Biodiversity Readings F.H. Flashcards
What are the key concepts for forest wildlife management in the Foresters handbook?
- Representation: maintain elements of all ecosystem types, structure type and BEC variants.
- Remnant sizes: Ensure variety of remnant sizes (especially large)
- Riparian Habitats
- Standing dead and coarse woody debris
- Connectivity
- Ensure self sustaining populations
- Wildlife habitat areas
What is a habitat supply model?
A cheap method of estimating population numbers by determining the value of available habitat that may be capable of sustaining an estimated number of the target population. An important thing to remember is that these habitats may not always be filled to capacity, leading to potential overestimation.
What is the dilution method of population estimation?
A number of individuals is caught, marked and released. Several days later the population is resampled. Theoretically, the ratio of tagged to untagged individuals should be the same ratio as the initial sample to the whole population.
-Based on several assumptions
Give some basic sampling methods and examples
Indices: (Scat surveys)
Relative abundance: (Winter bird hunting returns)
Density: gives demographic info, expensive. (Mark/Recapture surveys)
What is the difference between red list and blue list species?
- Red List denotes species at the highest risk of endangerment.
- Blue list denotes species that are vulnerable to becoming endangered
What does the term “environmental stochasticity” refer to?
The idea that with fewer individuals in a population, the natural variation in population size could reach zero, or near zero.
What defines an “umbrella species”?
When protection of a species requires large area’s, that species is considered an “umbrella species” for other organisms that use the same habitat.
What is a keystone species as described in the forestry handbook?
Species that have an effect on their ecosystem that is disproportionate to their biomass.
(Beaver)
What is an “ecosystem engineer” as described by the forestry handbook?
An organism that modifies the physical environment through normal activity.
(Burrowers/Primary cavity nesters.)
What is a predator pit?
When a predator has reduced prey species to such low densities that the relatively few remaining individuals are able to more effectively escape predation.
What is dispersal?
The movement of populations or individuals from one area to another permanently.
- When populations exceed carrying capacity
- rescue effect (movement of individuals from one population to another to maintain sufficient numbers)
Why is connectivity so important?
connectivity is achieved by providing appropriate habitat that connected protected areas and wildlife management areas. It is essential for the broadscale maintenance of populations by allowing for dispersal between populations, resulting in a meta population.
Why is a metapopulation an objective of wildlife forest management?
Having a metapopulation (group of connected populations) is a more stable entity than an individual population.
What scale does wildlife management typically take place
at the population scale
What is carrying capacity?
The density of individuals per unit area that can be supported by a given environment. Usually a function of available habitat and food for the target population.
