1. Introduction to Conservation Biology: Definition and multidisciplinary nature
(science, politics, activism); distinction from resource management; the current
sixth extinction crisis versus background rates; major drivers of biodiversity
loss (habitat degradation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, climate
change, disease).
2. Biodiversity Fundamentals: Levels of biodiversity (genetic, species,
ecosystem); species richness and evenness; patterns of biodiversity (latitudinal
gradients, area effects, hotspots, island endemism); definitions and criteria for
biodiversity hotspots; α, β, and γ diversity.
3. Extinction Processes: Categories of extinction (global, local,
ecological/functional, extinct in the wild); extinction debt and time lags;
vulnerability traits of species (small range, large body size, low reproductive
rate, island endemism, specialized niche); background versus mass extinction
rates.
4. Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat loss and fragmentation (edge effects, isolation,
relaxation time); overexploitation (fishing down food webs, bycatch); invasive
species (competition, predation, disease transmission); pollution and climate
change (range shifts, phenological mismatch, coral bleaching).
5. Conservation Genetics: Genetic diversity and adaptive potential; inbreeding
depression; genetic drift and small populations; effective population size (Ne);
outbreeding depression; genetic rescue and translocation considerations.
6. Population Viability and Conservation Strategies: Minimum viable population
(MVP); population viability analysis (PVA); declining-population paradigm
, versus small-population paradigm; captive breeding and reintroduction
programs; keystone species and trophic cascades.
7. Protected Areas and Policy: IUCN protected area categories; zoned reserves
and biosphere reserves; corridors and connectivity; gap analysis; international
frameworks (CITES, CBD, IUCN Red List); endangered species legislation (e.g.,
ESA, SARA); conservation easements and other instruments.
Bio 3442: Conservation Biology Midterm Exam
1. Which of the following statements most accurately distinguishes conservation
biology from traditional resource management as practiced in forestry and
fisheries?
A) Conservation biology focuses exclusively on protected areas, while resource
management operates only on private lands.
B) Conservation biology is rooted in stopping extinctions and preserving
biodiversity, whereas resource management often prioritizes sustainable
extraction for human use.
C) Resource management is a subdiscipline of conservation biology that applies
only to aquatic ecosystems.
D) Conservation biology relies solely on ecological theory, while resource
management integrates economics and sociology.
Answer: B
Rationale: Conservation biology is explicitly mission-driven to prevent extinction
and preserve biodiversity, and it draws on multiple disciplines. Resource
,management, while sometimes overlapping, is typically oriented toward species or
ecosystems as resources for harvest or recreation, which can conflict with
conservation goals . 5 8
2. The current extinction crisis is often called the "sixth extinction" primarily
because of which key distinction from the previous five mass extinctions?
A) The current crisis is occurring at a faster geological pace than any previous
event.
B) The current crisis is the first to be caused by a single species—humans—rather
than natural physical events.
C) The current crisis is the only one in which marine species are affected.
D) The current crisis is the first to eliminate more than 95% of all species on Earth.
Answer: B
Rationale: The five previous mass extinctions were caused by natural phenomena
such as volcanic activity and asteroid impacts. The sixth extinction is unique
because its primary driver is human activity, including habitat destruction,
overexploitation, and climate change . 5
3. A conservation biologist is assessing a tropical forest fragment and finds that
it contains 40 species of birds, but the surrounding intact forest contains 120
species. Which measure of biodiversity is most directly relevant to comparing
these two areas?
A) Genetic diversity within the bird species present.
B) Species richness, defined as the number of species per unit area.
C) Ecosystem diversity, defined as the variety of habitats within each area.
, D) Functional diversity, defined as the range of ecological roles performed by
species.
Answer: B
Rationale: Species richness is the count of species in a defined area and is the
most direct measure for comparing the number of species between the fragment
and the intact forest. While other diversity measures are important, richness
directly addresses the difference in species counts described . 8
4. Which of the following best describes the concept of "extinction debt" as
applied to habitat fragmentation?
A) The monetary cost required to legally protect a species from extinction.
B) The number of species that have already gone extinct in a fragment since
isolation.
C) The delayed extinction of species that are doomed by past habitat loss but
have not yet disappeared.
D) The obligation of future generations to restore degraded habitat.
Answer: C
Rationale: Extinction debt refers to the time lag between habitat alteration (such as
fragmentation) and the eventual extinction of species that can no longer sustain
viable populations in the altered landscape. Species may persist temporarily but
are committed to extinction without intervention . 7 14
5. A species of flightless bird is endemic to a small oceanic island and has a very
limited geographic range. Which combination of traits makes this species most
vulnerable to extinction following the introduction of rats?
(science, politics, activism); distinction from resource management; the current
sixth extinction crisis versus background rates; major drivers of biodiversity
loss (habitat degradation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, climate
change, disease).
2. Biodiversity Fundamentals: Levels of biodiversity (genetic, species,
ecosystem); species richness and evenness; patterns of biodiversity (latitudinal
gradients, area effects, hotspots, island endemism); definitions and criteria for
biodiversity hotspots; α, β, and γ diversity.
3. Extinction Processes: Categories of extinction (global, local,
ecological/functional, extinct in the wild); extinction debt and time lags;
vulnerability traits of species (small range, large body size, low reproductive
rate, island endemism, specialized niche); background versus mass extinction
rates.
4. Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat loss and fragmentation (edge effects, isolation,
relaxation time); overexploitation (fishing down food webs, bycatch); invasive
species (competition, predation, disease transmission); pollution and climate
change (range shifts, phenological mismatch, coral bleaching).
5. Conservation Genetics: Genetic diversity and adaptive potential; inbreeding
depression; genetic drift and small populations; effective population size (Ne);
outbreeding depression; genetic rescue and translocation considerations.
6. Population Viability and Conservation Strategies: Minimum viable population
(MVP); population viability analysis (PVA); declining-population paradigm
, versus small-population paradigm; captive breeding and reintroduction
programs; keystone species and trophic cascades.
7. Protected Areas and Policy: IUCN protected area categories; zoned reserves
and biosphere reserves; corridors and connectivity; gap analysis; international
frameworks (CITES, CBD, IUCN Red List); endangered species legislation (e.g.,
ESA, SARA); conservation easements and other instruments.
Bio 3442: Conservation Biology Midterm Exam
1. Which of the following statements most accurately distinguishes conservation
biology from traditional resource management as practiced in forestry and
fisheries?
A) Conservation biology focuses exclusively on protected areas, while resource
management operates only on private lands.
B) Conservation biology is rooted in stopping extinctions and preserving
biodiversity, whereas resource management often prioritizes sustainable
extraction for human use.
C) Resource management is a subdiscipline of conservation biology that applies
only to aquatic ecosystems.
D) Conservation biology relies solely on ecological theory, while resource
management integrates economics and sociology.
Answer: B
Rationale: Conservation biology is explicitly mission-driven to prevent extinction
and preserve biodiversity, and it draws on multiple disciplines. Resource
,management, while sometimes overlapping, is typically oriented toward species or
ecosystems as resources for harvest or recreation, which can conflict with
conservation goals . 5 8
2. The current extinction crisis is often called the "sixth extinction" primarily
because of which key distinction from the previous five mass extinctions?
A) The current crisis is occurring at a faster geological pace than any previous
event.
B) The current crisis is the first to be caused by a single species—humans—rather
than natural physical events.
C) The current crisis is the only one in which marine species are affected.
D) The current crisis is the first to eliminate more than 95% of all species on Earth.
Answer: B
Rationale: The five previous mass extinctions were caused by natural phenomena
such as volcanic activity and asteroid impacts. The sixth extinction is unique
because its primary driver is human activity, including habitat destruction,
overexploitation, and climate change . 5
3. A conservation biologist is assessing a tropical forest fragment and finds that
it contains 40 species of birds, but the surrounding intact forest contains 120
species. Which measure of biodiversity is most directly relevant to comparing
these two areas?
A) Genetic diversity within the bird species present.
B) Species richness, defined as the number of species per unit area.
C) Ecosystem diversity, defined as the variety of habitats within each area.
, D) Functional diversity, defined as the range of ecological roles performed by
species.
Answer: B
Rationale: Species richness is the count of species in a defined area and is the
most direct measure for comparing the number of species between the fragment
and the intact forest. While other diversity measures are important, richness
directly addresses the difference in species counts described . 8
4. Which of the following best describes the concept of "extinction debt" as
applied to habitat fragmentation?
A) The monetary cost required to legally protect a species from extinction.
B) The number of species that have already gone extinct in a fragment since
isolation.
C) The delayed extinction of species that are doomed by past habitat loss but
have not yet disappeared.
D) The obligation of future generations to restore degraded habitat.
Answer: C
Rationale: Extinction debt refers to the time lag between habitat alteration (such as
fragmentation) and the eventual extinction of species that can no longer sustain
viable populations in the altered landscape. Species may persist temporarily but
are committed to extinction without intervention . 7 14
5. A species of flightless bird is endemic to a small oceanic island and has a very
limited geographic range. Which combination of traits makes this species most
vulnerable to extinction following the introduction of rats?
