Methods Of Maintaining Biodiversity

What is conservation?

The name given to the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources.

By observing the natural habitat in an area, what happens to organisms?

Their chances of survival are maintained, allowing them to produce. As a consequence, species and genetic diversity can be safeguarded.

What are the two main categories of how scientists try to conserve biodiversity?

• In situ conservation.

• Ex situ conservation.

What is in situ conservation?

Conservation within the natural habitat.

What is ex situ conservation?

Conservation outside the natural habitat.

What are scientists trying to do?

Conserve a number of species to prevent their extinctions.

What is the classification of species in according to abundance?

• Extinct.

• Extinct in the wild.

• Endangered.

• Vulnerable.

What does it mean if a species is extinct?

No organisms of the species exist anywhere in the world.

What does it mean if a species is extinct in the wild?

Organisms of the species only exist in captivity.

What does it mean if a species is endangered?

It is in danger of extinction.

What does it mean if a species is vulnerable?

It is considered likely to become endangered in the near future.

What do many conservation techniques focus on?

Increasing the numbers of organisms from species that are classified as endangered,

What do scientists also promote the practice of?

Sustainable development - economic development that meets the needs of the people today, without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

What does in situ conservation maintain?

Not only the genetic diversity of species, but also the evolutionary adaptations that enable a species to adapt continually to changing environmental conditions,.

By allowing the endangered species to interact with each other, what does in situ conservation also preserve?

The interdependent relationships present in a habitat, therefore interlinked species may also be preserved

What type of conservation is cheaper?

In situ.

Once an area has been designated as a wildlife reserve, what is required?

Active management.

What are examples of active management techniques?

• Controlled grazing.

• Restricting human access.

• Controlling poaching.

• Feeding animals.

• Reintroduction of species.

• Culling or removing invasive species.

• Halting succession.

What is controlled grazing?

Only allowing livestock to graze a particular area of land for a certain period of time to allow species time to recover, of keeping controlled number of animals in a habitat to maintain it.

What is controlling poaching?

This includes creating defenses to prevent access, issuing fines, or more drastic steps.

What does feeding animals ensure?

That more organisms survive to reproductive age.

What is the reintroduction of species?

Adding species to areas that have become locally extinct, or whose numbers have decreased significantly.

What is an invasive species?

One that is not native to an area and has negative effects on the economy, environment, or health. They compete with native species for resources.

What is succession?

A natural process in which early colonising species are replaced over time until a stable natural population is achieved. Preventing it is an important role played by humans in maintaining some of our most beautiful habitats for future generations.

What are marine conservation zones less established than?

Terrestrial ones.

What are marine conservation zones vital in?

Preserving species-rich areas such as coral reefs. The purpose of the marine reserve is not to prevent fisherman from visiting the entire area, but to create areas of refuge within which populations can build up ans repopulate adjacent areas.

What are large areas of sea required for?

Marine reserves as the target species often move large distances, or breed in geographically different areas.

What does ex situ conservation involve?

Te removal of organisms from their natural habitat. It is normally used in addition to in situ measures ensuring the survival of a species.

Where can plant species be successfully grown?

In botanic gardens. Here the species are actively managed to provide them with the best resources to grow.

What is a seed bank?

An example of a gene bank - a store of genetic material. Seeds are carefully stored so that new plants may be grown in the future. They are dried and stored at specific temperatures to maintain their viability, slowing down the rate at which they lose their ability to germinate.

Do seed banks work for all plants?

No, some seeds die when dried and frozen, and the seeds of most tropical rainforest trees fall into this category.

What do captive breeding programmes produce?

Offspring of species in a human-controlled environment. These are often run and managed by zoos and aquatic centres. Several species are now solely represented by animals in captivity.

What do scientists working on captive breeding programmes aim to do?

Create a stable, healthy population of a species, and then gradually reintroduce them back into their natural habitat.

What do captive breeding programmes do?

Captive breeding programmes provide the animals with shelter, an abundant supply of nutritious food, an absence of predators and veterinary treatment. Suitable breeding partners or semen (which can be used to artificially inseminate females) can be imported from other zoos if not available within the z00's own population.

How can maintaining genetic diversity within a captive breeding population be difficult?

Maintaining genetic diversity within a captive breeding population can be difficult. As only a small number of breeding partners are available, problems related to inbreeding can occur. To overcome this, an international catalogue is maintained, detailing genealogical data on individuals. Mating can thus be arranged to ensure that genetic diversity is maximised. Techniques such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer and long-term cryogenic storage of embryos allow new genetic lines to be introduced without having to transport the adults to new locations, and do not require the animals' cooperation.

Why is it that some organisms born in captivity may not be suitable for release into the wild?

• Diseases - there may be a loss of resistance to local diseases in captive-bred populations. Also, new diseases might exist in the wild, to which captive animals have yet to develop resistance.

• Behaviour - some behaviour is innate, but much has to be learned through copying or experience. In an early case of reintroduction, a number of monkeys starved because they had no concept of having to search for food - they had become domesticated. Now food is hidden in cages, rather than just supplied, so that the animals learn to look for it.

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

• Habitat - in many cases the natural habitat must first be restored to allow captive populations to be reintroduced. If only a small suitable habitat exists it is likely that there are already as many individuals as the habitat can support. The introduction of new individuals can lead to stress and tension as individuals fight for limited territory and resources such as food.

In order to conserve biodiversity successfully, what is required?

International cooperation is required to ensure habitats and individual species are preserved.

What do intergovernmental organisations, such as the IUCN assist in?

Securing agreements between nations.

What was the Rio convention?

In 1992, an historic meeting of 172 nations was held in Rio de Janeiro, which became known as the Earth Summit. The summit resulted in some new agreements between nations in the Rio Convention:

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) requires countries to develop national strategies for sustainable development, thus ensuring the maintenance of biodiversity.

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an agreement between nations to take steps to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations within the atmosphere.

• The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) aims to prevent the transformation of fertile land into desert and reduce the effects of drought through programmes of international cooperation.

What was the Countryside stewardship scheme?

The scheme, which operated from 1991-2014, offered governmental payments to farmers and other land managers to enhance and conserve the English landscape. Its general aim was to make conservation a part of normal farming and land management practice.

Specific aims of the scheme included:

• sustaining the beauty and diversity of the landscape

• improving, extending and creating wildlife habitats

• restoring neglected land and conserving archaeological and historic features

Improving opportunities for countryside enjoyment.

This scheme has now been replaced by the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, which operates similarly.