Maintaining biodiversity

What is the role of national parks?

* protects endangered species through strict regulations
* increases public engagement towards conservation

What is the role of marine parks?

* protects endangered species through strict regulations
* increases public awareness towards conservation

What is the role of zoos?

* captive breeding programme: reintroduces species into wild
* research
* education

What is the role of botanic gardens?

* captive breeding programme: reintroduces species into wild
* research
* education

What is the role of frozen zoos?

* long term storage of animal genetic material at very low temperature

What is the role of seed banks?

* long term storage of plant seeds in a temperature controlled environment

What are possible cons of a wildlife reserve?

* Underrepresentation of species
* Bad conditions
* Is area large enough for long term survival
* Is there enough diversity
* Tourism causing pollution
* Indigenous people also need the land
* Animals may raid farms and disrupt crop growth
* People hunt or poach
* Illegal harvesting of timber and plant products

Name some wildlife reserves in the UK.

1\. National Parks

2\. Natural Nature Reserves NNR’s

3\. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s)

4\. Local Nature reserves

5\. Marine Conservation Zones

What are advantages of in situ conservation?

1\.Conserved in their natural environment

2\.Permanently protects biodiversity

3\.Permanently protects natural and cultural heritage

4\.Maintains ecological integrity

5\.Opportunities for sustainable land use

6\.Facilitates scientific research

7\.Improve and restore area

8\.Scope for repopulation

What are disadvantages of in situ conservation?

1\.Area may not be large enough to ensure survival especially of endangered animals

2\.Population may have already lost genetic diversity

3\.Conditions that caused the area to become endangered may still be there

4\.Area is a honeypot to poachers and tourists

What do zoos do?

1\.Captive breeding

2\.*Breeding endangered species*

3\.*Conducting research*

4\.*Artificial insemination*

5\.*IVF and embryo transfer techniques*

What are pros of botanic gardens?

1\.Seeds can be collected from the wild

2\.*Stored, germinated and protected*

3\.*Plants can be bred asexually*

4\.*Captive bred can be replanted*

What are cons of botanic gardens?

1\.Funding is challenging

2\.Collecting wild seeds can cause disturbance

3\.Limited genetic diversity

4\.Viability of storing seeds can fluctuate

What are pros of seed banks?

1\.*Stores from every known species of plant*

2\.*Remain viable for decades*

3\.*Used for food crops, disease resistant crops and habitat reclamation*

What are the cons of seed banks?

1. Seeds must stored in very dry or freezing conditions


2. 10 000 germination tests are carried out every year → constant maintenance

What are advantages of ex situ conservation?

1\.Organisms are protected from predation and poaching

2\.Health of individuals can be monitored

3\.Populations can be divided which could be life saving e.g. disease

4\.Genetic diversity can be measured

5\.Selective breeding carried out

6\.Use of modern technology to increase reproductive success

7\.Research made easier

8\.Conservation sites can be attractions and raise money for the cause

9\.Educational purposes

What are disadvantages of ex situ conservation?

1\.A captive population will have limited genetic diversity

2\.Animals can be exposed to diseases

3\.Animals live outside natural habitat

4\.Behaviours may change

5\.Difficult to achieve correct environmental conditions

6\.Expensive

7\.Difficulty with reintroduction to the wild