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Wildlife, Fisheries, and Endangered Species: Exploitation, Management, and Conservation

Chapter 14 Handout October 2017 Environmental Science AP / Global Ecology Peninsula High School Instructor: Ben Smith

Comprehensive Points:

1. Why conserve and preserve species? Identify the eight justifications (P.263 in Ch.

14 and P.13 in Ch.1) for saving a species.

2. The phrase “To Save a Species” may put the “Saving” focus on one of four distinct

levels or in four different contexts. Briefly describe each of these four.

3. Contrast a logistic growth curve with an exponential growth curve.

4. Briefly explain why/how carrying capacity changes.

5. Define maximum sustainable yield.

6. Explain the flaws with each of the following assumptions as they pertain to

attempts at applying science to the conservation and management of wildlife and

fisheries:

A. The population of a given species can be represented by a single

number (its total size).

B. Undisturbed by human activities, a population would grow to a

fixed size, called the carrying capacity.

C. The environment is constant, except for human-induced changes.

7. Define minimum viable population.

8. Contrast a logistic growth curve with an exponential growth curve.

9. Briefly explain why/how carrying capacity changes.

10. What are the two major reasons for the endangered status of the Grizzly Bear in

the United States?

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11. Given a grizzly bear density of 4 grizzlies per 100 square miles, estimate the

Grizzly population in a geographic range of comprised of 82,915,200 hectares.

(Note: 1 hectare = 2.47 acres; 1 square mile = 640 acres)

12. What are the two main reasons for the North American Bison being driven to near

extinction?

13. Discuss the possible advantage(s) of approaching wildlife management from the

“ecological community & ecosystem level” vs. the “single species level.

14. Propose two ways of trying to prevent a tragedy of an open resource commons.

15. Briefly describe what an “open resource” is.

16. In what way are (even) developed countries still hunter-gatherers?

17. In what way(s) have humans “domesticated” this (from #16 above)?

Fisheries Cluster (w/ additional fisheries and aquatic wildlife items throughout handout):

18. Describe the major threats to global fisheries.

19. Briefly describe “scientific-based management of fish”:

20. Identify five major ocean-bottom fish which are thought to be on the brink of

extinction.

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21. What is bycatch?

22. Describe one potential advantage and one potential disadvantage of the aquatic

biota-harvesting technique known as bottom trawling:

23. State the Primary and Secondary goals of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection

Act of 1972.

-Primary:

-Secondary:

24. Explain why coastal zones contain the most productive fisheries.

25. Explain the following statement:

Commercial fish species are being mined, not sustained.

26. Describe four anthropogenic stressors on the largest estuary in the United States.

27. Briefly describe each of the following fish/aquatic species harvesting methods:

A. Trawling

B. Long-lining

C. Purse-Seining

D. Drift-Netting

28. Contrast fish farming and fish ranching: Identify two species that are commonly

farmed and two species that might be ranched. Be familiar with the term anadromous.

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29. Describe two specific concerns regarding the extensively maricultured Atlantic

Salmon.

30. What is the Red List?

31. According to the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, define:

A. Endangered:

B. Threatened:

32. How have local and global extinction rates changed since the beginning of the

Industrial Revolution?

33. Based on Figure 14.15, the majority of the extinctions since 1860 are due to the

loss of many organisms in which “group”?

34. How many mass extinctions are recorded in the geologic record?

35. Briefly describe the four “causes of extinction”, or “risk categories”, as they are

sometimes called.

36. Briefly describe the four main ways in which humans may cause extinction.

37. By far, the two major anthropogenic causes of species decline are:

#1 Cause = _________________________; #2 Cause = ___________________

38. Identify three “success stories” regarding species once endangered which are now

much improved in terms of numbers/health.

39. Which two U.S. agencies are charged with listing species as endangered or

threatened?

40. Be familiar with the Kirtland’s Warbler case study regarding environmental

change.

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41. Describe how Michigan jack-pine stands represent an ecological island.

42. (Review Item): Be familiar with the fundamentals of the Theory of Island

Biogeography, first proposed by Robert MacArthur and E.O Wilson in the 1960s.

43. Habitat requirements and the use of spatial relationships to preserve/conserve

species:

44. Be familiar with the passenger pigeon case study.

45. (Review Item): What is the “best guess” of the total number of species on Earth?

46. Identify the life-forms in the U.S. with the highest level of risk.

47. Contrast the “ecosystem protection approach” and the “species-by-species

protection approach”. The essence of this item number is more than eluded to in a

previous item in this document.

48. Define a “rare” species.

49. What, specifically, does the “species-area relationship” suggest?

50. Be familiar with the E/T species mentioned in class.

51. Describe four characteristics of extinction-prone species.

52. Contrast background extinction and mass extinction.

53. When was the most recent mass extinction?

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54. Why do some biologists/environmental scientists suggest that there is a “new

mass extinction”?

55. Provide five examples of “nature’s pharmacy” (plants which provide chemicals

used in health care, hygiene, etc., such as the previously noted neem tree):

56. Describe the term “biophilia”.

57. Discuss the role of habitat loss, habitat degradation, and habitat fragmentation in

terms of the general health of wild species.

58. Discuss the influence of nonnative species on native plant and animal

reductions/extinctions.

59. Name four introduced species that are generally considered to be beneficial.

60. Name four introduced species which are generally considered to be harmful

or detrimental.

61. Describe three likely mechanisms for accidentally introducing a

species to a new area.

62. Identify the three biome types in the U.S.A. which have been disturbed to the

greatest extent.

63. Why have the numbers of migratory birds declined?

64. Describe kudzu/the kudzu case study.

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65. (Review item): Describe seven characteristics of successful invader species

(nonnative) species.

66. (Review item): Describe six characteristics of ecosystems vulnerable to invader

species.

67. Comment on the role which commercial hunting plays in the management of

species. Include three examples of commercially-hunted species.

68. Identify four species in North America (or elsewhere) which have been the target

in eradication efforts; briefly describe why these species were/are viewed as pests.

69. What is the CITES Treaty?

70. What does the Convention on Biological Diversity call for from signatory

nations?

71. (Review item): Describe the Lacey Act. Who was the U.S. President when it was

signed into law?

72. Describe the E.S.A. Who was the U.S. President when it was signed into law?

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73. How has the number of (U.S.) species on the E/T list changed from 1973-today?

74. The addition or removal of a species from the E/T list is, by law, supposed to be

based only on ______________________, not on ________________________

or ________________________ considerations.

75. The majority of U.S. species listed are: (Plants or Animals?)

76. Identify / Locate the “Top Six Biodiversity Hot Spots” in the U.S.A. and “the Top

Global Biodiversity Hot Spots”:

77. How can private land owners be encouraged to protect E/T species? Include a

description of the following:

A. Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs)

B. Safe Harbor Agreements (SHAs)

C. Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCAs)

78. Be familiar with the National Academy of Sciences recommendations for making

the ESA more scientifically sound and more effective:

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79. Because of limited funds, relatively limited information and few trained

personnel, it is possible that not all E/T species will be “saved”. Given

this, which species should be the focus, at least initially? Explain:

80. Describe four approaches to protecting species from further decline:

Note: these approaches or measures are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

81. What is the focus of wildlife management? (Thank you for not merely going with

the “manage wildlife” response).

82. Provide three supporting statements for sport hunting.

83. (Review item): What is an endemic species?

84. Provide two examples of poaching.

85. Describe the founder effect.

86. (Review item):Describe a demographic bottleneck.

87. Describe a TED.

88. Describe three reasons why sea turtles are E/T.

89. What is the IWC and what is the primary goal of this body?

90. What is an ITQ.

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91. Describe two proposals which might enhance the Columbia River’s (could be

applied to other dammed rivers) salmon populations.

_______________________________ _________________________________

Wildlife, Fisheries, and Endangered Species Please be familiar with ALL items on the Chapter 14 Handout, including the brief

responses to #s 44-91 below:

44. Passenger Pigeon case study: 1800’sMost abundant bird in U.S.A.; in 1900, last

wild passenger pigeon killed; 1914Martha died in the Cincinnati Zoo; hunting, habitat

loss, feathers, bones, entrée, easy to kill/“stool pigeon”

45. Ten- fourteen million.

46. Flowering plants and Freshwater aquatic species:

47. Focus on “The Whole” vs. “Some of the Biotic Parts”

48. Never abundant: many island species, African violets, some orchids

49. - On avg., a 90% loss of habitat causes the extinction of about 50% of the species

living in that habitat

50. E/T Species: a few examples—Mountain Gorilla, Florida Manatee, Black lace

Cactus, Symphonia, Grizzly Bear, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Black

Rhino, Florida Panther, Giant Panda, Oahu Tree Snail, Swallowtail Butterfly, Utah

Prairie Dog, California Condor, Devils Hole Pupfish, Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly, Ghost

Bat, Northern Spotted Owl, Black Footed Ferret, Arabian Oryx, Snow Leopard, West

Virginia Spring Salamander, Eastern Indigo Snake, Pine Barrens Tree Frog, Mojave

Desert Tortoise, Kirtland’s Warblers, White Top Pitcher Plant, Whooping Crane, …….

51. Low repro. rate(K-strategists), Specialized Niche, Narrow distribution, Feed at high

trophic levels, Fixed migratory patterns, Rare, Commercially Valuable, Large territories

52. Background ext: small number of species lost to ext. Mass ext: “typically” 25-70%

species lost

53. 65 m.y.a.

54. Due to the rate of habitat alteration/degradationloss of species

55. Neem tree(India)toothpaste, fungicide, spermicide; Pacific Yew(PNW-

USA)ovarian cancer; Foxglove(Europe)digitalis for heart failure; Rauvolfia(SE

Asia)high b.p.medicine; Rosy Periwinkle(Madagascar)Hodgkin’s disease,

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lymphocytic leukemia; Cinchona(SA)quinine for malaria treatment

56. Famous biologist E.O. Wilson suggests that because of the millions and

millions(billions) of years of biological connections leading to the evolution of the human

species, we have an inherent affinity for the natural world; one of E.O.Wilson’s more

well-known books is titled Biophilia, (1984).

57. Habitat Loss, degradation, reduction, fragmentation: resources, territory, food chains,

food webs, migrations, wildlife corridors, edge effect

58. Nonnatives/introduced species = the second leading cause of species decline (behind

habitat loss)

59. Rice, Wheat, Corn, Cattle

60. Purple Loosestrife, Knapweed, Kudzu, Water hyacinth, Nutria, Argentine fire ant

61. Hitchhikers on imported products, aircraft stowaways, in bilge water

62. Temperate Broadleaf Forests, Temperate Evergreen Forests, Temperate Grasslands

63. Tropical forest logging, Fragmentation of their summer forest & grassland habitats in

North America, deaths from collisions with TV, Radio, Phone, and other Towers(approx.

4 million migrating songbirds)

64. Introduced in the SE USA to control erosion in the 1930’s; prolific growersoon

became invasiveengulfing native vegetation

65. High reprod. output, Pioneer Species, High dispersal rate, Release growth-inhibiting

chemicals, Generalists, High Genetic variability

66. Similar climate to habitat of invader, Absence of predators on invading species, Early

successional species, Low diversity of native species, Absence of fire, Disturbed by

human activities

67. Numbers/Population Size(s), Habitat/Resources: Deer, Elk, Duck, …..

68. Gray Wolf (livestock), Coyote, Prairie Dogs(grazing competitors w/ cattle), Bison,

Carolina Parakeet(Crops), …

69. Convention on (the) International Trade in(of) Endangered Species: 1975 agreement;

152 signatory nations; approximately 30,000 species whose international trade is

monitored & regulated(w/ some species trading banned); enforcement difficult; violators

often faced w/ small fine; exemption

70. Legally binds signatory nations to reversing the global decline of biological diversity

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(US is not a signatory nation of the CBD, which came out of the 1992 Rio Earth

Summit); nations are to adopt national biodiversity protection strategies and action, estab.

Nationwide systems of protected areas, restoring degraded habitats, conserving E/T

species & ecosystems, ecologically sustainable resource use, safe use/application of

biotech. Products, equitable sharing of biodiversity benefits(e.g., new medicines)

71. Animal(-parts)(-Birds esp. across state linesPermit; Animal(biota)Trade; 1900

72. E/T or potentially strong candidates for E/T species; 1973

73. Increased, ---from about 92 in 1973 to (approx.) 1,322 today (as of 12/10/09)

74. Biological basis, not on an economical or political basis

75. Plants (749 as of 12/10/09)

76. USA: Hawaii, S.F. Bay area, Death Valley, Southern California, Southern

Appalachians, Florida Panhandle ; Global: Meso-America , California Floristic Province,

Madagascar, Wallacea, Caucasus, Tropical Andes, Caribbean Islands, Atlantic Forests of

South America, Mediterranean Basin

77. HCPs: a 1982 amendment to the ESA; allows the Secretary of the Interior to use

HCPs to strike a compromise between private landowner interests and the interests of E/T

wildlife with the goal of not reducing the recovery chances of protected species;

landowners, developers, loggers, etc. are allowed to alter some critical habitat on private

land in exchange for taking steps to protect that species; protective measure might

include estab. a preserve or relocating the species; plans based on scientific data. In

1999, the USFWS approved two new approaches which strive to better protect E/T

species on private land: SHAs: landowners Voluntarily agree to take steps to restore,

improve, or maintain habitat for E/T species on their land; in return, landowners get tech

help from conservation agencies, gov’t assurances that the land, water, and other natural

resources involved will not face future restrictions; CCAs: landowners agree to take

specific steps to help conserve a species which is declining but is not yet listed as E/T; no

additional restrictions can be placed on the landowner if the species is listed

78. Be familiar with the National Academy of Sciences recommendations for making

the ESA more scientifically sound and more effective:

A. Increase funding

B. Develop Recovery Plans more quickly

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C. Develop guidelines to avoid provisions that are scientifically or

economically unsound and that spell out which actions are likely to hinder

recovery.

D. Establish a Core Area (survival habitat) as a temporary emergency measure

when a species is first listed that could support the species for at least 25-

50 years.

79. My ears are open…-Bacteria? -Plants? –Decomposers in general? -Keystoners?

–Herbivores? -Most Photogenic? ...

80. Preserved areas (Refuge areas, National/International/State/Provincial Parks, etc.),

Captive breeding, Egg Pulling, Zoos, Surrogate Moms/Embryo transfer, …

81. Manipulating wildlife populations and their habitats for their welfare and for human

benefit; sustainable yield via laws, quotas, pop. management plans, improvement of

wildlife habitat, international treaties to protect migrating game species

82. Protection of habitat by controlling pop. size (absence of historical predator), health

of species population(herd culling of weak/sick), “maintenance of ecosystem

dynamics” …to some extent

83. Found nowhere else; species found in only one location

84. Snow leopards (Nepal, India), Elk (Rocky Mountains), Elephants, …….

85. The limited genetic diversity of a few individuals founding a population may not be

enough to sustain the population

86. Occurs when only a few individuals survive to perpetuate a population after a

catastrophe

87. Turtle Exclusion Device: “trap door”, escape exit in fishing net

88. Degradation of beach habitat, egg poaching (exactly), increased uses as food,

medicinal ingredients, jewelry, bycatch

89. International Whaling Commission: established in 1946 to regulate the whaling

industry by setting annual quotas; has been unable to stop the decline of most

commercially hunted whale species to the point of commercial extinction, although

the Commission has spearheaded a number of success stories regarding the

population size of several whale species.

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90. Individual Transfer Quota(s): each fishing vessel owner is given a specified

percentage of the total allowable catch (TAC) for a fishery in a given year

91. -Building hatcheries upstream of the dams and releasing juveniles from these

hatcheries to under-populated streams(so they will return to them to reproduce),

-Building fish ladders to allows some adult salmon to bypass dams during their

upstream migration,

-Using trucks and barges to transport juvenile wild salmon around dams,

-Turning off turbines to allow juveniles to swim through dam (turbine chamber)

during heavy downstream migration,

-Releasing extra water from dams to help wash juvenile salmon downstream at a

(faster) rate closer to their natural migration rate,

-Putting more stream areas off-limits for hydropower development,

-Reducing silt/soil erosion from logging roads located above salmon spawning

streams