Corridors Case Study

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Arizona State University, Tempe *

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Biology

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Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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Name: Emily Phan Date: 11/28/2023 Do Corridors Have Value in Conservation? (Note* this is the worksheet you should turn in for class participation points – the questions have been transferred from the Case Study pdf by Andrea Bixler, Clarke University. (10 points total) Part I – Introduction and Review of Relevant Biology 1. Why is it more difficult for top carnivores to obtain sufficient energy resources than it is for animals lower on the food chain? (0.5 points) It is more difficult for top carnivores to obtain sufficient energy resources than animals lower on the food chain because 10% of energy is lost at each trophic level. It also should be noted that they only eat meat which are the higher trophic levels. 2. What sorts of genetic changes are more common in smaller populations than large ones? Are these problematic and, if so, how? (0.5 points) One genetic change that is more common in smaller populations is genetic drift. Genetic drift is problematic due to various factors such as the loss of genetic variance in the population as well as the population can fixate on a harmful allele of a trait. 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? (0.5 points) Effective population size. Some factors such as restriction of movement/habitat as well as barriers would reduce the number of breeding jaguars. 4. Is it important for people to try to protect endangered species? (0.5 points) It is important because many endangered species are keystone species in their ecosystem by maintaining the balance and health of it. They keep the number of species in check. Part II 1. What does island biogeography theory suggest about the ideal design of a nature preserve? (0.5 points) The bigger the reserves, the better they are because the bigger reserves are composed of smaller reserves connected together.

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)? (0.5 points) Some reasons can include funding issues, pressure from the economy to expand, or political pressures such as national borders. 3. What are some examples of corridors that already exist where you live? They may not go by this name, but still serve the same function. Think 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? (0.5 points) I think some good examples of corridors near my city are parks. In Tempe, there are several parks that can serve as a passage for several smaller species. Grassy patches and riverbanks can help serve as a road for species to use as a passageway. Part III 1. How and why might animals move between habitat patches? (0.5 points) Animals might walk or fly through habitat patches. Some might move for food or reproduction purposes. 2. How and why might plants move between habitat patches? (0.5 points) Plants might move through the spread of their seeds through the movement of animals. The reason they might move is so they can move to a place where there is more sunlight. 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? (0.5 points) Species that are accustomed to open land or grasslands like cheetahs or lions might consider pine forests as barriers. 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? (0.5 points) You can predict the species’ movement, adaptions, and actions. 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? (0.5 points)

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