Wildlife Management Exam questions
and answers
Succession - ANSWER>>A sequence of changes in a community (a biome will move in a certain
vegetative direction due to a disturbance)
Disturbance - ANSWER>>An event that disrupts a population or community. May change
substrates, resource availability, or the physical environment, creating opportunities for
colonization by new individuals.
Causes a community to shift to early successional stages.
Explain why habitat management is more than just preserving habitat as-is - ANSWER>>- If
habitat is left as is for long enough it will begin to change meaning the species within that
habitat will be affected
- If habitat is left alone it will also move farther along in succession changing the usefulness of
the habitat for species but also economically (not a lot of species live in old growth forests and
logging companies don't like forests over ~80 years old)
Describe the general approach to habitat management - ANSWER>>Typically involves
accelerating (fertilization or planting) or slowing succession (cutting or burning). Some species
do better with such plans than others.
Differentiate the three classes of animals based on their preference for habitats at different
successional stages - ANSWER>>Class 1. Climax-adapted species
- Ex. caribou, lynx, fisher, woodpeckers
- Management = protection
- Sensitive to habitat supply
- Specialized diets
Class 2. Early succession-adapted species
- Ex. Rabbits, quail, sparrow
- Management = logging, prescribed burns
Class 3. Species requiring a mix of successional stages
- Ex. Grouse, turkey, warbler, deer, moose
,- Management = Increase the limiting habitat type by protecting or disturbing as needed
Identify the threats to the Boreal forest of Canada, and explain why the forest is such important
habitat - ANSWER>>Threats:
- Logging
- Oil and gas exploration
- Mining
- Hydroelectric development
- Oil sands development
- General infrastructure (ex. roads)
- Disease
-Fires
Importance:
- 186 species of birds
- 1-3 billion terrestrial birds
- 12-14 million waterfowl
- 100 million shorebirds
- Many endangered mammalian species
Describe how habitat managers can use different logging techniques to improve wildlife
(particularly bird) numbers, referencing the evidence for forest composition and age post-
disturbance - ANSWER>>Need to look at even vs uneven aged forests, mixed vs monoculture
forests and age
Even vs uneven forests:
- Even-aged stands were better in 14 studies of biotic component
- Uneven-aged stands were better in 10 studies of biotic component
- But there were 49 studies with no clear winner
Mixed vs monoculture forests:
- Mixed appear to generally be more productive
Age:
- Different types of species prefer different ages
- Ground nesters prefer young forest
- Canopy and cavity nesters prefer old forest
- Shrub nesters prefer mature forest
, Fire and logging are both used to regulate forest age
Fire vs logging:
- Post harvest logging seems to have more individuals remaining
- Post-harvest, saw more open-country birds, generalists
- Post-fire, saw more cavity nesters
- After about 28 years the habitats would be very similar
Identify what wetland features are needed for wildlife to be successful - ANSWER>>For
amphibians and reptiles:
- Burrowing areas (mud, litter, tunnels)
- Basking areas
For waterbirds:
- Open areas for nest-building and laying
- Emergent vegetation for hiding and other nesters
Identify different types of wetlands and what approaches are used to keep them healthy -
ANSWER>>1. Natural wetlands - with no ability to control water level
2. Artificial or managed wetlands - with an ability to control water level
- Impoundments
- Modified natural wetlands
Describe the process of succession with wetlands - ANSWER>>Deep marsh
- With young marshes, aquatic productivity is high
Shallow marsh (good interspersion)
- As time passes, more of the nutrients are tied up in the vegetation and productivity drops
Soil emergents
- Dead vegetation builds up, becomes soil
What do wildlife managers do to wetlands when no water control is available? -
ANSWER>>Dredge
- Dig out sediment to restart the clock on succession
and answers
Succession - ANSWER>>A sequence of changes in a community (a biome will move in a certain
vegetative direction due to a disturbance)
Disturbance - ANSWER>>An event that disrupts a population or community. May change
substrates, resource availability, or the physical environment, creating opportunities for
colonization by new individuals.
Causes a community to shift to early successional stages.
Explain why habitat management is more than just preserving habitat as-is - ANSWER>>- If
habitat is left as is for long enough it will begin to change meaning the species within that
habitat will be affected
- If habitat is left alone it will also move farther along in succession changing the usefulness of
the habitat for species but also economically (not a lot of species live in old growth forests and
logging companies don't like forests over ~80 years old)
Describe the general approach to habitat management - ANSWER>>Typically involves
accelerating (fertilization or planting) or slowing succession (cutting or burning). Some species
do better with such plans than others.
Differentiate the three classes of animals based on their preference for habitats at different
successional stages - ANSWER>>Class 1. Climax-adapted species
- Ex. caribou, lynx, fisher, woodpeckers
- Management = protection
- Sensitive to habitat supply
- Specialized diets
Class 2. Early succession-adapted species
- Ex. Rabbits, quail, sparrow
- Management = logging, prescribed burns
Class 3. Species requiring a mix of successional stages
- Ex. Grouse, turkey, warbler, deer, moose
,- Management = Increase the limiting habitat type by protecting or disturbing as needed
Identify the threats to the Boreal forest of Canada, and explain why the forest is such important
habitat - ANSWER>>Threats:
- Logging
- Oil and gas exploration
- Mining
- Hydroelectric development
- Oil sands development
- General infrastructure (ex. roads)
- Disease
-Fires
Importance:
- 186 species of birds
- 1-3 billion terrestrial birds
- 12-14 million waterfowl
- 100 million shorebirds
- Many endangered mammalian species
Describe how habitat managers can use different logging techniques to improve wildlife
(particularly bird) numbers, referencing the evidence for forest composition and age post-
disturbance - ANSWER>>Need to look at even vs uneven aged forests, mixed vs monoculture
forests and age
Even vs uneven forests:
- Even-aged stands were better in 14 studies of biotic component
- Uneven-aged stands were better in 10 studies of biotic component
- But there were 49 studies with no clear winner
Mixed vs monoculture forests:
- Mixed appear to generally be more productive
Age:
- Different types of species prefer different ages
- Ground nesters prefer young forest
- Canopy and cavity nesters prefer old forest
- Shrub nesters prefer mature forest
, Fire and logging are both used to regulate forest age
Fire vs logging:
- Post harvest logging seems to have more individuals remaining
- Post-harvest, saw more open-country birds, generalists
- Post-fire, saw more cavity nesters
- After about 28 years the habitats would be very similar
Identify what wetland features are needed for wildlife to be successful - ANSWER>>For
amphibians and reptiles:
- Burrowing areas (mud, litter, tunnels)
- Basking areas
For waterbirds:
- Open areas for nest-building and laying
- Emergent vegetation for hiding and other nesters
Identify different types of wetlands and what approaches are used to keep them healthy -
ANSWER>>1. Natural wetlands - with no ability to control water level
2. Artificial or managed wetlands - with an ability to control water level
- Impoundments
- Modified natural wetlands
Describe the process of succession with wetlands - ANSWER>>Deep marsh
- With young marshes, aquatic productivity is high
Shallow marsh (good interspersion)
- As time passes, more of the nutrients are tied up in the vegetation and productivity drops
Soil emergents
- Dead vegetation builds up, becomes soil
What do wildlife managers do to wetlands when no water control is available? -
ANSWER>>Dredge
- Dig out sediment to restart the clock on succession
