Unit A Lesson 17: Human Activities and Conservation
Completion requirements
Unit A Lesson 17: Human Activities and Conservation
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Learning Targets |
Inquiry Question: What do seed banks and zoos have in common?
Humans have made efforts to conserve species, habitats, and genetic diversity by using strategies like seed banks and zoos.
Humans have made efforts to conserve species, habitats, and genetic diversity by using strategies like seed banks and zoos.
At the end of this inquiry, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- What is in-situ conservation?
- What is ex-situ conservation?
- What are seed banks?
Page 72 to 78 in your textbook will help you answer these questions about the relationship between human activities and conservation.
Watch
The Importance of Biodiversity and Biotechnology – Four Important Videos
This lesson has a lot of videos, but you need to watch them all carefully. In particular, the following four videos discuss the importance of biodiversity, the threats to biodiversity, protecting biological diversity, and the role of biotechnology in biodiversity. It would be wise to take a few notes as you watch the next four videos.
This lesson has a lot of videos, but you need to watch them all carefully. In particular, the following four videos discuss the importance of biodiversity, the threats to biodiversity, protecting biological diversity, and the role of biotechnology in biodiversity. It would be wise to take a few notes as you watch the next four videos.
The Importance of Biodiversity
Threats to Biodiversity
Protecting Biological Diversity
The Role of Biotechnology in Biodiversity
Try It!
Practice Worksheet: Preserving Biodiversity
- DOWNLOAD this practice worksheet (S9_UA_S4_L17_preserving_biodiversity). If you prefer to use
a Google Drive or PDF version of the worksheet, click here.
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As you work through the readings and videos in this lesson, answer the worksheet questions.
- When you are satisfied with your responses you can check your work by clicking on the "SUGGESTED ANSWERS" button at the bottom of this lesson.
Wait! Don't view the suggested answers first.
This practice work is not for marks, it is meant to help you check your
understanding. Check the answers AFTER doing the questions! Keep the
practice worksheet for study purposes. If you don't understand
something, contact your teacher!
What are Global Treaties?
Canada has participated in global treaties to work with other countries on ways to protect our species and environments. Canada participates in international conventions such as the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity. Through this convention, Canada continues to develop goals and strategies to help maintain biological diversity.
The government has implemented in-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation.
In-situ conservation is an important way to protect and maintain species in their natural settings. All species under in-situ conservation move to the rhythms of nature. Man does not interfere or intrude on what happens in the protected environment. National parks and national reserves are great examples of in-situ conservation. Currently, Canada has 39 national parks and 8 national reserves.
In contrast, ex-situ conservation occurs when species are taken from their natural environments to protect them. Zoos are examples of ex-situ conservation. Species are placed in ex-situ conservation because
Canada has participated in global treaties to work with other countries on ways to protect our species and environments. Canada participates in international conventions such as the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity. Through this convention, Canada continues to develop goals and strategies to help maintain biological diversity.
The government has implemented in-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation.
In-situ conservation is an important way to protect and maintain species in their natural settings. All species under in-situ conservation move to the rhythms of nature. Man does not interfere or intrude on what happens in the protected environment. National parks and national reserves are great examples of in-situ conservation. Currently, Canada has 39 national parks and 8 national reserves.
In contrast, ex-situ conservation occurs when species are taken from their natural environments to protect them. Zoos are examples of ex-situ conservation. Species are placed in ex-situ conservation because
- they may be considered endangered
- they may be used for educational purposes
Watch
Both conservation strategies help maintain biodiversity. Watch the video
"Amphibian Ark PSA 2012" for an example of an ex-situ conservation program.
Zoos are great places to watch the animals we would otherwise not get to see. In addition, zoos educate the public and promote breeding of animals by sharing their animals with other zoos throughout the world. This allows for a diverse gene pool
and keeps species from extinction. Watch "The Role of Zoos in Conservation" for a deeper look into how zoos preserve biodiversity.
That all citizens take active roles in preserving our biodiversity is important for the longevity of earth. "Wildlife Conservation Society:
Discover, Protect, Inspire" reviews the importance of your role in preserving biodiversity.
Seed Banks
Zoos protect the biodiversity of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds. . . . but what about securing the biodiversity of plants?
Seed banks are a way for us to preserve our earth’s biodiversity. Seed banks store seeds from all varieties of plants in our world. They ensure that specific plant species or a certain crop variety will not disappear from earth. These banks are operated globally with many counties and scientists responsible for maintaining them.
Zoos protect the biodiversity of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds. . . . but what about securing the biodiversity of plants?
Seed banks are a way for us to preserve our earth’s biodiversity. Seed banks store seeds from all varieties of plants in our world. They ensure that specific plant species or a certain crop variety will not disappear from earth. These banks are operated globally with many counties and scientists responsible for maintaining them.
Watch
Watch "Adopt a Seed, Save a Species" and "The Conservation Work of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Partnership" to learn more about seed banks.
Becoming educated and educating others are two very important actions you can do to participate in preserving biodiversity. Watch the video
"Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank - Conserve our Biodiversity".
Try It! - Answers
1.
2.
3.
- nations work together to develop strategies; collaborative planning and thinking
- realization that species have no borders and all countries should be involved
- financial help among countries to help fund strategies for implementation of conservation programs
2.
- prevent extinction of varieties of species
- global efforts to preserve all plant varieties
- never have to worry about losing a plant that may have a medicinal cure
- have an international bank where genes can be shared among countries to keep variation at its maximum
3.
- educate the public on species and issues they face
- allow for variation in the gene pool through captive breeding programs
- prevent extinction of endangered species by breeding them and educating the public
- allows for countries to cooperate to achieve the common goal of preserving biodiversity
