BIOL378 - ANGUS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A++
What do species distribution models show
Probable distribution of a species based on population biology and environment
variables - natural or with illegal spread
What data is needed for a species distribution models
Where the species are found and environment conditions of these locations
What is the process of creating a SDM
concept - data - model fitting - assessment of plausibility - predictions of level of
uncertainty
Example of SDM - Bennetts
Bennetts wallaby, known distribution off sightings and kills to get probable distribution,
biophysical variables used to predict habitat suitability showing where they could
disperse and live naturally and then with illegal spread
What are SDMS used for
Projection, prediction and explanation
When can SDMS be employed
Invasive control, translocations, restoration and conservation
Conservation/protected areas are picked off which three criteria CAR
, Comprehensive (full range of spp, processes and ecosystems)
Adequacy (persistence of the attributes)
Representative (biodiversity is represented)
What helps to meet CAR
Complementarity (adds unrepresented features/greater diversity) and irreplaceability
(offers unique features)
Issues with SDMS
Changing environment, doesn't account for species interactions, bias, assumptions,
collinearity (environmental variables correlated so might skew data)
Issues with SDMS example
Takahe historically liked podocarp, species distribution based off this assumption said
they would do well on island, but they are adapted to grasslands now so didn't do well
Characteristics that affect the risk of extinction
Demographics: Pop size, density, age structure, sex ratio and births and deaths
Why do demographics affect extinction risk
Affect growth and persistence of a population
What is MVP
Minimum Viable Population Size: the minimum population size you need for that
population to have a high probability of existing over the next 100 years. 50 short therm
and 500 long term
Why do smaller populations have a higher risk of extinction
Extinction vortex, genetic drift, dispersal limitations, stochastic events
What is an extinction vortex
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A++
What do species distribution models show
Probable distribution of a species based on population biology and environment
variables - natural or with illegal spread
What data is needed for a species distribution models
Where the species are found and environment conditions of these locations
What is the process of creating a SDM
concept - data - model fitting - assessment of plausibility - predictions of level of
uncertainty
Example of SDM - Bennetts
Bennetts wallaby, known distribution off sightings and kills to get probable distribution,
biophysical variables used to predict habitat suitability showing where they could
disperse and live naturally and then with illegal spread
What are SDMS used for
Projection, prediction and explanation
When can SDMS be employed
Invasive control, translocations, restoration and conservation
Conservation/protected areas are picked off which three criteria CAR
, Comprehensive (full range of spp, processes and ecosystems)
Adequacy (persistence of the attributes)
Representative (biodiversity is represented)
What helps to meet CAR
Complementarity (adds unrepresented features/greater diversity) and irreplaceability
(offers unique features)
Issues with SDMS
Changing environment, doesn't account for species interactions, bias, assumptions,
collinearity (environmental variables correlated so might skew data)
Issues with SDMS example
Takahe historically liked podocarp, species distribution based off this assumption said
they would do well on island, but they are adapted to grasslands now so didn't do well
Characteristics that affect the risk of extinction
Demographics: Pop size, density, age structure, sex ratio and births and deaths
Why do demographics affect extinction risk
Affect growth and persistence of a population
What is MVP
Minimum Viable Population Size: the minimum population size you need for that
population to have a high probability of existing over the next 100 years. 50 short therm
and 500 long term
Why do smaller populations have a higher risk of extinction
Extinction vortex, genetic drift, dispersal limitations, stochastic events
What is an extinction vortex
