ABS 377: Int Wildlife Conservation Exam 1

biodiversity

The variation within and across all levels of biological organization

The biodiversity crisis

is the rapid decline and loss of Earth's diverse life forms (biodiversity), driven primarily by human activities

What data has accumulated that shows evidence for the biodiversity crisis?

Scientific data showing evidence for the biodiversity crisis includes the Living Planet Index, the IUCN Red List, and extensive reports detailing habitat destruction, mass wildlife population declines, and increasing extinction rates. These sources highlight that the rate of biodiversity loss is tens to hundreds of times higher than the natural baseline and is accelerating

Living Planet Index (LPI)

Managed by the WWF and the Zoological Society of London, the 2024 LPI reports a catastrophic 73% average decline in monitored wildlife populations (mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles) between 1970 and 2020.This decline is most severe in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a 94% drop since 1970.Freshwater species populations have been hit particularly hard, with an 83% average decline over the same period.

What are the FIVE major divers of biodiversity loss?

Pollution, Overexploitation, Climate change, Habitat loss and degradation, invasive species

Is biodiversity evenly distributed across the world?

No, biodiversity is not evenly distributed across the world; it is highest in tropical regions near the equator and decreases towards the poles, creating a global pattern of uneven distribution. This pattern is influenced by factors such as temperature, precipitation, historical climate, habitat complexity, and geographical isolation, which determine the preferred habitats for different species

How is general conservation and wildlife conservation related and what separates them? (Empty forest Syndrome)

General Conservation = protects ecosystems and natural resources (forests, water, soil).

Wildlife Conservation = protects species, populations, and their ecological roles.

Relationship: Wildlife conservation is a subset of general conservation; both are needed for ecosystem health.

Empty Forest Syndrome: A forest may appear intact (general conservation success) but lack animals (wildlife conservation failure), disrupting seed dispersal, pollination, and ecosystem function.

What makes certain species more susceptible to population declines?

Endemic to a small area

Specialized to a particular ecosystem

Home range requirements are large

Low Reproductive rates

Large Body size

Useful to people

Aggregation sizes

Dangerous or compete with humans

What arguments should there be for a specific "International" component?

Species & ecosystems cross borders (migrations, shared habitats).

Global problems (climate, oceans, pollution) need global solutions.

Prevents "free-rider" problem in resource use.

Biodiversity = global heritage, loss affects all.

Enables funding, knowledge, tech sharing.

Tackles international trade/exploitation (e.g., CITES).

Levels of Biological Organization

1. individual 2. population 3. community 4. ecosystem 5. landscape 6. global

How does international conservation differ from general and wildlife conservation?

International Conservation = conservation efforts that cross national borders.

Focus: global biodiversity, migratory species, climate change, shared ecosystems.

Involves: treaties, NGOs, governments, funding across countries

Difference: While general and wildlife conservation often operate locally/nationally, international conservation addresses issues that no single country can solve alone (e.g., whale protection, rainforest loss, polar bears in melting Arctic)

What is the species-area relationship

What is the Minimum Viable Population (MVP) for a species?

The MVP is the smallest population size needed for a species to survive long-term. It’s defined as the smallest isolated population with a 99% chance of persisting for 1,000 years despite random changes in births/deaths (demographic), environmental variation, loss of genetic diversity, and natural catastrophes. MVP gives a quantitative estimate of the minimum number of individuals required to ensure survival under both normal and harsh conditions.

What is MDA and how does it relate to MVP?

Minimum Dynamic Area

Area of suitable habitat necessary for maintaining MVP.

What are the nuances of habitat fragmentation?

1. Loss of area-total amount of habitat

2. Increase edge

3. Increased isolation of the remaining patches

4. Average patch size

5. Patch isolation

What is edge effects and some examples?

are ecological changes that occur at habitat boundaries. They create distinct conditions that often promote generalist and invasive species while harming habitat specialists. This leads to increased predation, ecosystem fragmentation, and reduced habitat quality. Some species are especially negatively affected near habitat edges, making edge effects an important consideration in conservation.

Examples: Forest edges can experience more direct sunlight, higher temperatures, and increased wind, which can be stressful for sensitive species like amphibians and certain plants.

-Brood parasite in birds. those birds only lay eggs in another birds nests. they only search the edges on an area .

How do you define a protected area?

A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognized,dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, toachieve the long-term conservation of nature with associatedecosystem services and cultural values. (IUCN 2008)

What should one look for in finding a protected area?

A) Distinctiveness (or Irreplaceability)- Rare, taxonomically distinct, unusual genetic characteristics have priority

B) Endangerment (or Vulnerability)

C) Utility

- wild relatives of food

- option value

- tourism

What are the types of protected areas?

I. Strict Nature Reserve/Wilderness Area: protected area managed mainly for science or protection of natural processes and biodiversity

II. National Park: protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation – no commercial extraction (24% of global protected areas)

III. Natural Monument or Feature: protected area managed mainly to preserve unique natural or cultural areas with unique national interest

IV. Managed Wildlife Sanctuaries and Nature Reserves: protected area managed mainly for conservation through management with intervention

V. Protected Landscape/Seascape: where interaction of human and nature over time has created significant esthetic, ecological and/or cultural value, usually with high biodiversity.

VI. Managed Resource Protected Area: protected area managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems

What is a biodiversity hotspot?

a region with high concentrations of endemic species (found nowhere else) that is also under threat from human activity

Are protected areas effective?

In general, most protected areas meet their purpose...- reduce impacts on nature

- create disincentives that protect nature within the protected area

- most protected areas see lower impact that nearby unprotected habitats

- Some p.a.'s are often understaffed and poorly protected

However, even when p.a. is degraded, it serves better for biodiversity protection than unprotected areas

Conservation vs indigenous rights?

• Conservation can restrict Indigenous land use, hunting, or traditions.

• Tension comes from protecting wildlife vs. respecting sovereignty.

• Modern solutions: co-management, Indigenous rights recognition, and use of traditional knowledge.

To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria

1. must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics-which is to say, it must have a high % of plant life found nowhere else on the planet. a hotspot is irreplaceable

2. it must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation, it must be threatened

Other Types of Protected Areas CAN

- Can overlap with other IUCN p.a. types

- No added legal status; simply agreements or given distinction

- Increase awareness, monitor risk to these areas, join international community that provides assistance through management and financing

Other Types of Protected Areas

Biosphere Reserves: multiple objectives including biodiversity conservation

Ramsar Wetlands: by delineating these areas countries commit to protection and then receive assistance and funding

World Heritage Sites: “outstanding universal value to all peoples of the world”

Indigenous Reserves

When a protected area is created...

Need to decide on how to compromise between between human/governmental needs and extent of biodiversity to be protected.

- More disturbance generally means reduced biodiversity protection

Designing Reserves purposes

-Recreation and environment education

-economic development

-nature conservation

-research and monitoring

Designing Reserves

Core zone: being a strictly protected area for conservation and research

Buffer zone: allows for compatible activities like research and eco-tourism to reduce impact on the core

Transition zone: the outermost area, permits diverse economic activities by local communities under agreed-upon sustainable practices to foster regional development and socio-cultural sustainability.

80% of habitats will remain outsideprotected areas

- Chances are that many species and communities will occur outside protected areas

- 70% of species on ESA in USA are on private

full forest cover

the total area of land with a continuous, dense canopy of trees

-Many species REQUIRE full forest cover

What is one strategy that governments can use to protect habitat on private property

Payment for Environmental Services (PSA/ESP) programs — landowners are compensated for keeping forests intact and providing services like carbon sequestration, water protection, biodiversity, and scenic value.

Know PSA / ESP what they stand for (they are interchangeable - just different languages

PSA = Pagos por Servicios Ambientales (Spanish)

ESP = Environmental Services Payment (English)

What is carbon trading?

A system where companies/countries have a carbon emissions limit and can buy, sell, or trade unused allowances (carbon credits). It redistributes wealth by paying others (often developing nations) to protect forests or reduce emissions.

What criteria to companies / governments use to evaluate the efficacy of a carbon trading program?

Whether it actually protects/preserves forests that would otherwise be lost, avoids corruption or embezzlement, ensures transparency, and prevents activities from just shifting elsewhere (no "fake" offsets).

What is leakage?

When protecting one forest or area just shifts deforestation or harmful activity to another area — meaning no net conservation gain.

What have been some of the limitations to carbon trading ?

-Leakage (shifting deforestation elsewhere)

-Corruption/lack of transparency in fund distribution

-Paying for protection that might have happened anyway (no real additionality)

-Mixed effectiveness at large/national scales

How does carbon trading work across ecosystems?

Polluters pay into funds (through taxes, carbon offsets, or credits), and that money supports conservation in ecosystems worldwide — e.g., Costa Rica's PSA program, or funding conservation in Solomon Islands, linking polluters with global habitat protection.

How can consumers aid in conservation in private lands?

By supporting eco-friendly companies, paying for ecosystem services indirectly (via taxes, green energy, or tourism), and creating demand for sustainably managed landscapes that incentivize landowners to keep forests intact.