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| Question | Answer |
| What are the ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity? | Organisms in an ecosystem are interdependent Keystone species Maintaining genetic resources |
| "Organisms in an ecosystem are interdependent" Why is this important in terms of maintaining biodiversity? | The loss of just one species can have drastic effects on an ecosystem including: Disruption of food chains Disruption of nutrient cycles |
| What are keystone species? | A keystone species is a plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions. They are often predators, keeping the population of prey in check They have a relatively low population size |
| What do keystone species do? | They act as... MODIFIERS - maintaining the environment needed for the ecosystem HOSTS - plants that provide a particular environment |
| Why are keystone species important? | Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether |
| Why is it important to maintain genetic resources? | It allows us to provide everyday products and adapt to changes in the environment. This includes material from plants, animals or microorganisms (containing genes) that we find valuable |
| What are the economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity? | Genetic resources are important to the global economy (trading) Reducing soil depletion |
| "By not maintaining biodiversity, soil depletion increases which can have a drastic impact on the economy" Why might this be true? | Economic costs of soil depletion due to monoculture include increased spending on fertilisers and decreased yields |
| What are the aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity? | Provides pleasant, attractive landscapes More biodiversity = more visitors = economic advantages |
| What is conservation? | The protection and management of species and habitats |
| Why is conservation important? | Conservation is important to ensure the survival of endangered species (species which are at risk of extinction because of a low population, or a threatened habitat) |
| What are the two types of conservation? | In situ Ex situ |
| What is in situ conservation? | Conservation on site - it involves protecting species in their natural habitat |
| What are the methods of in situ conservation? | Establishing protected areas (e.g. national parks and wildlife reserves) Controlling or preventing the introduction of species that threaten local biodiversity Protecting habitats (e.g. controlling water levels, coppicing...) Restoring damaged areas Promoting particular species (e.g. protecting food sources or nesting sites) Giving legal protection to endangered species |
| What are the advantages of in situ conservation? | Often both the species and their habitats are conserved Chances of population recovering are greater than with ex situ |
| What are the disadvantages of in situ conservation? | Difficult to control some factors that are threatening a species (e.g. poaching, predators, disease or climate change) |
| What is ex situ conservation? | Conservation off site - it involves protecting a species by removing part of the population from a threatened habitat and placing it in a new location It is often a last resort |
| What are the methods of ex situ conservation? | Relocating an organism to a safer area Breeding organisms in captivity then reintroducing them to the wild when they are strong enough Botanic gardens - plants are grown and reintroduced into suitable habitats Seed banks |
| What are botanic gardens? | Controlled environments used to grow a variety of rare plants for the purpose of conservation, research, display and education |
| What are seed banks? | Seeds can be frozen and stored for over a century without losing fertility |
| What are the advantages of ex situ conservation? | Can be used to protect individual animals in a controlled environment Competition can be reduced Possible to check on the health of individuals and treat them for diseases Breeding can be manipulated Can be used to reintroduce species that have left an area |
| What are the disadvantages of ex situ conservation? | Only a small number of individuals can be cared for Difficult and expensive to create and sustain the right environment Animals that are habituated may be less likely to exhibit natural behaviour and more likely to catch disease form humans Usually less successful (species can't breed successfully or don't adapt to their new environment) |
| Give two examples of international cooperation on conservation | Rio Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) CITES agreement |
| What is the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)? | An international agreement that aims to develop international strategies on the conservation of biodiversity and how to use animal and plant resources in a sustainable way. They made it part of the international law that conserving biodiversity is everyone's responsibility. Provides guidance to governments on how to conserve biodiversity. |
| What is the CITES agreement? | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Designed to increase international cooperation in regulating trade in wild animal and plant specimens. Member countries agreed to make it illegal to kill endangered species. Helps to conserve species by limiting trade through licensing, and by making it illegal to trade in products made from endangered animals. Designed to raise awareness of threats to biodiversity through education |
| Name an example of a local conservation agreement | Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) |
| What is the Countryside Stewardship Scheme? | Introduced in 1991, aiming to: Conserve wildlife and biodiversity Improve and extend wildlife habitats by promoting specific management techniques to landowners The Government offered 10-year agreements to pay landowners who followed the management techniques suggested, for example: Regenerate hederows Leave grassy margins around the edges of fields where wildflowers could grow Graze upland areas to keep down bracken |
| What were the results of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme? | In 2000, there were 10,000 agreements in England Since the introduction of the scheme, various species have begun to rebuild in numbers (including birds e.g. stone curlew, black grouse and bittern) |
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