Ch. 13 Preserving Biodiversity

Introduction of contaminants into the natural environment

Pollution

The repair and rehabilitation of ecosystems to close to their original state (reforestation )

Remediation

The repair and rehabilitation of ecosystems to close to their original state

Restoration

Which of the following is TRUE about conservation genetics and elephant ivory poaching? A. By sequencing DNA from elephants all across Africa it has been possible to map the ivory trade—from the slaughtered elephants in Africa to the curio shops in New York and Beijing. B. DNA analysis confirms that elephant populations are safe from being killed for their ivory in countries that are regarded as success stories in eradicating poaching. C. Since elephant populations across Africa are genetically identical it is virtually impossible to use a confiscated tusk to track down poachers and identify regions of high poaching activity. D. Only the first and second choices are correct. E. All of the above is true about conservation genetics and elephant ivory poaching

A. By sequencing DNA from elephants all across Africa it has been possible to map the ivory trade—from the slaughtered elephants in Africa to the curio shops in New York and Beijing.

Species Survival Plans refer to: A. Captive breeding programs that seek to maximize genetic diversity by moving reproductive animals from zoo to zoo. B. A conservation strategy that focuses on protecting one particular species. C. A conservation strategy that monitors indicator species in an effort to get advance warning of perturbations in an ecosystem. D. The repair of a species natural habitat back to (or close to) its original state. E. Protecting keystone species as a central focus of conservation efforts in biodiversity hotspots.

A. Captive breeding programs that seek to maximize genetic diversity by moving reproductive animals from zoo to zoo.

_________ is to tracking elephant ivory poachers as _________ is to developing careful breeding programs to maximize genetic diversity. A. DNA fingerprinting.......Species Survival Plans B. Ecotourism.........Habitat protection C. Conservation genetics.......Landscape conservation D. Poaching hotspots....Biodiversity hotspots E. Overexploitation.......Remediation

A. DNA fingerprinting.......Species Survival Plans

Which of the following species would conservation biologists using the ecosystem approach NOT be interested in restoring? A. Invasive species B. Indicator species C. Landscape species suite D. Keystone species E. None of the above -- as they would be interested in restoring all of them

A. Invasive species

Conservation genetics is: A. The scientific field that uses DNA analysis to understand endangered species and their populations. B. The scientific field that uses genetics to track down poachers. C. The scientific field that is concerned with preserving biodiversity with a focus on protecting individual species. D. A species conservation strategy that focuses on developing captive breeding programs to protect particular species. E. An ecosystem conservation strategy that identifies a suite of species, meeting whose needs will keep the ecosystem functional for all species that live there.

A. The scientific field that uses DNA analysis to understand endangered species and their populations.

Those that are particularly vulnerable to ecosystem perturbations whose health can be used to keep track of an ecosystem's health

Indicator Species

Who is a conservation biologist? A. A politician who seeks to improve economic well-being through protecting biodiversity. B. A scientist who studies the causes and patterns of biodiversity loss with a focus on protecting individual species and maintaining or restoring ecosystems. C. A veterinarian who address health problems for the patients in her care by searching for solutions in the natural world. D. A scientist who studies the natural world and our relationship to it. E. An economist who seeks to calculate the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

B. A scientist who studies the causes and patterns of biodiversity loss with a focus on protecting individual species and maintaining or restoring ecosystems.

Though they are both international treaties that protect species and ecosystems, the _________ is more broad as it supports conservation and sustainable use of all biological diversity, not just endangered species while _________ is more focused on endangered species and specifically on regulating global trade of endangered species. A. MMA..............ESA B. CDB............CITES C. ESA.................SSP D. CITES.........IUCN E. IUCN............SSP

B. CDB............CITES

____ specifically focuses on preserving biodiversity. A. Ecological economics B. Conservation biology C. Conservation genetics D. Ecology E. Keystone species

B. Conservation biology

Which of the following protected area designations is correct? A. Wildlife refuges refer to areas that are primarily used for the reintroduction of captive bred species. B. National park is often a designation used for areas that are set aside for human recreation. C. Nature preserves mainly focus on saving flagship species. D. Wilderness areas are regions where commercially operated rustic cabins provide visitors a meaningful experience in nature. E. All of the above accurately describe protected area designations.

B. National park is often a designation used for areas that are set aside for human recreation.

Which of the following correctly matches up a human activity with the threat it poses to biodiversity? A. Ecosystem restoration.........destroys habitat B. Road building............causes habitat fragmentation C. Deforestation............results in remediation D. Poaching.................enables invasive species to run amok E. Ecotourism................promotes overexploitation

B. Road building............causes habitat fragmentation

The Red List is: A. A list maintained by the Wildlife Conservation Society that identifies the threats to African elephants. B. A list maintained by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora that identifies species for whom trade is regulated. C. A list maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature that identifies the conservation status of species worldwide. D. A list maintained by the Convention on Biological Diversity that identifies global biodiversity hotspots. E. A list maintained by the Endangered Species Act that identifies flagship species.

C. A list maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature that identifies the conservation status of species worldwide.

Which of the following legal protections was the basis for the ban on ivory trading? A. IUCN B. CBD C. CITES D. MMA E. ESA

C. CITES

The repair of natural habitats back to (or close to) their original state.is referred to as __________ whereas a specific type of ecosystem repair that focuses on the cleanup of pollution in a natural area is called __________. A. Landscape conservation .........a biodiversity hotspot B. Captive breeding..............reintroduction C. Ecosystem restoration........................remediation D. A single-species approach............indicator species monitoring E. A species survival plan.......an ecosystem approach

C. Ecosystem restoration........................remediation

Currently the number one cause of species endangerment among vertebrates is__________. A. Introduction of invasive species B. Deforestation C. Habitat loss or fragmentation D. Poaching or hunting E. Climate change

C. Habitat loss or fragmentation

To bring attention to the problem of threatened species the _________ established the _________ uses a series of designations to classify the seriousness of threat to a given species. A. ESA................Flagship List B. CITES.................Indicator List C. IUCN.................Red List D. WCS..................Keystone List E. CBD..................Endangered List

C. IUCN.................Red List

From his research on elephants, Steve Blake learned that elephants have a significant role in marinating the biodiversity of their habitats. For one, they help in seed dispersal as they deposit the seeds of fruit that they eat throughout the forest, with a generous helping of fertilizer. Elephants also order the physical structure of the forest by trampling woody vegetation and opening up the habitat in ways that facilitate diverse plant growth and keep the ecosystem healthy. Such an outsize role by one species that impacts its community in such a dramatic fashion suggests that elephants are: A. Indicator species B. Invasive species C. Keystone species D. Endangered species E. Flagship species

C. Keystone species

Though it was believed that poaching was all but eradicated from places like Gabon and Tanzania, the reality showed that these places are actually poaching hotspots. Which of the followings ways led to uncovering this fact? A. Analyzing data about poaching based on elephant carcasses collected by wildlife conservation groups. B. Sequencing DNA found in confiscated elephant ivory and comparing it to poaching statistics from different regions of Africa. C. Matching DNA patterns in the confiscated tusk to the DNA fingerprints of elephant dung that were used to develop a reference map of elephant populations in Africa. D. The first and second choices are correct. E. None of the above places where poaching is believed to be successfully eradicated are not poaching hotspots.

C. Matching DNA patterns in the confiscated tusk to the DNA fingerprints of elephant dung that were used to develop a reference map of elephant populations in Africa.

Which of the following would NOT be considered a reason for the increase in elephant poaching? A. Rising wealth and a growing market for elephant ivory in China. B. Habitat fragmentation due to road building in various parts of the elephant's range that allows poachers easier access to elephants. C. Permission at a recent CITES conference that granted African nations authorization to sell their stockpiled ivory and thus opened a market. D. The first and second choices are correct. E. No exceptions, all the above are reasons why elephant poaching is increasing.

C. Permission at a recent CITES conference that granted African nations authorization to sell their stockpiled ivory and thus opened a market.

Which of the following statements is TRUE about the Red List? A. The Red List was established by the Wildlife Conservation Society in an effort to determine, which species could be recovered and which species cannot be saved. B. The Red List is a list of all flagship species that have been or can be used as the focus of a public awareness campaign to protect biodiversity. C. The Red List identifies the conservation status of species on a worldwide basis and species are added to the list when they are at risk of becoming endangered, and removed from the list when their status improves. D. The species on the Red List are the same as those listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. E. All of the statements above are true in regard to the Red List.

C. The Red List identifies the conservation status of species on a worldwide basis and species are added to the list when they are at risk of becoming endangered, and removed from the list when their status improves.

The recovery of the Kanton Island reef in the South Pacific after a serious coral bleaching event as well as the evidence that the savanna elephant is thriving in the eastern and southern regions of Africa where elephant poaching is lower is evidence of which of the following? A. That DNA fingerprinting has strengthened the implementation of CITES in regulating trade of corals and elephant ivory. B. That Species Survival Plans implemented by zoos have been successful in captive breeding and reintroduction of corals and elephants. C. The designation and management of protected areas on land or at sea to achieve long-term conservation of nature is effective in protecting species and habitats and enabling their recovery. D. That the focus on flagship species is a successful model for species and habitat conservation. E. That the broad reach of the ESA that supports global conservation and sustainable use of all biological diversity is effective in protecting species and their habitats.

C. The designation and management of protected areas on land or at sea to achieve long-term conservation of nature is effective in protecting species and habitats and enabling their recovery.

The DNA evidence showed that the following was NOT TRUE of African elephant populations and the ivory trade: A. Microsatellite analysis of confiscated elephant ivory DNA can determine which population the elephants that are poached come from. B. Sequencing DNA found in elephant dung was used to develop a reference map of elephant populations in Africa. C. The ivory making its way to curio shops in New York and Beijing originated from numerous elephant populations from all over the African continent. D. Countries like Gabon and Tanzania that are regarded as success stories where poaching was thought to be eradicated, are actually poaching hotspots. E. Microsatellites accumulate harmless but inheritable DNA changes resulting in genetic differences among populations of African elephants distinct enough to serve as a fingerprint of that population.

C. The ivory making its way to curio shops in New York and Beijing originated from numerous elephant populations from all over the African continent.

Comparatively rapid changes in the climate conditions threaten species that cannot adapt or relocate to more suitable habitats

Climate Change

Conservation genetics can help determine the following: A. The amount of genetic diversity within a population B. The kinship between separate groups—i.e., whether the two groups are part of one extended population or represent distinct populations that don't interbreed C. Whether a given population is part of an endangered species D. All of the above E. None of the above

D. All of the above

Which of the following is NOT the work of conservation genetics? A. Ascertaining that the forest elephant and the savanna elephant of Africa are two different species. B. Mapping the ivory trade from ivory being sold in curio shops in New York and Beijing back to the source of where the elephants were slaughtered in Africa. C. Identifying the ivory poaching hotspots in Africa. D. Determining that elephants make good candidates for inclusion in a landscape species suite.

D. Determining that elephants make good candidates for inclusion in a landscape species suite.

Using the tools that conservation genetics provides to map the ivory trade which of the following scenarios is likely regarding ivory trading and was thus supported at a recent CITES meeting? A. Since conservation genetics established that there are two different elephant species in Africa but only the forest elephant is gravely imperiled by poaching while the savanna elephant is doing fine the decision was made to ease restrictions on the ivory trade of savanna elephants and closely monitor and regulate this trade using DNA analysis. B. Since DNA analysis is not preemptive in preventing poaching but helps track down poachers after the fact, there was concern that if trade opened on savanna elephant tusks, then the critically endangered forest elephant would suffer even greater decimation, as demand would rise making it even more profitable for black marketers to operate. As a result, at the request of several African nations, CITES instituted a ban on ivory trading. C. Several African nations had, with CITES permission, auctioned off their stockpiled ivory that DNA fingerprinting confirmed had come from animals culled to maintain herds sizes within park capacity. Since selling this ivory helped elephant conservation efforts by reducing the market for illegally killed animals and by increasing funds for conservation initiatives the decision was made to continue to allow African nations to sell the ivory that came from culled animals. D. Zambia and Tanzania petitioned CITES for permission to sell their stockpiled ivory (from elephants that died naturally) as the ivory was just sitting there and the countries themselves could really use the money. Furthermore, they insisted that as poaching had been all but eliminated within their borders, there was no risk of losing elephants to poachers. But when the DNA analysis showing that more than 60% of the ivory seized that year did in fact come from Tanzania and Zambia, CITES quashed the petition. E. The first and third choices were both supported at the recent CITES meeting

D. Zambia and Tanzania petitioned CITES for permission to sell their stockpiled ivory (from elephants that died naturally) as the ivory was just sitting there and the countries themselves could really use the money. Furthermore, they insisted that as poaching had been all but eliminated within their borders, there was no risk of losing elephants to poachers. But when the DNA analysis showing that more than 60% of the ivory seized that year did in fact come from Tanzania and Zambia, CITES quashed the petition.

What does a conservation biologist NOT do? A. Use research to identify specific threats to species and ecosystems. B. Recommend ways to prevent biodiversity loss. C. Focus on maintaining or restoring entire ecosystems. D. Focus on protecting individual species. E. A conservation biologist does all of the above

E. A conservation biologist does all of the above

The forest elephant makes an excellent candidate for conservation biologists to focus on because: A. As a keystone species, it protects and facilitates an endless array of other species and a single-species approach that focuses on preserving the forest elephant will, by necessity, confer protection on the other species that reside in the same habitat. B. As an indicator species, the forest elephant along with chimpanzees, and mountain gorillas can serve as a landscape species suite for African forests as monitoring these species together and working to protect them as a group, will simultaneously protect the entire ecosystem in which they reside. C. As a flagship species, this highly intelligent mammal with a complex social system has captured human hearts and can be the focus of public awareness campaigns aimed at generating interest in the conservation of the often forgotten African rainforest. D. Only the first and third choices are correct. E. All of the above are reasons why the forest elephant is an excellent candidate for conservation

E. All of the above are reasons why the forest elephant is an excellent candidate for conservation

Conservation biologist Daniel Janzen has worked for 40 years in the area around Guanacaste National Park in Costa Rica on forest land which had been converted to pastures and agricultural land. His plan involved protecting the area from invasive, non-native grasses and fire; replanting trees; and allowing pioneer species from neighboring forests to return and reestablish. Through this process of secondary succession, the area is now home to an estimated 235,000 species. This approach that benefits the entire community and not just endangered species is referred to as: A. Landscape conservation B. Ecosystem remediation C. Conservation genetics D. Conservation biology E. Ecosystem restoration

E. Ecosystem restoration

Which of the following strategies would NOT be part of the single-species approach to biodiversity conservation? A. Focusing on specific threats faced by flagship species. B. Captive breeding programs that seek to maximize genetic diversity by moving reproductive animals from zoo to zoo to introduce new genes into a breeding program or to minimize inbreeding. C. Reintroducing individuals from captive breeding programs or other wild populations into suitable habitats. D. Working with local residents to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. E. None of the above - for all the strategies described would be part of the single-species approach to biodiversity conservation.

E. None of the above - for all the strategies described would be part of the single-species approach to biodiversity conservation.

Which of the following consumer choices are ways to protect biodiversity? A. Booking an ecotourism vacation B. Purchasing an exotic pet for your son C. Buying a friend an ivory chess set as a birthday gift D. Choosing shade grown coffee for your morning brew E. The first and fourth choices are correct.

E. The first and fourth choices are correct.

What is goal of conservation biology? A. To improve the well-being of human populations through preventing biodiversity loss. B. To study of the causes and patterns of biodiversity loss. C. To address potential biodiversity related hazards in the natural world. D. To understand the natural world and our relationship to it. E. To preserve biodiversity with a focus on protecting individual species and maintaining or restoring entire ecosystems.

E. To preserve biodiversity with a focus on protecting individual species and maintaining or restoring entire ecosystems.

Decline and eventual extinction of a population as a result of changes that occurred in the past (almost always habitat destruction)

Extinction Debt

Process by which natural habitats (both terrestrial, freshwater, and seawater) are rendered functionally unable to support the species present

Habitat Destruction

A plant or animal that is not native to a specific location which causes damage to the local environment

Invasive Species

The over-harvest of renewable resources to the point of diminishing returns, loss exceeds natural sustainability

Overexploitation

Those that require large tracts of relatively undisturbed habitat to maintain viable populations, so saying this habitat also benefits other species

Umbrella Species