IB ESS SL 3.3 Conservation and Regeneration Question Bank

[Maximum number: 5]

(a)

Figure:Condor cape and Chumash traditional dance

Figure:Tourists watching condors on the Californian coast

Tejon Ranch is a 1000 km² 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

- 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

- 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.

[ 2 ]

(b)

Table for roles in the conservation of California condors

Figure:Northwest Condor Watch Facebook page

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

Tejon Ranch is a 1000 km² 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

- 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

- 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.

[ 3 ]

Individuals or organizations	How they are playing a role in the conservation of Californian condors.
Individual citizens	paying for National conservation programmes through taxes/joining NGOs;
The Government of the state of California	passing legislation on lead bullets/enforcing conservation policy;
NGO	NGOs lobbying government/raising awareness/running ecotourism initiatives;

[Maximum number: 2]

Construction of a dead hedge

Figure 11(a): Conservation in Beijing
Beijing Zoo maintains an active breeding programme that recently produced over 1000 surviving offspring of nearly 100 species in one year, including critically endangered species and giant panda.
The Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau plans to plant at least one dead hedge in each city park; dead hedges use pruning/forestry waste and provide habitat for small mammals and reptiles.

(a)

With reference to Figures 11(a) and 11(b), outline one advantage of Beijing Zoo's approach to conservation compared with that of Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau.

[ 1 ]

(b)

With reference to Figures 11(a) and 11(b), outline one advantage of Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau's approach to conservation compared with that of Beijing Zoo.

[ 1 ]

[Maximum number: 4]

(a)

Distinguish between the role of the jaguar as a keystone species and as a flagship species.

[ 2 ]

(b)

Figure 6(d): The Barbilla Corridor within the larger international network connecting jaguar populations

Figure:The Barbilla Corridor within the larger international network connecting jaguar populations

Identify two difficulties associated with establishing and maintaining wildlife corridors such as those shown in Figure 6(d).

[ 2 ]

[Maximum number: 2]

Figure:Condor cape and Chumash traditional dance

Figure:Tourists watching condors on the Californian coast

Tejon Ranch is a 1000 km² 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

- 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

- 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.

[Maximum number: 2]

Distinguish between the role of the jaguar as a keystone species and as a flagship species.

[Maximum number: 2]

Suggest two strategies that could be used to reduce the threat to coral reefs from tourism.

[Maximum number: 3]

Figure:Protected corridor proposal to connect Mindo cloud forest with other Ecuadorian reserves

With reference to Figure 11, evaluate the potential effectiveness of the proposed southern corridor for wildlife conservation.

[Maximum number: 2]

Figure:Beaver-dam succession sequence — panel A

Figure: Beaver-dam succession sequence — panel B

Figure: Beaver-dam succession sequence — panel C

Figure: Beaver-dam succession sequence — panel D

Figure 7(a): Fact file on North American beavers
• One family per square km of river. Family groups have two adults and up to three young (kits) born each year between April and June.
• Mortality rates are high due to severe weather, lack of suitable habitats and predation.
• Population estimated at 250 million before fur trade hunting; about 9 million today.
• Feed on tree bark.
• Build lodges from wood and mud for eating, sleeping and raising young; remain in lodges during winter; protect their lodge from other beavers.
• Beavers are being reintroduced in Europe to help restore wetlands.

Figure 9(a): Dossier sobre la función de los castores en el ecosistema (role of beavers in the ecosystem)
• Beavers build dams from sticks, creating ponds and slowing river flow.
• Ponds are less suitable for river fish such as brook trout, but provide new habitats for aquatic plants, dragonfly larvae, bullfrogs and other fish.
• Flooding can kill riverside trees when roots are submerged, creating more bird nesting sites.
• Marshy areas may form at pond edges. Grasses and sedges colonize nutrient-rich pond silt to form beaver meadow.
• Beaver meadows have more light, higher soil moisture, more nitrogen and different vegetation from adjacent river-edge forest.
• Dams may collapse after heavy rain or spring thaw, or if the beaver maintaining the dam is taken by a predator.

(a)

Identify one benefit of the reintroduction of beavers in Europe.

[ 1 ]

(b)

Identify one potential problem with the reintroduction of beavers in Europe.

[ 1 ]

[Maximum number: 1]

Figure:Drop in demand for shark fins in Hong Kong and mainland China

Figure 8(a): Conservation within the Coral Triangle
• The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is an agreement between all six nations in the area with the objectives of:
• ensuring food security and a sustainable livelihood of residents of the Coral Triangle
• protecting the unique ecosystem and marine species within the Coral Triangle.
• Conservation projects in the Coral Triangle involve collaboration between national governments, regional organisations, non-governmental organisations, private companies and local communities.
• Popular approaches to encourage sustainable use of the sea and its resources include creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and networks of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs).
• MPAs are usually managed by national and local government whereas LMMAs are more likely to be managed by the local community.
• These designated areas are often classified according to their use or the restrictions placed on them, such as “no-take zones” where no fishing is allowed or “tourism zones” that can be used for recreation but where other activities such as fishing are banned.
• Some zones allow restricted activity, such as use by local fishermen using only traditional fishing methods or during certain times of the year.
• Research has shown that over time in a well-managed MPA there is an increase in fish size, fish numbers and overall biodiversity.
• There are currently over 1000 MPAs within the Coral Triangle.
• The Coral Triangle Initiative aims to designate 20 % of each of the main habitats within the Coral Triangle as MPAs by 2020.

Identify one way in which conservation efforts may have given rise to the decline in shark fin imports shown in Figure 8(d).

[Maximum number: 9]

Justify the role of different environmental value systems (EVSs) in deciding between species based and habitat based conservation strategies.

Answers may demonstrate:
• understanding concepts & terminology of ex situ/in situ conservation; ecocentric/anthropocentric and technocentric value systems; biorights; intrinsic value; deep ecology; cornucopian values; stewardship; keystone species; flagship species; reserves; zoos; breeding/re-introduction programmes; gene banks; etc
• breadth in addressing and linking a range of in situ/ex situ conservation strategies with different value systems/perspectives on the nature of living things/species.
• examples of different value systems; different perspectives on living things and different in situ & ex situ conservation strategies.
• balanced analysis evaluating the relative merits and demerits of different value systems and their perspectives on in situ v ex situ conservation.
• a conclusion that is consistent with, and supported by analysis and examples given e.g. While ecocentrics are more likely to value the hands-off approach possible with in situ conservation there are certain cases where a natural habitat is so degraded the only way forward for conserving a given species is the more technocentric ex situ conservation.

The following guide for using the markbands suggests certain features that may be offered in responses. The five headings coincide with the criteria in each of the markbands (although ESS terminology has been conflated with "understanding concepts"). This guide simply provides some possible inclusions and should not be seen as requisite or comprehensive. It outlines the kind of elements to look for when deciding on the appropriate markband and the specific mark within that band.
Section B, part (c) markbands are shown below.

Marks	Level descriptor
0	The response does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below and is not relevant to the question.
1–3	The response contains: • minimal evidence of knowledge and understanding of ESS issues or concepts • fragmented knowledge statements poorly linked to the context of the question • some appropriate use of ESS terminology • no examples where required, or examples with insufficient explanation/relevance • superficial analysis that amounts to no more than a list of facts/ideas • judgments/conclusions that are vague or not supported by evidence/argument.
4–6	The response contains: • some evidence of sound knowledge and understanding of ESS issues and concepts • knowledge statements effectively linked to the context of the question • largely appropriate use of ESS terminology • some use of relevant examples where required, but with limited explanation • clear analysis that shows a degree of balance • some clear judgments/conclusions, supported by limited evidence/arguments.
7–9	The response contains: • substantial evidence of sound knowledge and understanding of ESS issues and concepts • a wide breadth of knowledge statements effectively linked with each other, and to the context of the question • consistently appropriate and precise use of ESS terminology • effective use of pertinent, well-explained examples, where required, showing some originality • thorough, well-balanced, insightful analysis • explicit judgments/conclusions that are well-supported by evidence/arguments and that include some critical reflection.

Section B, part (c) markbands (official MS p18)

IB ESS SL 3.3 Conservation and Regeneration Questions

Exam points

Covered syllabus points

Covered syllabus points

Question 1

Question (a)

Question (b)

Question 2

Question (a)

Question (b)

Question 3

Question (a)

Question (b)

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question (a)

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Question 9

Question 10