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Biodiversity and Conservation > Captivity > Flashcards

Flashcards in Captivity Deck (36)
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1
Q

What does captivity mean?

A

Imprisonment? Held against will?

2
Q

To what extent are humans in society captive?

A

We are bound by laws, conventions and rituals

3
Q

When should captive breeding be done?

A

When natural numbers of species are low, or their habitat has been destroyed, degraded

4
Q

What is the ultimate goal of captivity?

A

To reunite the species with its original habitat

5
Q

What is in situ conservation?

A

Conservation in its original habitat

6
Q

What is ex situ conservation?

A

Conservation not in its original habitat

7
Q

Give an example of where ex situ conservation may be carried out for animals

A

In zoos, wildlife parks or game reserves

8
Q

Give an example of where ex situ conservation may be carried out for plants

A

In botanical gardens, educational establishments, seed banks

9
Q

Why do some species decline in the wild?

A

Inbreeding, habitat loss, competition from invasive species, overexploitation

10
Q

What happens if populations of wild animals were too small, which type of conservation is suitable?

A

Not in situ, more likely ex situ as high likelihood of failure if population was too small

11
Q

Historically, what have zoos been used for?

A

Collections of animals, like a hobby

12
Q

How did zoos evolve?

A

They evolved into places of public exhibition and entertainment

13
Q

What is the current status of zoos?

A

They are used for conservation, education (biology and status of species involved)

14
Q

Traditionally what type of species was best represented in zoos?

A

Large mammals – e.g. gorilla

15
Q

What about the huge numbers of endangered invertebrates?

A

They are not well represented in zoos, but money gained from donations towards conservation of larger animals such as the gorilla can be used for their conservation

16
Q

What is the best conservation strategy?

A

In situ is the best option

17
Q

Why is in situ strategy the best strategy?

A

It allows for the natural preservation or wild communities, allows natural evolutionary change.

18
Q

Give an example of two species that have been bred in captivity after going extinct in the wild

A

Père Davids deer

Przewalski’s horse

19
Q

What is the purpose of ex situ strategies?

A

Educational value to conservation

Can periodically release captive bred individuals into the wild to maintain their numbers and genetic variability

20
Q

What are three limitations of ex situ strategies?

A

Population sizes are normally small due to limited facilities in zoos. I.e sizes of enclosures can be small

Adaptation. Species may adapt to being in captivity

Learning. Species may lose knowledge that they would gain in the wild

21
Q

Give two more examples of limitations to ex situ strategies

A

Genetic variability. Species may all come from one locality

Vulnerability. Entire populations can be destroyed by natural disasters

22
Q

Describe ex situ conservation in plants

A

We use plants for crops, medicine and horticultural

23
Q

Give a benefit of ex situ conservation in plans

A

Education and awareness of plant diversity

Their seeds can be stored and used in reintroductions in the future

24
Q

Define botanical gardens

A

They are institutions that hold documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education

25
Q

How many botanical gardens are their worldwide?

A

1500

26
Q

How many plant species do worldwide botanical gardens have?

A

35,000 species (representing 15% of the world’s total flora)

27
Q

Kew gardens aims to conserve what percentage of the world’s total flora?

A

10% in the Millennium seed bank

28
Q

What are the benefits of botanical gardens?

A

Plants are easier to maintain in controlled environments

They can be grown in quantity and pruned to size

29
Q

What are the purposes of seed banks?

A

Important for native and agricultural preservation

30
Q

Varieties of seeds which are disease resistant are good for what?

A

Production!

31
Q

Long term seed production should consider what four things? Low…..

A

Low moisture
Low temperature
Low ethylene concentration
Low oxygen

32
Q

What two types of seed are there?

A

Orthodox and recalcitrant

33
Q

Which type of seed can tolerate drying?

A

Orthodox

34
Q

What percentage of water do recalcitrant seeds contain?

A

15-25%

35
Q

What are the characteristics of recalcitrant seeds?

A

They are normally large, like an acorn

36
Q

In an effort to maintain genetic diversity in seed banks what measures are taken?

A

Samples taken from five populations in a range

Seeds collected from a minimum of 10 and ideally 50 individuals per population