Methods of maintaining biodiversity Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is conservation?
Management of ecosystems + the preservation of biodiversity
Maintains organism’s chance of survival, allowing the, to reproduce. Species + genetic diversity is safeguarded
What is in situ conservation?
Within the natural habitat
Maintains genetic diversity + evolutionary adaptations of species
Allows endangered species to interact with other species - preserves interdependent relationships present in habitat. Cheaper than ex situ conservation
What is ex situ conservation?
Out of the natural habitat
Involves removal of organisms from natural habitat. Normally used in addition to in situ measures, ensuring survival of species
What are the types of in situ conservation?
Wildlife reserves, marine conservation zones
What are the types of ex situ conservation?
Botanic gardens, seed banks, captive breeding programmes
Explain how wildlife reserves work:
Require active management, some techniques include:
- Controlled glazing = only allowing lifestock to graze certain area of land for certain time period, allows species time to recover
- Feeding animals = Ensured organisms survive to reproductive age
- Restricting human access
- Controlling poaching = Creating defences to prevent access, fines, etc
Explain how marine conservation zones work:
- Vital in preserving species rich areas (e.g coral reefs) which are being destroyed by non-sustainable fishing methods
- Purpose is not to prevent fishermen from visiting area, but to create areas of refuge within which populations can build up + repopulate adjacent areas
- Large areas of sea required as target species often move large distances or breed in geographically different areas
Explain how botanic gardens work:
- Plant species can be grown successfully here
- Species are actively managed to provide them with best resources to grow, e.g. provision of soil nutrients, sufficient watering, etc
- Roughly 1500 botanic gardens worldwide, holding 35000 plant species
Explain how seed banks work:
- Example of a gene bank, store of genetic material
- Seeds carefully stored so new plants can be grown in future
- Dried + stored at temps of -20 degrees to maintain viability, by slowing dowm rate at which they lose ability to germinate
- Doesnt work for all plants; some seeds die when dried + frozen, e.g. tropical rainforest trees
What do seed banks aim to provide?
Back-up against extinction of plants by storing sseds for future reintroduction for breeding + genetic engineering
Explain how captive breeding programmes work:
- Produce species offspring in human controlled environments e.g. zoos + aquatic centres
- Provides animals with shelter, food, no predators, + vet treatment
- Some organisms born in captivity may not be suitable for release into wild due to loss of resistance to diseases, behaviour, genetic races, + habitat
What do captive breeding programmes aim to do?
Create stable + healthy species population then gradually reintroduce species back into natural habitat
How can we conserve biodiversity successfully both locally and nationally?
Through conservation agreements
Explain the international union for the conservation of nature (amd CITES):
- Regulate/monitor trade in endangered species
- Ensure trade doesnt further endanger populations
- Prevent trade in endangered plants
- Allow trade in artificially propagated plants
- Allow same trade of endangered species
Explain the rio convention:
- 172 nations made agreement to work towards conserving biodiversity successfully both
- Use organisms in sustainable way
- Share genetic resources + access to scientific research
- Promotion of ex situ conservation methods
- Raising profile of environmental issues with government
- Cooperate internationally to maintain biodiversity
What is the countryside stewardship scheme?
Agri-environmental scheme that provides funding to farmers + other land managers in England to deliver effective environmental management on your land
