improvement (higher-tier)
Improves biodiversity of woodland Increases resistance to climate change
85
Examples of features that can be added or maintained during agri-environmental schemes: Control of invasive plant species (higher-tier)
Reducing density of non native species to restore natural balance Eradication of sever infestations

Environmental Science (27 decks)

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