4.3 - Classification

Question 1

What humans have done to reduce biodiversity and therefore why we need to conserve species

Answer 1

We have caused a loss in biodiversity and extinction of some species by:

• hunting/over fishing
• killing pests which threaten our food supplies pollution
• deforestation/habitat destruction for land for buildings or farming land for just one crop species
• inadvertent introduction of new predators and competitors to native species

Question 2

Reasons for conservation of plant and animal species

Answer 2

Ecological reasons

• habitat for other organisms (plants)
• part of food chain in ecosystem
• native species
• population may be nationally significant in maintaining existence in country
• maintain biodiversity

Economic reasons

• wood used for e.g. furniture making (trees)
• could be a tourist attraction (animal or plant species)
• could be a source of medicine or scientific research (plants)

Aesthetic reasons
- people enjoy looking at them (particularly plants)

Ethical reasons
- we have a moral responsibility to protect species as they have a right to an existence

Question 3

Consequences of global climate change on biodiversity

Answer 3

• Species with narrow gene pools e.g. selectively bred domesticated plant and animal species lack the genetic variation necessary to cope with changes in the environment e.g. increasing temperatures and rainfalls caused by climate change
• If species can’t evolve, they will need to migrate or they will become extinct

Change in patterns of agriculture
- Farmers will need to grow different crops as old crops will no longer thrive in new climatic conditions. This could mean a reduction in yield or inability to meet demands of consumers.
- Land may be lost due to rising sea levels which will mean loss in farming land
- Warmer temperatures may mean longer growing seasons which mean higher yield
- Warmer temperatures means more evaporation and so more precipitation could be good in areas which normally experience drought as it may boost crop yield but it could cause flooding a loss of yield in other areas.
- Rising carbon dioxide levels and higher temperatures could increase rate of
photosynthesis and so increased crop yields

Change in patterns of disease

• new crops being grown in new areas (due to climate change) will encounter diseases that they have never been exposed to before - they will have no resistance to them
• longer growing seasons = more time for pests to breed = lower yields
• diseases will migrate - e.g. diseases confined to warmer climates may spread to Europe e.g. Anopheles mosquito carrying malaria parasite

Question 4

Benefits of maintaining biodiversity of animal and plant species for agriculture

Answer 4

• Source of food
• Source of genetic variation for selectively breeding domestic populations with populations which have beneficial qualities e.g. to breed in disease resistance, quicker growth
• Source of natural predators to pests (reduce need for chemical pesticides)
• Source of natural pollinators for crops e.g. bees

Question 5

In situ conservation

Answer 5

Advantages

• Conserving species in their natural habitat
• Conditions and food etc that they require for survival already present – cheaper than ex situ
• Species are already well adapted to living in habitat
• No special provisions need to be made
• Can create protected reserves
• Can ensure sustainable use of environment including land and resources o Allows for scientific research of ecosystem etc
• Permanently protects biodiversity in area and whole ecosystems
• Creates areas of interest for eco tourists

Disadvantages

• There may be threats to the survival of the species in this area
• e.g. predation, hunting
• Human activity could threaten species in wild e.g. hunting deforestation
• Disease could threaten survival of species
• Species could be outcompeted by other species

Question 6

Measures to help preserve species in wild

Answer 6

• Ban hunting
• Create protected reserves
• provide breeding sites
• prevent habitat destruction
• monitoring of species e.g. with tagging
• feeding programmes
• educate tourists on not feeding wild animals and not dropping litter etc
• promotion of ecotourism to generate money to help with preservation
• in case the population falls again , create sperm and egg banks

Question 7

Ex situ conservation of animals

Answer 7

Advantages

• health of individuals can be monitored and treated for disease to ensure survival
• young can be hand reared which reduces mortality of young
• provision of mates for breeding can be manipulated
• protection from hunting and predation
• competition reduced between individuals

Disadvantages

• Expensive
• Often animals don’t breed successfully due to
• captive stress
• they experience altered breeding cycles
• don’t have a compatible mate
• Space is limited
• limiting the number of individuals kept which limits the genetic diversity o lack of genetic variation which could lead to inbreeding
• Can be difficult to reintroduce species to the wild as
• the animals may become too tame and not be afraid of humans
• may be unable to reintegrate into the wild population
• may have difficulties finding food for themselves
• may face predation
• habitats may have been destroyed

Question 8

Setting up captive breeding programmes

Answer 8

• collect animals form several sites (and keep in several different locations)
  *different geographical locations will show geographical variation – maintains this geographical variation
  *increases genetic variation
  *reduce risk of inbreeding
  *less risk of losing all individuals due to disease
• try to minimise stress during capture
• zoos have a database of related individuals
• exchange of animals between zoos or exchange sperm from sperm banks as a
  source of genetic material
• artificially inseminate individuals
• this increases the number of animals available to avoid inbreeding

Question 9

Botanical Gardens - Importance of seed banks

Answer 9

• to maintain genetic diversity
• to maintain plants for future or currently unknown uses
• to counteract extinction or prevent inbreeding

Question 10

Problems with seed banks

Answer 10

• collection of wild seeds may disturb environment
• collected samples may not be representative of genetic diversity of species
• seeds from one area may not survive in different area
• seeds stored for a long time may not stay viable
• Asexually bred plants will have no genetic variation – reducing biodiversity

Question 11

Advantages of using seed bank rather than adult plants to conserve endangered plant species

Answer 11

• most plants produce an excess
• so can be collected from wild without damaging wild population
• take up little space
• able to store large numbers
• easy and cheap to transport
• remaining viable for long periods
• less susceptible to disease / pests

Question 12

How seeds are kept viable in seed banks

Answer 12

• ensure that seeds are germinated from time to time
• ensure new seeds are produced
• freeze seeds

Question 13

How genetic variation is ensured in seed banks

Answer 13

• ensure you have many seeds
• collect seeds from many areas
• ensure the seeds have a mixture of genotypes

Question 14

Aims for Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Answer 14

• conservation of biodiversity
• regulate and prevent trade in endangered species
• ensure trade does not endanger wild populations
• prohibit commercial trade in wild plants
• allow trade in artificially propagated plants
• allow some trade in less endangered plants and animals

Question 15

How CITES helps to save endangered species

Answer 15

• countries in agreement make it illegal to poach species
• place ban on trade of endangered species
• increase cooperation between countries
• increase awareness of impact of illegal trade

Question 16

Aims for Rio Convention on Biological Diversity

Answer 16

• conservation of biodiversity
• sustainable use of organisms / habitats / ecosystems
• share genetic resources
• share access to scientific knowledge
• promoting ex situ conservation methods
• raising profile of biodiversity with governments / general public
• international cooperation on biodiversity issues

Question 17

Criteria to consider when carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Answer 17

• size of development
• which species present in the area
• potential damage to area/organisms
• potential strategies to minimise impact

Question 18

Role of EIA as part of local planning decision

Answer 18

• measures effect development is likely to have on biodiversity therefore the need for
  conservation
• Searched for endangered species and therefore measures need for their protection
• Ensures laws concerning endangered species are followed
• May present conditions for planning e.g. translocation of species