FNR 240 Exam 2

Disturbance is:

The periodic change, destruction, or removal of ecosystem components.

What can disturbance cause?

Large-scale ecosystem changes, and are often followed by a recovery period.

Which disturbances range in minor severity in a local extent?

• Tree Falls

• Animal burrows or walls. 

Which disturbances range in severe severity in a regional extent?

• Fires

• Floods

• Hurricanes

• Clear-cuts

• Development 

This type of disturbance has a clear beginning and end, and can include wingstorms and avalanches.

Discrete.

This type of disturbance is continuous, with no clear end, and includes pollution and timber/wood harvesting.

Constant.

True or False: Natural disturbance is often an integral part of functioning ecosystems. 

True.

True or False: Biological Diversity does NOT depend upon natural disasters.

False.

Biological diversity may depend upon natural disturbances, and these disturbances include:

• Fire

• Floods

• Avalanches

• Hurricanes

• Animal burrows and wallows.

What type of disturbances are caused by humans, and often negatively impact biodiversity. Examples of this disturbance include timber/fuels harvesting and forest clearing, pollution, and overgrazing. 

Anthropogenic.

Which type of disturbance is NOT anthropogenic?

Beaver Dams

Causes of fragmentation include agriculture, urbanization, logging, mining, roads, hydroelectric dams, and:

Groundwater extraction.

True or False: The scale of fragmentation will affect species differently.

True.

What are the PHYSICAL edge effects of habitat fragmentation?

Microclimate changes in light, temperature, wind, and humidity.

What are the BIOLOGICAL edge effects of habitat fragmentation?

Increased abundance of exotic plants and animals, predators.

What are the SPATIAL edge effects of habitat fragmentation?

Reduced interior core habitat.

What are the SYNERGISTIC edge effects of habitat fragmentation?

Disturbance frequency (fire), human proximity.

What is the main outcome of urbanization?

Habitat loss.

What are problems with urbanization?

• Impervious surface.

• Less water.

• Limited vegetation.

• Limited shelter.

• Humans ALWAYS present. 

For the first time in history, the majority of Earth’s population is (1) _____ rather than (2) _______.

1. Urban 2. Rural

What is ecological succession?

The process of community development over time until a relatively stable stage in community development is reached, called a climax community.

After a disturbance, ecosystems undergo what?

A successional recovery process.

What process often follows a disturbance in an ecosystem?

A recovery period, often following a succession. 

What are two examples of minor or local disturbances?

• Treefalls

• Animal burrows/wallows

What are four examples of severe or regional disturbances?

Fires, floods, hurricanes, and clear-cuts.

A disturbance with a clear beginning and end, such as a windstorm or avalanche, is known as a _____ event.

Discrete.

A continuous disturbance with no clear end, such as pollution or timber harvesting, is known as a _____ event.

Constant.

What type of disturbance is often an integral part of functioning ecosystems?

Natural disturbance.

What ecological process is defined as the disruption of habitat continuity?

Habitat fragmentation.

Name three causes of habitat fragmentation.

Agriculture, urban development, and logging (also mining, roads, dams, groundwater extraction).

What are the two primary negative consequences of habitat fragmentation mentioned in the lecture slides?

Mortality and isolation.

What are the three categories of edge effects caused by habitat fragmentation?

Physical, spatial, and biological.

The physical component of edge effects refers to microclimate changes in what four factors?

Light, temperature, wind, and humidity.

Besides habitat loss, name three additional problems urbanization creates for wildlife.

Impervious surfaces, less water, and limited vegetation/shelter.

What is the term for the relatively stable stage in community development reached at the end of succession?

A climax community.

Species that are early colonizers in succession are typically described as being ___-selected.

r.

List three traits of early colonizers in ecological succession.

High fecundity, high dispersal rates, and being short-lived (or having poor competitive ability).

Species that are late colonizers in succession are typically described as being ___-selected.

K.

List three traits of late colonizers in ecological succession.

Low fecundity, low dispersal rates, and being long-lived (or having good competitive ability).

What might prevent an ecosystem from reaching a climax community?

Frequent disturbances.

Frequent disturbances may maintain an ecosystem in earlier successional stages, favoring which type of species (r-selected or K-selected)?

r-selected species.

What were the four significant challenges to wildlife presented by the rapid expansion of human populations?

Exploitation for food, exploitation for sport/culture, landscape modification, and moving species around the world.

What has allowed modern societies to intensify their impact on wildlife and ecosystems compared to historical societies?

Technology.

In Feudal Europe, who legally owned the wildlife on a piece of land?

The landowner, who was also responsible for its regulation.

In medieval England, hunting of 'choice' species was reserved for which social class?

The aristocracy and nobility.

What is the term for hunting as an organized activity for profit?

Market hunting.

The era of market hunting is considered the greatest mass _____ of wildlife the world has experienced.

Slaughter.

In what year did market hunting in North America reach its peak?

1865.

The first protests against market hunting came from which group?

Sport hunters.

What were the two primary reasons a species would be highly valued by market hunters?

Food and fashion.

Besides being highly valued, what are three biological characteristics of species vulnerable to market hunting?

Gregarious (social), colony nester, and low reproductive potential.

The plumes harvested from birds during the market hunting era were most commonly used for what fashion item?

Hats.

How many robins did a single market hunter sell between 1902 and 1903?

120,000 robins.

What was the estimated nationwide population of waterfowl prior to European settlement?

Approximately 400 million.

What was the primary demand that drove the heavy exploitation of waterfowl on the East Coast?

The demand for fresh meat.

What type of firearm, equivalent to 10 or more modern loads, did market hunters use to harvest many waterfowl in a single shot?

A punt gun. 

Which bird was thought to have been the most abundant in North America, and possibly the world, before being driven to extinction?

The Passenger Pigeon.

In what year was the last large roost of Passenger Pigeons eliminated?

1881.

The last individual Passenger Pigeon died in 1914 at what location?

The Cincinnati Botanical Garden. 

The Steller's Sea Cow was discovered in 1741 in what body of water?

The Bering Strait.

Why was the Steller's Sea Cow particularly easy for humans to hunt to extinction?

It was slow-moving and not afraid of humans.

How many years passed between the discovery of the Steller's Sea Cow and its extinction?

27 years (discovered in 1741, extinct by 1768).

What were the three primary causes for the extinction of the Carolina Parakeet by the 1870s?

Habitat destruction, hunting, and collection for mounts.

What was the 'Laissez-faire' position held by some timber and mining companies regarding natural resources?

That they should be able to do what they please with their lands without regulation.

What was the 'Conservationist' perspective on natural resources?

To use a long-term plan devised by experts to maximize the long-term economic benefits of natural resources.

What was the 'Preservationist' perspective on natural resources?

That nature was sacred and humans are intruders who should look but not develop.

Who is considered the founder of the preservationist movement?

John Muir.

John Muir founded which influential environmental organization?

The Sierra Club.

John Muir was responsible for the National Park bill of 1890, which established which two national parks?

Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.

According to John Muir's philosophy, what kind of qualities did nature possess?

Spiritual or transcendental qualities.

Who is considered the founder of the conservationist movement?

Gifford Pinchot.

What position did Gifford Pinchot hold in the U.S. government?

He was the first chief of the US Forest Service.

Gifford Pinchot's view of conservation was centered on the _____ use of natural resources for the benefit of the people.

Long term, sustainable, commercial.

Who was the 26th U.S. President who used his authority extensively for wildlife conservation?

Theodore Roosevelt.

The decimation of which western animal particularly concerned Theodore Roosevelt?

The bison.

List three types of protected areas established by Theodore Roosevelt.

Federal Bird Reservations (51), National Game Preserves (4), National Forests (150), or National Parks (5).

Approximately how many acres of public land did Theodore Roosevelt protect during his presidency?

230,000,000 acres.

Who is known as the 'father of wildlife management'?

Aldo Leopold.

Aldo Leopold recognized that _____ _____, along with overharvesting, threatened wildlife.

Habitat degredation. 

What is the name of the ethical framework articulated by Aldo Leopold?

The 'Land Ethic'.

Aldo Leopold's work is seen as bridging the divide between which two environmental movements?

The pure preservation and conservation movements.

Jay 'Ding' Darling was instrumental in creating the Federal _____ _____, which funds wetland conservation.

Duck Stamp.

The Biological Survey, which Jay 'Ding' Darling helped lead, later became what modern agency?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Since 1934, the Duck Stamp program has raised over $1 billion and helped conserve over how many acres of land?

Over 6 million acres.

Who was the marine biologist who wrote the influential book 'Silent Spring' in 1962, and primarily raised awareness about the dangers of pesticides as an environmental threat?

Rachel Carson.

Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' was instrumental in explaining the concept of _____, where toxins concentrate up the food chain.

Bioaccumulation.

What is the definition of Wildlife Conservation?

The wise use of natural resources in our environment.

What is the “Research” component of Wildlife Conservation?

Using science to better understand the needs and requirements of wildlife and its habitat.

What is the “Wildlife Management” component of Wildlife Conservation?

Manipulation of wildlife to achieve a positive goal.

What is the “Conservation” component of Wildlife Conservation?

Protecting endangered species and their habitats.

What is the “Education” component of Wildlife Conservation?

Learning how to conserve wildlife and its resources.

What is the “Law Enforcement” component of Wildlife Conservation?

Ensures that all laws related to wildlife are followed.

What is the first of the two basic principles of the North American Conservation Model?

Our fish and wildlife belong to all North American citizens.  

What is the second of the two basic principles of the North American Conservation Model

They are to be managed in such a way that their populations will be sustained forever.  

The basic principles of the North American conservation model are explained through a set of guidelines known as the:

Seven Pillars for Conservation.

Pillar of Conservation: Public Trust Doctrine.

Natural resources on public lands are managed by government agencies to ensure that we always have wildlife and wild places to enjoy.

According to the Public Trust Doctrine, who is responsible for managing wildlife and their habitat on public lands?

Federal, state, and provincial governments.   

In what year did the U.S. Supreme Court set a legal precedent supporting the idea that wildlife belongs to everyone?

1842.

Pillar of Conservation: Prohibition of Commerce on Dead Wildlife.

Conservation laws and their strong enforcement prevent the commercial exploitation of wildlife in the United States and Canada.

Under the 'Prohibition of Commerce' pillar, what is generally illegal to sell in North America?

The meat of any wild animal.