Lecture 8- What Species And Habitats Should Be Saved?

Question 1

What is the IUCN red list?

Answer 1

A global tool used to evaluate the probability fo extinction for different species

Question 2

What is a Lazarus species?

Answer 2

One that was though to have gone extinct, but has reappeared

Question 3

What does ex mean on the IUCN red list?

Answer 3

Extinct

Question 4

What does EW mean on the IUCN red list

Answer 4

Extinct in the wild

Question 5

What does CR mean on the IUCN red list?

Answer 5

Critically endangered

Question 6

What does EN mean on the IUCN red list?

Answer 6

Endangered

Question 7

What does VU mean on the IUCN red list?

Answer 7

Vulnerable

Question 8

What does NT mean on the IUCN red list?

Answer 8

Near threatened

Question 9

What does LC mean on the IUCN red list?

Answer 9

Least concern

Question 10

What is the rule for extinct species on the IUCN red list?

Answer 10

A species can only be classed as extinct if they have not been sighted for five years or more.

Question 11

What are the pros of a species approach to conservation? (2)

Answer 11

1. Species are a discrete quantity so are EASIER TO MEASURE than entire ecosystems
2. Species are easier to make “appealing to public”, producing more positive forces for conservation1

Question 12

What are the negatives of species approaches to conservation (2)

Answer 12

1. There is limited knowledge about a lot fo species, making effective conservation difficult
2. There’s a LARGE TAXIONIMICAL BIAS towards certain groups in conservation

Question 13

Give some example conservation priority species:

Answer 13

Mountain gorilla, bumble bee

Question 14

Levels of endangerment are unequal across what?

Answer 14

Different taxonomical groups

Question 15

The IUCN uses multiple factors to measure extinction risk. Give the five Most prevalent ones

Answer 15

1. Observed/historical decline in numbers
2. Reduction on geographically occupied area
3. Number of populations
4. Numbers of living/breeding individuals
5. Known threats(and magnitude of)

Question 16

What are the various sources of information used to calculate extinction risk (five)

Answer 16

1. Observations
2. Estimations
3. Projections
4. inferred date
5. Suspected (from prior knowledge glowing past trends)

Question 17

What does extinction risk vary across?

Answer 17

Spatial and temporal scales

Question 18

What are the majority o organism classed as when it comes to available information?

Answer 18

Data deficient and non-evaluated

Question 19

What are the priorities for selecting conservation spots at an AREA WIDE LEVEL

Answer 19

1. Size of area
2. Intactness (fragments are priorities)
3. Rarity
4. Level of threat
5. Fragility/vulnerability to change
6. Biodiversity, species richness and composition

Question 20

What are the priorities for conservation for the “intact forest initiative”?

Answer 20

Areas of 7500 ha area (as large regions host more biodiversity)

Question 21

How is the biodiversity of an area measured, and what are these used for?

Answer 21

Biodiversity measured: Richness, endemicity, threat and complementary areas.
Used as conservation priorities

Question 22

Outline the biodiversity hotspot approach to conservation

Answer 22

This is a global approach aimed at conserving biodiversity hotspots. The area of the hotspot varies with TAXONOMICAL GROUP

Question 23

Outline the complementary approach to biodiversity

Answer 23

-focuses on the differing aspects of biodiversity (species richness, endemicity, threat) to find the “best fit “ area to address all of these problems

Question 24

What is a trade off?

Answer 24

The process by which a balance is reached between to incompatible features

Question 25

What is conservation triage?

Answer 25

The process by which some species are abandoned to extinction, in order to focus conservation efforts on more “at risk” species. THIS GIVES THEM A HIGHER CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.