Download Monitoring Populations - Deans Community High School

Chapter 35
Monitoring Populations
Give 4 reasons why scientists may monitor population numbers of wild plants or animals:
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What is meant by the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of a population?
Food species
What has the EU done to try to reverse the effects of over-fishing?
Why is the population of red deer in Scotland increasing rapidly?
Can you suggest any problems that this increase could cause?
What is done to prevent uncontrolled growth of the red deer population?
Pest species
Pests are species which pose a threat to mankind's health or economy - insects, fungi,
vermin which spread disease or destroy crops.
By which 2 methods are pest species generally controlled:
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Chapter 35
'Insect pests thrive on crop monocultures'. What is monoculture?
In what way has knowledge of the biology of the locust enabled scientists to warn farmers
of imminent invasion by these devastating insects?
What is done to destroy swarms of locust?
Other than using pesticide, how may greenfly be controlled by horticulturalists?
Give 2 examples of pathogenic fungi:
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Why are mosquitoes of particular interest to humans?
What information about mosquito behaviour is gathered when planning a control
program?
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Why can brown rats be a danger to humans in Britain?
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Indicator species
What is meant by the term 'indicator species'?
Explain how each of the following act as indicator species:
Fresh water invertebrates
Lichens
Birds of prey
Phytoplankton
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Chapter 35
Endangered species
'The monitoring of populations of wild plants and animals enables humans to recognise
and protect rare species for their aesthetic value and genetic diversity'
What is meant by the following:
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aesthetic value
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genetic diversity
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native plants
Explain how protection can be given to rare wild plants in Britain?
What has caused the threatened extinction of the Kenyan black rhinoceros?
Whale population numbers are very difficult to estimate reliably. Suggest why this could
be so difficult?
What is meant by a moratorium?
Try to find out if all countries respect the moratorium on commercial whaling.
Norway is currently (March 2002) complaining to the UK that radioactivity from the
Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria is affecting marine organisms off the Norwegian coast.
Read the case study on pages 305 - 306 and think about your own views on the evidence
provided about pesticide pollution and viral disease in North Sea seal populations.
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