Conservation issuesConservation issues

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BiodiversityBiodiversity

• The total number of different The total number of different species/range of communities living in species/range of communities living in a defined area, ecosystem or biomea defined area, ecosystem or biome– Huge interdependence between species Huge interdependence between species

and biodiversity is essential to maintain and biodiversity is essential to maintain ecological balance and stabilityecological balance and stability

• Extent of genetic diversity with Extent of genetic diversity with species and populationsspecies and populations– Essential for the stability and survival of a Essential for the stability and survival of a

speciesspecies

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The need to maintain The need to maintain BiodiversityBiodiversity

• Biological reasons:Biological reasons:– Ecological balance and stabilityEcological balance and stability– Diverse gene pools within populations and the genetic Diverse gene pools within populations and the genetic

diversity of species is extremely important if species diversity of species is extremely important if species are to be prevented from becoming extinctare to be prevented from becoming extinct

• Human reasons:Human reasons:– For use in agriculture – potential food supplies or to be For use in agriculture – potential food supplies or to be

crossed with existing agricultural species to improve crossed with existing agricultural species to improve features (yield, hardiness or disease resistance)features (yield, hardiness or disease resistance)

– To provide possible medicines (7000 drugs in the UK To provide possible medicines (7000 drugs in the UK derived from plants)derived from plants)

– To encourage tourism in some countries – ecotourismTo encourage tourism in some countries – ecotourism– Obligation to reverse the decline in biodiversity and Obligation to reverse the decline in biodiversity and

also to try and maintain the current level of also to try and maintain the current level of biodiversity for future generationsbiodiversity for future generations

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Reasons why species have Reasons why species have become endangeredbecome endangered

• Endangered species - Endangered species - any species whose numbers have any species whose numbers have become so low that they are unlikely to be maintained by become so low that they are unlikely to be maintained by normal rates of reproduction and are in danger of becoming normal rates of reproduction and are in danger of becoming extinct.extinct.

• African elephantAfrican elephant– Habitat lossHabitat loss – competition between humans and – competition between humans and

elephants for space, trees and grazing leading to loss and elephants for space, trees and grazing leading to loss and fragmentation of the elephant habitatfragmentation of the elephant habitat

– Contact with humans – protection of villagesContact with humans – protection of villages– HuntingHunting – trophies, ivory and ‘bushmeat’ – trophies, ivory and ‘bushmeat’– PoachingPoaching – illegal hunting – illegal hunting– IUCN Red list status = 2008 IUCN Red list status = 2008 ((Near Threatened)Near Threatened)– CITES Listing Appendix I except Botswana, Namibia, South CITES Listing Appendix I except Botswana, Namibia, South

Africa and Zimbabwe & Appendix IIAfrica and Zimbabwe & Appendix II

• OrangutanOrangutanALBIO9700/2012JK

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Methods of protecting Methods of protecting endangered speciesendangered species

• ZoosZoos– Advantage of captive breeding:Advantage of captive breeding:

• Possible to monitor the health of the mother and the Possible to monitor the health of the mother and the development of the fetus during the pregnancydevelopment of the fetus during the pregnancy

• Sperm and eggs can be obtained from the captive Sperm and eggs can be obtained from the captive individualsindividuals

• These can be stored in a frozen formThese can be stored in a frozen form• It allows the possibility of artificial inseminationIt allows the possibility of artificial insemination• Also in-vitro fertilisationAlso in-vitro fertilisation• Fertilised embryos may be implanted in surrogate Fertilised embryos may be implanted in surrogate

mothers (might even be different species)mothers (might even be different species)• There is a possibility of international co-operation and the There is a possibility of international co-operation and the

transfer of breeding individuals between different zoos transfer of breeding individuals between different zoos • It allows the keeping of breeding records and the genetic It allows the keeping of breeding records and the genetic

relatedness of captive individualsrelatedness of captive individuals– Golden lion tamarin; Californian Condor; Black-Golden lion tamarin; Californian Condor; Black-

footed ferret; Cheetah; Arabian oryx; Red wolffooted ferret; Cheetah; Arabian oryx; Red wolfALBIO9700/2012JK

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• Captive breedingCaptive breeding– Reasons why animals do not always breed successfully Reasons why animals do not always breed successfully

when in captivity:when in captivity:• No longer living in their natural habitatNo longer living in their natural habitat• Conditions experienced in captivity can cause stress and Conditions experienced in captivity can cause stress and

behavioural changesbehavioural changes• The stress can disrupt normal reproductive cycles and The stress can disrupt normal reproductive cycles and

breeding behaviourbreeding behaviour• They often have little choice of mate and may reject the They often have little choice of mate and may reject the

chosen matechosen mate

• Release of captive-bred individuals into the wildRelease of captive-bred individuals into the wild– Problems that reduce success rate of releasing captive-Problems that reduce success rate of releasing captive-

bred individuals:bred individuals:• Habitat destruction might mean that there is very little Habitat destruction might mean that there is very little

suitable habitat available to release the animalssuitable habitat available to release the animals• Animals might not find it easy to move around in their Animals might not find it easy to move around in their

natural habitatnatural habitat• It may not be easy for them to find enough foodIt may not be easy for them to find enough food• They may not be able to communicate with other members They may not be able to communicate with other members

of their species in the wild and may not integrate into social of their species in the wild and may not integrate into social groupsgroups

• They may be susceptible to diseases in the wildThey may be susceptible to diseases in the wildALBIO9700/2012JK

• Botanic gardensBotanic gardens– Plants can be grown in botanic gardensPlants can be grown in botanic gardens– Possible to create ideal growing conditions (availability Possible to create ideal growing conditions (availability

of light, nutrients, water and the atmospheric conditions)of light, nutrients, water and the atmospheric conditions)– Also possible to propagate endangered species (by seed, Also possible to propagate endangered species (by seed,

vegetative or tissue culture)vegetative or tissue culture)– Allows possibility of re-introducing endangered species Allows possibility of re-introducing endangered species

of plants into their natural habitatof plants into their natural habitat– Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Royal Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Royal

Botanic Gardens, Kew, LondonBotanic Gardens, Kew, London• Seed banksSeed banks

– Collection of seeds that are long-lived and can be stored Collection of seeds that are long-lived and can be stored in a relatively small spacein a relatively small space

– Life span of such seeds can be extended if they are kept Life span of such seeds can be extended if they are kept in carefully controlled conditions (atmosphere of low in carefully controlled conditions (atmosphere of low oxygen levels, moisture and temperature)oxygen levels, moisture and temperature)

– Gene pool of a particular species is also maintainedGene pool of a particular species is also maintained– Seeds of endangered species can be germinated at any Seeds of endangered species can be germinated at any

time and plants can be grown in Botanic gardens or time and plants can be grown in Botanic gardens or restored to the wildrestored to the wild

– Some species produce seeds which have a limited Some species produce seeds which have a limited longevity (e.g. cocoa, rubber, coconut) – such plants longevity (e.g. cocoa, rubber, coconut) – such plants would need to be maintained in botanic gardenswould need to be maintained in botanic gardens

– The Millenium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place, UKThe Millenium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place, UK ALBIO9700/2012JK

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Pictures taken from www.eyematter.comALBIO9700/2012JK

• National ParksNational Parks (and other protected areas) (and other protected areas)– Set up to conserve rare/endangered species and maintain Set up to conserve rare/endangered species and maintain

important habitatsimportant habitats– Legislation is passed to ensure that such areas are Legislation is passed to ensure that such areas are

protected under the lawprotected under the law– The ways in which National Parks protect their resident The ways in which National Parks protect their resident

species include:species include:• Wardens, rangers and volunteers can be used to patrol the Wardens, rangers and volunteers can be used to patrol the

parksparks• Access by humans can be restricted (footpaths are created)Access by humans can be restricted (footpaths are created)• Agricultural activities can be strictly controlledAgricultural activities can be strictly controlled• Industrial activities and mining can be limited and controlledIndustrial activities and mining can be limited and controlled• The building of roads, dwellings and other developments can The building of roads, dwellings and other developments can

be strictly controlledbe strictly controlled• Visitor Centres can be established to educate the general Visitor Centres can be established to educate the general

public in the importance of conservation within the Park and public in the importance of conservation within the Park and elsewhereelsewhere

• Wildlife can be protected directly e.g. 24 hour surveillance of Wildlife can be protected directly e.g. 24 hour surveillance of nests/breeding sitesnests/breeding sites

– In addition to National Parks, other categories of In addition to National Parks, other categories of conservation areas can be created if they contain species conservation areas can be created if they contain species or habitat which need some form of protection (e.g. SSSIs or habitat which need some form of protection (e.g. SSSIs - http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/)- http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/)

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Fiordland

Yellowstone

Galapagos Kruger

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