Biodiversity

Question 1

What is included in the term ‘biological diversity’ or ‘biodiversity’ (3 main points)?

Answer 1

• Genetic diversity: genetic variation amongst individuals of the same species (white moose vs. black moose)
• Species diversity: Number and relative abundance of species in an area. Generally, the more diverse the habitat, the more species diversity
• Ecosystem diversity: Variety of unique or distinguishable habitats within an area

Question 2

Diversity of wildlife = …?

Answer 2

Diversity of wildlife = diversity of habitats

Question 3

Provide some examples of economic importance of biodiversity

Answer 3

o Consumptive uses of natural products such as timber, fish, game, berries and mushrooms, firewood, and medicinal plants
o Non-consumptive uses, such as guiding, viewing, recreation, education, science, and natural control of pests
o Future options-products or use not realized today, but which may become important in the future

Question 4

Provide some examples of ecological importance of biodiversity

Answer 4

o We depend on the environment for our own health and existence
o Biodiversity is a cornerstone to the health of the environment

Question 5

Describe the three ethical values of biodiversity

Answer 5

o Existence value
o Option value
o Bequest value

Question 6

Define “Existence Value”

Answer 6

where people conserve an element of biodiversity for its own sake, without an intention of using it (non-consumption).

Question 7

Describe the three types of values associated with existence values

Answer 7

 Aesthetic enjoyment;
• natural beauty of old-growth forests (Cathedral Groove), or
• landscapes teaming with wildlife (Lamar Valley)
 Intrinsic rights; where the mere existence of something gives it a right to continue, and to be protected
 Spiritual health; where people receive inspirational, religious, or cultural benefit from nature. For some, this can only be found in natural, old-forest settings.

Question 8

Why do we have species and habitats ‘at risk’ in BC? (4 main points)

Answer 8

Biodiversity in BC is threatened because not all species can adapt to the unnatural pressures of:
o Invasion by exotic plants and animals (broom, knotweed, & starlings)
o Access
o Urban & resource development (forestry, mining, grazing, or hydro)
o Pollution
o Loss or fragmentation, and unnatural changes (fire prevention) of habitat

Question 9

What is meant by biodiversity provides ‘resiliency’ to ecosystems?

Answer 9

• capabilities to adapt to change in the environment without significant loss
  in ecosystem functions

Question 10

What is the ‘umbrella’ or ‘coarse-filter’ approach to managing landscapes?

Answer 10

• Attempts to manage a broad range of habitats that maintain natural diversity within them.
• CFA focuses on managing ecosystems and their natural processes

Question 11

What 2 assumptions is the Coarse Filter Approach based upon?

Answer 11

o Management disturbances should mimic conditions under which natural
systems evolved
o More closely managed disturbances emulate natural disturbances, the lower
the risk of losing natural biodiversity

Question 12

In general, what does the CF approach involve?

Answer 12

This approach involves maintaining:
o The essential structural attributes of each type of habitat
o Full range of types of habitats and seral stages within a particular ecosystem o Ecosystem processes

Question 13

Why should the CF approach mimic natural patterns?

Answer 13

More closely managed disturbances emulate natural disturbances, the lower
the risk of losing natural biodiversity

Question 14

What are the three principles that the CFA is based upon?

Answer 14

1. Forest habitats can be grouped into 3 categories at the landscape level (early-seral stage, mid-seral stage, and late-seral stage (old-growth))
2. Vertebrates tend to be associated with the structural attributes rather than with stand age per se.
3. Some old-growth dependent species may require microclimate conditions of late-seral forests

Question 15

Example of a stand-level disturbance type?

Answer 15

Windthrow may affect large areas, but more usually impacts smaller, stand size areas (typically <100 ha)

Question 16

Are stand-level disturbances more prevalent in coastal or interior habitats?

Answer 16

Coastal - windthrow is the dominant natural disturbance force (less wildfires etc.)

Question 17

Define ‘species-specific’ or ‘fine-filter (FFA)’ management

Answer 17

• Needed to meet the needs of a particular species or a unique vegetation community
• The fine filter approach protects the critical habitat for specific species’ needs

Question 18

What are some characteristics of FFA?

Answer 18

o Are well suited to endangered or rare species
o Are suitable for species with special values
o Do not address ecosystem function of a species

Question 19

Examples of fine filter approaches (4):

Answer 19

o Protecting key natal ponds for tiger salamander
o Managing large-diameter ponderosa pine for white-headed woodpecker
o Managing coastal old-growth reserves for marbled murrelet
o Managing old-growth, closed-canopy forests for northern goshawks

Question 20

How does the ‘biodiversity guidebook’, ‘riparian guidebook; and ‘identified
wildlife guidebook’ relate to each other?

Answer 20

• The practices in the Biodiversity and Riparian Management Area guidebooks act as the coarse filter, protecting most species
• The practices in the General Wildlife Measures for Identified Wildlife Guidebook act as the fine filter, protecting those species whose habitat requirements are not adequately covered by the coarse filter guidelines

Question 21

What are ‘ecotones” and how does the abiotic and biotic features vary in
ecotones relative to the contributing habitats?

Answer 21

Ecotone: Forest edge where one ecosystem type meets another

Microclimate conditions (such as temperature, humidity, light, snow/moisture accumulation, and wind) change from an edge into the intact forest

Biotic effect = occurs when plant and animal species associated with 1 habitat move into the other – could extend > 400m

Forest interior is the area of the forest not influenced by microclimate or biotic edge effect.

Question 22

Distinguish between ‘hard edges’ and ‘soft edges’

Answer 22

Hard edge: the edge between patches may be highly contrasting (e.g., trees next to lakeshore, or tall older trees next to regenerating seedlings)

Soft edge: along lesser contrasting habitats such as riparian/hardwood interfaces.
- In managed forests, generally, as opening sizes decrease the proportion of edge increases.

Question 23

How can the shape of disturbances influence the proportion of interior habitat?

Question 24

What determines the range of sizes and age classes of cutblocks?

Question 25

What are the 6 components of stand-level attributes of managing forest
biodiversity?

Answer 25

• Stand structure
• Wildlife trees
• Special habitats
• Tree and vegetation species composition
• Coarse woody debris
• Forest floor

Question 26

What does stand structure refer to in forest structure?

Answer 26

• Stand structures refers to the vertical and horizontal appearance of the stand

Question 27

State 5 structural characteristics common to old-growth (there are 9)

Answer 27

o Multiple canopy layers of trees
o Wide variety of tree sizes (heights and diameters)
o Some very large trees (relative to the rest of the trees), scattered
throughout the stand
o Mixed species of conifers and deciduous patches
o Significant amounts of course woody debris (CWD) of all sizes and decay
o Scattered windthrown trees
o Brush pockets associated with canopy gaps
o Varying amounts of decadence, (i.e., broken tops, split trunk, multiple
tops, large limbs)
o Significant amounts of lichens growing above ground level on very large
trees

Question 28

What does ‘horizontal structure’ and ‘vertical structure’ refer to?

Answer 28

• Horizontal structure = patchiness

- Vertical structure = Multiple vegetation layers in canopy

Question 29

Examples of how enhancing horizontal structure can influence biodiversity

Answer 29

Horizontal structure (patchiness):
o A mix of foraging, nesting, and resting habitat 
o Increased diversity of habitats = more species

Question 30

Examples of how enhancing vertical structure can influence biodiversity

Answer 30

Vertical structure (Multiple vegetation layers in canopy):

o Provide structural habitat – birds: forage, nest,& roost at mid-heights o Intercept/retain snow – reduce cost of locomotion

o Moderate stand temperatures:
 reducing convective and radiative heat loss
 these climatically buffered areas are often selected by ungulates as winter range

o Provide an array of branches:
 substrate for invertebrates & arboreal lichen.
• Critical food source for deer & caribou on their winter ranges