Corridors- Case Study
1. Why is it more difficult for top carnivores to obtain sufficient energy resources than it is for animals lower on the food chain?
It's more difficult for top carnivores to obtain sufficient energy resources than it is for animals lower on the food chain because they only eat meat, and a large home range is necessary in order to locate sufficient food.
2. What sorts of genetic changes are more common in smaller populations than large ones? Are these problematic and, if so, how?
Smaller populations will go through genetic drift. This is problematic,because one genetic drift occurs, population will be so large that drift cannot happen anymore.
3. What term or concept is used to describe the population size of breeding animals (not the total population size)? What factors discussed above might reduce the number of breeding jaguars below the total number?
Geographic distributions is the term used to describe the population size of breeding animals. A factor to reduce is to locate sufficient food.
4. Is it important for people to try to protect endangered species?
Yes, because the endangered species could be of benefit to humans.
1. What does island biogeography theory suggest about the ideal design of a nature preserve? (Th ink of a preserve as a habitat island.)
Larger reserves are better than smaller reserves. If reserves are linear they must be connected with a corridor, a single undivided reserves are better than a number of small reserves.
2. What are some reasons why the number and size of nature preserves are limited? In your answer, consider what you know about both local and international pressures (social, economic, and political).
The number and size of nature preserves are limited because geographic ranges of endangered species might boost their survival through both habitat availability and increased genetic diversity.
3. What are some examples of corridors that already exist where you live? Th ey may not go by this name, but still serve the same function. Th ink about areas where typical land use changes. For example, if you live in a farming community, are there unfarmed areas that could serve as corridors? If you live in a city, which areas are not built up and could they be corridors?
Canyons.
1. How and why might animals move between habitat patches?
Animals might move between habitat patches by migrating, flying, or hunting.
2. How and why might plants move between habitat patches?
Plants might move by the distribution of seeds, they might move to get more sunlight to make photosynthesis.
3. As Haddad et al. point out, we often think of forests as “good” habitat (ideal for corridors), when they could be a barrier. What sorts of species might Haddad and colleagues be studying for which pine forest can serve as a barrier?
Predators that are blocked off by the barrier which separates the predators from the prey.
4. What can you predict about the species Haddad and colleagues wanted to study, based on the size and vegetation of the habitat patches and corridors they used?
I predict that Haddad and colleagues want to study butterflies, based on the size of the patches, I predict butterflies.
5. Examining habitat patches 14, 15, and 16, can you predict the type of comparison Haddad and his colleagues would make to determine whether corridors were important to the species studied? Specifically, what type of data would you collect, and in which patches, to determine whether corridors had an influence on the species of interest?
Examining habitat patches 14, 15, and 16, I predict that the type of comparison Haddad and his colleagues would make to determine whether corridors were important to the species studies is maybe a desert because it's apart, and there is not much corridors. There, I think that corridors don't really influence the species of interest.
1. Briefly describe the overall pattern you see in the data.
The overall pattern I see in the data, is that the pattern is constant, and almost all the same.
2. For which species are the results significant?
The results are significant for the mammal species.
3. Does your answer to Question #2 suggest any patterns among species types? For example, are plants different from animals or are butterflies different from bees? Describe the patterns and try to explain them according to the characteristics of the taxa involved.
Plants are different from mammals or animals because animals feed by food, and plant feed by photosynthesis.
4. Haddad and colleagues conclude that “In our study, we lack data on population viability and genetic diversity, and our dramatic increases in movement to connected patches strongly suggest, but do not demonstrate, the value of corridors.”
(a) Do you think this statement (“suggest, but do not demonstrate”) is a fair assessment of their study? Explain your answer.
No, because they assume something but they don't actually see if it's true or not.
(b) What other data are the researchers suggesting they need to conclusively demonstrate the importance of corridors? Do you think they are right? For example, does knowing the level of genetic variability answer questions about long-term population survival?
The researchers need to find the biodiversity and population size. Yes they are right, which shows that corridors are able to protect species from harm.
(c) How could researchers collect these data? Give suggestions for several of the species in their study.
Researchers collect data using quadrat. Which is to check the distribution of several species over the area. Suggestions of species are ones that do not compete, which might affect the biodiversity in the area.
5. Based on what you know from the Haddad et al. study, what would be the effects of a border fence on the population of jaguars mentioned in Part I? Explain your thinking. Specify any additional information you need in order to make sound predictions.
The effects of a border fence on the population of jaguars would not be really effective because the animals would be trapped. The ecosystem would be controlled. It won't develop naturally.
The effects of a border fence on the population of jaguars would not be really effective because the animals would be trapped. The ecosystem would be controlled. It won't develop naturally.
It's more difficult for top carnivores to obtain sufficient energy resources than it is for animals lower on the food chain because they only eat meat, and a large home range is necessary in order to locate sufficient food.
2. What sorts of genetic changes are more common in smaller populations than large ones? Are these problematic and, if so, how?
Smaller populations will go through genetic drift. This is problematic,because one genetic drift occurs, population will be so large that drift cannot happen anymore.
3. What term or concept is used to describe the population size of breeding animals (not the total population size)? What factors discussed above might reduce the number of breeding jaguars below the total number?
Geographic distributions is the term used to describe the population size of breeding animals. A factor to reduce is to locate sufficient food.
4. Is it important for people to try to protect endangered species?
Yes, because the endangered species could be of benefit to humans.
1. What does island biogeography theory suggest about the ideal design of a nature preserve? (Th ink of a preserve as a habitat island.)
Larger reserves are better than smaller reserves. If reserves are linear they must be connected with a corridor, a single undivided reserves are better than a number of small reserves.
2. What are some reasons why the number and size of nature preserves are limited? In your answer, consider what you know about both local and international pressures (social, economic, and political).
The number and size of nature preserves are limited because geographic ranges of endangered species might boost their survival through both habitat availability and increased genetic diversity.
3. What are some examples of corridors that already exist where you live? Th ey may not go by this name, but still serve the same function. Th ink about areas where typical land use changes. For example, if you live in a farming community, are there unfarmed areas that could serve as corridors? If you live in a city, which areas are not built up and could they be corridors?
Canyons.
1. How and why might animals move between habitat patches?
Animals might move between habitat patches by migrating, flying, or hunting.
2. How and why might plants move between habitat patches?
Plants might move by the distribution of seeds, they might move to get more sunlight to make photosynthesis.
3. As Haddad et al. point out, we often think of forests as “good” habitat (ideal for corridors), when they could be a barrier. What sorts of species might Haddad and colleagues be studying for which pine forest can serve as a barrier?
Predators that are blocked off by the barrier which separates the predators from the prey.
4. What can you predict about the species Haddad and colleagues wanted to study, based on the size and vegetation of the habitat patches and corridors they used?
I predict that Haddad and colleagues want to study butterflies, based on the size of the patches, I predict butterflies.
5. Examining habitat patches 14, 15, and 16, can you predict the type of comparison Haddad and his colleagues would make to determine whether corridors were important to the species studied? Specifically, what type of data would you collect, and in which patches, to determine whether corridors had an influence on the species of interest?
Examining habitat patches 14, 15, and 16, I predict that the type of comparison Haddad and his colleagues would make to determine whether corridors were important to the species studies is maybe a desert because it's apart, and there is not much corridors. There, I think that corridors don't really influence the species of interest.
1. Briefly describe the overall pattern you see in the data.
The overall pattern I see in the data, is that the pattern is constant, and almost all the same.
2. For which species are the results significant?
The results are significant for the mammal species.
3. Does your answer to Question #2 suggest any patterns among species types? For example, are plants different from animals or are butterflies different from bees? Describe the patterns and try to explain them according to the characteristics of the taxa involved.
Plants are different from mammals or animals because animals feed by food, and plant feed by photosynthesis.
4. Haddad and colleagues conclude that “In our study, we lack data on population viability and genetic diversity, and our dramatic increases in movement to connected patches strongly suggest, but do not demonstrate, the value of corridors.”
(a) Do you think this statement (“suggest, but do not demonstrate”) is a fair assessment of their study? Explain your answer.
No, because they assume something but they don't actually see if it's true or not.
(b) What other data are the researchers suggesting they need to conclusively demonstrate the importance of corridors? Do you think they are right? For example, does knowing the level of genetic variability answer questions about long-term population survival?
The researchers need to find the biodiversity and population size. Yes they are right, which shows that corridors are able to protect species from harm.
(c) How could researchers collect these data? Give suggestions for several of the species in their study.
Researchers collect data using quadrat. Which is to check the distribution of several species over the area. Suggestions of species are ones that do not compete, which might affect the biodiversity in the area.
5. Based on what you know from the Haddad et al. study, what would be the effects of a border fence on the population of jaguars mentioned in Part I? Explain your thinking. Specify any additional information you need in order to make sound predictions.
The effects of a border fence on the population of jaguars would not be really effective because the animals would be trapped. The ecosystem would be controlled. It won't develop naturally.
The effects of a border fence on the population of jaguars would not be really effective because the animals would be trapped. The ecosystem would be controlled. It won't develop naturally.