Ex. Breeding Programs

Criterion D: Reflecting on the impacts of science

Maximum: 8

At the end of year 1, students should be able to:

i. summarise the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue

ii. describe and summarise the various implications of using science and its application in solving a specific problem or issue

iii. apply scientific language effectively

iv. document the work of others and sources of information used.

Can breeding programs be used to save endangered animals from extinction?

Introduction

You are leading a research project to explore whether a breeding program can be successfully used to increase the population numbers of an endangered organism. You need to produce a clear and easy to read poster display or presentation that explains all of the following points.

How do breeding programs work?

In September 2016 the Giant Panda was moved down from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listing. This follows an extensive and public program of breeding and conservation by the Chinese government over many years. They have used zoos around the world to help fund and partake in this captive breeding program, but sadly captive breeding programs do not work for all organisms.

Breeding program success

A lot of the success in a breeding program comes down to how the organism reproduces. Amphibians and fish can lay hundreds or thousands of eggs at a time, if these can be protected until they hatch and grow to maturity, then it can only take a short amount of time to produce large numbers. Rhinoceros’ take a long time to reproduce and give birth, and this very rarely is successful in captivity, so they have to breed and be protected in the wild if their numbers are going to increase.

How does your organism reproduce?

Explain, in detail, and using the correct scientific terminology, how your organism reproduces. You can then use this information to research example of breeding programs for your organism and if they have been successful.

What factor could affect the breeding program?

Looking at the Science Factors, (Ethical, Economic, Cultural, Political, Environmental & Social), investigate to see if one of them could impact on the success of a breeding program and explain how.

Details of the report

You can choose whether to produce a poster or a presentation. If you choose a poster, everything except the citations should fit onto a maximum of 2 A3 sheets. If you choose a presentation, it should be a maximum of 8 slides. All images and sources used must be cited, use easybib.com to help.

Zoo, Dublin. “A 60 Kg Baby Rhino.” The Irish Times, 29 Aug. 2016, www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/dublin-zoo-thrilled-with-birth-of-baby-rhinoceros-1.2771935.

“Adopt a Snow Leopard This Christmas.” Snow Leopard Vodka, www.snowleopardvodka.co.uk/snowleopardadoption.htm.