IB ESS HL 3.3 Conservation and Regeneration Question Bank

Tejon Ranch is a 1000 km^2 home for California condors and an important biodiversity hotspot.
In 2008 the company agreed with environmental NGOs to preserve 90% of the property, including condor feeding grounds, while development could occur on the remaining 10%.

- Figure: Fact file on the California condor: California condors are scavengers and eat large amounts of carrion.
- They are among the world's rarest birds; 2012 counts estimated 405 total, including 226 wild and 179 captive.
- They are critically endangered and may travel up to 250 km in search of carrion.
- They mature and reproduce slowly, breeding at 6-8 years old and laying only one egg every two years.
- They are significant to many Californian Native American groups and traditional myths.

- Figure: Chumash cultural relationship with condors: Chumash people historically lived in central and southern coastal California; their descendants still live there.
- Old cave paintings show people wearing condor feathers for ceremonies and dances.
- Condors were once sacrificed during rituals; a legend says if the condor becomes extinct, so too will the Chumash.

Identify two arguments for the conservation of California condors.

Northwest Condor Watch is a communication space that links communities caring about returning condors to their northern home range.

Tejon Ranch is a 1000 km^2 home for California condors and an important biodiversity hotspot.
In 2008 the company agreed with environmental NGOs to preserve 90% of the property, including condor feeding grounds, while development could occur on the remaining 10%.

- Figure: Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act: the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act made it illegal in 2008 to use lead bullets for hunting deer, bear and elk in designated California condor range.
- The act applies only in California; neighbouring states still allow lead bullets for game hunting.
- Organisations such as the National Rifle Association oppose the lead bullet ban.

- Figure: California condor captive breeding programme: removing eggs can make the mother lay another, increasing the total number of eggs, but some chicks then need hand rearing.
- Chicks are fed with condor-like glove puppets to prevent attachment to humans.
- Captive-bred condors have been trained to avoid power lines and people, reducing deaths due to power lines.
- The programme costs about $\mathrm{US}\$5$ million per year, roughly $\mathrm{US}\$13{,}000$ per bird.
- The aim is three populations: wild California, wild Arizona and captive, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs.

With reference to the resource booklet, complete the table by identifying one way in which each of the following are playing a role in the conservation of California condors.

Tejon Ranch is a 1000 km^2 home for California condors and an important biodiversity hotspot.
In 2008 the company agreed with environmental NGOs to preserve 90% of the property, including condor feeding grounds, while development could occur on the remaining 10%.

- Figure: California condor captive breeding programme: removing eggs can make the mother lay another, increasing the total number of eggs, but some chicks then need hand rearing.
- Chicks are fed with condor-like glove puppets to prevent attachment to humans.
- Captive-bred condors have been trained to avoid power lines and people, reducing deaths due to power lines.
- The programme costs about $\mathrm{US}\$5$ million per year, roughly $\mathrm{US}\$13{,}000$ per bird.
- The aim is three populations: wild California, wild Arizona and captive, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs.

- Figure: Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act: the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act made it illegal in 2008 to use lead bullets for hunting deer, bear and elk in designated California condor range.
- The act applies only in California; neighbouring states still allow lead bullets for game hunting.
- Organisations such as the National Rifle Association oppose the lead bullet ban.

Using evidence from the resource booklet evaluate the success of the conservation programme for California condors.

Suggest why the strategy shown in Figuremay be controversial.

Figure Commercial and flagship fynbos examples
King protea is the national flower of South Africa, a flagship species, and is widely grown commercially for export as a cut flower. Rooibos is used to make tea.

Outline the role of the king protea as a flagship species.