Why is ecology important?

Question 1

What are conservationists interested in ?

Answer 1

Population sizes

Extent of occurrence/occupancy

Species and ecosystem health

Genetic diversity

Meta-pop dynamic (connectivity)

Animal behavior

Biotic interactions

Resources

Traits

Question 2

Genetic diversity

Answer 2

Genetic and demographic processes have thresholds below which non-adaptive, random forces begin to prevail over adaptive, deterministic forces within populations

• Loss of genetic variability( slow)
• Inbreeding (fast)

Question 3

Loss of genetic variability (slow)

Answer 3

Reduced variability is thought to lower a population’s ability to react to novel challenges

Originates from genetic drift and is, thus, not selective in nature

Question 4

Inbreeding (fast)

Answer 4

Increases homozygosity and can lead to an “extinction vortex”

Because most genes in diploid organisms can operate satisfactorily with only a single copy, loss of function mutations are generally recessive, showing their effect only in the homozygous state.
–> loss of fitness occurs when homozygosity is increased

Question 5

Species Area Relationship (SAR)

Answer 5

Describes the relationship between the area of a habitat, or of part of a habitat, and the number of species found within that area.

Larger areas tend to contain larger number of species

However, the height of asymptote is not constant and affected by biological processes and human disturbance

Question 6

Species home ranges

Answer 6

The area that an animal use to secure resources for reproduction and survival

It is a reflection of how animals interact with their environment and their energetic constraints.

Home ranges are commonly estimated because it provides ecological information on:
- use of space by animals
- resource use
- predation
- the distribution of organisms
-populations and their social interactions.

Question 7

Connectivity

Answer 7

Ecological connectivity is the unimpeded movement of species and the flow of natural processes that sustain life on earth

An ecological corridor is a clearly defined geographical space that is governed and managed over the long term to maintain or restore effective ecological connectivity

Objectives:
- movement of individuals
- Genetic exchange
- Migration
- Maintenance and restoration
- Climate change adaptation

Question 8

Grønt Danmarkskort

Answer 8

has, since June 1, 2017, been part of the Planning Act and brings together the municipalities’ nature themes into one cohesive nature network.

This is important because
one of the major challenges for nature today is that natural areas are not connected by green corridors. This means that many species have too few and poor-quality habitats, and they may struggle to spread from one natural area to another

Question 9

Resource availability - carrying capacity

Answer 9

Carrying capacity, or the maximum number of individuals that an area can sustain over time without destroying or degrading the environment, is determined by:
- Food
- Water supply
- Habitat space
- Competition

Question 10

Minimum viable population size

Answer 10

Can be defined as the smallest size required for a population to remain sustainable.

It’s affected by:
- Genetic factors
- Resource availability
- Life-history traits
- Humane disturbance

Question 11

Landscape of fear

Answer 11

Carnivores directly enact top-down regulation of herbivore populations and releasing plants from herbivore control.

Predators can also influence ungulates indirectly by changing their behavior and distribution often towards less risky habitat types and often to spend less time in the same place.

Predators are in turn affected by people

Question 12

Traits in conservation

Answer 12

Traits:
- Generation time
- Body size
- Specialized habitat requirement
- Specialized species interactions
- Reproduction strategy
- Genetic diversity/plasticity
- Movement

Question 13

Highly vulnerable

vs

Potential adapters

vs

Potential persisters

vs

Highly latent risk

Answer 13

At great risk:
- specific research needed
- Interventions generally needed

May be at risk:
- monitor and support adaptive responses

May not be at risk:
- monitor population trends

Not currently at risk
- monitor environment

Question 14

Summary

Answer 14

Conservation is focused on small (often declining) populations –> We need to consider genetic diversity

Conservation operates in fragmented landscapes –> we need to consider home ranges and connectivity

Conservation operates in degraded landscapes –> we need to consider habitat quality and carrying capacity

We interact with wildlife –> we need to consider animal behavior

Not all species are the same –> we need to consider species traits