chapter 6

Question 1

Conserving population and species

Answer 1

In protecting and managing rare or endangered species, it is vital to have a firm grasp of the ecology of the species

Natural history = species distinctive characteristics
Population biology = status of population; size, distribution.

This information is not available for many species.

Question 2

Natural history and Population biology data:

Answer 2

Natural history and Population biology data:

Environment
Distribution
Biotic interactions
Morphology
Physiology
Demography
Behavior
Genetics
Interaction with humans

Question 3

Methods for studying population

Answer 3

Published literature
Unpublished literature
Fieldwork

Census: count of the number of individuals present in a population.

Survey: estimation of the number of individuals o density of a species in the ecosystem. Involves a repeatable sampling methods. (For large populations or expensive range).

Demographic Studies: Follow individuals of different ages and sizes to determine rates of growth, reproduction and survival.

Question 4

Population Viability Analysis

Answer 4

PVA uses mathematical and statistical methods to predict the probability that a population or species will go extinct within a certain time of period.

PVA is also useful in modeling the effects of habitat degradation and management efforts.

Question 5

Metapopulations

Answer 5

Population of populations: population of species are connected by dispersal.

The loss of one population can negatively affect other populations.

Source populations = core population
Sink population = satellite populations

Question 6

IUCN

Answer 6

IUCN http://www.iucnredlist.org/
International Union for Conservation of Nature

Question 7

Legal Protection of Species

Answer 7

National lows: National governments protect designed endangered species within their borders, establish national parks, and enforce legislation on environmental protection.

The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
U.S. Congress 1973
Protect species only if they are in the official list of endangered species
Many species are listed under the ESA only when they have fewer than 100 individuals.

Question 8

International agreements:

Answer 8

International agreements:
-United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP)
-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
-IUCN
-Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
-UNEP 1973
- list of species for which trade is prohibited

Question 9

International agreements 2

Answer 9

International agreements:
-Convention of the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources www.ccamlr.org
-International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, which establish the International Whaling Commission: www.iwcoffice.org
-International Convention for the Protection of Birds, and the Benelux (Belgium/Netherlands/Luxemburg) Convention Concerning Hunting and the Protection of Birds
-Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean: www.wcpfc.int

Question 10

Establishing New Populations

Answer 10

Establishing new populations of endangered species can benefit species itself, other species and the ecosystem.

Restocking program: Releasing individuals into an existing population to increase its size pool.

A reintroduction program: Releasing individuals into an ecological suitable site within their historical range where the species no longer occurs.

Introduction program: Moving individuals to areas outside their historical range but suitable for the species.

Question 11

Considerations for animal programs:

New plant populations:

Answer 11

Considerations for animal programs:

Captive-bred mammals and birds learn predator avoidance
Proper behavior
Support after release (soft release vs. hard release)

New plant populations:

Sowing seeds or transplanting seedling or adults
Site treatments are needed

Question 12

Ex Situ Conservation Strategies

Answer 12

In Situ: on-site

Ex Situ: off-site
Zoos
Aquariums
Botanical gardens
Seed banks

Question 13

inventory

Answer 13

is a count of the number of individuals present in a pop- ulation. It is typically an inexpensive and straightforward method.

Question 14

survey

Answer 14

A survey of a population involves using a repeatable sampling method to estimate the number of individuals or the density of a species in part of a community.

Question 15

metapopulation

Answer 15

Frequently, a species such as a streamside herb that lives in an ephemeral habitat or a species that is made up of a shifting mosaic of populations, linked by some degree of migration or passive dispersal, isbetter characterized by ametapopulation— a “population of populations” (Bulman et al. 2007).

Question 16

source populations

Answer 16

In other species, the metapopulation may be characterized by one or more source populations (core populations), with fairly stable numbers, plus several sink populations (satellite populations) that fluctuate with arrivals of immigrants.

Question 17

World Conserva- tion Union (

Answer 17

(or IUCN, for International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources) has designated the status of rare and endangered species using an internationally accepted standard of nine conservation categories:

Question 18

soft release.

Answer 18

To ensure their survival, some animal species may require special care and assistance upon release (Field et al. 2007). This approach is known as soft release.

Question 19

(hard release)

Answer 19

Social groups abruptly released from captivity without assistance such as food supplementation (hard release) may disperse explosively from the protected area, resulting in a failed establishment effort.

Question 20

cross- fostering,

Answer 20

These techniques include cross- fostering, in which common species raise the offspring of rare species; arti- ficial insemination when adults do not show interest in mating or are liv- ing in different locations; artificial incubation of eggs in ideal hatching conditions; and embryo transfer, which involves implanting fertilized eggs of rare species into surrogate mothers of common species

Question 21

seed banks

Answer 21

In addition to growing plants, botanical gardens and research institutes have developed collections of seeds, sometimes known as seed banks, collected from the wild and from cultivated plants, which provide a crucial backup to their living collections.

Question 22

habitat conservation plans (HCPs).

Answer 22

o pro- vide a legal mechanism to achieve this goal, Congress amended the ESA in 1982 to allow the design of habitat conservation plans (HCPs). HCPs are regional plans that allow development in designated areas but also protect remnants of biological communities or ecosystems that contain groups of actual or potentially endangered species. T

Question 23

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (better known by itsacronym, CITES)

Answer 23

was established in 1973 in association with the United Nations and remains a crucial weapon in the fight to protect endangered species. CITES establishes lists—known as Appendixes—of species for which international trade is to be controlled or monitored. Member countries (currently 172 nations subscribe to the treaty) agree to restrict trade in and destructive exploitation of these species.