Managing Biodiversity
Overview
Biodiversity is the variety of life: the number of different species, the genes within them and the ecosystems they form. It gives us food, medicine, clean air and water, and a safety net of genetic variety we may one day need. Yet species are being lost faster than at almost any time in history. Conserving what remains is not a single action but a toolkit of strategies, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
In this lesson you will learn the main strategies for conserving biodiversity and genetic resources, from national parks and wildlife corridors to seed banks, captive breeding and international agreements on trade. You will also learn to weigh up these strategies, discussing their benefits and limitations, and to classify species by how threatened they are. Real conservation successes and challenges run throughout.
Objectives
- 5.3.1 Describe strategies for conserving the biodiversity and genetic resources of natural ecosystems, limited to: (a) sustainable harvesting of wild plant and animal species (b) sustainable forestry (c) national parks and reserves (d) wildlife corridors (e) seed banks (f) zoos and captive breeding (g) ecotourism (h) international cooperation against animal trade (i) regulation of trade in vulnerable and endangered species (j) classifying organisms in terms of their threat level: threatened, endangered and extinct.
- 5.3.2 Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for conserving the biodiversity and genetic resources of natural ecosystems.
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Managing Biodiversity. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- A species that has no living members left anywhere is described as: A. threatened B. endangered C. extinct D. invasive Answer: C
- Which of these is an example of ex-situ conservation? A. a national park B. a wildlife corridor C. a seed bank D. sustainable forestry Answer: C
- Strips of habitat that link separated protected areas are called: A. reserves B. wildlife corridors C. seed banks D. niches Answer: B
- CITES is mainly used to: A. plant trees B. regulate international trade in endangered species C. build zoos D. measure biodiversity Answer: B
- One limitation of captive breeding is that: A. it cannot save any species B. the captive population may have a small gene pool C. it protects whole habitats D. it is always free Answer: B
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