Species-focussed conservation Flashcards
(5 cards)
Why might a species-focussed approach be used for conservation efforts?
A species-focussed approach might be chosen as it is useful for public support, and much of the previous research / legislation has been based at the species level. Relative to other taxonomic levels, it is easy to record as species are often (not always!) morphologically different.
Outline the differences between BSC and PSC, as well as the potential disadvantages of both.
BSC is the biological species concept, which defines species as groups of (potentially) interbreeding populations that are reproductively isolated from other groups. It doesn’t consider asexual species, and is often difficult to prove especially if potential species do not occur together.
PSC is the phylogenetic species concept, which defines species as groups of organisms that share at least one unique inherited character, which can be a genetic marker. It can lead to an apparent increase of species and so smaller populations, leading to more being judged as vulnerable when applied to conservation.
Other than keystone / indicator / umbrella / flagship species, why else might we prioritise a species for conservation?
A species might be prioritised for conservation because of its economic importance (e.g. pollinator, source of meat), endemism, vulnerability / rarity (e.g. small population, narrow niche), or phylogenetic uniqueness.
Define keystone, indicator, umbrella and flagship species.
Keystone species: species with major ecological functions, i.e. many other species are dependent on them, e.g. beaver.
Indicator species: species with specialised niches that require particular conditions, and are thus vulnerable to human activity, e.g. mayfly larvae.
Umbrella species: species that require large ranges of relatively undisturbed land, thus ensuring conservation of other species, e.g. tiger.
Flagship species: charismatic species that elicit a strong public response, e.g. panda.
What metric does the IUCN Red List use to categorise species?
The IUCN Red List categorises species based on threat of extinction, not rarity - e.g. range extent, population reduction, quantitive analysis showing probability of extinction.
