reasons + methods for maintaining biodiversity

what are the 3 main reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

• aesthetic

• economic

• ecological

what are the aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

• protecting landscapes provides enrichment and inspiration to people’s lives

• studies show people recover from stress + injury faster in more natural environments

what are the economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

if biodiversity in an ecosystem is maintained, levels of long term productivity are higher

• soil erosion + desertification as a result of deforestation reduce crop growth, leading to overdependence on other nations

• tourism - areas rich in biodiversity promote tourism + economic advantages

• non-sustainable removal of a resource like timber will eventually lead to the collapse of its industry - replanting will also not recreate the original biodiversity

• large scale habitat and biodiversity loss means potential loss of discovery of species that may be useful medically/chemically

• continuous monoculture results in soil depletion, this can lead to dependence on pesticides and fertilisers

• low biodiversity (genetic) means crops tend to be weaker and less resistant to stress/disease, so can be easily destroyed (e.g. potato famine)

• ‘wild’ species are bred into populations every 3rd or 4th generation in agriculture to provide disease resistant genes/increase yield. it is important these ‘wild' species are maintained to promote genetic diversity

what are the ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

• all organisms are interdependent on others for survival, for example, the removal of a species may lead to the loss of a food source or habitat for others (decomposers, pollinators, etc)

• some species play a key role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community (keystone species) where they have a disproportionally large effect on their environment relative to their abundance. their removal would mean drastic change to their habitats, affecting all other species and even leading to their disappearance

define conservation

the preservation + careful management of the environment and of natural resources

why is it important to conserve the natural habitat in an area?

allows species to survive and reproduce, maintaining genetic diversity

what are the 2 main categories of conservation?

in situ conservation - within the natural habitat

ex situ conservation - out of the natural habitat

how are species classified in conservation?

according to their abundance in the wild:

• extinct - no organisms anywhere on earth

• extinct in the wild - organisms only exist in captivity

• endangered - species in danger of extinction

• vulnerable - species likely to become endangered

• non-threatened

what is in situ conservation?

• conservation that takes place inside an organism’s natural habitat

• this maintains the genetic diversity of a species, as well as the evolutionary adaptations that enable a species to adapt continually to changing environmental conditions

• also preserves interdependent relationships present in a habitat as endangered species are still able to interact with other species

• in situ conservation tends to be cheaper than ex situ conservation

what are 2 examples of in situ conservation?

include marine, aquatic + terrestrial reserves, provides source for tourism, increasing awareness + funding

wildlife reserves

• active management is required, techniques include:

  • controlled grazing - only allowing livestock to graze particular areas for a particular amount of time allows other species time to recover

  • restricting human access

  • controlling poaching - preventing access or issuing fines to deter poachers

  • feeding animals - ensuring organisms can survive and reproduce

  • reintroduction of species

  • removal of invasive species - to ensure there is no competition with native species

  • halting succession - protecting heathland, downland or moorland with controlled grazing to ensure woodland doesn’t grow

marine conservation zones

• protected areas of water that have been set up for the conservation of endangered marine ecosystems and species

• have restrictions to prevent overfishing and pollution

what is ex situ conservation?

involves the removal of organisms from their natural habitat, normally used in addition to in situ measures

what are 3 examples of ex situ conservation measures?

botanic gardens

• plant species can be grown in botanic gardens where they are actively managed and provided with the best resources to grow, aims for reintroduction into the wild

• ability for research and education on plant species + conservation

seed banks

• example of gene bank - a store of genetic material

• seeds are carefully stored (dried and kept at -20°C to maintain viability) so they may be grown in the future if species become at risk of extinction

captive breeding programmes

• producing offspring of a species in a human-controlled environment

• often run by zoos and aquatic centres

• aim is to create a stable, healthy population of a species before reintroduction into the wild

• organisms are provided with abundant supply of food, shelter, absence of predators, veterinary treatment + suitable breeding partners or semen

• captive breeding can lead to limited genetic diversity

why may some organisms born in captivity not be suitable for release in the wild?

disease - there may be a loss of resistance to local diseases in captive-bred populations

behavior - many behaviors are learned through copying or experience, which captive-bred populations may struggle with in the wild (e.g. searching for food)

genetic races - genetic makeup of captive animals can become so different from wild populations that they cannot interbreed

habitat - in many cases, natural habitats must be restored before captive populations can be introduced. their introduction can lead to competition/limited resources if habitat is already restricted

what are conservation agreements?

local and international cooperation to ensure habitats and individual species are preserved (to conserve biodiversity successfully)

what is the IUCN?

international union for the conservation of nature

• founded in 1964

• assists in securing agreements between nations

• produces an annual ‘red list’, detailing the current conservation status of threatened animals, acting as a comprehensive guide on global biodiversity

what is CITES? what is it responsible for?

convention on international trade in endangered species

• first agreed in 1974

• treaty which regulates the international trade of wild plant and animal specimens and their products

• safeguards species from overexploitation and thus protects their survival

what was the rio convention? what new agreements came from it?

the rio convention/earth summit was a meeting of 172 nations in 1992. agreements include:

• CBD - the convention on biological diversity

  • requires countries to develop national strategies for sustainable development, ensuring biodiversity is maintained

• UNFCCC - united nations framework convention on climate change

  • agreement to take steps to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere

• UNCDD - united nations convention to combat desertification

  • aims to prevent transformation of fertile land into desert, + reduce effects of drought

what is the CSS?

countryside stewardship scheme

• operated from 1991-2014 in england

• scheme offered governmental payments to farmers and land managers to enhance + conserve the landscape. goals include:

  • sustaining beauty + diversity of landscape

  • improving, extending + creating wildlife habitats

  • restoring neglected land, conserving archaeological + historical features

• replaced by environmental stewardship scheme, operates similarly