conservation (1.2 - 1.5)

list reasons for conservation of species

moral responsibility

scientific research (for medicine)

aesthetics

biomimetics

ecotourism

maintain biodiversity

interspecies dependence

why are small gene pools bad

increased probability of birth defects from inbreeding

susceptible to disease

more vulnerable to environmental change

reduced choice of mates

how do biological corridors help conserve species

allows safe movement into suitable habitats for resources, e.g. a mate, food, shelter

increases the carrying capacity

list reasons for conserving habitats

maintenance of atmosphere

maintenance of species diversity

maintenance of gene pool

food

medicine

raw materials

moral obligation

aesthetics

recreation/tourism

scientific research

benefit of indigenous people

why are populations often estimated rather than counted

hard to see

hard to identify a species

hard to identify an individual

hard to access certain areas

populations may be changing

too time consuming

indirect methods are unreliable

counting may cause a disturbance

how might wildlife populations be threatened accidentally by human food production

farm cultivation

pesticide use

fishing by catch

ghost fishing

soil erosion effects

habitat loss

fertiliser use

introduction of alien species

how may introduced species threaten wildlife

predation

outcompete for food, light, water, breeding site

share the same niche

bring disease

kill essential species, e.g pollinators

why are detritivores important

recycle nutrients of dead organisms

increase drainage

a food source

list economic reasons for wildlife conservation

new foods

for breeding programmes

biological control agents

medicines

physiological research

wood, oils, fibres

ecotourism

how may other organisms benefit from the conservation of a flagship species

flagship species maintain the food web

their habitat is protected

how do CITES reduce poaching

international trade has been restricted

market has less demand

less profit

reduction in poaching

list problems of the release of animals bred in captivity

original threat may still exist

increased risk of predation

social exclusion

lack of immunity to local diseases

may introduce a disease to local populations

how are flagship species beneficial to wildlife conservation

creates ecotourism

increases support for conservation

habitat of flagship species protected

other organisms in the habitat are protected

how does habitat fragmentation threaten wildlife

reduced mating success

increased inbreeding

available resources restricted to smaller area

greater risk of local extinction

how do SSSIs help conserve species

owners must follow a management plan

protects wildlife habitat from pollution and development

what does SSSI stand for

site of special scientific interest

who designates a site as a SSSI

natural england

how do SSSIs protect a site

prevent development

prevent pollution

why do some species not breed well in captivity

small gene pool

stress

not in natural habitat

little choice of mate

list methods for conserving plant and animals species

captive breeding

seed banks

removal of predators

designations, e.g SSSI

field gene banks

removal of competition from non-native species

education

reduce pollution

why is the population density of larger carnivores lower than large herbivores

they are a higher trophic level and energy is lost as food chains lengthen

how does habitat management increase the carrying capacity

control competitors

control predators

control of damaging activities, e.g. coppicing

provision of light levels, water

provision of food

provision of biological corridors, maintaining plagioclimax