A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity

Biodiversity

The variety of life that exists in a specified area. It is important for the resilience of ecosystems, the more biodiverse, the more stable and resistant to change it will be. It can be studied at three levels: ecosystem, species, and genetic

Ecosystem diversity

The range of different ecosystems within a particular area. High = coral reef, low = sandy deserts

Species diversity

Measured in two ways: species richness (the number of species within an ecosystem) and species evenness (the number of individuals of each species within an ecosystem)

Genetic diversity

The number of different alleles of genes that are present within a species or in a local population

Anthropogenic extinction case study: North Island giant moas

The North Island giant moa was a large, flightless, herbivorous bird. Humans arrived to New Zealand between 1200-1300, it is thought that they were hunted to extinction by humans by 1300

Anthropogenic extinction case study: Caribbean monk seals

Caribbean monk seals lived in the oceans around the gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, they were declared extinct in 2008 due to hunting for their oil and meat

Anthropogenic extinction case study: paradise parrot

A colourful and medium-sized parrot native to Australia. The last confirmed sighting was in 1927. Its extinction is primarily due to overgrazing and trapping for the pet trade

Ecosystem

All of the living organisms in an area, along with their interactions with each other and the abiotic environment

Anthropogenic ecosystem loss case study: mixed dipterocarp forest in Southeast Asia

Dipterocarps are a family of trees that formed a rainforest ecosystem in Southeast Asia. The forest is lost due to a practice known as clear-cutting, where all the trees in an area are cut down and removed. This provides timber and clears land for agriculture

Anthropogenic ecosystem loss case study: Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, located in Australia. Its loss is driven by climate change, local pollution, and overfishing

In situ conservation

Conservation of species in their natural habitat. Examples include protected areas, rewilding, reclamation

Ex situ conservation

Conservation of species outside their natural habitat. Examples include zoos, gardens, seed and tissue banks

EDGE species

A species which is both evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered