Free Bachelor of Forestry Wildlife Management Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which creatures would be regarded as wildlife?
- Reptiles and amphibians
- Mammals but not fish
- Depends on one's perspective (Correct answer)
- Game and non-game species
- Mammals and birds only
Correct answer: Depends on one's perspective
The term "wildlife" is broad and its definition can vary significantly based on context and individual perspective. While often associated with mammals and birds, it can encompass all undomesticated living organisms, including reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and even plants, depending on the specific field of study or conservation goal. Therefore, there isn't a single universally accepted definition, making "depends on one's perspective" the most accurate answer.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the value of wildlife?
- Ecological, spiritual, material, intrinsic, economic, scientific (Correct answer)
- Intrinsic, ecological, economic
- Ecological, scientific, spiritual
- Scientific, economic
- Material, spiritual, economic
Correct answer: Ecological, spiritual, material, intrinsic, economic, scientific
Wildlife holds a multifaceted value that extends beyond simple monetary worth. Its ecological value lies in maintaining ecosystem health, while spiritual and intrinsic values recognize its inherent right to exist and its importance to human well-being and cultural heritage. Additionally, wildlife provides material resources, contributes to economies through tourism and hunting, and offers scientific insights into biology and environmental processes.
Question 3: Which of the following describes how man has viewed wildlife over time?
- Subsistence hunting
- Wildlife as an obstacle to pioneers
- Sport hunting
- Market hunting
- All of the above (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of the above
Humanity's relationship with wildlife has evolved considerably throughout history, encompassing a range of perspectives. Early views often centered on subsistence hunting for survival, while later periods saw wildlife as an obstacle to agricultural expansion and pioneering efforts. The rise of sport hunting and market hunting also reflects different historical interactions, demonstrating a complex and changing perception of wildlife's role and utility.
Question 4: What one of the following does adaptive resource management not include?
- None of the above
- Monitoring
- A linear management process (Correct answer)
- Doing management as an "experiment"
- Acknowledging incomplete knowledge of ecosystems
Correct answer: A linear management process
Adaptive resource management is a dynamic and iterative approach that explicitly acknowledges uncertainty in ecological systems. It involves treating management actions as experiments, continuously monitoring outcomes, and adjusting strategies based on new knowledge. Therefore, it fundamentally rejects a rigid, linear management process in favor of a flexible, learning-based cycle that embraces incomplete knowledge and aims for continuous improvement.
Question 5: Wildlife management may be partially funded by:
- All of the above (Correct answer)
- Excise taxes
- Income tax check offs
- License plate sales
- Sales tax
Correct answer: All of the above
Wildlife management in many regions, including North America, relies on diverse funding sources to support its extensive efforts. These can include excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment (like the Pittman-Robertson Act), income tax check-offs where taxpayers can donate, and dedicated license plate sales. This multi-faceted funding approach ensures broader public participation and financial stability for conservation initiatives.
Question 6: The primary sources of funding in North Carolina for the management of non-game species are:
- None of the above
- State Wildlife Grants (Correct answer)
- Passage of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA)
- Teaming with Wildlife funds
- Hunting and fishing license sales
Correct answer: State Wildlife Grants
In North Carolina, and across the United States, State Wildlife Grants (SWG) are a crucial federal program specifically designed to fund conservation efforts for non-game species and their habitats. While hunting and fishing license sales primarily fund game species management, SWG provides dedicated resources for the broader biodiversity that often lacks direct funding from traditional user fees.
Question 7: Who said, "The first precaution of intelligent tinkering is to keep every cog and wheel"?
- None of the above
- Aldo Leopold (Correct answer)
- Gifford Pinchot
- James Watt
- Teddy Roosevelt
Correct answer: Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold, a highly influential figure in conservation and the father of wildlife management, famously articulated the importance of biodiversity with the quote, "The first precaution of intelligent tinkering is to keep every cog and wheel." This statement emphasizes the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the potential for unforeseen consequences when even seemingly minor species are lost, advocating for a holistic approach to conservation.
Question 8: Who founded the sanctuary on Pelican Island?
- None of the above
- Aldo Leopold
- Gifford Pinchot
- James Watt
- Teddy Roosevelt (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Teddy Roosevelt
President Theodore Roosevelt, a passionate conservationist, established the first National Wildlife Refuge at Pelican Island, Florida, in 1903. This landmark action was taken to protect egrets and other birds from plume hunters, marking a pivotal moment in American conservation history and demonstrating a commitment to preserving wildlife and natural habitats.
Question 9: What factor(s) led to the passenger pigeon's extinction?
- None of the above
- Poor flying ability
- Breeding in small groups
- Fragmentation of pine forest in the Southeast
- Railroads and telegraphs (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Railroads and telegraphs
The extinction of the passenger pigeon was primarily driven by a combination of factors that enabled massive overexploitation. Railroads allowed hunters to access remote nesting sites and transport vast quantities of birds to urban markets, while the telegraph facilitated rapid communication, enabling hunters to track and converge on large flocks, leading to their rapid demise.
Question 10: What species among the following is extinct?
- All of the above (Correct answer)
- Labrador duck
- Stellar's sea cow
- Carolina parakeet
- Heath hen
Correct answer: All of the above
The Labrador duck, Steller's sea cow, Carolina parakeet, and Heath hen are all well-documented examples of species that have gone extinct due to human activities. Their extinctions highlight various threats, including overhunting, habitat loss, and introduced species, serving as stark reminders of the fragility of biodiversity.
Question 11: One common thread among extinct species could be:
- All of the above (Correct answer)
- Over exploitation
- Habitat loss
- Distribution confined to islands
- Introduced species
Correct answer: All of the above
Many extinct species share common threads that contributed to their demise, including overexploitation by humans, significant habitat loss and fragmentation, and the devastating impact of introduced invasive species. Additionally, species with distributions confined to islands are often particularly vulnerable due to their isolation and lack of defenses against new threats. These factors frequently act in combination, accelerating extinction rates.
Question 12: Using bounties to get rid of undesired or overabundant wildlife
- None of the above
- Are a cheap and easy to administer wildlife management strategy.
- Are no longer used as a management strategy.
- Tend to encourage removing only the "annual surplus." (Correct answer)
- Are effective.
Correct answer: Tend to encourage removing only the "annual surplus."
Bounties, while historically used, are generally considered an ineffective and often counterproductive wildlife management strategy. Instead of effectively controlling populations, they frequently lead to fraud, indiscriminate killing, and the removal of only the "annual surplus" that would naturally be lost, rather than significantly reducing the breeding population. Modern wildlife management focuses on more targeted and ecologically sound approaches.
Question 13: Which of the following does not currently exist in North Carolina as an invasive species?
- None of the above
- Brown tree snake (Correct answer)
- Mute swan
- House sparrow
- Brown trout
Correct answer: Brown tree snake
The brown tree snake is a notorious invasive species that has caused ecological devastation on Pacific islands, particularly Guam, where it decimated native bird populations. While North Carolina faces many invasive species challenges (like mute swans, house sparrows, and brown trout), the brown tree snake is not currently established in the state, making it the correct answer.
Question 14: Theodore T. Hornaday
- None of the above
- All of the above (Correct answer)
- Was a contemporary of Teddy Roosevelt
- Helped save the bison from extinction
- Was a director of the New York Zoological Park
Correct answer: All of the above
Theodore T. Hornaday was a prominent conservationist and a contemporary of Teddy Roosevelt, playing a significant role in the early American conservation movement. As a director of the New York Zoological Park (now the Bronx Zoo), he was instrumental in efforts to save the American bison from extinction, advocating for their protection and establishing captive breeding programs.
Question 15: In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which of the following statements about bison is false?
- None of the above
- Bison wandering outside Yellowstone Park can be killed.
- They make up a majority of the prey items of wolves. (Correct answer)
- They care brucellosis, which is a concern for cattle ranches in Montana.
- In the late 1960's the population was allowed to "fluctuate naturally" and grew from about 400 to about 3,500 over the next few decades.
Correct answer: They make up a majority of the prey items of wolves.
In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, while wolves do prey on bison, elk are by far the majority of their prey items. Bison are large and formidable, making them a more challenging target for wolves compared to elk. The other statements about bison in Yellowstone are generally true, including their brucellosis concerns, population growth after natural fluctuation, and the legality of killing them outside the park.
Question 16: How readily available lead is to wildlife depends on
- All of the above (Correct answer)
- Cultivation
- Substrate texture
- Water chemistry
- Hunting and fishing pressure
Correct answer: All of the above
The availability of lead to wildlife, particularly from sources like spent ammunition or fishing tackle, is influenced by multiple environmental factors. Cultivation can bring buried lead to the surface, substrate texture affects how deeply lead sinks, and water chemistry can impact its solubility and bioavailability. Additionally, hunting and fishing pressure directly determine the amount of lead introduced into the environment.
Which creatures would be regarded as wildlife?