Introduction

Question 1

3 main uses of paleo

Answer 1

1. Biostratigraphy - relative dating
2. Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction - geochemistry/ sedimentology
3. Paleobiology - Conservation paleobiology

Question 2

Constraints of Absolute Dating

Answer 2

Unless you are looking at really pure igneous, the age of grains are likely inconsistent. Sedimentary rocks can be made up of ancient recycled grains.

Question 3

3 main issues conservation paleobiology may assist with

Answer 3

1. Climate Change
2. Habitat Destruction
3. Over Harvesting

Question 4

Describe the concept of “Shifting Baselines”

Answer 4

People tend to form a picture of “normal” conditions from their own experiences. If conditions change drastically, but the conditions are consistent over a period of time, these conditions become normal to those experiencing them. ex. Edmonton having high air quality index values for most of the summer

Question 5

Main issues associated with over-harvesting

Answer 5

1. Taking more out of a system than we actually need
2. Large quantities of wasted by-product. ex. by-catch by trawlers.
3. Resources allocated ineffectively. Ex. cattle farming - large areas that could be used as habitat and for much more food product, huge quantities of water used

Question 6

Describe the concept of “Deflection”

Answer 6

Reassigning the responsibility or accountability of a problem to others. Often occurs when a problem seems insurmountable or a solution requires a lot of work or effort.

Question 7

2 ways conservation paleobiology can help solve issues

Answer 7

1. Baselines - Understanding past conditions/environments and “normals” help us understand shifts and “defaults”. Ex. Crab predation shifts. Fewer attacks on gastropods by crabs, no shift in prey, no appreciable shift in temp between observations.
2. Model Testing & Prediction - It isn’t very helpful to just let a species die off to figure out a model. Instead, using past examples of extinctions or species history, provides models and predictions that can be acted upon.

Question 8

What does the Species Area Curve represent?

Answer 8

The amount of species in a specific area. Trend is a log curve with plateaus separating spikes in specie numbers. This trend is due to increased amount of habitats/ niches available with an increase in the area available. Plateau occurs when there is a species threshold in the ecosystem.

Question 9

How does nested sampling occur?

Answer 9

Concentric sampling outward from first sample site. Every sample will incorporate every other sample. (e.g. 1 m^2 -> 10 m^2 -> 100 m^2)

Question 10

Explain the concept of extinction debt.

Answer 10

The future extinction of a species due to a past event which results in a lag time between the event and the ultimate extinction.
(e.g. removal of a bottom level trophic species -> eventual extinction of all other species in trophic level over many generations.)

Question 11

Issues associated with small population numbers within a species.

Answer 11

a. Low genetic diversity in a population - vulnerability (limited ability to fight disease, low likelihood of mutations that may benefit species from changes, etc.)
b. small population cannot deal with large shocks (small population -> stronger effect when some percentage of population destroyed)
c. habitats/ geographic range - possibility for endemic species.
d. level of connectedness between species - trophic relationships, habitat/niche, etc.

Question 12

What is the purpose of a cladogram?

Answer 12

To show the evolutionary relationships between species. Clades represent the most closely related organisms.

Question 13

Ideally, what 3 aspects are important for a defining character within a clade?

Answer 13

Shared - all individuals should share characteristics.
Unique - characteristics should be unique to the clade.
Derived - a characteristic first appears within the clade, not inherited from ancestor.