Reading for week 5

Question 1

What is the current mass extinction period called?

Answer 1

The anthropocene period

Question 2

What is the cause of extinction during the current period?

Answer 2

Habitat Loss

Question 3

What is the difference between endemic and ubiquitous species?

Answer 3

Ubiquitous species are widespread to several areas whereas endemic species live only in a single area

Question 4

Which species survive invasive species better ubiquitous or endemic?

Answer 4

Ubiquitous

Question 5

What are the 3 levels of classification of rare/endangered species according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?

What is the chance of extinction?

Answer 5

1. Critically endangered (50% chance in 10 years or 3 generations whichever is longer)
2. Endangered species (20% chance within 20 years or 5 generations)
3. Vulnerable (10% or greater within 100 years)

Question 6

How are species characterized into IUCN categories?

Answer 6

We must know at least one of the following:

Observable decline in number of individuals

Geographic area occupied by species declining

Total number of individuals alive and number of breeding individuals

Expected decline if trends continue

Probability of species going extinct in a certain number of years or generations

Question 7

What are the features of designation of a biological hotspot?

Answer 7

Overall diversity of the region

Significance of human activity

Question 8

What is the Minimum Viable Population (MVP)?

Answer 8

MVP is a measure of the minimum population to maintain the persistence of the species. This number indicates a 99% chance of survival for 1000 years.

Question 9

What does the MVP take into account?

Answer 9

Chance variations in demographic processes (births/deaths)

Genetic Drift

Environmental changes

Catastrophes

Question 10

What is the MVP value for vertebrates?

Answer 10

1000

Question 11

What is the MVP value for extremely variable invertebrates?

Answer 11

10000

Question 12

What is the Minimum Dynamic Area?

Answer 12

The MDA is the minimum area needed to maintain the MVP. This number increases with the size and diet of the species.

Question 13

Do carnivores or herbivores of the same size have a larger MDA?

Answer 13

Carnivores

Question 14

How much is the MDA of grizzly bears?

Answer 14

1000 grizzly bears need 2 million kilometers squared!