Conservation 2.3.10

Success Criteria Distinguish between the terms conservation & preservation Explain conservation is a dynamic process involving management and reclamation Discuss the economic, social & ethical reasons for conservation of biological resources Outline, with examples, the effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations in the Galapagous Islands

Think, Pair, Share What is conservation?

Success Criteria Distinguish between the terms conservation & preservation Explain conservation is a dynamic process involving management and reclamation Discuss the economic, social & ethical reasons for conservation of biological resources Outline, with examples, the effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations in the Galapagous Islands

Key Terms Conservation Preservation Maintenance of biodiversity, including diversity between species, genetic diversity within species, and maintenance of a variety of habitats and ecosystems Preservation Protecting ‘untouched’ areas of land eg Antarctica

Success Criteria Distinguish between the terms conservation & preservation Explain conservation is a dynamic process involving management and reclamation Discuss the economic, social & ethical reasons for conservation of biological resources Outline, with examples, the effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations in the Galapagous Islands

Conservation KEY INFO Dynamic process Management Reclamation Raise carrying capacity by increasing food Move individuals to increase population Restrict dispersal by fencing Control predator numbers Vaccinate individuals against disease Preserve habitat Reclamation Clean up pollution Remove unwanted species Recolonise from captive breeding programmes

Levels of Diversity: What are we trying to conserve? Ecosystem Edge effects Species Focus on as easier to relate to Species interactions e.g. mutualism, predation Genetic Diversity within a species Fisher’s fundamental theorem E.g. Bottlenecks, inbreeding depression

Why is conservation important? Very few habitats truly natural Even hotspots have only as much as 30% virgin habitat Maintaining biodiversity (number of species and genetic diversity within species) Over-exploitation for food and commerce Habitat disruption and fragmentation Introduced species

Species Conservation IUCN Red List CITES control trade Plants: Species recovery programmes in botanic gardens (ex situ conservation) Publicity Field Assessment

Criteria for Conservation Distinctiveness Endangerment Utility

Management strategies Strategies adopted depends upon the specific characteristics of the ecosystem and the species involved. But could include Raising carrying capacity by providing extra food Developing dispersal corridors Restrict dispersal eg fencing Control predators and poachers Vaccinate against disease Prevent pollution, restrict succession

What does conservation involve? Consideration of social and economic costs to the local community Effective education and liaison with the community Establishing protected areas eg National parks, green belt and SSSI Legal protection, ex-situ conservation

Protected Areas 8 grades of protected areas from scientific reserves down to managed areas Currently only 9% of land surface protected Habitat protection by: Buying land e.g. RSPB Debt Swap Legislation

Conservation Example Partula snails on Moorea Show classic example of island species diversity African land snails were a pest so Euglandina were used as a biological control leading to near extinction of Partula International co-operation and local indigenous peoples Captive breeding programme at Kew Returned to wild with anti-predator defences

Success Criteria Distinguish between the terms conservation & preservation Explain conservation is a dynamic process involving management and reclamation Discuss the economic, social & ethical reasons for conservation of biological resources Outline, with examples, the effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations in the Galapagous Islands

Use page 210-211 to complete the table Discuss economic, social and ethical reasons for conservation of biological resources Social Ethical Economic Use page 210-211 to complete the table

Social Ethical Economic Ecosystem services (forests absorb CO2) Enrichment (nice to look at) Culturally valuable Indicator species provide warning of ecosystem breakdown Moral & ethical responsibility for 1.5 million named organisms (estimate of total put it at 10-50 million in total) Every species is valuable in it’s own right Sustainable use Treasure trove (potential food, drugs, genes) Traded on a local and global scale If resources are lost there will be less trade in the future Governments subsidise & encourage over exploitation

Success Criteria Distinguish between the terms conservation & preservation Explain conservation is a dynamic process involving management and reclamation Discuss the economic, social & ethical reasons for conservation of biological resources Outline, with examples, the effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations in the Galapagous Islands

Galapagos Islands Effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations Habitat disturbance, fragmentation Use of resources Increased pollution Over exploitation Giant tortoises taken for food Over fishing for exotic species Introduced species e.g. goats, cats, insects Out compete native species e.g. goats outcompete tortoises Eat native species Bring diseases

Task Read page 212-213 and answer questions 1-4

question Outline, with examples, the effects of human activities on the animal and plant populations in the Galapagos Islands [8]

Answers Habitat Disturbance Over-exploitation of resources Demands on utilities due to increased human population Oil spill in 2001 affected marine and coastal environments Increased pollution and waste Fragmentation of forests Over-exploitation of resources Species harvested faster than they were being replaced e.g. whales, giant tortoises, sea cucumbers Introduced Species Deliberate introductions of non-native species e.g. goats, cats Accidental introductions e.g. rats, insects Outcompete native species Bring disease E.g. red quinine tree is aggressively invasive species E.g. goat eats unique native purslane species, outcompetes tortoises