B.F. Bachelor of Forestry Bachelor of Forestry Wildlife Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which population estimation method involves capturing, marking, releasing, and recapturing animals to estimate total population size?
- Transect sampling
- Mark-recapture (Lincoln-Petersen) (Correct answer)
- Point count survey
- Pellet group count
Correct answer: Mark-recapture (Lincoln-Petersen)
The Lincoln-Petersen mark-recapture method estimates population size by comparing the ratio of marked individuals in a second sample to the original marked release.
Question 2: What term describes the maximum population size that a habitat can sustainably support given available food, water, shelter, and space?
- Minimum viable population
- Carrying capacity (Correct answer)
- Ecological threshold
- Density-dependent ceiling
Correct answer: Carrying capacity
Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support indefinitely without degrading the resource base.
Question 3: Edge effect in wildlife habitat management refers to which ecological phenomenon?
- Decline in species richness at forest interior sites
- Increased species diversity and abundance at habitat boundaries (Correct answer)
- Reduction of predator pressure in open grasslands
- Soil erosion at the margins of clear-cuts
Correct answer: Increased species diversity and abundance at habitat boundaries
Edge effect describes the tendency for greater biodiversity and wildlife activity at the transition zone between two different habitat types.
Question 4: A wildlife manager wants to improve habitat for white-tailed deer by increasing browse availability. Which silvicultural treatment is MOST effective?
- Shelterwood harvesting to increase canopy closure
- Clear-cutting small patches to stimulate shrub and early successional growth (Correct answer)
- Single-tree selection to maintain old-growth structure
- Prescribed burning of mature timber stands only
Correct answer: Clear-cutting small patches to stimulate shrub and early successional growth
Small patch clear-cuts create openings that stimulate regeneration of palatable shrubs and forbs, directly increasing available deer browse.
Question 5: Which federal law in the United States primarily governs the management of migratory birds and requires cooperation between the US and Canada?
- Endangered Species Act of 1973
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (Correct answer)
- National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act
- Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act
Correct answer: Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 implements treaties between the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia to protect migratory birds.
Question 6: In wildlife population dynamics, what does an 'r-selected' species strategy typically include?
- Low reproductive rate, long lifespan, and high parental investment
- High reproductive rate, short lifespan, and low parental investment (Correct answer)
- Stable population size near carrying capacity at all times
- Dependence on large body size for competitive advantage
Correct answer: High reproductive rate, short lifespan, and low parental investment
r-selected species maximize reproductive output with many offspring and minimal parental care, thriving in unpredictable or disturbed environments.
Question 7: Which technique is commonly used to determine the age of harvested white-tailed deer with greatest accuracy?
- Body weight measurement
- Antler beam diameter
- Cementum annuli analysis of incisor teeth (Correct answer)
- Ear length measurement
Correct answer: Cementum annuli analysis of incisor teeth
Cementum annuli analysis counts annual growth rings deposited in tooth cementum, providing the most accurate age determination for deer.
B.F. Bachelor of Forestry Bachelor of Forestry Wildlife Management 2
Which population estimation method involves capturing, marking, releasing, and recapturing animals to estimate total population size?