Bio 227 Final Prac. Questions and Notes-Needles

TYPES OF METAPOPULATIONS: Patch populations

(cattails) -migration is HIGH -if extinct, recolonization is immediate -all patches are occupied -patches are connected to other patches like roads to other cities

Protecting Habitats

*Protecting habitat for large animals will inevitable protect habitat for smaller animals

What is de-extinction?

*Ted talk -basically talked about how with technology advances we can possibly bring back extinct species through dna -brings up an ethical debate

CASE STUDY: Red wolf

-50 in the wild -Approximately 200 in captivity -Breeds with coyote

Metapopulations

-A regional group of connected populations of species, depends on a network of habitat patches, each with its own local population dynamics -A metapopulation is made up of small, isolated patches of populations, although some may go extinct, migration can try and restore those populations

CASE STUDY: California Condor

-Began to decline from eating lead, thought bullets were pebbles or food -California has called to phase out lead bullets by July 2019

Examples of managing the threat:

-Brown tree snakes being poisoned -Feral pigs being killed -Hunting the barred owl

Principles of Reserve Design (5 C's, 2 B's)

-Closer is better than spread out -Clumped is better than linear -Connected is better than not -Circular is better than linear -Corridors are important between core reserves -1 big reserve is better than several small reserves (of the same total area) -Bigger is better than smaller -Buffer zones are better than not

What gives a metapopulation resilience to extinction? (CINS)

-Connectedness between demes -Independence of demes -Number of demes -Size of the demes

CASE STUDY: Krakatau, Indonesia volcanic eruption

-Immigration of species declines over time and species extinction goes up over time -Where the curves cross is the number of species the island can support

Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project

-Intentionally created forest fragments of different sizes -Monitored changes in species abundance over time -Matched control sites in contiguous rain forests

With the knowledge of how a metapopulation doesn't go extinct what does this imply for management?

-Keep local populations big, and maintain the big population -Maintain the individual patches (even if unoccupied) -Maintain connectivity (allows for flow of genes) -Keep populations independent (one deme does not need another as a source)

Why do reserve networks typically focus on large mammalian carnivores?

-Large body size -Low density -Highly mobile -Predators are at the top of the food chain, and are highly vulnerable to changes in ecosystems. Maintaining large predators requires maintaining sufficient populations of prey species -Umbrella species

Other publicly owned "natural" lands

-Natural Grasslands: Bureau of Land Management -Military Bases: Department of Defense

CASE STUDY: Bighorn sheep

-North America historically had 1.5-2 million, currently about 70,000 -3 kinds: Sierra Nevada, Desert and Rocky Mountain -Have to buy tags to hunt them, and it's hard -Most local populations are less than 50 individuals **Decrease in gene flow because populations cannot get to one another

Land Bridge Islands

-Patches of habitat that once were connected to mainland or each other, but have become fragmented and isolated -Typically undergo relaxation

CASE STUDY: Jaguar Preserves

-Proposed network of jaguar preserves in northern and South Africa -Corridors between populations to preserve gene flow

Captive Breeding

-Taking animals into captivity to breed -Problems: imprinting, will animal know how to act like its own kind? -Solutions: Whooping crane- feeder wore all white cloak, california condor were fed with puppets

What are the benefits of captive breeding?

-Temporarily remove populations from threat in wild -Offspring from captive populations can be released to the wild to supplement existing populations, restore extirpated populations, or establish new population sin new areas -Research possiblities -Promote public education, awareness of conservation issues

CASE STUDY: Mariana Crow

-The brown tree snake were making them endangered -The brown tree snakes were then poisoned with rats that had ibuprofen in them, reduced their population by 80%

CASE STUDY: Mountain Lions

-Umbrella species because when you protect habitat for them, you protect habitat for many other species

What are habitat corridors?

-an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures -Impediments: Physical=roads, fences, developed land Behavior=pipes, old fences

Limitations of captive breeding

-hard to establish self-sustaining captive populations -captive populations are usually small=high risk of genetic effects -captivity leads to domestication -Disease related to high density -limitation of human resources

TYPES OF METAPOPULATIONS: Core/satellite

-have a core, source, or mainland go extinct because the satellites or islands will "sink" -Persistence of the core population is what maintains the entire network ex. Bay Checkerspot Butterfly in Morgan Hill

Double Clutching

-taking eggs from a nest so the birds lay more, then incubating the stolen eggs Whooping Cranes: population declined to 15 individuals in 1940, listed in 1967, approximately 600 birds today

Head Starting

-taking the eggs and raising them until they are juveniles ex. Sea Turtles: eggs and young are subject to high mortality, eggs excavated and incubated in captivity then release them back into the ocean

Wilderness Act of 1964

-this defines wilderness and designates it -An area of undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvement or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which

CASE STUDY: OR-7 Journey

-we were able to track this wolf by using a gps collar -First wolf in California since 1929, left in 2012 and is the alpha male of a rogue pack -Commuted all the way from Oregon -The batteries expire, but a trail camera pickup up evidence of pups he had -He eventually left CA, but a new pack "Shasta" was discovered by camera traps

How to wildlife biologists determine population size?

1. Area Based sampling 2. Mark-recapture

How do you determine the factors causing a decline of a species?

1. Brainstorm all likely potential causes, focusing on the usual suspects 2. Measure each factor where the species still persists and where it has been eradicate or highly reduces 3.Develop hypotheses 4. Test using manipulations and experiments

Key steps to recover imperiled species?

1. Document that the species is truly declining 2.Study basic ecology and natural history 3. Identify factors causing the decline 4.Address or correct factors

Key concepts for Metapopulations

1. Habitat occurs in patches, between these patches are matrixes 2. Each patch has a local population ("Deme") 3.Demes are connected by migration (dispersal) 4. If a deme is extirpated, the patch can be recolonized by immigrants from another patch: "Rescue effect"

Techniques to Recover a Species

1. Manage threat 2.Protect Habitat 3. Increase population

What are some marking techniques?

1. Permanent marking- branding, tattooing, toe clipping, web punching, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, freeze branding, hot branding, tissue removal 2.Non-invasive: neck collars, backpacks, bands, dye, ink, paint, bleaching, natural markings(whale tails), photo IDs, hair traps (DNA analysis)

How do you study an animals basic ecology?

1.Distribution and geographic rang 2.Demographic info- population size, age of first reproduction,sex ratio, breeding style 3. Resource utilization- habitat use, food, otehr criticial resources

How much of land in the western US is owned by federal govt?

50%

What is the total US land area and how much do federal agencies control of that?

920 million hectares, they control 29% of that (264)

The " SLOSS debate" pertained to which of the following topics?

A: whether many small reserves are better than large one.

Desert tortoises have a low probability of detection because ...

All of the above

What gives a metapopulation resiliency to extinction..

All of the above (number of demes, connectedness between demes, independence of demes, size of demes)

What is the largest unit in the National Wildlife Refuge system?

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

De-extinction efforts and captive breeding are often seen as " magic bullets" to achieve recovery of endangered species. What are some often-overlooked pitfalls of these approaches?

Both A and C (High risk of problems associated with low genetic diversity and inbreeding, and may ignore reason for extinction/ endangerment in the first place

What is used for elusive species?

Camera traps ex. Wolverines last report was in 1992 until recently, use a combination of natural marking and camera traps for snow leopard

Census

Complete count of all individuals, not very practical

What is area based sampling?

Count the number of individuals in a random subset of the total study Ex. Aerial sampling for Florida Mantatees, water foul, whale transects, duck and geese (straight lines down coast)

Two critically endangered Mexican Grey wolf pups were born to an inexperienced female wolf. Biologists captured the pups and placed them in the litter of another female that had successfully raised several young in the past. This recovery technique is known as

Cross-Fostering

What has a low probability of detection?

Desert Tortoise because they have a similar couration and shape to their surroundings, aerial transects to monitor duck and geese populations

The southern Killer Whale population is an example of listing under the:

Distinct population Segment

What are management techniques used to increase a population?

Double Clutching, Head Starting, Cross-Fostering, Captive Breeding, de-extinction? *Most recovery requires a combination of strategies

When thinking about Reserve Design

E. All of the above

Which US state has the highest proportion of federal land (as a % of the state's total area)?

E: Nevada

Which of the following agencies manages the federally- designated wilderness system?

E: no single agency manages the wilderness system

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Ensures that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the wild There are 181 member countries

What is the formula for area based sampling?

Estimated population size = total number of individuals counted / (proportion of study area you surveyed) * (probability of detection)

Which of the following taxonomic levels can be listed under the ESA?

Family, species, subspecies

What is the primary way to conserve diversity?

Habitat Preservation

Primary threats to biodiversity in order

Habitat loss, exotic species, pollution, overexploitation, disease

How did they estimate population trends among the American Kestral?

Had a bunch of routes, and would stop at 1/2 mile intervals for 3 minutes to count by sight and sound.

According to your reading, one of the more recent controversial management strategies that is being considered to help recover the Northern Spotted Owl is

Hunting Barred Owls as they compete with and hybridize with spotted owls

For a species to be considered recovered under the Endangered Species Act, which of the following must occur?

I and III (They must have self sustaining populations, and they must resume their ecological role)

The decision whether to list a species under the Endangered Species Act is based on which of following criteria?

I only (science

International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUCN's work is driven by two features of life today: Global production and consumption patterns are destroying our life support system - nature - at persistent and dangerously high rates.

What can we conclude from the island biogeography theory?

Large islands close to the mainland will usually have the most species, whereas small islands far from the mainland will have the least species.

Wild California Condors are routinely brought back into captivity to treat which of the following?

Lead poisoning

What is a buffer zone?

Limited areas of development immediately surrounding reserve area

What does relaxation mean?

Loss of species

What is Mark-recapture?

N = (Mn) / m -N=estimated size of whole population -M=number of individuals in first sample (they are often marked and released -n=size of second population -m=number of previously marked individuals in the second sample

Major types of "nature reserves: in the US

National parks : National Park service National Forests: US Forest Service Wildlife Refuges: US Fish and Wildlife Service Wilderness Areas (no specific agency)

Who is the largest non federal owner of land?

Nature Conservancy (15 million acres)

Radio Telemetry

Need to be in close range, composed of transmitter and receiving antennas, good for fine scale movements, finding burrows, dens, and nest trees

Endangered Species Act

Passed in 1973 Purpose to protect and recover imperiled species and their ecosystems Species can be listed as endangered or threatened 2,054 species listed worldwide; 1,436 in the US Goal is to recover species so they can no longer need protection

What was the first national wildlife refuge?

Pelican Island, Florida -Established by Theodore Roosevelt to protect breeding habitat for egrets, herons, pelicans that were being overharvested for their eggs and feathers.

The assigned reading on " de-extinction" opens with a case study of an extinct species that was briefly resurrected in 2003 via artificial insemination, but the baby died right after it was born . Which species was it?

Pyrenean Ibex

Estimation

Random samples, take less effort

Recovering species must have:

Self sustaining wild populations, resume their ecological rule, be fully functional members of their ecological community

Which of the federal land management agencies also manages the Endangered Species Act. even for species that occur on privately-owned lands?

The US fish and Wildlife Service

In island biogeography theory, what does the equilibrium point indicate?

The balance between immigration and extinction of all species on an island

When we apply Island Biogeography to Mainland Conservation, what does it tell us?

The number of species in a habitat patch is a balance between the area of the patch and its isolation from other patches of the same kind. -Large habitat patches close to other blocks of the same habitat= most species -Small habitat patches far from other blocks of the same habitat=least species.

What does the island biogeography theory tell us?

The number of species on an island is a balance between isolation and area: -Island isolation determines how many species can arrive on the island. Islands that are close to the mainland will be easy to reach by lots of species. Islands that are very far from the mainland will be very difficult to reach. -Island size determines how many of these species can persist on the island. Large islands will likely have many habitats and support large populations. Small islands will have few habitat types and support smaller populations.

Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography

The number of species on an island represents a balance between Colonization (immigration) and Extinction (extirpation) processes *this applies to a community (multiple species)

Metapopulation Theory:

The proportion of occupied patches in a metapopulation represents a balance between colonization (immigration) and extinction of patch-level populations (demes) *When fragmentation occurs this happens to a single species

Why did the American Kestral decline?

Urbanization- coastal california developed and they couldnt nest in old trees

You are trying to make a population estimate of wolverines that live in dense forests of Idaho. They typically have large home ranges (240 miles) in which one or two individuals can be found. Which technique would be best to use to most accurately assess the population?

Using camera traps and photo software that can assess variation in natural markings which can be used to assess recapture rates

2 people that came up with Island Biogeography

Wilson and MacArthur

Satellite telemetry

allows for following animal movements/migrations over long-distance, can get information without recapturing animal or being close in proximity, does not provide detailed fine scale movements or habitat use ex. Bar tailed godwit migration was tracked via satellite

Approximately how many ESA-listed species have recovered sufficiently to be removed from the Act's protections?

between 10 and 50

Stepping stones are

connected sequentially like a LINK so if one "stone" goes extinct then adjacent patches will easily recolonize - but loss of connection servers will isolate 2 populations :/

Extinction debt=

current amount - equilibrium amount

What would be an example(s) of "take" of a listed species under the Endangered species act?

d - all of the above - clearing habitat of an endangered kit fox to build a building, shooting warning shots at an endangered wolf that scared it but did not kill it, shooting and killing a sea otter

Cross Fostering

give them to a different group to raise ex. Mexican Grey Wolves, and whooping cranes *Issue with this is sometimes species will imprint on fostering parent, (only want to reproduce with), then they cant breed

Extinction debt is when

islands haven't experienced what the extinction will do

Large islands have

less relaxation

In the USA, the primary mechanism to protect and recover endangered species is:

the Endangered Species Act of 1973

Radio and satellite telemetry purpose

to provide info about animal movements and habitat use