CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences-B19.2 Conservation - Study Notes- New Syllabus
CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences-B19.2 Conservation – Study Notes
CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences-B19.2 Conservation – Study Notes -CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences – per latest Syllabus.
Key Concepts:
Core
- Explain why organisms become endangered or extinct, including: climate change, habitat destruction, hunting, overharvesting, pollution and introduced species
- Describe how endangered species can be conserved, limited to:
(a) monitoring and protecting species and habitats
(b) education
(c) captive breeding programmes
(d) seed banks
CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Sciences-Concise Summary Notes- All Topics
Endangered and Extinct Species
📌 Definition
Endangered species → species at risk of becoming extinct in the near future.
Extinct species → species that no longer exist anywhere on Earth.
🌱 Main Causes
- Climate Change
Changes in temperature, rainfall, and sea levels can make habitats unsuitable.
Example: Polar bears struggle as ice melts. - Habitat Destruction
Loss of forests, wetlands, or coral reefs reduces living space and resources.
Example: Deforestation leads to fewer nesting sites for birds. - Hunting / Poaching
Animals are killed for food, fur, tusks, or traditional medicine.
Example: Elephants hunted for ivory. - Overharvesting
Excessive collection of plants or animals faster than they can reproduce.
Example: Overfishing reduces fish populations drastically. - Pollution
Chemicals, plastics, or oil spills damage ecosystems.
Example: Water pollution kills aquatic species. - Introduced (Invasive) Species
Non-native species compete with or prey on native species, reducing survival chances.
Example: Rabbits in Australia → native plants eaten → native herbivores starve.
📊 Summary Table
| Cause | Effect on Species | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Climate change | Habitat becomes unsuitable | Polar bears losing ice habitats |
| Habitat destruction | Loss of food, shelter | Deforestation → fewer birds |
| Hunting / poaching | Population decline | Elephants for ivory |
| Overharvesting | Population decline | Overfishing |
| Pollution | Death or reduced reproduction | Oil spills killing fish |
| Introduced species | Competition or predation | Rabbits in Australia |
⚡ Quick Recap
Endangered/extinct species = result of human & environmental pressures.
Main causes: climate change, habitat destruction, hunting, overharvesting, pollution, invasive species.
Memory tip: “Climate, home loss, humans, chemicals, invaders = species in danger.”
Conservation of Endangered Species
📌 Introduction
Endangered species are at risk of extinction.
Conservation aims to protect species and their habitats to ensure survival.
🌱 Methods of Conservation
- Monitoring and Protecting Species and Habitats
Track population numbers and health of species.
Protect habitats from deforestation, pollution, and human disturbance.
Example: National parks, wildlife reserves. - Education
Raise public awareness about the importance of biodiversity and conservation.
Encourages responsible behavior, like avoiding illegal hunting. - Captive Breeding Programmes
Breeding endangered animals in controlled environments.
Goal: Increase population and potentially reintroduce them into the wild.
Example: Breeding programs for pandas, California condors. - Seed Banks
Store seeds of rare or endangered plants for future use.
Helps preserve genetic diversity and restore plants if they are lost in the wild.
📊 Summary Table
| Conservation Method | How it Helps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring & protection | Safeguards species & habitats | National parks, wildlife reserves |
| Education | Encourages responsible behavior | School programs, campaigns |
| Captive breeding | Increases population | Panda breeding programs |
| Seed banks | Preserves plant diversity | Millennium Seed Bank |
⚡ Quick Recap
Conservation = protecting species and habitats for survival.
Key methods: monitor & protect, education, captive breeding, seed banks.
Memory tip: “Watch, Teach, Breed, Store → Save species.”