IUCN Red list species

Question 1

Habitat of Smilodon

Answer 1

throughout America, grassland, shurbby areas, pine forests, margins of woodland

Question 2

Ecological pressure on Smilodon

Answer 2

• climate change
• Smilodon’s prey (bison, ground sloth, deer) started to go extinct/experienced a population drop around the time the Smilodon went extinct; decrease in prey number may have been a factor

Question 3

Socio-political pressure on Smilodon

Answer 3

overhunting (X for food, for protection/sport)

Question 4

Consequence of disappearance of Smilodon

Answer 4

Before the extinct, biotic influences like competition btwn animals were important in determining which species occurred in which communities. After the extinction, abiotic factors like climate change became more important in determining which species occurred in which communities.

Question 5

Prey of Smilodon

Answer 5

bison, ground sloth, deer

Question 6

Ecological role of Smilodon

Answer 6

apex predator

Question 7

An example of an extinct species

Answer 7

Smilodon

Question 8

An example of a critically endangered species

Answer 8

Gorilla gorilla

Question 9

Habitat of Gorilla gorilla

Answer 9

rainforests of central Africa, tropical rainforests

Question 10

Ecological pressure on Gorilla gorilla

Answer 10

plagued by high levels of disease and poaching

Question 11

Socio-political pressure on Gorilla gorilla

Answer 11

being hunted for private collections or as “trophies” to show off wealth/power

Question 12

Economic pressure on Gorilla gorilla

Answer 12

being killed primarily to supply high-end demand for meat in urban centres where the consumption of ape meat is considered to b elite, Gorilla gorillas are sought after as pets and their body parts are used in medicine and as magical charms, there has been a lot of wildlife trade in West and Central Africa for bus meat to Europe.

Question 13

Consequence of disappearance of Gorilla gorilla

Answer 13

natural balance in the food chain would be disrupted, forests will eventually fail to regenerate

Question 14

Ecological role of Gorilla gorilla

Answer 14

an “umbrella species”, western lowland gorillas indirectly protect many other species that make up the ecological community for their habitat, gorillas play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity of their forest homes by spreading the seeds of the trees they eat and by opening up gaps in the trees as they move around, letting in light and helping sun-loving plants grow

Question 15

Diet (prey) of Gorilla gorilla

Answer 15

mainly vegetation (feeds on stems, bamboo shots and fruits, termites, ants)

Question 16

Tropic level of Gorilla gorilla

Answer 16

secondary consumer; predator: leopards

Question 17

Threats to Gorilla gorilla

Answer 17

deforestation, hunting

Question 18

Conservation strategies

Answer 18

being named one of the New Big 5 wildlife photography, a swell in crowdfunded philanthrophy & community-based conservation of gorillas have helped spread awareness and encourage protection, African parks (NGO) is creating safe havens for western lowland gorillas by securing protected areas where they live.

Question 19

An example of an endangered species

Answer 19

Enhydra lutris

Question 20

Habitat of Enhydra lutris

Answer 20

coastal waters, usually less than half a mile from shores, kelp forests

Question 21

Ecological pressure on Enhydra lutris

Answer 21

pollution (oil spill), disease, loss of kelp

Question 22

Socio-political pressure on Enhydra lutris

Answer 22

their lush fur meant that sea otters were hunted extensively in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

Question 23

Consequences of disappearance of Enhydra lutris

Answer 23

clams & sea urchins would run rampant and devour entire kelp forests

Question 24

Ecological role of Enhydra lutris

Answer 24

keep balance of coastal ecosystem

Question 25

Tropic level

Answer 25

secondary consumer

Question 26

Threats to species

Answer 26

shooting, fishing gear entanglement, pollution

Question 27

Conservation strategies

Answer 27

int’l ban on hunting along w/ conservation efforts & reintroduction programmes encouraged the population to grow