Gene-pool is genetic variation within a population
Domesticated species have a small gene pool
This makes it vulnerable to the same environmental changes and disease
Has happened to bananas
ecosystem services
The benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both positive and worth living
Atmospheric composition- photosynthesis by plants reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increases the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere
Hydrological cycle- trees provide interception to stop oversaturation of ground which will caise surface run off- this can cause soil erosion which may affect the quality of a water source by making it more turbid and increasing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in it if it is by a farm. It can also make soil less fertile by removing organic matter
Trees and plants also do transpiration
Biogeochemical cycle- plant photosynthesis
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, nitrifying bacteria,
interspecies relationships
No species can live in ecological isolation because their survival relies in other species for a range of resources + ecological services
Food- all heterotrophs rely on other organism as a source of energy+ nutrients
Pollination- allows dispersed population of plants,
Brazil nut tree +Agouti - even the fall of several hundred feet doesn’t crack them - Agouti doesn't’ eat all of the nuts- buries the nuts-forgets where they were buried- large proportion left till it grows.
Habitat provision- trees hermit crabs with shells.
Population control
Many species have been overexploited as a food resource
Overfishing of cod- swim at button of the ocean- demersal fish
Catch techniques- demersal fishing- nets along the bottom
Mesh size- smaller fish trapped inside the smaller net size- can’t reproduce to help the population to grow.
Government error- they didn’t know cod population- didn’t know the population size was decreasing- capture recapture-linkon index
fashion
Many species are overexploited as a fashion resource
Fur coats, leather, use of animal skins
furniture and ornaments
Mahogany tree-
Piano keys -black- ebony wood
Rosewood tree- furniture and instruments -
Ivory from elephants and rhinos
traditional medicines
Tiger claws- alcoholism, sedative, skin disease
Rhino horn- nosebleeds, smallpox
Seahorses- infertility, baldness and arthritis
Temperature- migratory birds migrate and temperature changes could mean that their food resource has already been taken
Aspen tree- lives in colder temperature- has to increase latitude- only so far they can go- fewer insects to eat them
Hot effluent will increase the growth rates of aquatic vegetation- thermal pollution
water turbidity- changes the quality of the water- ploughing, mining and dredging may increase water turbidity-this reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis and filter feeding.
algae- cant photosynthesis as effectively
pH- oysters and coral- carbonic acid in the water causes the shells and skeletons to dissolve-more hydrogen ions and not enough carbonate ions
Acidic conditions can be caused by mine drainage water, pollutant gases from burning fossil fuels and smelting metals
The lower the pH of the water the more readily heavy metals will dissolve-heavy metals causes cellular activities to slow down
Fish can't produce eggs
Dissolved oxygen- fish downstream of river affected by dams, corals
Sewage- bacteria use the oxygen to break down the sewage
Physical damage-deforestation-habitat loss- orangutang -pollutants in water -nurdles- used for plastic
Water availability - elephants have to walk much further-
Wetlands disappearing- more evaporation
Amphibians and newts also affected
commenalism
The bromeliads benefit by occupying space on the lomb receiving rain and sunlight, but do not harm the trees
Commensalism is a long-term biological interaction in which members of one species gain benefits while those of the other species neither benefit nor are harmed.
Endemic species are only found in one geographical area
Many endemic species are found on oceanic islands i.e the galapagos islands or madagascar
Also species whose range of tolerance is at high latitudes or high altitudes
Marine iguana
Bornean orangutan
Madagascar lemur
Gammapagus penguin
Gallapagus seal
Keystone species play an important role in maintaining the ecological structure of a community
They are often an apex predator -jaguar
But not always- bees , bucket orchids
A flagship species is a species with a high public profiles
By conserving flagship species other species will benefit too
Snow leopard- can now be adopted
The more threatened a species habitat is the more at threat a species is
Their status may be used as an indicator for the entire ecosystem
Bornean orangutan, sumatran tiger,
Fragmented habitat- not even- competition for resources- separated from resources- smaller gene pool with higher chance of passing on recessive genes that are not beneficial
dormice -mechanisation of farming- tear down hedgerows
Cheetah- ice age. Dispersed over africa too quickly- humans have put fences, cheetahs blocked from getting together( genetic bottleneck) - cheetahs have smaller muscle mass.
designation- Legally protected area for protection of plant and animal species AND their habitats
Legal protection of habitats and species:The wildlife and countryside act(1981) is a UK law that protects wildlife- cant uproot plants but can cut them
Designates protected area ( SSSIs- sight of special scientific interest , MCZs-marine control zones)
designated impacts-
-protect species
-protects habitats
-restrictions on activities WITHIN protected areas
-Restriction of activities OUTSIDE the protected area
-management agreements between landowner and the designating authority
-Access restrictions
-International cooperation
SSSI case study
Hunted osprey to extinction in the UK as it was affecting farming
Historically has always been part of northumber;and marshes
Extinct in England in 1847
Tend to nest in prominent trees
Installed a number of nesting platforms
2021- 16 healthy youngsters sledging form Kielder
MCZ case study
Seahorse wraps around the seagrass
Boats can uproot seagrass
Dorset- didn’t want MCZ as they were losing tourists -5yrs uproar
Studland bay dropped as ans MCZ in 2012 and then re-designated in mAy 2019
MPA's not working
Half of all offshore MPa designated to protect the seabed before 2018 have experience at least 1,000 hours of demersal fishing between 2015 and 2018
12% of aal offshore benthic MPA’s designated before 2018 have experienced at least 5,000 hours of demersal fishing between 2015 and 2018
CITES
Appendix 1- 3000 endangered species can not be trade at all
Appendix 2- 28,000 threatened plants and 3100 threatened animal species which can only be exported if the importer/ exporter has a permit
Appendix 3- 390 vulnerable species which can not be traded in certain countries
legally traded trees
African cherry tree- european pharmaceutical companies-treating prostate conditions
Big Leaf mahogany- resistant- furniture
romene - furniture
international whaling commission
Regulates and manages whaling
Whale populations rising
Aims-
Total protection for certain species
Protection of suckling mothers and their calves
Carrying out research into whale biology and activities that threaten whales such as ship strikes and entanglement in fishing nets
Designation of whale sanctuaries
Setting limits on numbers and sizes of whales that can be taken
ITTO
The international tropical timber organisation aims for the sustainable management of tropical rainforests
1996 Mha in 1990 to 1770 in 2015
That is more than 0.bkm^2 lost every minute of every day and over 315 thousand km^2 lost every year
sustainable exploitation
Common fishery policies of the EU regulates the fishing in EU territories to ensure they are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.
Holes in nets had to be a certain size-mesh size
Quotas limited
Fishing boats can’t be too big
Can't dump bycatch ( fish not intended to catch)
white tailed eagle- Removed from wild in Britain and France early 20th century
3 lessons to learn: basic flight; how to hunt; advanced flight
Wild white-tailed eagles could soon be flying in the alps.
hybridisation -Closely related species produce offspring..
… which are usually insterile
cryopreservation- The freezing of gametes or embryos. Offspring can be produced without the parents meeting. Can be stored for many years.
artificial insemination- Collecting and inserting semen into female. This avoids transportation if the male, injury from mating and non acceptance of partners.
african lion
micropropogation- Taking a sample from a plant; which are then cultivated into individuals