Conservation and Restoration Ecology Flashcards
7 cards from real Ecology practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Conservation and Restoration Ecology flashcards as text
What is 'landscape connectivity' and why is it critical for conservation?
Answer: The degree to which a landscape allows organisms to move among habitat patches
Landscape connectivity enables species to disperse, colonize new areas, and maintain gene flow, which is essential for long-term population viability.
Which of the following is a key criticism of 'paper parks' in conservation?
Answer: They exist legally but lack effective management, enforcement, or resources
Paper parks are protected areas on paper only; without funding, staff, or enforcement, they fail to prevent poaching, encroachment, or habitat degradation.
In ecological restoration, 'propagule pressure' refers to:
Answer: The quantity and frequency of organisms introduced to a restoration site
Propagule pressure describes the number of individuals introduced and the frequency of introduction events, both of which affect establishment success.
What does IUCN's Red List category 'Critically Endangered' indicate?
Answer: The species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Critically Endangered means a species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, based on quantitative criteria such as population decline or small range.
Which strategy characterizes 'community-based conservation'?
Answer: Engaging local communities as stewards and primary decision-makers in managing natural resources
Community-based conservation empowers local and indigenous communities to manage and benefit from natural resources, improving both conservation and human welfare outcomes.
The 'extinction debt' concept predicts that:
Answer: Species committed to future extinction exist even after habitat loss occurs, due to time lags
Extinction debt refers to future extinctions that are inevitable due to past habitat loss, even though the species still persist today because of time lags in population decline.
Which of the following best describes the 'umbrella species' concept in conservation planning?
Answer: Species whose habitat requirements encompass those of many other species, so protecting them protects others
An umbrella species has large area requirements or specific habitat needs such that protecting it automatically protects numerous co-occurring species and their habitats.