LECTURE 22: CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND INVASIVE SPECIES

A set of flashcards covering the economic impact, specific examples, and management strategies of invasive species as discussed in lecture.

According to the transcript, what is a major challenge for the conservation of endemic species?

Invasive species

Which four specific invasive species were identified as being found in Arizona?

Stinknet, Quagga mussels, Apple snails, and American bullfrog

Should invasive species sometimes be considered keystone species?

Yes

What invasive predator wreaked havoc on the native biodiversity of Guam, causing effects that cascaded to plants through mutualism disruption?

The brown tree snake

Which types of invasive mammalian predators are noted for negatively affecting the highest numbers of threatened and extinct bird, mammal, and reptile species?

Cats and rodents (followed by dogs, pigs, small Indian mongooses, red foxes, and stoats)

What is the status of mammals regarding their presence on islands with highly threatened vertebrates?

Mammals are the most common invasive animals, found on $97\,\%$ of those islands

What method was used in the Galapagos Islands to help remove goats and protect endemic species like the Galapagos tortoise?

The use of 'Judas goats' (radio-collared individuals used to locate herds)

What was the name of the project that removed the primary threat facing $65\,\%$ of endemic species on the Galapagos Islands?

Project Isabela

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, which crop suffers the highest estimated annual loss due to feral hogs in surveyed states?

Corn, with an estimated loss of over $60$ million US dollars ($61.71$ million)

What specific technique involving radio collars has been used to hunt invasive pigs with some success?

'Judas pigs'

In New Zealand, what controversy occurred in April 2023 regarding feral cat management?

A feral cat-hunting contest for kids was scrapped after a public backlash