Zane 5

Question 1

What are anthropogenic determinants?

Answer 1

• Human activities that directly or indirectly influence environmental conditions and ecosystem processes.
• Examples include pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, and climate change.

Question 2

What is species-richness area relationship (SAR)?

Answer 2

• A principle stating that larger areas tend to have more species due to increased habitat diversity and resources.
• Represented by the equation S = cA^z, where S is species richness, A is area, c is a constant, and z is the slope of the relationship.

Question 3

What is habitat loss?

Answer 3

• The complete removal or severe reduction of habitat, leading to a loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Often caused by urbanization, agriculture, deforestation, and industrial development.

Question 4

What is habitat fragmentation?

Answer 4

• The process where large, continuous habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches, often due to human activities like road building or agriculture.
• Fragmentation can lead to
  1. edge effects,
  2. reduced species movement, and
  3. increased vulnerability to environmental changes.

Question 5

What is the difference between habitat loss and habitat fragmentation?

Answer 5

• Habitat Loss: Total elimination of habitat, which can lead to extinction of species that depend on it.
• Habitat Fragmentation: Division of habitat into smaller, disconnected patches, which can isolate populations and reduce genetic diversity.

Question 6

What is ecological connectivity?

Answer 6

• The degree to which different parts of an ecosystem are connected, allowing species to move, disperse, and maintain genetic flow between populations.
• Essential for sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

Question 7

What should conservation efforts focus on?

Answer 7

• Protecting large, contiguous habitats to maintain species richness and ecological processes.
• Enhancing habitat connectivity to mitigate the effects of fragmentation.
• Prioritizing areas with high species richness or endemic species for conservation.
• Implementing restoration projects to recover degraded ecosystems.

Question 8

How can conservation strategies address habitat fragmentation?

Answer 8

• Creating corridors that connect fragmented habitats, allowing species to move between patches.
• Implementing buffer zones to reduce edge effects and protect interior habitat conditions.
• Managing land use to minimize further fragmentation and habitat loss.

Question 9

What is sustaining dispersal?

Answer 9

• The movement of individuals from one habitat patch to another, which sustains population connectivity and gene flow.
• Critical for maintaining population viability in fragmented landscapes.

Question 10

What is seeding dispersal?

Answer 10

• The process where new individuals or propagules (like seeds or larvae) colonize new habitats, expanding the population’s range or replenishing depleted areas.
• Examples include marine species with planktonic larvae that disperse with ocean currents to colonize distant reefs.

Question 11

Why is sustaining dispersal important in conservation?

Answer 11

• Prevents genetic isolation by maintaining gene flow between fragmented populations.
• Enhances resilience by allowing species to recolonize habitats after local extinctions.
• Supports ecosystem services by ensuring species can fulfill their ecological roles across different areas.

Question 12

How does seeding dispersal contribute to ecosystem stability?

Answer 12

• Promotes biodiversity by enabling species to occupy new habitats and spread genetic diversity.
• Helps in the recovery of ecosystems after disturbances by facilitating the recolonization of affected areas.

Question 13

What does the species-richness area relationship (SAR) graph illustrate?

Answer 13

• The graph shows a positive correlation between area size and species richness, indicating that larger areas support more species.
• The curve typically flattens as area increases, reflecting diminishing returns in species richness with increasing area.

Question 14

How does habitat fragmentation affect species richness as shown in graphs?

Answer 14

• Fragmented habitats tend to show a decline in species richness compared to continuous habitats of the same total area.
• The reduction in species richness is due to smaller, isolated patches supporting fewer species and the negative impacts of edge effects.

Question 15

Can you provide an example of sustaining dispersal in marine environments?

Answer 15

Example: Coral larvae dispersing from one reef to another, sustaining genetic diversity and helping reefs recover from bleaching events.

Question 16

What role do marine corridors play in seeding dispersal?

Answer 16

• Marine corridors, like currents and protected areas, facilitate the movement of larvae and other propagules across different habitats, enhancing seeding dispersal.
• They help maintain genetic diversity and population connectivity across fragmented marine ecosystems.

Question 17

Why is it important to prioritize areas with high species richness in conservation?

Answer 17

• These areas often contain a high number of endemic species that are not found elsewhere.
• Protecting these areas helps safeguard a large portion of the planet’s biodiversity and prevents species extinctions.

Question 18

What are the challenges in balancing conservation with human development?

Answer 18

• Ensuring sufficient habitat protection while accommodating economic activities like agriculture, urban development, and resource extraction.
• Addressing conflicts between conservation goals and local communities’ livelihoods.

Question 19

How can conservation policies integrate scientific knowledge with practical applications?

Answer 19

• By using data from ecological studies and modeling to inform decision-making.
• Implementing adaptive management strategies that can evolve based on monitoring and new research findings.
• Engaging stakeholders and incorporating local knowledge to ensure practical and sustainable conservation outcomes.

Question 20

What are the potential impacts of climate change on habitat connectivity?

Answer 20

• Climate change can alter habitats, making them less suitable for species and disrupting established corridors.
• Shifts in species distributions may lead to new patterns of fragmentation, requiring adaptive conservation strategies.

Question 21

What is a Metapopulation?

Answer 21

A metapopulation is a set of local populations occupying various habitat patches and connected by the movement of individuals among them. It is essentially a “population of populations” where the exchange of individuals between subpopulations is demographically significant

Question 22

What is a Local Population?

Answer 22

A local population refers to individuals of a species that live within a specific habitat patch. It is sometimes used synonymously with subpopulation and population. In some species, local extinction is common, and regional persistence depends on the existence of a metapopulation

Question 23

What is a Habitat Patch

Answer 23

A habitat patch is a discrete area of habitat characterized by the resources and conditions necessary for a population to persist. It serves as the environment where a local population resides

Question 24

What is a Turnover Event?

Answer 24

A turnover event occurs when a habitat patch becomes unoccupied due to local extinction and is later recolonized by individuals from other local populations within the metapopulation

Question 25

What is Metapopulation Persistence Time?

Answer 25

Metapopulation persistence time refers to the length of time all populations within a metapopulation persist until all go extinct. It measures the overall stability and longevity of a metapopulation

Question 26

What is Metapopulation Structure?

Answer 26

Metapopulation structure describes the specific characteristics of natural metapopulations that are included in a metapopulation model to make it more realistic. For example, assuming different migration rates among local populations instead of treating all patches as equally isolated

Question 27

What is the Rescue Effect?

Answer 27

The rescue effect is the process by which migration between local populations prevents local extinctions, thereby stabilizing the metapopulation

Question 28

Why are Metapopulations Important in Conservation?

Answer 28

Understanding metapopulations is crucial because conservation efforts must focus not only on protecting individual local populations but also on maintaining connectivity within the metapopulation. This ensures the persistence of species across fragmented habitats.

Question 29

What Processes Operate at Different Scales in a Metapopulation?

Answer 29

• Patch Scale: At the patch scale, demographic processes such as growth and death occur within individual habitat patches.
• Metapopulation Scale: At the metapopulation scale, processes like dispersion (movement between patches) and colonization (recolonizing empty patches) are key

Question 30

How Can the Destruction of a Core Population Affect a Metapopulation?

Answer 30

Impact: The destruction of a core (source) population can lead to the extinction of its dependent satellite (sink) populations, as these smaller populations rely on the core for individuals to maintain their numbers

Question 31

What Conservation Strategies Are Essential for Protecting Metapopulations?

Answer 31

Strategies: Conservation should focus on protecting both local populations and the connectivity between them. This can be achieved through the creation of ecological corridors, stepping stones, and buffer zones to facilitate the movement of individuals across fragmented landscapes.

Question 32

What determines population vulnerability?

Answer 32

Definition: Population vulnerability is influenced by several factors, including population size and structure, genetic diversity, demographic trends, habitat suitability, climate and environmental stressors, predation, competition, reproductive success, and species-specific traits.

Question 33

How does population size and structure affect vulnerability?

Answer 33

Concept: Small populations are more vulnerable due to lower genetic diversity and higher susceptibility to demographic stochasticity. Monitoring population size and structure helps assess this vulnerability.

Question 34

Why is genetic diversity crucial for population vulnerability?

Answer 34

Importance: Genetic diversity allows populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions and resist diseases. Low genetic diversity increases a population’s vulnerability to extinction.

Question 35

How do demographic trends indicate population vulnerability?

Answer 35

Concept: Monitoring birth rates, death rates, and age structure provides insights into the health and stability of a population. Declining or skewed demographics may signal increased vulnerability.

Question 36

Why is habitat suitability important for population vulnerability?

Answer 36

Importance: Populations with limited access to suitable habitats are more vulnerable, as their survival and reproduction depend on the availability of critical resources and favorable environmental conditions.

Question 37

What role do climate and environmental stressors play in population vulnerability?

Answer 37

Concept: Assessing the impact of climate change and other environmental stressors on a population’s habitat helps identify potential threats to its survival.

Question 38

How do predation and competition influence population vulnerability?

Answer 38

Concept: High predation pressure or intense competition can increase a population’s vulnerability by reducing its ability to survive and reproduce.

Question 39

How do reproductive success and fitness relate to population vulnerability?

Answer 39

Concept: Examining the reproductive rates and overall fitness of individuals within a population helps gauge its ability to sustain itself over time.

Question 40

What is the importance of species-specific traits in assessing vulnerability?

Answer 40

Concept: Traits such as life history, dispersal abilities, and ecological niche can provide additional context for understanding a population’s vulnerability to environmental changes and human pressures.

Question 41

What are species distribution models?

Answer 41

Definition: Species distribution models are computer algorithms used to predict the geographic distribution of species based on their known distribution in environmental space, such as water depth, temperature, and salinity.

Question 42

What are some alternative names for species distribution models?

Answer 42

Names: These models are also known as environmental niche modeling, ecological niche modeling, predictive habitat distribution modeling, and climate envelope modeling.

Question 43

What is the purpose of species distribution models in conservation?

Answer 43

Purpose: These models allow researchers to interpolate between limited species occurrence data and predict potential habitats, aiding in conservation planning and decision-making.

Question 44

What environmental data are typically used in species distribution models?

Answer 44

Data: The environment is often represented by data such as water depth, temperature, salinity, and primary productivity (PP), among others.

Question 45

How does the IUCN use population size in species assessments?

Answer 45

Indicator: The IUCN uses population size estimates to categorize species under specific threat criteria. For example, a species with a very small population size may be categorized as “Critically Endangered.”

Question 46

How does genetic diversity factor into IUCN assessments?

Answer 46

Indicator: Low genetic diversity is considered when assessing a species’ risk of extinction, as it may indicate higher vulnerability.

Question 47

Why are demographic trends important in IUCN assessments?

Answer 47

Indicator: Trends in population size, birth rates, and death rates are crucial for assessing vulnerability. Rapid declines or skewed demographics can lead to a higher threat category.

Question 48

How does the IUCN assess habitat suitability and availability?

Answer 48

Indicator: The quality and availability of habitats are considered, particularly if they are under threat from human activities or environmental changes

Question 49

What role do climate and environmental stressors play in IUCN assessments?

Answer 49

Indicator: The impact of climate change and other environmental stressors on a species’ habitat and well-being is factored into the assessment.

Question 50

How does the IUCN consider a species’ response to management and conservation efforts?

Answer 50

Indicator: The response of a species to conservation actions, such as habitat restoration or captive breeding programs, is considered. Positive responses may lead to a re-evaluation of the species’ status.

Question 51

How do historical and current ranges influence IUCN assessments?

Answer 51

Indicator: Changes in the historical and current range of a species are assessed, as significant reductions may indicate increased vulnerability.