Habitat conservation- The living environment

Afforestation

Planting trees to increase the area of forest.

Ancient woodland

Woodland that has been in continuous existence since 1600. Likely to have developed naturally rather than been planted. Threats include clearance for agriculture and conifer planting for timber production. Ancient woodland does not have automatic protection and only some areas are nationally or locally designated

Biological corridor

A habitat that links other habitats together. This makes it easier for animals to move between them and reduces habitat fragmentation

Competitor control

Successful species and habitat conservation may rely on the removal of introduced competitors from the habitat by eradication e.g. Project Isabella: the removal of feral goats from the largest island of the Galapagos, Isabella to reduce competition with the giant tortoise for food

Predation control

Successful species and habitat conservation may rely on the removal of introduced predators from the habitat by eradication e.g. the removal of rats from the island of South Georgia for the protection of groundnesting seabirds.

Culling

Reducing the population of a species by selective killing.

Eradication

The complete removal of a species from a habitat.

Re-wilding

The process of creating habitats that are similar to the conditions present before the natural habitat was changed by human actions.

Population control

The increase or reduction in the population of selected species as part of conservation management. Introduced species, native predators or competitors might need reducing or removing. Target species might need increasing by the release of captive-bred individuals.

Species re-introduction

The re-introduction of a species to a restored habitat as part of a conservation management plan. Important for less mobile species that might fail to recolonize naturally.

Cnidarians

A taxon of animals that includes corals and jellyfish.

Antarctic Treaty  (1959)

An international agreement signed by many countries to protect and manage Antarctica. Aspects of the treaty include control of military activities, waste disposal, mineral exploitation, wildlife conservation and tourism.

Coral bleaching

In tropical reefs, changing abiotic conditions can cause the coral polyps to expel their symbiotic algae which makes them appear white. The polyp receives up to 90% of its nutrients from the algae, so in their absence the corals grow very slowly and are less able to recover from damage. Increased ocean temperatures due to global warming are thought to be one cause.

Deep water coral reef

Also called cold water coral reefs; these are formed by coral polyp species that don’t rely on symbiotic algae and therefore don’t require light. They are found at depths ranging from near the surface to 2000m. These corals are slow growing.

Mangrove

A coastal forest ecosystem found in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The inter-tidal nature of this habitat means the trees are adapted halophytes. These ecosystems provide an important nursery for young fish and also protect coral reefs as they trap sediments.

Symbiosis

A close and long-term biological interaction between two different organisms e.g. coral polyps and the microscopic algae that live in their tissues. The algae provide the polyp with nutrients, and the polyp provides the algae with shelter and a constant supply of CO2.

Tropical coral reef

A marine ecosystem found in shallow warm tropical waters and characterized by colonies of reef-building coral polyps who secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons. Reefs built up so that they are near the surface of the sea as the coral polyps also contain symbiotic algae that carries out photosynthesis

Tropical rainforest

Moist broadleaf ecosystem found between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. This zone is characterized by low seasonality and high levels of warmth, light and rainfall. It is very biodiverse and dominated by deciduous tree species that drop their leaves throughout the year. Found in South America, Africa, and South-east Asia.

Temperate broadleaf woodland

Found in temperate zone in between the tropics and the poles in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The climax community is dominated by deciduous trees e.g. beech, ash and oak.

Halophyte

An organism that thrives in conditions with a high salt concentration. Found in coastal ecosystems such as saltmarsh and mangroves.

Antarctica

The southernmost continent forms a land mass over the South Pole and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. It has no native human population and is a pristine environment with a unique community of species. It also stores 70% of the earths freshwater as land ice.

Oceanic islands

Islands formed by volcanism or reef building that are distant from continental land masses. This reduces colonization and as a result they have low biodiversity but a high proportion of endemic and EDGE species.

Great Barrier Reef

The world’s largest coral reef system located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It consists of 600 Islands that stretch over 2300km. It is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Galápagos Islands

21 islands on the equator, 900km west of the coast of Ecuador that are known for their endemic and EDGE species

Amazonia

The world’s largest tropical rainforest. It is found in South America and covers 5,500,000 km2

Crown of Thorns Starfish

A predator of coral polyps that causes significant damage when their populations increase. This increase is due to overfishing of its main predator the Giant Triton (a mollusc).

Ecotourism

A form of tourism which seeks to provide tourist access to conserved habitats in a way the minimises the negative impacts and maximizes the revenue generated for local people and conservation efforts