Conservation
Laura Armstrong
Teacher
Contents
Recall Questions
This topic requires prior knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystems and the importance of genetic diversity for species survival. You can test your knowledge on these below.
What is biodiversity?
The variety of life in an ecosystem, including species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
What is a species?
A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
What is the gene pool of a population?
The total number of different alleles of all genes in a population.
Topic Explainer Video
Check out this @JoeDoesBiology video that explains conservation or read the full notes below. Once you've gone through the whole note, try out the practice questions!
What is Conservation?
Conservation is the protection, management, and restoration of natural environments and the organisms within them.
Aims to maintain biodiversity, ensure the survival of species, and preserve ecosystems for future generations.
Types of Conservation
Conservation in the natural habitat
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Protecting species within their natural ecosystem.
Includes:
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Protected areas. (e.g. nature reserves, national parks).
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Legal protection of endangered species.
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Controlling invasive species.
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Habitat restoration and management.
Advantages:
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Maintains natural behaviour and evolution.
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Preserves whole ecosystems.
Disadvantages:
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Limited Control Over External Threats.
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Habitat may still be degraded.
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Slow Recovery Rates.
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Human Conflict.
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Not Always Effective for Critically Endangered Species.
Conservation outside the natural habitat
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Involves removing organisms from their natural habitat.
Includes:
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Captive breeding programmes. (e.g. zoos)
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Seed banks and gene banks.
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Botanic gardens.
Advantages:
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Protects species when the habitat is too damaged or dangerous.
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Allows for controlled breeding and reintroduction.
Disadvantages:
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Captive populations often have reduced genetic diversity.
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Requires significant funding.
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Organisms may fail to adapt to captive conditions or may lose natural behaviours.
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Difficulty reintroducing captive-bred organisms.
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Does not address habitat destruction.
Why Is Conservation Important?
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Maintains biodiversity – critical for ecosystem stability and services. (e.g. pollination, water purification)
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Prevents extinction of endangered species.
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Preserves genetic diversity, which is vital for adaptation to environmental change.
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Supports sustainable human use of natural resources. (e.g. fisheries, forestry)
Conservation & Sustainable Management
- Sustainable management ensures resources are used without depleting them.
- Example: Fishing quotas means fish populations are not depleted beyond a level from which they can recover.
- Agri-environment schemes: Encourage farmers to conserve hedgerows, leave field margins, and reduce pesticide use.
Conflict Between Human Needs & Conservation
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Conservation efforts often conflict with local economic interests:
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Land for farming vs. preserving forests.
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Ecotourism vs. disturbance to wildlife.
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Agri-environment schemes vs. reduced productivity and profit.
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Solutions:
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Education and incentives for sustainable practices.
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Community involvement in conservation schemes.
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Government policies and international cooperation.
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Funding and grants to account for lost profit.
Key Terms
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Conservation: active management of the environment to maintain biodiversity.
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Sustainable management: using resources without compromising their future availability.
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Biodiversity: the variety of species, genes, and ecosystems.
No answer provided.
Exam Tips
Use named examples (e.g. seed banks, fishing quotas, national parks) to support answers.
In evaluation questions, consider both ecological and socio-economic impacts.
Consider how the conflict will affect the success of a conservation strategy.
No answer provided.
Describe the importance of conservation and give examples of methods of conservation. (3 marks)
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Conservation maintains biodiversity, which is important for ecosystem stability and resilience to environmental change.
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Conservation can involve protecting species in their natural habitat, such as national parks and habitat restoration.
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Or involves protecting species outside their natural habitat, such as in zoos or seed banks.
Practice Question
Try to answer the practice question from the TikTok on your own, then watch the video to see how well you did!