1. Biology Year 11 ATAR Biology 1AB Biology 3AB
Conservation
Biology Year 11 ATAR
Biology 1AB
Biology 3AB

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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 seeds taken from WA habitats

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 re- introduce
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

8. 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

9. The eagle and the fox – life in the wheatbelt

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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
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