Conservation Flashcards

Question

Q: Relative impact of C02/temp increases on ocean

Answer 1

Ocean habitats sequester CO2 from atmosphere at rates up to four times higher than terrestrial forests can. Ocean generates 50% of the oxygen we need, absorbs 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions, and captures 90% of the excess heat generated by these emissions. Ocean's ability to capture and store carbon make marine habitats highly valuable in the fight against climate change.

Answer 2

Coral reefs support over 25 percent of marine biodiversity. They provide important economic and social benefits across the world.

Answer 3

-Panamanian golden frogs (Atelopus zeteki) inhabit the cloud forest streams along the mountainous slopes of west-central Panama. These frogs have been catastrophically affected by chytridiomycosis an infectious disease of amphibians caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). They are listed on the IUCN Red list (see slide #11) as Critically Endangered and thought to be nearly extinct. A change in the temperature can have an impact on the interaction between a susceptible amphibian and the chytrid fungus as the fungus is more prevalent in colder conditions. -Macaws can be found in Central and South American in humid evergreen forests. Climate change subjects these birds to temperature swings that can kill eggs and hatchlings and cause heavy rainfall that floods their preferred nesting sites. Eggs may be laid earlier to track warming springs. -Climate change is exposing turtles and tortoises to even greater existential threats. Like many reptiles, radiated tortoises of Madagascar possess temperature-dependent sex determination, which means that the incubation temperature of eggs in the nest determines the sex of an individual. Each species has a certain threshold, or pivotal, temperature, where equal numbers of males and females are produced. As the Earth experiences climate change, increased temperatures could result in skewed and even lethal incubation conditions, which would impact tortoise species and other reptiles. This species has a very long generation length (more than 40 years), making it particularly susceptible to rapid population declines. -Shifts in temperature or other climatic factors may directly affect the incidence of disease in wildlife by altering host-pathogen interactions, promoting vector populations or allowing new ranges for vectors, or reducing development times for parasites. Vector-borne diseases are infections transmitted by the bite of infected arthropod species, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. Species on the move will mingle with species they may never have encountered. This could spark new disease outbreaks in many wildlife populations. Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns could fuel the spread of parasites and the diseases they carry in the primate species. Their population is very small and their range highly restricted. Primates have long generation times, Their low reproductive rate will limit the ability of the species to adapt to a changing climate.

Answer 4

Wild animals hunted for human consumption.

Answer 5

Bushmeat trade rapidly expanding due to increased demand and greater accessibility. Bushmeat consumption linked to deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola virus, Foot and Mouth disease Large mammals are preferred game and face first wave of extinctions including rhinos, elephants, apes, and duikers. Public awareness and education on the importance of biodiversity and sustainability are critical. Rapidly expanding to countries and species which were previously not at risk, largely due to an increase in commercial logging, with an infrastructure of roads and trucks that links forests and hunters to cities and consumers. Threatens the livelihoods and food security of indigenous and rural populations most depend on wildlife as a staple or supplement to their diet.

Answer 6

Conducting anti-poaching operations Educating children about the importance of biodiversity and sustainability New approaches to finding ways that the local populations can secure sustainable sources of income, food, and growth. Integrate conservation with the culture and needs of the people where it is being done; make conservaiton bring cash flow

Answer 7

Unlawful harvest and trade of live animals and plants or parts or products derived from them. Examples: skins, leather goods, souvenirs, food. traditional medicine, pets

Answer 8

Species traded are often highly threatened and in danger of becoming extinct. Trade is often unsustainable. Valued at $10-$20 billion per year.

Answer 9

Economic. Illegal wildlife trade is driven by high profit margins and often the high prices that are paid for rare species.

Answer 10

(difficult to enforce or create protective laws in developing countries where funding for equipment, training and enforcement is scarce) Hiring/training rangers out for protection identifying and disrupting trafficking routes Addressing demand Passing/enforcing laws that prohibit the trade Find ways local communities can use wildlife sustainably and to their benefit

Answer 11

-Palm oil commonly contained in ~50% of goods we use every day. -Production has more than doubled in last decade. -Highest yield of any oil crop and is the cheapest vegetable oil to produce and refine. -Conversion of forest land to palm plantations creates large source of emissions contributing to climate change. (Relatively limited forest area, but are disproportionately large source of global warming emissions; often established on land converted from swamp forests which, and when drained, carbon-rich peaty soils decay, releasing large amounts of both carbon dioxide and methane. Also clearing fields/forests with burns releases pollutants and carbon.) -Loss of animal habitats: orangutan, Sumatran tiger, and Sumatran rhino -80% of all palm oil comes from Southeast Asia.

Answer 12

Palm oil trees can be grown sustainably. Organizations, including U.N. and RSPO (Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil) are funding palm oil farmers who agree to practice sustainable practices. Organized consumers speaking with their pocketbooks.

Answer 13

You can help save orangutans from extinction just by buying the right brands at the grocery store. Look for the RSPO or other labeling indicating the product contains sustainably produced palm oil and boycott products without this labeling.

Answer 14

Campaign to protect gorilla habitat by recycling electronics. Critical component of many small electronics is a mineral called coltan. Also gold, tungsten, and tin. Primary location for mining these substances is rainforest in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, pristine gorilla habitat. The recycling raises money to directly support gorilla conservation initiatives through AZA's Gorilla SAFE programs, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

Answer 15

The San Francisco Zoo's Western Pond Turtle "Head Start" Program is helping to reintroduce them to the wild. After hatching in the zoo, they are raised to a larger size than they would be in the wild and have a better chance of surviving. Were once plentiful, ranged from as far south as Baja, California to as far north as British Columbia. Only aquatic turtle on the West Coast.

Answer 16

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Founded in 1924. Organization responsible for establishing high standards of practice and care for all facilities that fall under their jurisdiction. Every 5 years, zoos go through accreditation process, including inspection.

Answer 17

AZA inspects zoos to ensure they are maintaining their rigorous standards for exhibits, animal care, education, conservation, and research. AZA makes participation in programs such as SSPs (Species Survival Plans) and TAGs (Taxon Advisory Groups) mandatory for accreditation, encouraging zoos to make conservation a significant part of their operation. Accredited zoos develop public confidence by demonstrating that the institution meets or exceeds current professional standards.

Answer 18

Nearly 240 AZA institutions [another slide says "over 220"] SF Zoo is one of them

Answer 19

TAGs - Taxon Advisory Groups SSP - Species Survival Plans Studbooks SAFE - Saving Animals From Extinction

Answer 20

Cooperative management and conservation programs designed to ensure survival of endangered species in captivity. Manages breeding to maintain healthy, genetically diverse, demographically stable, self-sustaining population: keeps a studbook, determines which animals should be mated. Develops long-term research and management strategies for the species. There are currently 300 species in SSP programs. Created in 1981.

Answer 21

Almost 300

Answer 22

-SSP- mandrill, eight lemur species, *chimpanzee, *Western lowland gorilla, Francois langur, snow leopard, *lion, *black rhino, Asian rhino, *reticulated giraffe, West African crowned crane, Chacoan peccary, *radiated tortoise. -SAFE- *chimpanzee, *western lowland gorilla, orangutan, *African lion, jaguar, *black rhino, *giraffe, *radiated tortoise, western pond turtle. (*both)

Answer 23

Management programs for entire taxa (larger groups of animals such as marine mammals) that examine conservation needs and develop recommendations for population management and conservation.

Answer 24

Records of lineage used to strictly monitor and recommend breeding strategies for animals in zoos' collections. Carefully monitoring genetic representation of the animals in zoos will allow for future genetic diversity. With shrinking and fragmented habitats in the wild, the genetic diversity of wild, particularly endangered species is declining. The well-managed Zoo populations have become a genetic ark for these species.

Answer 25

AZA member institutions collaborating on global conservation initiatives to save species from extinction. Mission: to combine the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA members and partners to save animals from extinction. Vision: save the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction and protect them for future generations. Key goal: To increase public participation and public awareness of the need for conservation efforts and engage the public in those efforts.

Answer 26

The IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Answer 27

IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Maintains the Red List of Threatened Species (used for guiding conservation action and policy decisions). Supports work to save wildlife on both the national and international levels.

Answer 28

The world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. Serves as an important tool in the management of wildlife. Frequently updated. Provides a comprehensive list of animals, their conservation status, distribution, population and habitat information as well as current and proposed conservation measures. Defines the severity and specific causes of a species' threat of extinction. Establishes a baseline from which to monitor the change in status of species. Provides a global context for the establishment of conservation priorities at the local level.

Answer 29

Vulnerable: Taxa believed likely to become endangered in the near future if the causal factors continue operating. Endangered: Taxa in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating. Critically Endangered: Taxa in extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Answer 30

International trade contributes to the endangerment of many animals.

Answer 31

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

Answer 32

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. International agreement between governments. Aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Provides framework for participation by governments in regulating trade in wildlife specimens and conservation efforts. Monitors international trade of certain species. Governments adopt their own laws at national level enforcing conservation. Also provides controls on trade for selected species considered endangered. Maintains lists of animals in 3 categories (Appendices) based on threat and CITES controls that apply.

Answer 33

Appendix I: species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II: species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Appendix III: species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

Answer 34

More than 150 million.

Answer 35

Goals: Conservation, environmental education, and entertainment. Public perception of priorities: Entertainment, education, and conservation, in that order.

Answer 36

Inspire concern for animals. Preserve endangered species (via, e.g., captive breeding programs like SSPs). Prevent species extinction. Educate public about environment. (Personalize and widen a person's view of nature. Provide an understanding of interdependence in ecosystems.)

Answer 37

Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Answer 38

Prohibited any action that causes a "taking" of any listed species of endangered fish or wildlife. Dramatically changed the approach zoos took to acquiring animals. Passed in 1973.

Answer 39

Educate the general public, and especially the next generation, as to the importance of conservation, and actions they can take to help. Be a conduit between the animal and the public. Raise public awareness by communicating the need for conservation of species, preservation of habitat, captive breeding, ongoing research, and the reintroduction of endangered animals to the wild when possible. Zoos provide an understanding of the interdependence of animals and their habitat.

Answer 40

Promote positive environments for the animals so that they can thrive. Enrichment. (further detail on different flashcard)

Answer 41

Improving or enhancing zoo animal environments and care within the context of their inhabitants' behavioral biology and natural history. An enriched captive environment -is interesting, -allows animals to perform natural behaviors, -permits animals to be more active, and -provides animals with additional choices, which increases the animals' control over their environment leading to an improvement in the animal's mental state. -Reduces stress. Other key points: -Like physical health, mental health is important. -Captive breeding has not removed natural, wild instincts. -Since everything is provided for them -- food, water, shelter, and safety -- enrichment provides psychological and physical challenges to keep them active and interested in their surroundings. (approaches to enrichment are a separate flashcard)

Answer 42

-Varied food choices, often hidden to encourage foraging and problem-solving. -Toys, e.g., large "boomer balls" that can also be filled with feed pellets that fall out when rolled a certain way. -Items sprayed with scents from other animals. -Design of the exhibits to resemble a natural habitat.

Answer 43

Animals are trained to perform certain tasks to aid medical care, e.g., -a cat presenting its tail for a blood draw, -an animal lying down on a platform for an ultrasound, -a bear presenting its rear for an injection or raising its paw for inspection. These trained tasks that facilitate medical care reduce the stress on the animal by, e.g., reducing the need for anesthesia.

Answer 44

Recycling (paper, plastic, cardboard, scrap metal, glass) Sending surplus food to communities in need (via Replate, separate flashcard for details) Composting (both visitor waste, animal waste, and organics from the horticulture dept.) Water refilling stations EV charging stations Conservation education (details on separate card)

Answer 45

-Conservation messaging in exhibit design and graphics. (examples on separate card) -Greenie's Conservation Corner (details on separate card) -Hosts "Wild Places, Wild Things" lecture series. (details on separate card) -Exhibits presented by docents and biofact interpreters (e.g., biofact carts).

Answer 46

The palm oil crisis at the orangutan exhibit. Near extinction of the Mexican gray wolf.

Answer 47

Over a million pounds each year.

Answer 48

Partnership with Replate, a technology-based social enterprise that connects and delivers surplus food from businesses to communities of need. Currently donating the following to Replate: unsold daily prepared foods, leftover catered foods, and frozen and packaged food items. (resulting in zero waste)

Answer 49

SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). (Details on separate flashcard.)

Answer 50

Several water and energy conservation projects: -5 EV charging stations in parking lot. -Water-bottle charging station.

Answer 51

Brings world-renowned conservation experts to share stories and photographs about important conservation projects and discoveries. Science lecture series. Free to Zoo guests, staff, and volunteers.

Answer 52

Working with Yosemite N.P. to restore the Yosemite toad to its native habitat. (Displayed in the Exploration Zone.) Partnering with the Presidio Trust, the zoo crew, a group of teenagers, worked with staff, to successfully rid Presidio's Mountain Lake of introduced invasive species and then restored the native western pond turtle and the Pacific chorus frog to their natural habitat in the lake. They have also worked to revitalize the biodiversity regions of Lake Merced, and Mori Point.

Answer 53

An exhibit at the zoo. Highlights some of the ways the zoo is helping save species and protect California's wild places. E.g., it discuses some species the zoo has been involved with returning to the wild, and why they matter. (examples in separate flashcard) Teaches the visitor more about what they can do to make an impact. Docent program helps fund this exhibit.

Answer 54

Located next to the Little Puffer aims to educate our visitors about the incredible work our conservation partners do to help save species and protect habitats locally and around the world. Visitors can support this important work at the kiosk!

Answer 55

Forktail damselfly, San Francisco Garter Snake, red-legged frog, yellow-legged frogs, western Pond turtle, Yosemite toad, pacific chorus frog.

Answer 56

California is the most biologically diverse state in the nation, with the highest number of plant and animal species that are found nowhere else in the world.

Answer 57

Understand: -Research the conservation message and identify the easy action item. -Understand the issue well, but be ready to explain it simply. Motivate/provoke/relate: -First you want them to care about the animal that is endangered. Create positive connection between visitors and animals. -Stimulate curiosity and feelings. -Relate the importance of our message(s) to their everyday lives. Keep message appropriate and relevant to specific audience. -Keep it positive -Focus on values: (1) protection of people, places, environment; (2) responsible management - taking practical steps to address problem is in best interest of future generations Give: -Give an easy action item that is doable for them. Reveal impact: -Explain how this will help the situation. Big picture. -Connect to audience's goals.

Answer 58

Fostering feelings of empathy toward and appreciation of other species Illustrating the impact humans have on the environment Conveying how individuals can help protect animals and the environment

Answer 59

Reduce consumption - conserve water and energy, turn off lights when not in use, turn off water when brushing teeth, take shorter showers, plant native drought tolerant plants, walk or ride your bike, don't buy things you don't need, reduce fossil fuel use. Reduce waste (recycle) - repurpose materials or reuse by bringing to thrift shops, recycle newspapers, glass, cans etc. Education yourself and others on conservation issues. Volunteer and/or contribute to conservation organizations. Choose you pets wisely - make sure you can take care of them and don't release unwanted pets to the wild; avoid purchasing exotic pets Look for and purchase eco-friendly products. Purchase sustainable items - use Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Watch Guide in choosing fish; avoid consuming slow growing hardwoods, non recyclable plastics, and petroleum made products

Conservation Flashcards

(85 cards)