methods of maintaining biodiversity Flashcards
(47 cards)
1
Q
conservation in situ
A
carrying out active management to maintain biodiversity in the natural environment
2
Q
marine conservation zones
A
areas of the sea set aside to conserve the diversity of species and habitats
3
Q
wildlife reserves
A
areas set aside for the conservation of species or habitats
4
Q
conservation ex situ
A
conservation outside the normal habitat of the species
5
Q
what is conservation
A
the name given to the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources
6
Q
what does conservation do
A
- maintains chances of survival allowing organisms to reproduce
- safeguards species and genetic diversity
7
Q
what are the two types of conservation methods
A
in situ - within natural habitat
ex situ - outside natural habitat
8
Q
how are species classified
A
for the purpose of conservation according to their abundance in the wild
9
Q
extinct organisms
A
no organisms of the species exist anywhere in the world
10
Q
extinct in the wild
A
organisms of the species only exist in captivity
11
Q
endangered
A
a species in danger of extinction
12
Q
vulnerable
A
a species considered to become endangered in the future
13
Q
which categories fall below vulnerable
A
non threatened and categories of least concern
14
Q
which class of species are conservation methods mainly focused on
A
increasing the number of endangered species
15
Q
what do conservation methods promote
A
sustainable development
16
Q
what is sustainable development
A
economic development that meets the needs of people today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
17
Q
where does in situ conservation take place
A
inside an organisms natural habitat
18
Q
what is the aim of in situ conservation
A
- maintains genetic diversity and evolutionary adaptations that enable species to adapt to changing environmental conditions
- allows endangered species to interact with other species to preserve interdependant relationships present in a habitat
- cheaper than ex situ
19
Q
give 2 types of in situ conservation
A
wildlife reserves
marine conservation zones
20
Q
what are the active management techniques used in wildlife reserves
A
- controlled grazing = only allow livestock to graze a particular area of land for a certain amount of time to allow species to recover
- restricting human access
- controlled poaching
- feeding animals
- reintroduction of species
- culling or removal of invasive species (not native)
- halting succession (process of ecological change that naturally occurs over many years e.g. controlled grazing maintains heathland and prevents woodland formation)
21
Q
what are marine conservation zones and what is their purpose
A
- less well established than terrestrial ones
- Lundy Island is currently the only statutory marine reserve in England
- vital in preserving species - rich areas such as coral reefs which are being devestated by non sustainable fishing methods
- purpose is to create areas of refuge in populations can build up and repopulate adjacent areas. large areas of sea are required for marine reserves as the target species often move large distances or breed in geographically different areas
22
Q
advantages of in situ conservation
A
- facilitates scientific research
- maintains ecological integrity
- provides opportunities for sustainable land use
- permanently protects biodiversity
- plants and animals are conserved in their natural environments
- permanently protects signfiicant elements of natural and cultural heritage
23
Q
disadvantages of ex situ conservation
A
- population may have already lost genetic diversity
- conditions that caused species to be endangered may still be present
- endangered habitats may be fragmented and each small area may not be large enough to ensure survival
24
Q
what does ex situ conservation involve
A
removal of organisms from their natural habitat.
25
give examples of ex situ conservation
botanic gardens
seed banks
captive breeding programme
26
what are botanic gardens
- grow plant species. species are actively managed to provide them with the best resources to grow such as the provision of soil nutrients, sufficient watering and removal or prevention of pests
- roughly 1500 botanic gardens with 35000 plant species but majority of these species aren't conserved. many wild relatives of selectively bred crop species are under represented amongst the conserved species
- these wild species are a potential source of genes conferring resistance to diseases, pests and parasites
27
what are seed banks
- examples of a gene bank (stores genetic material) seeds are carefully stored so new plants may be grown in the future
- dried and stored at -20°C to maintain viability by slowing down rate at which they lose their ability to germinate
- almost all temperate seeds and many tropical seeds are stored in this way
- provides back up for extinction of wild plants and for further reintroduction, research and genetic engineering in the future
- doesnt work for all plants. some seeds die when dried and frozen (mostly seeds of tropical rainforests)
28
what are captive breeding programmes
produce offspring of species in a human controlled environment. often run and managed by zoos and aquatic centres
- aim to create a stable, healthy population of a species and then gradually reintroduce the species back into its natural habitat
- provide animals with shelter, an abundant supply of nutritious food, an absense of predators and veterinary treatment
- suitable breeding partners of semen can be imported from other zoos if not available within the zoos own population
29
why is it difficult to maintain genetic diversity in captive organisms
only a small number of breeding partners are available - problems with inbreeding can occur
30
how is genetic diversity maintained for organisms in captivity
an international catalogue is maintained to arrange mating so genetic biodiversity is maximised. artifical insemination, IVF and embryo transfer techniques are being used
31
why may some organsisms born in captivity not be suitable to be released in the wild
- disease (captive animals may not be resistant)
- behaviour (mostly innate but have to learn how to get their own food)
- genetic races (genetic makeup of captive animals may change so 2 populations can't interbreed)
- habitat (may not be suitable for them)
32
what are the advantages of ex situ conservation
- conservation sites can be used for education
- animals can be bred to increase number of endangered species
- genetic diversity can be measured and increase by selective breeding
- health of individuals can be monitored and medical assistance given as required
- organisms are protection from predators and poaching
- populations can be divided so if a disaster strikes it only affects one population
- attractions to rasie funds for further conservation
33
what are disadvantages of ex situ conservation
- difficult to achieve correct environment conditions
- animals may not behave normally
- nutritional issues may be difficult to manage
- organisms are living outside their natural habitat
- animals can be exposed to a wide range of disease
- likely to have limited genetic diversity
- expensive
- reproduction may be difficult
34
what are conservation agreements used for
to ensure biodiversity successfully, local and international cooperation is required to ensure habitats and individual species are reserved
35
what is the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
- assists in securing agreements between nations. at least once a year, the IUCN publishes the Red List detailing the current conservation status of threatened animals. countries work together to conserve species
36
what treaty did the IUCN coin
- involved in establishing Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
37
what does CITES regulate
this treaty regulates the international trade of wild plants and animal specimens and their products. as the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation.
38
how many species of animals and plants are protected by CITES
more than 35000 species of animals and plants
39
what is the Rio Convention
in 1992, a historic meeting of 172 nations was held in Rio resulting in new agreements between nations in the Rio Convention
40
what are the 3 agreements of the Rio Convention
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCDD)
41
what is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
requires countries to develop national strategies for sustainable development ensuring maintenance of biodiversity
42
what is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
an agreement between nations to take steps to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations within the atmosphere
43
what is the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCDD)
aims to prevent the transformation of fertile land into desert and reduce effects of drought through programmes of international cooperation
44
what is a countryside stewardship scheme
many conservation schemes are set up at a more local level. the one in England (1991-2014) offered governmental payments to farmers and other land managers to enhance and conserve the English landscape
45
what was the aim of the CSS in England
to make conservation a part of normal farming and land management practice
46
specific aims of the CSS in England
- sustaining beauty and diversity at the landscape
- improving, extending and creating wildlife habitats
- restoring neglected land and conserving archaelogical and historic features
- improving opportunities for countryside enjoyment
47
what is the CSS in England replaced by
the Environmental Stewardship Scheme which operates similarly
