Week 22

Question 1

What is rewilding?

Answer 1

Rewilding is the process of restoring ecosystems to their natural, uncultivated state by reintroducing native species and minimizing human influence.

Question 2

What are the ‘three Cs’ of rewilding?

Answer 2

The three Cs are Cores (protected areas), Corridors (connectivity between habitats), and Carnivores (top predators to control ecosystems).

Question 3

Why are the ‘three Cs’ important in rewilding?

Answer 3

They help ensure ecosystem stability and biodiversity by preserving large, connected habitats and allowing natural predator-prey dynamics.

Question 4

What are some principles of rewilding?

Answer 4

Principles include scale, natural processes, connectivity, resilience, human-nature connection, adaptive management, and long-term commitment.

Question 5

What is passive rewilding?

Answer 5

Passive rewilding allows natural processes to shape ecosystems without active management or species reintroductions.

Question 6

What is Pleistocene rewilding?

Answer 6

Pleistocene rewilding aims to restore ecosystems to a state resembling the Pleistocene epoch by introducing ecological analogues of extinct species.

Question 7

What is translocation in rewilding?

Answer 7

Translocation involves moving species from one location to another to restore ecological function.

Question 8

List two advantages of rewilding.

Answer 8

Rewilding can increase biodiversity and restore natural ecosystem services such as pollination and flood control.

Question 9

List two disadvantages of rewilding.

Answer 9

It can conflict with human land uses and may cause unforeseen ecological consequences, such as imbalanced food chains.

Question 10

What is the Oostvaardersplassen (OVP) project?

Answer 10

A rewilding project in the Netherlands that introduced large herbivores to a reclaimed area to restore natural processes, but faced ethical and ecological challenges.

Question 11

What lessons were learned from the OVP project?

Answer 11

The need for adaptive management and consideration of animal welfare, as harsh winters led to mass starvation among introduced species.

Question 12

What is the Knepp Estate rewilding project?

Answer 12

A rewilding initiative in the UK where agricultural land was turned into a biodiverse landscape by allowing natural grazing and ecological succession.

Question 13

What species were reintroduced at Knepp Estate?

Answer 13

Species include longhorn cattle, Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs, deer, and various bird and insect species.

Question 14

How does the Knepp project support itself economically?

Answer 14

It generates income through eco-tourism, such as safaris and camping, and sustainable products from the land.

Question 15

Why is rewilding considered controversial in some cases?

Answer 15

It may challenge traditional land uses, raise concerns about safety or animal welfare, and provoke ecological uncertainty.

Question 16

What is succession in an ecological context?

Answer 16

Succession is the gradual process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time, often following a disturbance or the creation of new substrate.

Question 17

What is primary succession?

Answer 17

Primary succession occurs on surfaces where no soil exists, such as bare rock or sand, and begins with pioneer species like lichens and mosses.

Question 18

What is secondary succession?

Answer 18

Secondary succession happens in areas where a community previously existed but was disturbed or destroyed, leaving the soil intact.

Question 19

What is a plagioclimax?

Answer 19

Plagioclimax is a stage in succession that is maintained by human activity, preventing the ecosystem from reaching its natural climax community.

Question 20

What is a climax community?

Answer 20

A climax community is a stable and mature ecological community that has reached the final stage of succession and remains relatively unchanged unless disrupted.

Question 21

What are seral stages?

Answer 21

Seral stages are the intermediate stages in ecological succession leading to the climax community.

Question 22

What role do pioneer species play in primary succession?

Answer 22

Pioneer species are the first organisms to colonize barren environments, helping to form soil and create conditions suitable for other species.

Question 23

What is a xerosere?

Answer 23

Xerosere is a type of primary succession that occurs on dry, bare rock, progressing from lichens to mosses, grasses, and eventually forest.

Question 24

What is a hydrosere?

Answer 24

Hydrosere is a type of succession that occurs in freshwater environments, progressing from aquatic plants to marshes and eventually woodland.

Question 25

What is a psammosere?

Answer 25

Psammosere refers to succession on sand dunes, beginning with salt-tolerant pioneer plants and leading to dune stabilization and climax vegetation.

Question 26

How do facilitation and inhibition relate to succession?

Answer 26

Facilitation is when early species make the environment more suitable for later species, while inhibition is when they hinder the establishment of others.

Question 27

How do animals affect plant succession?

Answer 27

Animals can influence succession by grazing, seed dispersal, and altering soil conditions, while plant communities provide habitats and food for animals.

Question 28

How does productivity and biomass change during succession?

Answer 28

Productivity and biomass typically increase as succession progresses, with greater plant cover and more complex food webs.

Question 29

How might climate change affect ecological succession?

Answer 29

Climate change may shift or alter successional pathways, changing the species composition and possibly delaying or preventing the formation of climax communities.

Question 30

What is conservation in an ecological context?

Answer 30

Conservation is the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them.

Question 31

When did conservation begin historically?

Answer 31

Conservation as a formal concept began in the 19th century, though various societies practiced conservation informally much earlier.

Question 32

How did religion influence conservation?

Answer 32

Many religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, encourage respect for all life forms, supporting ideas aligned with conservation.

Question 33

What were the main drivers behind the development of conservation?

Answer 33

Key drivers include habitat loss, species extinction, overexploitation, and environmental degradation caused by industrialization and agriculture.

Question 34

Why is conservation important from a utilitarian view?

Answer 34

The utilitarian view supports conservation to maintain natural resources and ecosystem services that are beneficial to human survival and well-being.

Question 35

Why is conservation important from a non-utilitarian view?

Answer 35

The non-utilitarian view argues for the intrinsic value of nature and the moral responsibility to protect other species regardless of human benefit.

Question 36

What are common environmental conservation methods?

Answer 36

These include protecting habitats, restoring ecosystems, reducing pollution, and promoting sustainable land and water use.

Question 37

What are some animal conservation methods?

Answer 37

Methods include captive breeding, habitat protection, anti-poaching laws, and genetic monitoring to protect endangered species.

Question 38

Give an example of a successful conservation project involving plants.

Answer 38

The yellow fatu flower was saved from extinction through propagation and habitat restoration on Pitcairn Island.

Question 39

Give an example of a successful conservation project involving animals.

Answer 39

The blue iguana in the Cayman Islands was brought back from near extinction through captive breeding and release programs.

Question 40

What are some unintended consequences of replanting efforts?

Answer 40

Replanting with monocultures or non-native species can reduce biodiversity and fail to restore full ecological functions.

Question 41

What is a conservation-related issue with renewable energy projects?

Answer 41

Renewable energy projects like wind farms can disrupt wildlife habitats and migration routes if not properly planned.

Question 42

What are the challenges in managing animal populations for conservation?

Answer 42

Challenges include maintaining genetic diversity, preventing human-wildlife conflict, and ensuring long-term habitat viability.

Question 43

What are the economic costs associated with conservation?

Answer 43

Conservation can require significant funding for land acquisition, staff, monitoring, and enforcement, which can strain public or private budgets.