Chapter 2 - Conservation of biodiversity

• K- selected species

  Long lived

  large

  few children at a time
• R- selected species

  Short lived

  Smaller

  Lots of children at a time
• Carrying capacity

  Highest population that can be maintained for an period of time by a particular environment
• Species richness

  Number of different species
• Population

  Amount of one species in a habitat
• Ecological niche

  Role an organism fills in its environment
• Biome

  large geographical region with specific climate conditions where a community of species live
• What is biomimetics

  Use of knowledge of the adaptations of other species to improve the design of products#
• Ecosystem services - Atmospheric composition

  Concentrations of CO2 and O2 are largely regulated by photosynthesis and aerobic respiration
• Ecosystem services - Hydrological cycle

  Evapotranspiration from vegetation produces large amounts of water vapour that forms clouds, controls surface temperatures and increases precipitation
• Ecosystem services - Biogeochemical cycles

  Microbes (bacteria, fungi) and other living organisms are involved in the carbon and nitrogen cycles
• Ecosystem services - Pollination

  Insect pollination is more successful than wind pollination as the insects allows plants to have dispersed populations over large distances
• Ecosystem services - Soil maintenance

  Vital for growth and survival of almost all plants, providing support, water and nutrients
• Ecosystem services - Seed dispersal

  Seed dispersal by animals are not random and seeds can be carried longer than if dispersed by wind

  Since animals live in the same habitat as plants, likely to carry seeds where they can survive
• Vavilov center

  places where they had high concentrations of close relatives of important crop species
• Why is it important to locate wild relatives of species?

  Knowledge of the origin helps to avoid genetic erosion
• What is a sere?

  A process where pioneer species colonise and over time as more nutrients are available it turns into a climax community
• Why would you use Spearmans rank?

  To see if there is a correlation between two variables
• What does biotic mean?

  A living factor that can affect distribution of organisms in an ecosystem
• What does abiotic mean?

  A non living factor that can influence where organisms can live
• Legislations - CITES

  An agreement between governments to address problems with wildlife trade

  Governments volunteer to sign

  Has generally been effective, little incentive for governments to comply
• CITES - appendix I

  Cant be traded internationally as they are threatened with extinction
• CITES - appendix II

  International trade is allowed but with strict regulations ensuring its sustainability
• CITES - appendix III

  Included at the request of a country which needs the cooperation of other countries to help prevent illegal exploitation
• Threats to biodiversity

  Introduced species

  Direct exploitation

  Eradication of predators

  Habitat destruction

  Changes in abiotic / biotic factors
• Threats to biodiversity -changes in abiotic factors

  Temperature - global climate change will cause changes in the distribution in species as they colonise areas which become suitable

  Water turbidity - dredging may increase this. Reducing light penetration and prevent photosynthesising aquatic plants
• Threats to biodiversity - changes in biotic factors

  Pollinators - plants rely on it, if insects was to die out plants wouldn't reproduce

  Food chain impacts
• Flagship species

  Species which members of the public are likely to recognise/identify with, and are used in campaigns
• Keystone species

  One which the whole ecosystem depends

  Detritivores - breaking down dead organic matter

  Scavengers - eating animal remains

  Pollinators - fertilising flowers

  Seed dispersal - spreading plant seeds, through faeces
• Endemic species

  Indigenous to a particular area and not naturally found elsewhere
• EDGE species

  Edge species are considered a priority to save from extinction because if lost, we have lost a unique species and they have no close relatives
• Captive breeding - specific habitat requirements

  Habitat size

  Food requirements

  Financial constraints
• Captive breeding programmes - factors

  Conditions for breeding - light level, temperature, amount of food

  Gene pool size - most captive populations have a small pool so increases risk of inbreeding

  Population interactions and breeding success - in captivity, the mixing of breeding and non-breeding individuals may cause conflict and reduce survival of offspring
• Methods of increasing breeding success - artificial insemination

  Collection of sperm from a male and its insertion into a female
• Hard release

  releasing individuals with no post release support. Involves species where behaviour is controlled by instinct.
• Soft release

  involves post release support such as a gradual release into larger areas and provision of food as they learn to find food by themselves.
• Tropical coral reefs - abiotic factors

  • The symbiotic algae within the polyps require bright sunlight
  • Low turbidity as it would reduce light penentration
  • Coral polyps can't regulate water concentration. Have a narrow tolerance of salinity
• Tropical coral reefs - biotic factors

  Animals that form coral reefs have inter species relationships that use nutrients very effenciently and allow a high biomass of life to thrive
• Tropical coral reefs - importance

  • Medicine use
  • Climate control
  • Erosion protection
  • Tourism
• Tropical coral reefs - threats

  Human:

  • unsustainable fishing
  • land based pollution which deplete and damage its ecosystem

  Environmental:

  • global climate change causes coral bleaching
  • tropical storms, marine debris is a threat to wildlife