Download Gapped Wildlife conservation lesson2

Wildlife Conservation
The Ecological Principals
Ecological Succession
• Succession - the gradual process of
change in species composition, community
structure and physical characteristics that
occur following natural and human-caused
disturbance to a biological community.
Primary succession
• The introduction of species into an area that
has ……………..... been colonised such as
cooling lava.
• The first species to enter are called
……………….… colonisers
• They form a pioneer community.
Secondary Succession
• The re-establishment of species into an area that
once contained populations of plants and
animals, but which has been disturbed.
• Such disturbances can be
…………....
flooding, fire and
trampling by large animals.
……………… - forest clearance, road building.
• Secondary succession can be quite rapid.
• Why ?
• ……………………………………………
…………………………………………...
The Niche
• Each species utilizes a unique set of
……………... that constitute its ………...
• The niche of a plant species might consist
of the types of …….. on which it is found
and the amount of ……….. it receives.
• The niche of an animal might include the
type of habitat it requires for shelter and the
types of ………. it eats.
• Particular species are often found at
particular successional stages.
• Why ?
• …………………………………………
…………………………………………
………………………………………….
• For example, sun-loving butterflies and
annual plants who’s niche consists of
large amounts of sunlight and high
daytime temperatures are often found
early in succession.
Natural Succession
• Once a pioneer community has been
established, under natural conditions, a
gradual progression from one community to
another occurs.
• What would cause this ?
• ……………………………………………
…………………………………………....
For example, early colonists may fix
atmospheric nitrogen and reduce soil ph.
• These conditions may provide a niche for
……………………. who may make
conditions less favorable to the early
colonists and eventually ………... them.
• Can you think of how they may do this?
• ……………………………………………
……………………………………………..
Climax community
• As succession continues, ………….
diversity tends to ………...……. and food
webs become more complex.
• Eventually a ………. ………….. develops
which is in …………... with …………..
and undergoes ………………………...
• This is called a …... .…………………...
Climatic climax community
• The ………………… characteristics of the
climax community tend to be determined by
the ……………….... These are know as
………………………. ………………....
• In most of Britain the climax community is
…………………. woodland. In the
equatorial regions it tends to be ………..
……………....
Edaphic climax communities
• ………...… in types of …... …………..
occur within a ………... ..…. due to
variations in to ………. types.
• These are known as ……... ………...
……………………..
• If a climax community is in equilibrium
with its environment what might happen if
environmental conditions change?
• ……………………………………………
…………………………………………...
• ……………………………………………
……………………………………………
……………………………………………...
• Can you think of some causes of
environmental change?
Causes of environmental change
•
•
•
•
•
•
…………………………
…………………………
…………………………
………………………….
………………………….
………………………….
Impact of environmental change
• Climatic regions will …………….. the
…………... To survive species will have to
……….. into new …………. habitat.
• For example, Northern temperate tree
species will have to disperse 250 km
northwards in order to sites with hospitable
climates. …………..., ……….., …….. and
…………….. areas may stop them.
Deflected succession
• As well as causing unintentional changes to
habitats ……….. may …………... ……...
the pattern of ……………. through
………………………...
• The maintenance of ………...., ………. and
…………... prevent ………….. succession
taking place, succession is said to be
…………...
Plagioclimax communities
• A …………. community ………………...
the actions of ……...………... is known as a
……………... community.
• Apart from climate change and agriculture
what else may alter climax communities?
………. Species
• A ……………. is any …….... that we, as
humans, consider undesirable.
• ………. ………. with ……...……. for
……... and other ……...….. and transmit
………...…...
• Includes, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish,
insects and pathogens.
• The ………..…. for defining a species as a
………. is often ………...
• Some ……..……., particularly opportunist
………….….. species, …….……….
because …. …….. the ………....
They……………
• Can you think of how we may create the
niche of a pest species?
• ……………………………………………
……………………………………………
……………………………………………...
.
• ……….. forests supply …...….. and
……..….. for …….., …….. and
invertebrates.
• …………………. for ……...... and
persecuted by ………………. became a
rare species in the Pacific.
• Sea otters …..…….. on sea urchins and in
the absence of the otters the urchin
population ……………..
• The sea urchin over grazed the kelp creating
a “…………………...” a community of
algae and sea urchins.
• The sea otter is now a ………..……..
species and communities have reestablished
themselves or been ……………….. into
many former areas.
• In these areas ………..... forest and
……...…... have ……………... within1-2
years.
Exotic Species
• A particularly ….. …………... in wildlife
conservation is the ………... of
……...……. species.
• Exotic species can easily …………..
new habitats and become a ………...….
species, because ?
• No ……………………. in their new
habitat.
• They are often ……………….. to habitats
…………….. by human activity.
• Their ………...... species have no
…...………. against them.
• This is a particular problem in ?
• …………....
• Because species on ……...……... tend to
evolve in the absence of ……...……….
pressures from diseases, …………..…. and
………. found in …….………. areas.
• Thus many ……...…... species are very
……….. to ………. species.
Conservation Management
• In the face of these pressures
………….……. …………... is needed if
wildlife is to be conserved.
Preservation
• Preserving habitats one is the most
……….... ways to
………..………………...
• We do not have the ……….. or ………... to
maintain the majority of species in
………....
• However, preservation may not always be
possible, why?
• …………... of human intervention on
which the habitat depends, such as
………….....woodland.
• Increasing ……..…. for ………... and
……….. due to
– Increasing …………...….. population.
– Increasing demand for …….………. lifestyle.
– …………....
• ……………... conditions.
• ………... and introduction of ……. ……...
Reclamation
• When ………...….. to a habitat is so great
that …………..... is no longer possible
…………... is one possible option.
• Sometimes known as restoration ecology.
• The re-…………...….. of habitats that have
been …………….... or ……….….
………....
•
•
•
•
May include not only adding lost species
but also ……….. …….. species.
May require reduction of ………..………..
May require alteration of human activities
such as ………………..
• What do you consider to be original.
Habitat creation
• ……………. habitats where they did …….
……………. before.
• For example, creating new coral reefs by
sinking ships or dumping old tanks.
• Could be used to justify ……..…………..
existing habitats.
Conclusions.
• Successful wildlife conservation requires a
detailed understanding of the underlying
…………….. processes that influence both
species and communities.
• Wildlife conservation is a ………….
activity that requires …………...
management. In some cases we are seeking
to …………. succession in others to...
…………. climax communities.