biodiversity 2

• indigenous species are usually better adapted than introduced species to local conditions
• the potato bean of north america has a high protein content
• shark skin scales has reduced friction when swimming- aircraft and ship coatings to reduce fuel consumption
• the seeds of some plants have burrs with hooks that can stick to the fur of passing animals and aid seed dispersal. This was coppied in the development of velcro.
• lotus flowers have water-repelling properties. This has been copied to produce self-cleaning glass
• poppies are cultivated to produce the painkillers morphine and codeine
• the cinchona tree of south american rainforests was used to produce quinine for malaria protection
• aspirin was extracted from the bark of willow trees. It is now manufactured synthetically
• the drug AZT was discovered in a tropical marine sponge found in the Caribbean. It is used to treat HIV/AIDS
• studying a development of a kangaroo or wallaby in a pouch is easier than studying a human baby in the womb. This has helped understanding of developmental problems in unborn babies
• hippopotamus skin secretes hipposudoric acid which is a natural sunscreen and antimicrobial agent. This is being used to improve the treatment if burn victims
• marine sponges produce proteins that prevent the rejection of grafts from other individuals. These proteins are being developed to prevent the rejection of human organs after transplant surgery
• embryos of the purple sea urchin are used to test whether new medicines are teratogenic and could cause abnormal embryo development in humans
• the prickly pear cactus became a weed after its introduction to australia from south america. The cactoblastis moth was successfully introduced to control the cactus from south america
• encarsia formosa is a parasite wasp that is released into greenhouses to control whitefly pests on crops such as tomatoes
• bacillus thuringiensis is a pathogenic bacteria that has been used to control insect crop pests as it produces proteins that are toxic to insects
• a lot of furniture is made with timber from tropical rainforest trees such as mahogany, teak ans ramin
• jewellry has been made with shark's teeth, turtle shells and mollusc shells
• tigers- beliefs- claws sedatives- tail cures skin disease- dung for alcoholism- brain of laziness- whiskers for toothache
• rhono hornes- many medical rpoblems from nosebleeds to smallpox
• dissolved oxygen levels can be reduced by hot water discharges from power stations or by discharging organic waste such as sewage which deoxygenates the water when it decomposes
• the use of pesticides and loss of wild flowering has reduced populations of many insect species including many species of bees
• many large herbivores are endangered for example elephants rhinos hippos gorillas and many monkey species. Conservation of these herbivores would help to protect the plant species that rely on them.
• the grey squirrel was introduced to the UK from North America. In many areas it has out-competed the indigenous red squirrel as it is better adapted to exploit the available food. It can digest acorns from oak trees which the red squirrel can not. It is also larger and can compete more successfully for nest sites
• the range of the European water vole in UK rivers has been reduced by the North American Mink that has escaped from fur farms.
• the ground nesting birds on many oceanic islands such as New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii are threatened by the introduction of cats rats pigs and dogs
• the Nile Perch was introduced into Lake Victoria to improve foof supplies but it ate the indigenous fish species such as cichlids, many of which are now extinct
• the white-clawed crayfish is indigenous to the UK but its population has declines following the introduction of several non-indigenous crayfish species such as the signal crayfish from North America
• many tree pathogens have been introduced in the UK. These include Dutch elm disease, ash dieback and sudden oak death. These have been introduced by vegetation and soil.
• The red deer is indigenous to the UK but is threatened by hybridisation with the introduced Sika deer. Also, the Wildcat population in Scotland is threatened by hybridisation with domestic cats
• some species change habitats and produce abiotic features that other species need for survival. The African elephants create clearings and water-holes that many other species rely on for water.
• roles of the IUCN:

  coordinating global data on biodiversity conservation

  increasing understanding of the importance of biodiversity

  developing nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and sustainability
• species in habitats under particluar threat- decline of lemurs in madagascar being used to predict the decline of many other species
• evolutionary unique species-

  EDGE species- bactrian camel, pygmy hippo, northern bald ibis, secretary bird
• endemic species-not found in any other area- galapagos, hawaii madagascar, red ruffed lemur, aldabra giant tortoise
• key stone species- african forest elephants, grew wolves and beavers
• flagship species- high public profile- tigers, elephants, giant oanda.
• degree of population dispersal- where the entire population of a species is found in one area it may be vulnerable to any local change in conservation success

  chimpanzees and gorillas are found in several countries but all bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees) live in the forest of a single country
• Einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum) (indigenous to the Middle East and nearby areas)

   It can survive on poor, dry, marginal soils where other varieties of wheat will not

   It is salt-tolerance characteristic has been bred into durum wheat/pasta wheat (Triticum durum)

   The Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) is indigenous to Papua New Guinea

   It gives a high yield, a high protein content and is disease resistance

   It is cultivated in SE Asia but is under-utilised and could be grown more widely
• Restrictions on trade/international movements

  Appendix I: trade only permitted for conservation programmes

  Appendix II: trade licenced from sustainably managed populations