PPT Lecture 12

Question 1

Monarch butterflies

Answer 1

• research broke that butterflies uses magnetics to determine where to go.
• turns out the researchers were wearing bright coloured shirts
• Butterflies were going toward light reflected

Question 2

Key attributes of science:

Answer 2

1. Accuracy of results for any one study is interpreted with respect to its experimental design (e.g., sample size, avoidance of bias).
2. Confirmation of results requires replication
3. Science is an **iterative process **(i.e., results are revised with each additional study).
4. 1-3 mean scientists must be cautious about results. When warranted, please say “I don’t know”.

Question 3

___________ species are identified by Species Specialist subcommittees (SSCs) or by the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge subcommittee (ATK), which rely on their expertise and best available information (e.g., monitoring data, regional rankings such as the BC Lists).

Answer 3

Candidate

Question 4

COSEWIC annually commissions ________ reports through an open bidding process for high priority species on the candidate list (and for species needing re-assessment). COSEWIC considers unsolicited status reports from the public.

Answer 4

status

Question 5

Status reports _________ and _________ the best available information on a species’ status in Canada (e.g., basic biology, distribution, population sizes/trends, habitat availability/trends, threats).

Answer 5

compile
analyze

Question 6

Status reports are subject to thorough _________ by the relevant SSC and ATK, by jurisdictions that have a responsibility for the species, and sometimes outside experts.

Answer 6

review

Question 7

Threats to western grebes

Answer 7

Coastal habitat
- oil spills
- bycatch

Year round
- Depleted fish prey
- contaminants
- predation

Breeding habitat
- boat traffic
- Altered water levels

Question 8

What data did they use for determining grebe status? What were the trends?

Answer 8

Christmas bird counts
- decreasing in salish sea
- increasing in southern california

Question 9

Potential causes of southward shift in grebes?

Answer 9

• decreased herring in puget sound
• increased sardines in southern california

Question 10

Western Grebe
migration strategy likely entails
2 components:

Answer 10

1. Obligate migration to coast
   after breeding (why?)
   - Because in the winter lakes are frozen so they can’t stay there
2. Followed by, facultative migration to areas of greatest foraging profitability

Question 11

what is one third for the birds?

Answer 11

For analyses of 14 seabird species in 7 global ecosystems, productivity declined when abundance of key forage fish fell below one third of their maximum biomass observed over the longterm.

Question 12

COSEWIC status report grebe key findings:

Answer 12

1. Significant threats on breeding and wintering sites
2. Southward shift in wintering birds
3. Declines on many breeding sites and in total wintering population (−52% since 1975)
4. Need for monitoring and research