Sustainability and conservation of speciesEdexcel A-Level Biology A: Flashcards

What these 14 flashcards ask

What does sustainable mean?
Why are plant-based products more sustainable than oil-based ones?
What is starch made of?
Name two plant fibres and two uses.
Give two disadvantages of starch-based bioplastics.
What is ex situ conservation?
Why do zoos use a studbook?
What conditions are needed for reintroduction to succeed?
Give two limitations of zoos for conservation.
How are seeds stored in a seed bank?
Why is drying and freezing seeds effective?
Why can some seeds not be stored in a seed bank?
Why must stored seeds be tested periodically?
What is the main advantage of seed banks over zoos?

Exam questions on Sustainability and conservation of species

A packaging company is developing carrier bags made from a bioplastic produced from the starch in maize grain. The company wants to replace bags made from polythene, which is made from crude oil, and it wants to claim that the new bags are more sustainable.
Explain why using a plant-based plastic instead of a plastic from crude oil may reduce the net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.2 marks
A seed bank holds the seeds of endangered wild plant species. The seeds are dried to a low moisture content, sealed in containers and stored at -20 °C. Staff test samples of each batch for germination every ten years.
Explain how the seed bank helps to conserve the genetic diversity of an endangered species.2 marks
A zoo manages 40 captive individuals of an endangered mammal species. Each animal's parentage is recorded in a studbook, and the zoo exchanges animals with other zoos so that breeding pairs are chosen carefully. The long-term aim is to release some offspring into a protected reserve.
Explain why the zoo uses a studbook and exchanges animals with other zoos when planning its breeding.3 marks

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).