Nature Reserves Flashcards
(27 cards)
Manning et al., 2009
1
The absence of an organism from a landscape for a long time can be a major barrier to the restoration of that species due to factors such as environmental conditions changing since extinction.
Manning et al., 2009
2
A key argument for reintroduction [of wolves] has been that native red deer (Cervus elaphus) numbers, considered by many to be ecologically unsustainable, would be reduced through wolf predation.
Banks and Bryant., 2007
dog walking in woodland leads to a 35% reduction in bird diversity and 41% reduction in abundance
Rushton et al., 2001
Mink predation effectively doubled the probability of [water vole] extinction over that arising from [habitat] fragmentation alone.
[So habitat fragmentation and mink predation both play a role in the water vole population decline but mink predation has a larger impact]
Give five reasons for creating a nature reserve
1) Protect unknown species (e.g. rainforest biosphere reserves)
2) Protect nationally scarce species (e.g. bitterns)
3) Protect a habitat (e.g. lowland heath)
4) Protect a local population (e.g. globe flower wood in Yorkshire)
5) Educate children
Who is planning to create a Pleistocene park in Scotland?
Paul lister, a conservationist
Where is the Pleistocene park planned to be in Scotland?
Alladale in North West Inverness
How many native trees has Paul Lister planted in Alladale?
over 900,000
Why does Paul Lister want to introduce wolves?
So that they can control the deer population and in turn allow the regrowth of the caledonian forest
What is a major problem Paul Lister faces with his rewilding ideas?
To keep animals in a fenced enclosure means being covered by the zoos act, which prohibits carnivores being kept together with live prey.
And people are scared of bears/wolves/lynx
What does a warden of a nature reserve do?
1) Know the site intimately
2) Guards records of site history and gather new data
3) Involves means planning and running the site management
4) People management; shooing away tresspassers, giving talks and showing visitors around
What is an issue (epitomised in Africa) with the locals?
parks/reserves meant areas in which white people told the real locals how they could/could not use their land. Without goodwill, conservation will not work.
How do you get locals involved in conservation?
Many places (inc. Costa Rica, Madagascar) the policy is that park wardens must be locals - this involves locals in park policy.
At a lower level, it is always worth taking the time to keep local people informed of developments or plans.
Name the common features all management plans have
1) Site information: geology, habitat composition, management history etc
2) Biological records; bird populations, plant surveys etc
3) Legal constraints; footpaths can’t be blocked, common land can’t be fenced off
4) Future plans (typically extend 5-20 years into the future)
Which species are usually the most damaging creatures on a site?
Humans!
But they provide money for the reserve so we need them
You need secure boundaries and an introduction to the entrance and signs for unstaffed areas
Why are paths important?
For controlling people (they should be kept to paths if possible
Some people dump garden waste in nature reserves because they think it’s good. Why is this not the case?
May contain alien species and over-fertile soil.
It is also illegal!!!!
How do dogs negatively impact nature reserves?
1) chase animals
2) disturb ground nesting birds
3) foul the soil
How do you protect people from the habitat?
Keep paths clear
Fence off any potentially dangerous cliff edges or water bodies
Why is dead wood above head level dangerous?
It can kill. Dead standing branches are sometimes called widowmakers
Grazing animals are a good way to maintain nature reserves. What do you need to do to have grazing animals?
1) Arrange fencing
2) Arrange vet cover
Name two undesirable alien plant species
1) Japanese knotweed (spreads rapidly)
Under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild.
2) Giant hogweed
(sap can cause severe burns)
What features could you add to a nature reserve?
For pristine sites, the best thing to do is to leave them alone, otherwise;
1) ponds
2) Scrapes (good for bitterns and cranes)
3) Nestboxes (benefit mammals too)
4) Wildflower meadows
Are BMX bikers bad for a nature reserve?
They can be because they churn up soil and trample vegetation,
BUT
bare soil is good for invertebrates so bikers may have a place (as they stop weeds)
