Conservation Biology Final Quiz

The island biogeography model describes the relationship between colonization and extinction rates on islands. It suggests that the greater the area of the island, the more species it can support, leading to greater species richness. The model also predicts that the number of species on an island will reach equilibrium when the rate of colonization is equal to the rate of extinction. Therefore, options A, B, and C are all correct statements about the island biogeography model.

The seven major threats to biodiversity are habitat destruction, invasive species, global climate change, overharvesting, disease, habitat degradation, and fragmentation. These threats have a significant impact on the variety and abundance of species in an ecosystem. Habitat destruction refers to the loss of natural habitats due to human activities, while invasive species disrupt the balance of ecosystems by outcompeting native species. Global climate change affects biodiversity by altering temperature and precipitation patterns. Overharvesting involves the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, leading to the decline of certain species. Disease outbreaks can devastate populations, and habitat degradation and fragmentation further contribute to the loss of biodiversity by reducing available habitats and isolating populations.

The answer provided lists five key factors for successful species translocation. These factors include having a good founder population, understanding human values, providing professional and public education, conducting post-release monitoring, maintaining balanced sex ratios, and prioritizing herbivores over carnivores. These factors are important because a good founder population ensures genetic diversity, understanding human values helps in addressing conflicts, education creates awareness and support, post-release monitoring helps assess success and make necessary adjustments, balanced sex ratios aid in breeding success, and herbivores may have lower ecological impacts compared to carnivores.

Bats face risks for extinction due to various factors. Competition or predation by humans is a significant threat to their survival. Human activities such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and hunting can directly impact bat populations. Bats also have specialized habitat requirements, which means they rely on specific types of habitats for roosting and foraging. Loss or degradation of these habitats can lead to a decline in bat populations. Bats often have large home ranges or seasonal migration routes, making them vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and disturbance. Additionally, bats occupy a high trophic level in the food chain, which means they are sensitive to changes in their prey availability and ecosystem health.

Earth Summit's agenda 21 refers to a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally, and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, governments, and major groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment. It aims to promote sustainable development by addressing various issues such as poverty, pollution, deforestation, and climate change. The agenda emphasizes the need for global action and collaboration in all areas to ensure a sustainable future for the planet.

Conservation banking refers to a practice where a developer compensates a landowner for managing a wetland on their property, typically because the developer is responsible for destroying a wetland in another location. This approach aims to offset the environmental impact caused by development activities by preserving or enhancing wetlands in a different area. By financially supporting the conservation and management of wetlands, developers can mitigate the ecological damage caused by their projects and contribute to the overall conservation efforts.

Conservation easements refer to a situation where a landowner receives a tax incentive for relinquishing their ability to lease their land for the purpose of constructing a shopping mall. This arrangement allows the land to be preserved and protected from future development, ensuring its conservation for environmental or historical purposes. By granting tax breaks, governments encourage landowners to participate in conservation efforts, ultimately benefiting the environment and the community.

Mitigation refers to the process of minimizing or compensating for the negative impacts caused by a particular action or development. In this context, it specifically refers to the practice of creating a wetland in a different location when a developer destroys one in the area where they are constructing. This is done to offset the ecological damage caused by the destruction of the original wetland, ensuring that there is no net loss of wetland habitat.

A land trust refers to the act of a conservation organization purchasing prairie land in order to prevent its development into a shopping mall. This action is taken to protect the natural habitat and preserve the land for conservation purposes, ensuring that it remains untouched by human activities and urbanization. By acquiring the land, the conservation organization can actively manage and maintain it, safeguarding the biodiversity and ecological value of the prairie.

Ecological restoration refers to the process of making changes to a site in order to establish a native or indigenous ecosystem. This involves restoring the natural habitat, including the reintroduction of native plant and animal species, and the removal of invasive species. The goal is to improve the ecological integrity and functionality of the site, promoting biodiversity and overall ecosystem health. By altering the site to establish an indigenous ecosystem, ecological restoration aims to reverse the negative impacts of human activities and restore the natural balance of the environment.

Limited development refers to a situation where a government or authority agrees to restrict or control the extent of development in a particular area. In the given context, the government of Costa Rica has decided to log only a portion of a national forest while preserving the remaining part. This approach ensures that the forest is not completely exploited for logging purposes and allows for the conservation and protection of the natural habitat. By limiting development, the government aims to balance economic interests with environmental sustainability, ensuring the long-term preservation of the forest.

Conservation leasing refers to a situation where the government pays a landowner to actively manage their prairie for diversity. This means that the landowner receives financial compensation for implementing practices that promote biodiversity and conservation on their land. The aim is to encourage landowners to take proactive measures to protect and enhance the ecological value of their property, thereby contributing to the overall conservation efforts in the region.