Methods of conservation

Criteria for designing protected areas LO 1: State and explain the criteria used to design protected areas Criteria for designing protected areas Size Shape Edge effects Corridors Proximity

LO 1: State and explain the criteria used to design protected areas Size Larger space allows for larger populations and gene pools, and a wider variety of species

LO 1: State and explain the criteria used to design protected areas Shape and Proximity Round is better than all other shapes because it reduces the edge effect If protected areas are close to other protected areas, they are more effective than isolated islands

Buffer zones and edge effect LO 1: State and explain the criteria used to design protected areas Buffer zones and edge effect Park Buffer zone Less edge is better; edge creates differences in the structure of an ecosystem, called an ecotone (an area where 2 habitats meet), which influences what may successfully live there. Brown-headed cowbird – western USA

Corridors Provide safe passage between protected areas LO 1: State and explain the criteria used to design protected areas Corridors Provide safe passage between protected areas

Task: Evaluate the success of a named protected area CS1: Snowdonia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0cqcWSEExk

Task: Evaluate the success of a named protected area CS2: Serengeti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNUvPXlgj7s

In situ versus Ex situ In situ: LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. In situ versus Ex situ In situ: Conservation of species in their natural habitat E.g. natural parks, nature reserves Ex situ: Conserving species in isolation of their natural habitat E.g. zoos, botanical gardens, seed banks

IN SITU CONSERVATION Species kept in their own natural habitat. LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. IN SITU CONSERVATION Species kept in their own natural habitat. Area out of bounds for humans and their activities. Projects carried out to encourage species revival.

LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. In situ conservation Setting up wild life reserves is not just a matter of building a fence around an area and letting it grow “wild” Without grazing animals heathlands which contain a number of rare species will revert to woodland

The advantages of in situ conservation LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. The advantages of in situ conservation Resources - adapted too Evolve in their environment Space Bigger breeding populations Cheaper Wordpress.com

LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Problems Sciencemuseum.org It is difficult to control illegal exploitation (e.g. poaching) The environment may need restoring and alien species are difficult to control Japanese Knot weed Ragwort Giant hogweed

EX SITU CONSERVATION SPECIES BASED APPROACH Zoos LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. EX SITU CONSERVATION SPECIES BASED APPROACH Zoos Captive breeding programmers Botanical gardens Seed banks

Ex situ conservation Captive breeding LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Ex situ conservation Captive breeding The Hawaiian goose was practically extinct in the wild 12 birds were taken into captivity A population of 9000 was released back into the wild The experiment failed. Why? State Symbols USA

Pere David’s deer success or failure? LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Pere David’s deer success or failure? Pere David’s deer was a native species of China In 1865 18 were taken into zoological collections Meanwhile it became extinct in the wild By 1981 there were 994 individuals scattered through zoological collections America Zoo

LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Ex situ conservation Captive breeding of endangered species is a last resort reached the point where their populations would not recover in the wild It works well for species that are easily bred in captivity Isolated in captivity they do not evolve with their environment

Zoos: The land of the living dead? LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Zoos: The land of the living dead? Small gene pool - Inbreeding is a serious problem Solution: exchanging specimens or by artificial insemination In vitro fertilisation Natural habitat may have disappeared

LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Botanical gardens Originally role - economic, pharmaceutical and aesthetic Range of species limited Distribution of botanical gardens - distribution of colonial powers Most are found in Europe and North America But plant diversity is greatest in the tropics

LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation.

LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Seed banks Seeds can be maintained for decades or even centuries if the conditions are controlled <5% humidity and –20°C Not all species are suited to this treatment Seeds need to be regularly germinated to renew stock or the seeds will eventually loose their viability Seed banks are at risk from power failure, natural disasters and war Duplicate stocks can be maintained Seeds kept in seed banks do not evolve with changes in the environment © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The doomsday vault - Spitzbergen LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. The doomsday vault - Spitzbergen BBC Bergen Nat Acc of Arts

CITES The Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. CITES The Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species Set up in 1988 to control and encourage the sustainable exploitation of species determines the status of a species whether or not its exploitation requires regulation Species placed into different appendices depending on their status

LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Trade Database 500,000 records of trade in CITES-listed species of wildlife are reported annually.

CITES Appendices Appendix 1: Total ban on exploitation LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. CITES Appendices Appendix 1: Total ban on exploitation Appendix 2: Limited exploitation subject to quotas Appendix 3: Species requiring protection in certain states only Species are reassessed every 2 years

Appendix 1: Total ban on exploitation LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Appendix 1: Total ban on exploitation                                                                                                          

Appendix 2: Limited exploitation subject to quotas. LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Appendix 2: Limited exploitation subject to quotas.                                                                                                                                                      

Appendix 3: Species requiring protection in certain states only LO2: Discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the species based approach to conservation. Appendix 3: Species requiring protection in certain states only