CF CF Wildlife Habitat & Biodiversity Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which term describes the minimum area of suitable habitat required for a wildlife population to persist over time?
- Minimum viable habitat (Correct answer)
- Home range
- Territory
- Carrying capacity
Correct answer: Minimum viable habitat
Minimum viable habitat refers to the smallest patch of suitable habitat that can sustain a self-perpetuating population.
Question 2: What silvicultural system best maintains structural diversity for cavity-nesting birds in managed forests?
- Uneven-aged management (Correct answer)
- Clearcut with reserves
- Shelterwood
- Seed-tree
Correct answer: Uneven-aged management
Uneven-aged management retains trees of multiple size classes, providing snags and large-diameter trees preferred by cavity nesters.
Question 3: A forester wants to enhance edge habitat for white-tailed deer. Which action is most appropriate?
- Create interspersed openings adjacent to mature forest (Correct answer)
- Convert the entire stand to grassland
- Plant a monoculture of pine
- Remove all shrub layer vegetation
Correct answer: Create interspersed openings adjacent to mature forest
Creating interspersed openings adjacent to mature forest increases the forest-opening edge preferred by white-tailed deer for browsing and cover.
Question 4: Which federal law requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service before authorizing actions that may affect listed species?
- Endangered Species Act Section 7 (Correct answer)
- National Forest Management Act
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act
- National Environmental Policy Act
Correct answer: Endangered Species Act Section 7
ESA Section 7 mandates federal agency consultation to ensure actions do not jeopardize listed species or destroy critical habitat.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a habitat connectivity corridor in a forest landscape?
- Allow wildlife movement between fragmented habitat patches (Correct answer)
- Increase timber volume production
- Reduce wildfire risk
- Improve water yield
Correct answer: Allow wildlife movement between fragmented habitat patches
Corridors link isolated habitat patches, enabling wildlife to disperse, find mates, and maintain genetic diversity across fragmented landscapes.
Question 6: Which snag retention guideline is most commonly recommended to support woodpecker populations in eastern US forests?
- 2–4 snags per acre with diameter ≥10 inches (Correct answer)
- 10 snags per acre with diameter <4 inches
- 1 snag per 10 acres
- Remove all snags for safety
Correct answer: 2–4 snags per acre with diameter ≥10 inches
Most eastern US guidelines recommend retaining 2–4 large-diameter snags (≥10 inches DBH) per acre to provide sufficient foraging and nesting habitat for woodpeckers.
CF CF Wildlife Habitat & Biodiversity Management 1
Which term describes the minimum area of suitable habitat required for a wildlife population to persist over time?