Ecosystem conservation
The Iberian lynx came close to extinction, with barely 100 individuals; today there are more than 2 000. It was no accident: it was the result of specific conservation decisions. Understanding the threats is the first step towards reversing them.
Threats to biodiversity
In recent decades, wild vertebrate populations on the planet have declined by almost $70\,\%$ on average, an extinction rate hundreds of times higher than the natural one. Which human factors explain this massive loss of living things in such a short time?
Name three current threats to biodiversity and briefly explain what one of them consists of.
Name three current threats to biodiversity and briefly explain what one of them consists of.
What is an invasive alien species? Give an example present in Spain and explain the problem it causes.
What is an invasive alien species? Give an example present in Spain and explain the problem it causes.
The zebra mussel, which arrived from the Caspian region, invades Spanish rivers and displaces native species. Explain which characteristics make it an invader and why it…
The zebra mussel, which arrived from the Caspian region, invades Spanish rivers and displaces native species. Explain which characteristics make it an invader and why it is so difficult to eradicate.
In situ and ex situ conservation
What is the difference between a national park and a natural park? Name an example of each, if possible from your autonomous community.
What is the difference between a national park and a natural park? Name an example of each, if possible from your autonomous community.
What is a seed bank? Explain what it is for and why it is considered a form of ex situ conservation.
What is a seed bank? Explain what it is for and why it is considered a form of ex situ conservation.
Distinguish between in situ conservation (national parks and nature reserves) and ex situ conservation (zoos, seed banks, or germplasm banks), and state one advantage of…
Distinguish between in situ conservation (national parks and nature reserves) and ex situ conservation (zoos, seed banks, or germplasm banks), and state one advantage of each strategy.
Habitat fragmentation and ecological corridors
When a road is built straight across an oak wood, the area cleared is less than $2\,\%$, yet years later the forest birds have disappeared from the area. Why is splitting an ecosystem into pieces far more destructive than losing a small strip of land?
Roads and fences divide forests into isolated fragments. Explain what habitat fragmentation is and why small, isolated populations are at greater risk of disappearing.
Roads and fences divide forests into isolated fragments. Explain what habitat fragmentation is and why small, isolated populations are at greater risk of disappearing.
Wildlife crossings, such as ecoducts covered with vegetation over motorways, allow animals to cross roads. Explain what problem they solve and relate it to the…
Wildlife crossings, such as ecoducts covered with vegetation over motorways, allow animals to cross roads. Explain what problem they solve and relate it to the connection between populations.
The construction of a motorway has split a protected natural area in two, leaving a population of badgers separated into two isolated groves. Over the years,…
The construction of a motorway has split a protected natural area in two, leaving a population of badgers separated into two isolated groves. Over the years, environmental officers detect an increase in inbreeding, a lower birth rate, and frequent roadkill of individuals attempting to cross the road.
- a) Justify why the isolation of these populations threatens their long-term survival, even though the original forest remains well-conserved.
- b) Design a proposal based on wildlife corridors to restore connectivity between both sectors without halting motorway traffic, and predict what benefits this measure will bring to the species' migrations and genetic exchange.
One Health: environment, animals and people
Human health, the health of other animals and the health of ecosystems are connected: this is the One Health approach. Contaminated water, habitat loss or antimicrobial resistance do not respect the separation between these areas.