B.S.F. or B.Sc.F. Bachelor of Science in Forestry Bachelor of Science in Forestry: Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Preservation 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Population viability analysis (PVA) is used in wildlife management primarily to:
- Estimate the economic value of wildlife for ecotourism
- Predict extinction probabilities and evaluate management scenarios for small populations (Correct answer)
- Calculate sustainable harvest quotas for game species
- Map species distribution across a landscape
Correct answer: Predict extinction probabilities and evaluate management scenarios for small populations
PVA uses demographic data and stochastic modeling to estimate the likelihood of population persistence under different management scenarios over time.
Question 2: Which type of wetland provides the most critical breeding habitat for amphibians in eastern North American forests?
- Permanently flooded beaver impoundments
- Isolated seasonal vernal pools without fish (Correct answer)
- Tidal freshwater marshes
- Forested riparian floodplains
Correct answer: Isolated seasonal vernal pools without fish
Vernal pools are temporary, fish-free wetlands that provide amphibians like spotted salamanders and wood frogs safe breeding sites where egg predation by fish is absent.
Question 3: Acoustic monitoring using autonomous recording units (ARUs) is particularly valuable for assessing populations of which wildlife group?
- Ungulates and large mammals
- Bats and nocturnal songbirds (Correct answer)
- Reptiles and amphibians in wetlands
- Small mammals under forest litter
Correct answer: Bats and nocturnal songbirds
ARUs can passively record bat echolocation calls and nocturnal bird vocalizations over extended periods, enabling non-invasive population assessment across large areas.
Question 4: Which disturbance-based management strategy mimics the natural role of fire to maintain savanna and woodland habitats?
- Clearcut harvesting followed by replanting
- Prescribed fire application at ecologically appropriate intervals (Correct answer)
- High-grading to remove dominant trees
- Herbicide application to eliminate shrubs
Correct answer: Prescribed fire application at ecologically appropriate intervals
Prescribed fire replicates the ecological role of natural fire in maintaining open-canopy savannas and woodlands by controlling woody encroachment and maintaining structural diversity.
Question 5: The concept of 'habitat heterogeneity' suggests that landscapes with diverse habitat types tend to support higher wildlife diversity because:
- Homogeneous habitats are more productive per unit area
- Different species require different resources found in varied habitat conditions (Correct answer)
- Uniform forests are easier to manage for maximum timber yield
- Single habitat types reduce competition between species
Correct answer: Different species require different resources found in varied habitat conditions
Habitat heterogeneity provides varied resources, microclimates, and structural conditions that meet the diverse needs of many species, supporting greater overall biodiversity.
Question 6: Camera trap surveys are most effective for estimating population density of which wildlife species?
- Small passerine birds in forest canopy
- Individually identifiable mammals with unique markings like tigers or leopards (Correct answer)
- Aquatic invertebrates in streams
- Colonial nesting waterbirds
Correct answer: Individually identifiable mammals with unique markings like tigers or leopards
Camera traps using mark-recapture methods work best when individuals can be identified by unique coat patterns, enabling density estimates via capture-recapture statistics.
Question 7: Under the National Forest Management Act, which planning document guides wildlife habitat management on U.S. National Forests?
- Environmental Impact Statement
- Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Correct answer)
- Habitat Conservation Plan
- Recovery Implementation Program
Correct answer: Forest Land and Resource Management Plan
Forest Land and Resource Management Plans (Forest Plans) are the primary planning documents that set goals, standards, and guidelines for wildlife habitat management on each National Forest.
B.S.F. or B.Sc.F. Bachelor of Science in Forestry Bachelor of Science in Forestry: Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Preservation 4
Population viability analysis (PVA) is used in wildlife management primarily to: