One Way Zoos can Decrease Biodiversity

One reason that zoos can decrease biodiversity of Chilean flamingos, is that if there are a couple of Flamingos, there is not a large enough gene pool. There can be genetic mutations in the eggs due to too much inbreeding, and the baby Flamingo will have difficulties living. Many zoos have more than a couple of flamingos which will help to increase the percentage of healthy Flamingos. On the other hand, some zoos have a little population Flamingos since they are threatend, and this can decrease the biodiversity of the Chilean Flamingo. As a result of this, more Chilean Flamingos will die, decreasing the population.     

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_Flamingo

http://www.theanimalfiles.com/birds/flamingos/chilean_flamingo.html

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/aves/ciconiiformes/chilean-flamingo.htm

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/flamingo/index.htm

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Flamingos/fhatching.html

http://calgaryzoo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=52&animalID=196

How Zoos Preserve Chilean Flamingos

One way that zoos preserve the Chilean flamingos bright pink colour, is that they provide/feed food that contain more carotenoids, such as shrimp and fish. This will appeal to the viewers at the zoo. This also appeals to other Flamingos because the brighter the colour of feathers, the quicker mating happens. This will eventually re-populate the Chilean Flamingos. 
That is one way to conserve the Chilean Flamingos.

Another way zoos preserve the Chilean Flamingo, is to create muddy, high pH level ponds for the Flamingo to live in. Flamingos have scaly feet to protect themselves from the pH water. If there is no pH water, they feel out of place and disoriented. Many Flamingos have been know to pass away because their habitat is all wrong, they are not used to it.

And the last way zoos preserve the Chilean Flamingos, is that they lay out mud to make a nest for the baby flamingo eggs. This will help the process of incubation. If there are no nests, many of the eggs would not hatch because the parent could not sit on the egg and keep it warm.  

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Flamingos/fhatching.html

Human Impact on the Chilean Flamingos Habitat

Two reasons humans have impacted the Chilean Flamingo species:

1. The water they live in, is usually polluted by contaminated run-offs, mostly from factories. The organism in the water cannot grow anymore and as a result, flamingos have nothing to eat. Since the Chilean Flamingo is in a narrow niche, it cannot find an alternative diet.       

2. The Chilean Flamingos stay around alkaline waters, and many animals don't, so construction is a big factor on impacting the Chilean Flamingo we may think if the waters get drained it will not affect too many organisms, but it does affect the Flamingos. We may also think that if the Chilean Flamingos go extinct, it won't effect the food chain, but it does. What happens when there is an outburst of algae in the water? All the surrounding micro organisms will die and the fish that eat those micro organisms will too. Now what do the crocodiles, lizards, and turtles eat? There is a chain reaction.



http://www.tournorfolk.co.uk/amazona/AmazonaFlamingoT.jpg

The Level of Risk to the Chilean Flamingos

The Chilean Flamingo is in the (near) threatened category. The main reason why Chilean Flamingos are threatened because of man. Their homes and habitat are destroyed due to construction and the waters that they live in are drained, polluted or fragmented (broken up).In the past, their tongues were rare, pickled delicacy and their feathers were wanted because of the bright vibrant colours.

Today, the Chilean Flamingos are carefully monitored, checked for dangerous diseases and their movement is tracked too. There are strict rules about anti-pollution and are enforced in the habitat of the Chilean Flamingo.They are protected by the Migratory Bird Act of 1918, which means they cannot be pursued, hunted, taken, captured, killed or sold. And the eggs, feathers or nests cannot be taken either.



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Chilean_Flamingo-Adelaide_Zoo.jpg

Species at Risk Definitions

Extirpated: A species that has become extinct in one area at least, but still exists in other area(s)

Endangered: A species whose numbers are so small it is at risk of becoming extinct or extirpated if extensive measures to protect it are not undertaken

Threatened: A species that is likely to become endangered if not protected in some way

Special Concern: A species that is not endangered or threatened but extremely uncommon or has unique or highly specific habitat requirements



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