BIOL378 METAPOPULATIONS AND CONSERVATION
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A++
Species are more than points in time: they have _, and need to be seen by
humans to be recognized
ranges
What does SDM stand for?
Species distribution models
What is an SDM?
A computational tool used to predict the geographic distribution of a species based on
environmental variables and species occurrence records
What are the 5 steps of creating a species distribution model?
1. Overview/conceptualization: define how environmental variables influence species
distributions, foundation for the model
2. Data: Gather relevant data. Biodiversity data, Environmental data, Transfer data,
Data partitioning (subsetting)
3. Model fitting: Models are fitted to the data using statistical methods or machine
learning algorithms
,4. Assessment: The fitted model's performance is assessed using various evaluation
metrics, validating its accuracy and reliability in predicting species distributions.
Plausibility and performance statistics.
5. Predictions: Finally, the model generates spatial predictions, mapping out potential
species distributions across geographical space based on environmental conditions,
aiding in conservation planning and ecological research.
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
Some Wallaby traits
- Grazers: compete with sheep, destroy forest understory, cause soil erosion
- Feed at night
- Native to coastal and highland of Eastern AUS
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
Predicted habitat suitability map
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
What are three major predictors
- Minimum temperature of the coldest month
- % pasture/grasses in high country
- Average slope of terrain
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
What did the study claim based on the three major predictors?
That there is a natural containment area for Wallaby
- Below the Rangitata river
- Above the Waitaki river
,However individuals have been found outside of this area
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
What was the key finding of the SDM
Without control there could be a 7-fold increase in wallaby distribution
Species cannot occur outside of ideal range: TRUE/FALSE
FALSE
Species can occur outside of their ideal range not only in ideal areas, an example of this
is cheetah's, here they can be shot by farmers
How does Takahe distribution exemplify a challenge of using SDM's
Takahe were rediscovered in the Murchison mountains, however fossil records show
that they were once found widely distributed over the north and south islands
Doing an SDM for both of these ranges would yield very different results
It is always obvious which time we should aim to redistribute species to:
TRUE/FALSE
FALSE
It is very difficult to determine which time frame we should aim to use as a marker for
the conservation objectives
How many papers have used SDM's 1999-2015?
6,500
, What have SDM's been used for?
A lot of over lap in explanation, prediction, and projection
What context's are SDM's used for?
SDM's are important for predicting ranges with climate change - example
An African mammal currently lives just below the Sahara desert under CC its ideal
range would be Namibia but they have no way of migrating there
Models that are more _ are more useful
focused
What are the 4 area's of the key challenges of SDM's?
Model evaluation
Model building
Predictor variables
Response variables
What areas of SDM's are improving and what are getting worse?
Model building is improving
Predictor variables are getting worse
What is one key problem with SDM's?
They are correlative models and CORRELATION does not equal CAUSTION
Define conservation planning
The process of locating, configuring, implementing, and maintaining areas that are
managed to promote biodiversity and other natural values
State the 5 steps of systematic conservation planning
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A++
Species are more than points in time: they have _, and need to be seen by
humans to be recognized
ranges
What does SDM stand for?
Species distribution models
What is an SDM?
A computational tool used to predict the geographic distribution of a species based on
environmental variables and species occurrence records
What are the 5 steps of creating a species distribution model?
1. Overview/conceptualization: define how environmental variables influence species
distributions, foundation for the model
2. Data: Gather relevant data. Biodiversity data, Environmental data, Transfer data,
Data partitioning (subsetting)
3. Model fitting: Models are fitted to the data using statistical methods or machine
learning algorithms
,4. Assessment: The fitted model's performance is assessed using various evaluation
metrics, validating its accuracy and reliability in predicting species distributions.
Plausibility and performance statistics.
5. Predictions: Finally, the model generates spatial predictions, mapping out potential
species distributions across geographical space based on environmental conditions,
aiding in conservation planning and ecological research.
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
Some Wallaby traits
- Grazers: compete with sheep, destroy forest understory, cause soil erosion
- Feed at night
- Native to coastal and highland of Eastern AUS
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
Predicted habitat suitability map
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
What are three major predictors
- Minimum temperature of the coldest month
- % pasture/grasses in high country
- Average slope of terrain
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
What did the study claim based on the three major predictors?
That there is a natural containment area for Wallaby
- Below the Rangitata river
- Above the Waitaki river
,However individuals have been found outside of this area
Bennett's wallaby SDM:
What was the key finding of the SDM
Without control there could be a 7-fold increase in wallaby distribution
Species cannot occur outside of ideal range: TRUE/FALSE
FALSE
Species can occur outside of their ideal range not only in ideal areas, an example of this
is cheetah's, here they can be shot by farmers
How does Takahe distribution exemplify a challenge of using SDM's
Takahe were rediscovered in the Murchison mountains, however fossil records show
that they were once found widely distributed over the north and south islands
Doing an SDM for both of these ranges would yield very different results
It is always obvious which time we should aim to redistribute species to:
TRUE/FALSE
FALSE
It is very difficult to determine which time frame we should aim to use as a marker for
the conservation objectives
How many papers have used SDM's 1999-2015?
6,500
, What have SDM's been used for?
A lot of over lap in explanation, prediction, and projection
What context's are SDM's used for?
SDM's are important for predicting ranges with climate change - example
An African mammal currently lives just below the Sahara desert under CC its ideal
range would be Namibia but they have no way of migrating there
Models that are more _ are more useful
focused
What are the 4 area's of the key challenges of SDM's?
Model evaluation
Model building
Predictor variables
Response variables
What areas of SDM's are improving and what are getting worse?
Model building is improving
Predictor variables are getting worse
What is one key problem with SDM's?
They are correlative models and CORRELATION does not equal CAUSTION
Define conservation planning
The process of locating, configuring, implementing, and maintaining areas that are
managed to promote biodiversity and other natural values
State the 5 steps of systematic conservation planning
