Biodiversity

What are the three reasons to conserve biodiversity, in terms of human survival?

Ecosystem services Biological Resources Social Benefits

What are exotic species and how do they effect biodiversity?

Exotic species that have been deliberately or accidentally imported into a new region. -Compete: exotic species may compete with native species for niches (food resources, habitat etc) -Prey: exotic species may prey upon native species -Degradation: habitat degradation due to groups of herbivores (eg. cattle, goats, pigs, rabbits)

What are the major threats to biodiversity in terms of habitat?

Habitat Modification and destruction (for agriculture, urban or other developments): Destruction: clearing of habitat -Fragmentation: breaking up of habitat into smaller remnant fragments, sometimes too small to support viable habitats -Degradation: reduction of habitat quality

What is over-exploitation and how does it effect biodiversity?

Harvesting or utilization of natural resources above a sustainable level; can cause loss of habitat and ecosystems, reducing population sizes and making species more vulnerable to environmental pressures. -Slaughtering whales for meat -Harvesting of ivory from elephants

What are biological resources? Name some examples.

Organisms that are used directly for human survival -Food -Medicines -Wood products -Ornamental plants -Breeding stock

Where can pollution occur and how does it effect biodiversity?

Pollution can occur in soil, water and atmosphere, and can disturb the structure of ecosystems, accumulate up the food chain, or eliminate populations of sensitive species.

What is species richness?

The number of species present in an area

What is species diversity?

The number of species present, and relative abundance, in an area

What are Ramsar and Jambar?

-1983 Ramsar goals: -Convention which attempts to ensure that migratory birds, particularly waterbirds, have their habitat maintained at both ends of their migratory path - Particularly protection of wetlands Jambar goals: - Japan-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement - Conserve both ends of a major migratory path of the several endangered species which migrate between them

What is the Convention On Biological Diversity?

-1984 -Introduced by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Major Objectives: - conservation of biodiversity - sustainable use of its components - fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources

What is the National Strategy For The Conservation Of Australia's Biological Diversity?

-1988 - Introduced by the Commonwealth government - included the introduction of a Biological Diversity Advisory Committee and Endangered Species Advisory Committee Major objectives: - conservation of biodiversity across Australia - natural resource management - management of threatening processes - improving knowledge -involving the community -Australia's international role

What is Victoria's Biodiversity Strategy?

-1997 - established by the Victorian Government as part of their involvement in the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biodiversity. Major goals: - increase awareness to preserve biodiversity - enable partnerships between community, industry and government in protection - indicate methods for achieving conservation - frameworks for preventing further threatening processes (eg loss of habitat) - highlight areas of urgent need for attention

What is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC act)?

-1999 - introduced by the commonwealth government Major objectives: - monitoring biodiversity - listing nationally threatened species - conservation plans - identification of threatening processes and plans to abate them - access to biological resources - invasive species - protection of protected areas

How does global climate change effect biodiversity?

-Alteration of ecosystem structure and function (breaching of tolerance ranges in terms of temperature, salinity in water environments, etc) -Extinction depends on rate of changes and the species ability to adapt

What are the 3 levels at which strategies to protect biodiversity should be assessed?

-Genetic -Population -Species

What are the three types of biodiversity?

-Genetic Diversity -Species Diversity -Ecosystem Diversity

What are the 2 major national strategies for the protection of biodiversity?

-National Strategy For The Conservation Of Australia's Biological Diversity -Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

How can the population size be obtained?

-Random sampling methods (over a period of time and locations) -Capture/tag/recapture -Use of camera sensors -Spotlighting -Scat analysis -Quadrants (plants)

What is species diversity?

-The number of species as well as the number of individuals within a species. -A species is defined as a group of organisms which can interbreed and produce fertile offspring in natural conditions.

Define biodiversity

-The variability among living organisms, including diversity within species, between a species and of ecosystems.

What is ecosystem diversity?

-The variety of habitats, natural communities and ecological processes in the biosphere - Includes both the biotic (eg. plants and animals) and abiotic (eg. water, oxygen etc) components, and the interactions between these components

What is genetic diversity?

-Variation in genetic information between species, as well as between members of the same species.

What is the precautionary principal?

Where there are threats of serious/ irreversible environmental damage, and a lack of full scientific certainty/ data, the action should not go ahead.

What are the four major international strategies of preserving biodiversity?

1. Convention on Biological Diversity 2. World Heritage List 3. CITES 4. Ramsar and Jambar

What are the 3 major strategies for protecting biodiversity, and what do they involve?

1. Creation of conservation reserves- protected areas of land managed for nature conservation (eg. National Parks) 2. Remnant vegetation and wildlife corridors- pathways of native vegetation between populations of a species, allowing movement of organisms (and gene flow) between areas. 3. Translocation and reintroduction- translocation: transfer of plants and animals from one area of their range to another, reintroduction: release of organisms that have been bred in herbaria or captive breeding programs back into their range/ habitat.

What are the 3 main impacts of environmental changes on biodiversity?

1. Extinction: the complete disappearance of a species 2. Loss of symbiotic species: species which live in association with one another - Parasitism: one species benefits while the other (host) is harmed (worms in sheep) - Commensal: one species benefits while the other is not affected (birds nesting in tree) -Mutualism: both species derive benefit from one another ( bees and flowers) 3. Reduced population size: loss of individuals within a population

What are the impacts of reduced population size on the population?

1. Genetic drift: allele frequency in the population is determined by random events rather than natural selection, which can possibly cause the population to accumulate an increase in harmful alleles. 2. Inbreeding: breeding between individuals which are genetically related; can cause inbreeding depression in which organisms have a reduced capacity to survive and reproduce 3. Genetic Swamping: movement of a large population to a smaller population, and interbreeding results in loss of the genetic diversity of the smaller population. 4. Demographic variation: birth rate, death rate and sex ratio

What are the three components that are considered when allocating a conservation category to a species?

1. Population size (high to low) 2. Geographical range (restricted to widespread) 3. Specificity of habitat (general to narrow)

Define endemic

A species which is restricted to one area only is considered to be endemic to that area.

What are ecosystem services? Name some examples.

An ecosystem service is a process which contributes to human survival -Nutrient Cycling -Protection of water resources -Soil formation -pollution breakdown -climate stability -pollination of crops

What are social benefits? Name some examples.

Benefits to humans other than those vital to survival. -Research and education -Recreation -Cultural values -Aesthetic values

What is the World Heritage List?

- 1972 - Introduced by the United Nations Educational, Cultural ad Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) Major Objectives: - protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage - nominated by the government and decided against a set of guidelines by the World Heritage Committee

What is CITES?

- 1973 - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna - Introduced by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Major Objectives: - All now, or at risk of becoming, endangered species are protected against the commercial exploitation which has significant impact on their genetic diversity -Cannot halt all trade due to: ~not all nations are signatories ~ illegal trading, poaching and smuggling continues on large scale ~ allows exemptions for scientific research; the value of which is difficult to determine

What is the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act?

- 1988 - established by the Victorian Government Major goals: - recognize, identify and manage processes which lead to extinction. Process: - nomination of of species/ community (by any member of community) - review by Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) - recommendations and public view (for comment) for 30 days - Final recommendation made by Minister for Environment and Minister for Agriculture- 30 days to decide if species should be listed

What is an EIA?

- Environmental Impact Assessment (Environmental Effects Statement (EES) in Victoria)A procedure where the potential environmental impacts of proposed developments are carefully assessed before any decision is made by government agencies. - Aims: ensure that likely and significant environmental effects of proposals are carefully described and considered before any decisions are made - Requires: outline the need for proposal, description, objectives, existing environment, likely effects, alternatives and likely effects, safeguards

What is a risk assessment?

- Using data to estimate the probability of some harmful event occurring (specifically in Environmental risk assessment, risk of extinction) - Eg. Regulatory authorities setting the maximum allowable levels of certain chemicals in streams and rivers, based on the data about toxic effects on life

What are the two major state/ local strategies for preserving biodiversity?

- Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act - Victoria's Biodiversity Strategy

What are the 9 main conservation categories and what do they cover (from lowest extinction risk to highest)?

- Not evaluated- not yet assessed against criteria - Data deficient- not enough information to make assessment - Least concern- low risk of extinction - Near threatened- close to meeting threatened threshold if not for ongoing specific conservation program - Vulnerable- not endangered, but facing high risk of extinction in medium-term future -Endangered- not critically endangered, high risk of extinction in near future -Critically endangered- facing extremely high risk of extinction in immediate future -Extinct in the wild- taxon only survives in cultivation -Extinct- no doubt the last individual died

What are the conservation categories and why are they needed?

- The framework for allocating resources for conservation - Resources available for the maintenance of biodiversity are limited