Lecture 25: Biodiversity & Global Ecology: Biodiversity conservation

Question 1

The central goal of habitat protection is to maintain areas large enough to support __________________________

Answer 1

minimum viable populations

Question 2

Minimum viable population (MVP)

Answer 2

The smallest population size of a species that can persist long-term against environmental variation.

Question 3

______________ that _____________ are important for safeguarding against natural catastrophes (density independent effects).

Answer 3

• Multiple reserves
• each allow MVPs

Question 4

________________ must take into account the __________________________ that we want to protect.

Answer 4

• Reserve design
• biology of the organisms

Question 5

_________ reserves and ______ of them are _____________

Answer 5

• Bigger
• more
• always best

Question 6

We can learn from _________________ and __________________ dynamics to understand what spatial factors are important in reserve design.

Answer 6

• island biogeography
• meta-population

Question 7

_________________ reserves are typically dictated by ______________ factors.

Answer 7

• Properties of real
• political and cultural

Question 8

reserve design - size

Answer 8

• better design = bigger reserve = better species-area relationship
• worse design = smaller reserve

Question 9

reserve design - number of reserves

Answer 9

• better design = one large reserve = less fragmentation into sub-populations
• worse design = multiple small reserves

Question 10

reserve design - proximity (isolation)

Answer 10

• better design = closer sub-population = less isolation between sub-populations
• worse design = sub-populations are further apart

Question 11

reserve design - proximity (distance)

Answer 11

• better design = distance between sub-populations is shorter = minimized distances between sub-populations
• worse design = distance between sub-population is longer

Question 12

reserve design - connectivity

Answer 12

• better design = patches are connected = easier for organisms to move between
• worse design = patches are not connected = harder to move between

Question 13

reverse design - shape

Answer 13

• better design = circular shape = reduces edge effects
• worse design = elongated shape = increases edge effect

Question 14

Important considerations for where to establish a reserve

Answer 14

• Biodiversity hotspots
• Areas with diverse & unique habitats
• Key sites for migratory animals

Question 15

define biodiversity hotspots

Answer 15

Locations that are home to at least 1,500 endemic plant species and have experienced at least 70% decline in pre-human vegetation cover

Question 16

High endemism of plants typically means __________________________, but plants are easier to inventory, so they make a more practical measure

Answer 16

high endemism of animals too

Question 17

Many national parks capture _______________________________.

Answer 17

multiple unique or rare habitat types

Question 18

The _________ that many animals need to survive ________________________, with changes in climate and vegetation cover – seasonal adaptations

Answer 18

• habitat
• changes seasonally

Question 19

Conservation efforts of these species must _______________________________________
of the species.

Answer 19

protect habitat that spans the full needs

Question 20

define reforestation

Answer 20

The aided or unaided recovery of natural forest cover

Question 21

define afforestation

Answer 21

Planting of forest in areas with no natural forest cover

Question 22

temperate forests are disproportionately ______________________.

Answer 22

important as carbon sinks

Question 23

why are temperate forests important as carbon sinks

Answer 23

Deep soil means low/slow decomposition which then means more carbon locked away in organic material

Question 24

Old growth forests are not in carbon balance and continue to act as carbon sinks. ________________________________!

Answer 24

Protection of old growth forest remains important

Question 25

_____________________ is an ____________________________ of wild populations that we consume.

Answer 25

- Reduction of harvesting - obvious solution to the collapse

Question 26

__________________________ data and_______________ play a central role in long-term sustainable harvesting

Answer 26

- Better biodiversity inventory - monitoring

Question 27

Around 1/3 to 1/4 of world’s fisheries are in collapse, and most other fisheries are close to or at sustainable harvest limits. A significant proportion of this harvesting is __________, and is ______________________________________.

Answer 27

- illegal - not needed for sustained feeding of human populations

Question 28

In regards to fisheries harvesting, ________________________________________ are in conflict with _________________________________________

Answer 28

- commercial profits of individuals and companies - long-term sustainability and economic prosperity

Question 29

______________________ is increasingly successful at identifying species that are ____________________________________.

Answer 29

- Biodiversity monitoring - below minimum viable populations

Question 30

biodiversity monitoring provides the opportunity _______________________ and reintroduce them when and where ____________________________________.

Answer 30

- to breed individuals in captivity - conditions are more favorable for survival

Question 31

zoos join together to form a _____________________, increasing __________________ of breeding populations, and ___________________ of having the last few individuals of a species – global zoos as meta-populations!

Answer 31

- global network - genetic diversity - distributing the risk

Question 32

___________________________________ is reintroduction to natural habitat and sustained population growth

Answer 32

Ultimate goal of captive breeding programs

Question 33

Reintroductions are expensive, but can be most successful with ________________________________________.

Answer 33

species that capture public attention

Question 34

Species reintroductions may have _______________________________________, including: * Greater areas of _____________________ that benefits lots of other species * ___________________ back to more natural conditions.

Answer 34

- significant advantages to overall biodiversity of a region - protected habitat - Shifts in the ecosystem