PART 1
1. Why is it more difficult for top carnivores to obtain sufficient energy resources than it is for animals lower on the food chain?
The lower the animal in the food chain, the more energy is given. The most energy comes from plants, but carnivores only eat meat so there would be less energy given.
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?
The term used to describe is called effective population size. Factors discussed above that might reduce number of breeding jaguars blow the total number is not being able to get to a place with food, because of the border.
4. Is it important for people to try to protect endangered species?
Yes, it is important because the endangered species could be of benefit to humans.
PART 2
1. What does island biogeography theory suggest about the ideal design of a nature preserve? (Think 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).
Reasons why the number and size of nature preserves are limited is because funding/cost, legality, and industry.
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?
Tecelote Canyon is a place where animals like snakes, the canyon is not safe for humans so they cannot harm the animals way.
PART 3
1. How and why might animals move between habitat patches?
Animals might move through corridors because there might not be food in an area, so they move to another.
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?
Would corridor size affect movement of species.
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?
The movement of the animals in corridors help determine if the corridors are important. The type of data collected would be the amount or proportions of movement of a specific species, and the life span of the species with the corridor intact.
PART 4
1. Briefly describe the overall pattern you see in the data.
More animals use connected corridors than unconnected corridors.
2. For which species are the results significant?
Plants have the significant results.
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 move faster than mammals which move faster than insects. The animals use connected corridors more than the unconnected corridors. Plants and mammals proportions from connected to unconnected is large. The butterflies proportions are close for connected and unconnected.
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 this statement is not a fair assessment 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.
Effects of a border fence on population of jaguars will decrease population, because they need a sufficient food source in a large area. If that area is fenced off, the jaguars are unable to get the food they need. This affects biodiversity, because there will be more prey than the predators.
1. Why is it more difficult for top carnivores to obtain sufficient energy resources than it is for animals lower on the food chain?
The lower the animal in the food chain, the more energy is given. The most energy comes from plants, but carnivores only eat meat so there would be less energy given.
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?
The term used to describe is called effective population size. Factors discussed above that might reduce number of breeding jaguars blow the total number is not being able to get to a place with food, because of the border.
4. Is it important for people to try to protect endangered species?
Yes, it is important because the endangered species could be of benefit to humans.
PART 2
1. What does island biogeography theory suggest about the ideal design of a nature preserve? (Think 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).
Reasons why the number and size of nature preserves are limited is because funding/cost, legality, and industry.
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?
Tecelote Canyon is a place where animals like snakes, the canyon is not safe for humans so they cannot harm the animals way.
PART 3
1. How and why might animals move between habitat patches?
Animals might move through corridors because there might not be food in an area, so they move to another.
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?
Would corridor size affect movement of species.
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?
The movement of the animals in corridors help determine if the corridors are important. The type of data collected would be the amount or proportions of movement of a specific species, and the life span of the species with the corridor intact.
PART 4
1. Briefly describe the overall pattern you see in the data.
More animals use connected corridors than unconnected corridors.
2. For which species are the results significant?
Plants have the significant results.
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 move faster than mammals which move faster than insects. The animals use connected corridors more than the unconnected corridors. Plants and mammals proportions from connected to unconnected is large. The butterflies proportions are close for connected and unconnected.
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 this statement is not a fair assessment 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.
Effects of a border fence on population of jaguars will decrease population, because they need a sufficient food source in a large area. If that area is fenced off, the jaguars are unable to get the food they need. This affects biodiversity, because there will be more prey than the predators.