Evaluate Biodiversity Preservation Strategies - Biology
- Which strategy is most effective at preventing invasive species impacts: prevention or eradication?
- Prevention (biosecurity and early detection). Stopping introductions is cheaper and more effective than removal.
- Which strategy directly reduces eutrophication in lakes: nutrient runoff control or ecotourism?
- Reducing nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. Excess nutrients cause algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
- What is assisted migration (managed relocation)?
- Moving species to suitable habitats as climate conditions shift. Helps species track suitable climate conditions as they shift.
- What is overexploitation as a threat to biodiversity?
- Harvesting organisms faster than populations can recover. Exceeds natural reproduction rates, causing population decline.
- Which policy tool directly limits overexploitation: harvest quotas or habitat corridors?
- Harvest quotas. Sets harvest limits to prevent overexploitation of species.
- What is climate change mitigation in the context of biodiversity preservation?
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit habitat and range shifts. Reduces warming that forces species to shift ranges.
- What is ex situ conservation?
- Protecting species outside natural habitats (zoos, seed banks). Maintains species away from their natural environments for safety.
- What is a minimum viable population (MVP)?
- Smallest population likely to persist long-term despite risks. Critical threshold below which extinction risk increases rapidly.
- What is a seed bank used to preserve?
- Genetic diversity of plant species for future restoration. Maintains genetic material for restoration and research purposes.
- What is an edge effect in fragmented habitats?
- Altered conditions at habitat boundaries that change species survival. Habitat edges experience different microclimate and predation pressures.
- What is captive breeding as a biodiversity strategy?
- Breeding threatened species in captivity to increase population size. Increases population size before releasing back to wild.
- What is reintroduction in conservation biology?
- Releasing captive-bred or relocated organisms into native range. Restores species to areas where they previously existed.
- What is the main purpose of the Endangered Species Act-type legislation?
- Protect listed species and their critical habitats from harm. Provides legal protection for species facing extinction.
- What is a conservation easement?
- A legal agreement limiting land use to protect habitat on private land. Legally restricts development while allowing limited compatible uses.
- Which management approach best protects biodiversity in a reserve: enforcement or open access?
- Enforcement of regulations and monitoring. Active protection prevents habitat degradation and species loss.
- Which fishing strategy reduces bycatch most directly: selective gear or higher quotas?
- Selective gear (for example, TEDs and circle hooks). Specialized equipment prevents capture of non-target species.
- What is biological control, and what is a key ecological risk?
- Using natural enemies; risk is harming non-target native species. Introduces predators but may harm native species unintentionally.
- Which risk is most associated with small captive populations: inbreeding or high gene flow?
- Inbreeding depression. Small populations lose fitness through mating between relatives.
- Which evaluation best supports using a marine protected area: fish stocks decline from overfishing.
- Establish a no-take zone to allow populations to recover. Protected areas allow overexploited populations to rebuild naturally.
- Which strategy most directly reduces habitat fragmentation effects: corridors or culling?
- Wildlife corridors. Corridors reconnect fragmented habitats, allowing species movement.
- Which action best represents restoration ecology: replant natives or build roads?
- Replanting native species and rebuilding habitat. Active restoration rebuilds habitat rather than destroying it.
- Identify the best strategy to preserve genetic diversity: connect habitats or isolate populations.
- Connect habitats to increase gene flow. Connectivity maintains genetic exchange between populations.
- What is sustainable yield in wildlife or fishery management?
- A harvest level that can be maintained without long-term decline. Balances harvest with population's natural regeneration capacity.
- What is habitat fragmentation?
- Breaking continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Divides large habitats into smaller pieces, reducing population connectivity.
- Which option is an ex situ method: seed bank or national park?
- Seed bank. Seed banks preserve genetic material outside natural habitats.
- Which agricultural practice best preserves biodiversity: monoculture expansion or agroforestry?
- Agroforestry. Agroforestry integrates trees to support biodiversity in agriculture.
- What is climate change adaptation as a biodiversity strategy?
- Managing ecosystems to increase resilience to changing conditions. Helps ecosystems cope with unavoidable climate impacts.
- What is the founder effect in conservation translocations?
- Low genetic diversity when a new population starts from few individuals. Small founding groups carry limited genetic variation.
- What is eutrophication?
- Nutrient enrichment causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion. Excess nutrients trigger harmful algal blooms and fish kills.
- What is integrated pest management (IPM) intended to reduce?
- Reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides that harm non-target species. IPM uses targeted methods to protect beneficial species.
- What is an ecosystem service relevant to biodiversity preservation decisions?
- A benefit humans receive from ecosystems (pollination, water filtration). Natural processes that provide economic and life-supporting value.
- What is agroforestry, in one sentence?
- Integrating trees with crops or livestock to support habitat and soil. Combines trees with agriculture to create habitat diversity.
- What is in situ conservation?
- Protecting species in their natural habitats. Protects species in their original, natural environments.
- What is bycatch in fisheries, and why is it a biodiversity issue?
- Unintended capture of non-target species that increases mortality. Accidental catch kills species not targeted by fishing operations.
- What is the primary goal of biodiversity preservation strategies?
- Maintain ecosystem function and prevent species extinctions. Conservation aims to sustain ecological processes and prevent species loss.
- What is a population bottleneck relevant to biodiversity loss?
- A sharp population reduction that decreases genetic variation. Severe population crash reduces genetic diversity permanently.
- What is an invasive species in biodiversity management?
- A nonnative species that spreads and harms native ecosystems. Non-natives that outcompete or disrupt native species interactions.
- Which conservation approach prioritizes protecting keystone species to stabilize ecosystems?
- Ecosystem-based management. Protects key species that maintain entire ecosystem stability.
- Which reserve design generally maximizes interior habitat: long narrow or compact?
- Compact reserve design. Minimizes edge effects by maximizing interior-to-perimeter ratio.
- What is sustainable forestry as a biodiversity strategy?
- Harvesting timber while maintaining habitat structure and regeneration. Selective harvesting maintains forest ecosystem functions.
- Which prioritization strategy focuses on endemism and threat level: hotspot or random selection?
- Hotspot prioritization. Targets areas with highest conservation value per dollar invested.
- What is a biodiversity hotspot?
- Region with many endemic species and high habitat loss risk. Concentrates unique species facing immediate extinction threats.
- What is a protected area (reserve) in biodiversity conservation?
- A legally managed region set aside to conserve habitats and species. Restricts human activities that threaten biodiversity.
- Which option is a market-based conservation tool: payments for ecosystem services or clearcutting?
- Payments for ecosystem services (PES). Economic incentives reward landowners for conservation actions.
- What is biodiversity, as evaluated in conservation planning?
- Variation of genes, species, and ecosystems in an area. Encompasses all living diversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
- What is genetic drift, and why does it matter for small populations?
- Random allele frequency change that can reduce genetic diversity. Stronger in small populations, reducing adaptive potential.
- What is a wildlife corridor designed to increase?
- Gene flow between separated populations. Allows genetic exchange between isolated habitat patches.
- What is pollution as a driver of biodiversity loss?
- Contaminants that reduce survival, reproduction, or habitat quality. Chemical and physical pollutants directly harm organisms and ecosystems.
- What is ecosystem restoration?
- Repairing degraded ecosystems to recover structure and function. Reverses damage by rebuilding natural habitat conditions.
- What is a keystone species?
- A species with a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem. Their removal causes ecosystem collapse despite low abundance.