11.8 methods of maintaining biodiversity

what is in situ conservation

conservation within the natural habitat

what is ex situ conservation

conservation out of the natural habitat

what does extinct mean

no organisms of the species exist anywhere in the world

what does extinct in the wild mean

organisms of the species only exist in captivity

what does endangered mean

a species that is in danger of extinction

what does vulnerable mean

a species that is considered likely to become endangered in the near future

advantages of in situ conservation

• enable species to adapt continually to changing environmental conditions

• preserve interdependent relationships in the habitat

how does controlled grazing actively manage a wildlife reserve

allow species time to recovery or keeping a controller number of animals in a habitat to maintain it

how does restricting human access actively manage a wildlife reserve

examples: not allowing people to visit a beach during seal reproductive season or providing paths to prevent plants being trampled

how does controlling poaching actively manage a wildlife reserve

create defences to prevent access, fines, removing rhino horns

how does culling/removal of invasive species actively manage a wildlife reserve

invasive species compete with native species for resources, negative effects on economy, environment or health

how does halting succession actively manage a wildlife reserve

controlled grazing maintain habitats for future generations

how are botanic gardens an example of ex situ conservation

species of plant are actively managed to provide them with the best resources to grow

how are seed banks an example of ex situ conversation

• store of genetic material

• store to be grown in the future

• back-up against the extinction of wild plants

why do seed banks not work for all plants

some seeds die when dried and frozen (most tropical rainforest trees fall into this category)

what are captive breeding programmes

produce offspring of species in a human-controlled environment

how are captive breeding programmes an example of ex situ conservation

aim to create a stable, healthy population of a species and then gradually reintroduce the species back into its natural habitat

why is disease a reason why some organisms born in captivity may not be suitable for release in the wild

• may be a loss of resistance to local diseases

• new diseases might exist in the wild, captive animals have yet to develop resistance

why is learned behaviour a reason why some organisms born in captivity may not be suitable for release in the wild

lot of behaviour has to be learned through copying or experience, for example some animals may starve as they have no concept of having to search for food

why is genetic races a reason why some organisms born in captivity may not be suitable for release in the wild

genetic make-up of captive animals can become so different from original population that the two populations cannot interbreed

why is habitat a reason why some organisms born in captivity may not be suitable for release in the wild

natural habitat must be restored to allow populations to be reintroduced

why are conservation agreements needed

to conserve biodiversity successfully with local and international cooperation

what does the IUCN

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

what does the IUCN do once a year

publish the Red List, detailing the current conservation status of threatened animals

what does CITES stand for

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

what does CITES do

regulate international trade of wild plant and animal specimens and their products

what agreements did the Rio Convention result in

• the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

• the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

what it the CBD for

require countries to develop national strategies for sustainable

what is the UNFCCC for

an agreement between nations to take steps to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations within the atmosphere

what is the UNCCD for

aims to prevent the transformation of fertile land into desert and reduce the effects of drought thoigh programmes of international cooperation

what does the CSS stand for

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

what does CSS do in England

offered governmental payments to farmers and other land managers to enhance and conserve the English landscape

what was the aim of CSS

make conservation a part of normal farming and land management practice