Conservation Biology Flashcards

Which conservation strategy uses a single high-profile species to generate public support and funding that benefits entire ecosystems?

Answer: Flagship species strategy

Flagship species such as giant pandas or tigers are charismatic animals used in marketing to attract conservation funding that protects broader biodiversity.

Habitat loss interacts with climate change to threaten biodiversity primarily because:

Answer: Fragmented habitats prevent species from tracking shifting climate zones by moving

When habitats are fragmented, species cannot disperse to cooler or more suitable areas as climate zones shift, increasing extinction risk synergistically.

In conservation planning, 'complementarity' refers to selecting reserves that:

Answer: Together maximize the number of species represented by including areas with different species compositions

Complementarity-based reserve selection chooses sites whose combined species pools maximize total biodiversity representation rather than duplicating the same species.

Which of the following is an example of bioremediation applied to conservation?

Answer: Using microorganisms to break down oil spills in contaminated wetlands

Bioremediation uses living organisms—often bacteria or fungi—to detoxify or remove pollutants from contaminated environments, restoring habitat quality.

Why do conservation biologists often prioritize protecting biodiversity 'hotspots' over other regions?

Answer: Hotspots contain exceptionally high concentrations of endemic species under severe threat, offering maximum conservation return per dollar spent

Biodiversity hotspots are defined by high endemism and significant habitat loss, meaning protecting them preserves unique species found nowhere else at relatively low cost.

Which approach best describes 'community-based conservation' (CBC)?

Answer: Giving local communities rights and responsibilities over nearby natural resources to align conservation with livelihoods

CBC devolves stewardship to local communities, recognizing that sustainable conservation succeeds when people who depend on resources have a stake in protecting them.

What is 'environmental DNA (eDNA)' sampling, and why is it valuable in conservation biology?

Answer: Collecting and analyzing genetic material shed by organisms into the environment to detect species presence without capturing them

eDNA sampling detects species from water, soil, or air samples containing sloughed cells or secretions, allowing non-invasive surveys of rare or cryptic species.