ConBio Final - short answer question potentials

What are some reasons for ex-situ conservation?

• rescue threatened genetic stock

• produce organisms for reintroduction & restoration

• maintain/store genetic diversity in various forms

What are examples of in-situ conservation (places)?

• National parks

• wildlife sanctuaries

• biosphere reserves

• sacred groves

What are examples of ex-situ conservation (places)?

• zoological parks

• botanical gardens

• gene banks

• cryopreservation

What are some reasons for assurance colonies?

• native habitat unsuitable

• no protection in native ecosystem

• introduced diseases

• massive poaching

• genetic material “banking”

What are assurance colonies?

Non-governmental, sometimes researchers who take care of a population of species so they don’t go extinct in wild

What is the main goal of captive breeding in conbio?

Re-establish wild populations in original locations and prevent extinction

What are some issues with ex-situ cultivation?

• genetic erosion- less variability

• adaptation to “garden” conditions - less adapted to wild

• genetic load, hybridization, introgression

• conservation procedure

What are some limitations to captive breeding?

• cost!!

• population size constraints - not 50/500 levels

• dysfunctional crosses

• changes in adaptation

What is the 50/500 level concept?

Used to determine Minimum Viable Population (MVP)

• 50 indivs = short-term minimum to prevent inbreeding depression

• 500 indivs = long-term minimum to prevent risks of genetic drift

How does ex-situ contribute to in-situ?

Captive breeding programs lead to reintroduction and reinforcemnt

What are some methods of captive breeding?

• Cross-fostering

• Artificial insemination

• In vitro fertilization/embryo transfer

• Cloning

Captive breeding only has worked when…..?

Animals can go home!

What is the species survival commission (SSC)?

translocation specialist group with guidelines for specific species

What are the 3 types of translocation?

1. Relocation

2. Reinforcement

3. Reintroduction

What are the 4 goals of habitat connectivity?

1. Dispersal - mates

2. Daily movement - daily resources

3. Seasonal Movement - migration

4. Long-Term location adjustment - species adaptation

What are demes?

isolated subpopulation subjected to selection as unit rather than individuals

How long do ecological corridors have to be monitored for when it comes to results?

foreverrr

What are the 6 types of habitat patches? Which ones are best versus should be avoided?

1. Habitat

2. Conduit - good

3. Barrier - avoid

4. Filter - avoid

5. Source

6. Sink

What type of habitat patch is this?

Habitat

What type of habitat patch is this?

Conduit

What type of habitat patch is this?

Barrier

What type of habitat patch is this?

Filter

What type of habitat patch is this?

Source

What type of habitat patch is this?

Sink

What are the 4 types of ecological corridors?

1. Linear

2. Corridor w/ nodes

3. Stepping stones

4. Landscape mosaics

What are some aspects that go into corridor design?

• Cost/benefit to species

• Community feedback

• Site characteristics

• Sizing

Why might a corridor fail?

• dominated by edge effects

• invasive species

• conflicting objectives between species groups

• exposure to humans

• disease

How are species chosen for in-situ area design? (4 reasons)

1. Rarity

2. Intrinsic value

3. Highest risk of extinction

4. Surrogate species- broader conservation goals (flagship or umbrella species)

What is the Species-Area Relationship equation? What does each letter represent?

S= cA^z

S- species richness

A- area

C- constant

z- slope (rate of accumulation)

What is SLOSS? What are some considerations within it?

Single large or several small

• core area vs. edge effects, stochasticity, meta-population dynamics

Do you only need core area for corridor movement and island biogeography conservation?

NO

• Core area- nondestructive research and protected ecosystem

• Buffer- used for environmental education, ecotourism, recreation, research

• Transition- local stakeholders collaborate to develop resources

What are the 4 R’s to designation of protected areas?

Representation

Resiliency

Redundancy

Reality

What is stochasticity? Why are we protecting against it?

Unpredictable events that influence population dynamics

• impact gene flow

What are some alternatives to agriculture- agroecology? (4)

1. Sustainably intensified farming

2. Organic farming

3. Diversified farming

4. Agroecological farming

What is the difference between restoration ecology and ecological restoration?

Restoration ecology- science of restoration

Ecological restoration- practice of restoration

What are the 4 categories of restoration?

1. Reduced impacts

2. Remediation

3. Rehabilitation

4. Restoration

What shows that a restoration is complete?

1. absence of threats

2. physical conditions

3. ecosystem function

4. structural diversity

5. species composition

6. external changes

What type of process is restoration (typically)?

Bottom-up

What is rewilding? How is it different from bottom-up?

introduce top predators and restore from top down