D ay 2 reading passage 2

D AY 2

READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
A About half the world's human population currently live in urban areas, which cover about 3% of the Earth's land surface. Both figures are increasing rapidly and, by 2050, it is estimated that two thirds of the world's population will live in an urban area. This growing trend of urbanisation represents the most extreme form of habitat loss for most plants and animals. As towns and cities grow, the natural habitats are removed and replaced with hard, impermeable structures such as roads and buildings. In a recent global study, researchers estimated that cities accommodate only 8% of the bird species and 25% of the plants that would have lived in those areas prior to urban development.
B Until recently, we knew relatively little about how many of the species that do live in towns and cities were coping. With a growing human population, it is now more important than ever for scientists and the public to work together to monitor wildlife and biodiversity effectively. When data is limited, it is difficult to understand the bigger picture: we can't know if animal populations are becoming more or less abundant and why; or whether conservation is needed.
C One way that hundreds of ordinary people in the UK are helping to assess biodiversity is by setting up cameras in their gardens to record and then report any animal activity they capture on film. They are taking part in a project known as the MammalWeb database. Anyone with access to a camera can register to take part and become a 'spotter'. Using the general public in this way gives the ability to have far more cameras out in the field than any single researcher could manage, resulting in a much more comprehensive data set to analyse. The database has now amassed over 500,000 photographs of local wildlife, and recorded 34 species, ranging from the largest UK land mammal - the red deer - right down to some of the smallest, such as hedgehogs and bank voles.
D Many of the participants have been surprised by what the animals were doing in their own back yard. At times the cameras have revealed an animal coexisting happily with one of its known predators. Another remarkable discovery was a North American raccoon, living wild in the north-east of England. It is not known how long the raccoon was roaming free and, without the aid of the public, it may never have been spotted, which highlights just how easy it is for urban wildlife to go unnoticed. Once discovered, the authorities were able to locate the animal and transfer it to a wildlife park, where it was given a more suitable home. The raccoon is not the only American visitor to have made itself at home in the UK. In fact, another - the American grey squirrel - is the most frequent sighting on MammalWeb, far outnumbering the native red squirrel.
E In many European cities, the red squirrel appears well adapted to modern urban living, and they are abundant in countries such as Finland, France and Poland. They once thrived in the UK, too. However, since the grey squirrel was introduced in the 1800s, the population has declined drastically, and they are now classed as endangered. Several studies have shown that the introduction of the grey squirrel is the main factor in the red squirrel's decline, due to competition for food and shelter and the spread of the squirrelpox virus (which grey squirrels transmit to red squirrels).
F However, again thanks in large part to the efforts of ordinary citizens, one area where the reds haven't disappeared is a small coastal town in the north-west of England called Formby, one of few red squirrel strongholds in England. Red squirrels can easily be spotted in gardens throughout the town, and the local residents are passionate about protecting them, with many volunteering with a local conservation group. This voluntary organisation manages the extensive woodland nearby, supplying additional food, and employing dedicated "squirrel officers" who help maintain "grey squirrel-free" habitats.
G Elsewhere in the UK, most research and conservation is carried out in more rural areas. However, given the predicted future increases in urbanisation, managing urban sites like the one in Formby may be a better alternative, particularly as it makes the most of the benefits to animals of living alongside people, such as easy access to food and shelter. Of course, there are downsides too: road traffic poses an ever-present threat, as do pets. Even supplemental feeding can have unintended consequences, drawing animals from the safety of their nests and lairs and encouraging the spread of disease. Still, the benefits appear to outweigh the risks, and it is also worth noting that many native plant and bird species continue to exist in cities that were never designed with biodiversity protection in mind.
H humans rely on biological diversity, either directly for food, or indirectly, through nutrient cycling and pollination. As these community-based conservation management programmes show, with cameras offering fascinating insights into the secret lives of mammals, and local volunteers safeguarding endangered species, there are many courses of action we can take to help to counteract the damage brought by urbanisation and ensure that animals not only survive, but thrive in our towns and cities.