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CONSERVATION
Biology Year 11 ATAR
Biology 1AB
Biology 3AB
KEYWORDS
Genetic strategies
 Seed banks
 Captive breeding
program
 Developing new
strains
Environmental
strategies
 Biological control
of pests
Environmental
strategies
 Biological control
of pests
 Control of
introducted
species
 Reafforestation
Management
strategies
 National parks
 Licences and open
seasons
 Protected zones
RATIONALE






Maintain biodiversity and
the environment for
future generations
Plants support life on
Earth
 O2 and CO2
 Food source
Maintain climatic patterns
Maintain energy flow,
cycling of matter and
water quality
Soil conservation
Ethical considerations

Supports human life
 Medicine & technology
 Materials & resources
 Tourism
 Water supply
GENETIC STRATEGIES
Seed banks
 Seeds are collected
form different habitats
and stored under
controlled conditions
 This helps to retain
plant biodiversity
Example
Kings Park has a
collection of over 2000
seeds taken from WA
habitats
GENETIC STRATEGIES
Developing new strains
 New plant strains can be
developed using
biotechnology
 These genetically
modified strains can be
more suitable to an
environment that has
been degraded
 This helps to prevent
extinction and repair
ecosystems
Example
 GMO crops, salt tolerant
plants
GENETIC STRATEGIES
Captive breeding programs
 Animals which have small
populations or are
endangered are kept in
captivity and selectively bred
to build numbers and allow
for reintroduction into the
wild.
Example
 Perth Zoo – numbats and
Western Swamp Tortoise
breeding program
ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES
Biological control
 The introduction of an
organism to control pests
Example
 Myxomatosis virus and
calicivirus to control the
rabbit population
Advantages
 Target specific
 Control agent becomes
permanently established,
so no need to reintroduce
 No chemical
accumulation
Precautions
 Must be specific to pest
 Must not introduce
disease
 Must have a natural
predator in the
ecosystem
 Needs to die out when
food source dies out
 Will not hybridise
(interbreed) with native
organisms
ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES
Control of introduced
species
 Must be controlled
because they put
pressure on native
organisms
Example
 Baiting of foxes in
National Parks
Reafforestation
 Also known as
revegetation
 Involves replanting
species in order to
increase biodiversity and
habitat for native
organisms
Examples
 Goegrup Lake Nature
Reserves and Riverside
Gardens Reserve
 Mining sites
THE EAGLE AND THE FOX – LIFE IN THE WHEATBELT
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
National Parks
 National Parks are areas of land where human activity is
limited to help protect and maintain biodiversity
 National Parks cover 7% of Australia
 They are a government responsibility
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Licences and open seasons
 Licencing fees contribute to the
policing of catches and protection
of vulnerable species
 Open seasons limit the time of
year that species can be legally
caught. This includes bag limits
and size limits
Example
 Crabbing season in Mandurah
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Protected zones
 These are ‘no take’
areas where people
are not allowed to
catch or take
organisms. This allows
for populations to
recover and repopulate
neighbouring habitats.
 It can also apply to a
species as a whole,
wherever they may be
found.
Examples
 ‘Sanctuary Zones’ in
Ningaloo reef
 Wildflowers anywhere
EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES
It is important to educate
people about
conservation
 People will only behave
in ways that are
environmentally sound if
they understand the
importance of
conservation
Example
 Recycling waste
 Gardening practices
 Waterwise program

CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONSERVATION
There are several biological
factors that need to be
considered when deciding
on the level of protection
that should be given to
various species
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The need to conserve
genetic diversity
Ethics and culture
Economics
 Cost of protection
 Benefits / use
How common or
widespread the species
is
Is the species a pest?
Chance of its extinction
Reproductive potential