wildlife habitat quiz 1

Delcourt and Delcourt (1997) provide evidence of Indigenous fire management in the Southern Appalachians. What does their study suggest about pre-colonial fire use?

Native Americans intentionally used fire to maintain oak and pine forests.

What was the primary cause of the near-extinction of the American Bison? 

An intentional strategy by the U.S. Army to undermine Indigenous resistance

Why was the Lacey Act (1900) a pivotal moment in U.S. conservation history?

It prohibited interstate transport of illegally obtained wildlife, shifting conservation from local to federal oversight.

Aldo Leopold’s (1933) Game Management introduced the idea that:

Wildlife populations are affected by habitat conditions, including food, water, and cover, not just predation and hunting.

What best describes the role of the Pittman-Robertson Act (1937) in funding conservation?

It introduced an excise tax on hunting equipment to fund wildlife conservation and habitat restoration.

How did Aldo Leopold's concept of the "Land Ethic" in A Sand County Almanac (1949) shift perspectives on wildlife habitat management?

It argued that ethical land use should maintain the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community.

A company is planning to build a new bridge over a wetland that provides habitat for several migratory bird species and an endangered plant. The bridge is funded through a grant from the US Department of Transportation. Under which federal law would the developer likely need to conduct an environmental impact assessment before proceeding?

National Environmental Policy Act

A landowner in a region with declining pollinator populations is seeking financial support for habitat restoration. Which program would provide the most relevant funding?

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program

What is the significance of epistemological pluralism in conservation science?

It encourages multiple knowledge systems, including TEK and Western Science, to be valued in decision-making.

A conservation biologist is trying to integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into habitat restoration planning. What the most rigorous way to ensure TEK contributes meaningfully to the project?

Engage in long-term collaboration with Indigenous communities to develop adaptive co-management strategies.

According to Berkes et al. (2000), what distinguishes Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) from Western Science in environmental management?

TEK is holistic and adaptive, emphasizing long-term ecological relationships and cultural practices.

The Conservation Reserve Program was created under what piece of legislation?

The Farm Bill

Humans first arrived in North America approximately _______ years ago, shaping ecosystems since then through migration, hunting, and land management practices.

20,000

The Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions were primarily caused by a combination of ___________ and ___________, leading to the decline of large mammals such as mammoths and saber-toothed cats.

hunting and climate change

The Ice Age in North America ended around ____ years ago.

11,000

States are required create a ____ _______ ______ ____and update it every ___ years to access federal funds from the excise tax on hunting equipment through the _______-_________ Act.

state wildlife action plan

10

Pittman-Robertson

______________ refers to the approach of integrating both Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science to create a more comprehensive understanding of ecological issues.

two-eyed seeing

The ______________ principle, found in many Indigenous traditions, emphasizes making decisions that consider impacts generations into the future.

7th generation

_____ knowledge refers to informal, place-based knowledge held by land managers, often derived from personal or community experiences.

local

What do fly-tying (for fishing) and 19^th century European ladies fashion have to do with North American wildlife conservation?

Birds were being hunted for their feathers to be used as fishing baits and hat accessories, which led to the endangerment and extinction of many bird species.