Biology Year 11 ATAR Biology 1AB Biology 3AB Conservation Biology Year 11 ATAR Biology 1AB Biology 3AB

KEYWORDS Genetic strategies Seed banks Captive breeding program Developing new strains Environmental strategies Biological control of pests Environmental strategies Biological control of pests Control of introducted species Reafforestation Management strategies National parks Licences and open seasons Protected zones

Rationale Maintain biodiversity and the environment for future generations Plants support life on Earth O2 and CO2 Food source Maintain climatic patterns Maintain energy flow, cycling of matter and water quality Soil conservation Ethical considerations Supports human life Medicine & technology Materials & resources Tourism Water supply

Genetic strategies Seed banks Seeds are collected form different habitats and stored under controlled conditions This helps to retain plant biodiversity Example Kings Park has a collection of over 2000 seeds taken from WA habitats

Genetic strategies Developing new strains New plant strains can be developed using biotechnology These genetically modified strains can be more suitable to an environment that has been degraded This helps to prevent extinction and repair ecosystems Example GMO crops, salt tolerant plants

Genetic strategies Captive breeding programs Animals which have small populations or are endangered are kept in captivity and selectively bred to build numbers and allow for reintroduction into the wild. Example Perth Zoo – numbats and Western Swamp Tortoise breeding program

Environmental strategies Biological control The introduction of an organism to control pests Example Myxomatosis virus and calicivirus to control the rabbit population Advantages Target specific Control agent becomes permanently established, so no need to re- introduce No chemical accumulation Precautions Must be specific to pest Must not introduce disease Must have a natural predator in the ecosystem Needs to die out when food source dies out Will not hybridise (interbreed) with native organisms

Environmental strategies Control of introduced species Must be controlled because they put pressure on native organisms Example Baiting of foxes in National Parks Reafforestation Also known as revegetation Involves replanting species in order to increase biodiversity and habitat for native organisms Examples Goegrup Lake Nature Reserves and Riverside Gardens Reserve Mining sites

The eagle and the fox – life in the wheatbelt

Management strategies National Parks National Parks are areas of land where human activity is limited to help protect and maintain biodiversity National Parks cover 7% of Australia They are a government responsibility

Management strategies Licences and open seasons Licencing fees contribute to the policing of catches and protection of vulnerable species Open seasons limit the time of year that species can be legally caught. This includes bag limits and size limits Example Crabbing season in Mandurah

Management strategies Protected zones These are ‘no take’ areas where people are not allowed to catch or take organisms. This allows for populations to recover and repopulate neighbouring habitats. It can also apply to a species as a whole, wherever they may be found. Examples ‘Sanctuary Zones’ in Ningaloo reef Wildflowers anywhere

Educational strategies It is important to educate people about conservation People will only behave in ways that are environmentally sound if they understand the importance of conservation Example Recycling waste Gardening practices Waterwise program

Considerations for conservation There are several biological factors that need to be considered when deciding on the level of protection that should be given to various species The need to conserve genetic diversity Ethics and culture Economics Cost of protection Benefits / use How common or widespread the species is Is the species a pest? Chance of its extinction Reproductive potential