question

Origins of resource conservation

answer

End industrial rev, expanding human pop, depletion of game, extinction of certain species (passenger pigeon)

question

4 Important figures

answer

John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, Theodore Roosevelt, and Aldo Leopold

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John Muir

answer

naturalist, founder of Sierra club, activism helped to preserve Sequoia National Park, father of National parks

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Gifford Pinchot

answer

American forester and politician, 1st chief of US Forest Service, perfected "art of producing from forest whatever it can yield for service of man", first to demonstrate practicality of managing forest for continuous cropping, coined term CONSERVATION ETHIC

question

Theodore Roosevelt

answer

naturalist, explorer, 26th president, 1st president to speak out for conservation, expanded system of national parks and forests

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Aldo Leopold

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Ecologist, author of A SAND COUNTRY ALMANAC, influential in modern environmental ethics and wilderness conservation, emphasized biodiversity and founder of science of wildlife management

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Ethical roots of conservation movement

answer

Living creatures and land have intrinsic value, natural world adds value, resources should be consumed responsibility

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Ecology

answer

study of how organisms interact w/ environment

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Liebig's Law of Minimum

answer

Single factor in shortest supply relative to demand is critical determinant of species distribution, gave rise to notion of HABITAT

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Leopold's Law of Interspersion

answer

Number of organisms limited by degree of INTERSPERSION, interspersion highest where two or more habitat types come together producing ECOTONE or EDGE EFFECT

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Dispersion

answer

distribution of organisms in habitat (random, ordered, clustered)

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Ordered dispersion

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results from territoriality

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Clumped dispersion

answer

results from gregariousness (social organisms)

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Tolerance limits

answer

max/min level by which species can't survive, peak abundance at middle of curve, both environmental and genetic, migration (gene flow) increases genetic variability and likelihood organism will survive environmental change

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Niche

answer

sum of total resources needed by organism, is multidimensional HYPERVOLUME,

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Ecological niche

answer

organism's place and function in environment

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Competition

answer

overlap of niches

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Resource partitioning

answer

Competition causes exclusion or divergence in resource utilization patterns

question

Fundamental niche

answer

Niche portion before resource partitioning

question

Realized niche

answer

Nice portion after resource partitioning

question

Competition theory

answer

central to COMMUNITY ECOLOGY, establishes limits for similarity among species

question

Other interspecific interactions

answer

predation, parasitism, symbioses (mutual, commensalism)

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Evolutionary role of predation

answer

reduces competition, allow successful traits to become dominant

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Coevolution

answer

Interspecific interactions play important roles in COEVOLUTION process. Ex: prey evolve defensive mechanisms, predators evolve mechanisms to counteract

question

Population

answer

Group of individuals w/ high probability of exchanging genes, have group characteristics, ex: birth rate, death rate

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Population growth rate

answer

R=(b+I)-(D+E)

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Exponential growth

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dN/dt=rN Change in population size (N) over time period (T)

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Logistical growth

answer

Population nears carrying capacity (K) dN/dT=rN(K-N)/K

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Density dependent factors

answer

related to # of individuals, ex: resource competition

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Density independent factors

answer

unrelated to population ex: fire, frost

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Life history strategies

answer

different kinds of factors influence population life strategy

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R strategists

answer

limited by environment, live in harsh environments, high pop growth rates, short lived, broad niches, opportunistic, large allocation to reproduce

question

K strategists

answer

live in stable, predictable environments, longer lived, higher allocation for growth (competitive ability), specialists

question

Communities

answer

assemblage of populations, open system w/out discrete boundaries

question

Communities and conservation

answer

Must understand how populations interact in order to preserve biodiversity

question

Community assembly and diversity

answer

Regional/historical (speciation/dispersal) and local/contemporary factors contribute to diversity

question

Diversity

answer

1) richness-# of species in community 2) Evenness- # of species plus evenness of occurrence

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Alpha diversity

answer

diversity w/in particular habitat

question

Beta diversity

answer

deals w/ changes in diversity b/w habitats (species replacement)

question

Gamma diversity

answer

deals with diversity change accross different environments

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Theory of island biogeography

answer

Species diversity inc as a function of habitat area S=cA^z S=richness A=area c=taxonomic constant z=extinction coefficient

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Rosenzweig's model of species loss

answer

1) Initial disturbance destroys some habitat and lose some endemic species 2) sink species loss results in less biodiversity and more vulnerability 3) more species loss

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Cookie-cutter model

answer

communities w/ larger ranges experience less of effect on diversity than small ranged communities

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Intermediate disturbance hypothesis

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Diversity will be highest at intermediate levels of disturbance

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Rarity

answer

Difficult to adequately represent rare species b/c few species usually represent community numbers

question

Molecular genetics

answer

Uses protein electrophoresis to determine genotype (and therefore genetic variation)

question

Conservation Genetics

answer

Seek to establish MINIMUM VIABLE POPULATION

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Inbreeding

answer

Can cause inbreeding depression. Need population size of 50 to avoid

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Genetic drift

answer

chance fixation of allele in population. Occurs in populations isolated for time

question

Which is better? Large or small reserve

answer

Large

question

Which is better? continuous or fragmented

answer

continuous

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Which is better? close proximity or far

answer

close

question

Which is better? proximity to many reserves or one

answer

many

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Which is better? connectedness or isolation

answer

connectedness

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Which is better? more edges or less edges

answer

less (circle)

question

Problems w/ application of island biogeography

answer

Extinction not as frequent (due to rescue effect of immigration), no predictions about which species would persist

question

Huffaker's experiments on mite predator-prey relationships

answer

When oranges concentrated, prey/predator crashed. When oranges dispersed, predator/prey flourished

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Metapopulations

answer

collection of subpopulations maintained by colonization

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source populations

answer

Have higher habitat quality and therefore less mortality

question

Sink populations

answer

Have less habitat quality and therefore more mortality

question

Metapopulations and conservation

answer

Places emphasis on habitat heterogeneity, patchiness, and quality

question

Conservation Laws

answer

Practices based on science but empowered by laws

question

Wilderness Act

answer

1964. Established Wilderness Preservation system. Protected wildness areas from development by prohibiting activity (timber harvesting, vehicles, roads). Required attentive monitoring (scientific study of ecosystem function)

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Land and Water conservation act

answer

1965. Preserved water and human recreational activities. ESTABLISHED TRUST FUND FROM TAXES FOR LAND ACQUISITION

question

Natural Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

answer

1970. Required statement of ecological consequences for all federal actions. Established basis and funding for legal challenges against federal gvt

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Clean Water Act

answer

1972. Established system for permitting discharges and daily discharge limits. Required municipalities receiving federal aid to construct waste treatment facilities

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Endangered Species Act (ESA)

answer

1973. 3rd version. Established funding to assert status of species. Prohibited federal agencies from taking action if species jeopardized. Most power

question

Keys to conservation law effectiveness

answer

Endorse value of resources, ambiguous language, inspirational language, provide funding, involve non governmental entities in decision

question

NEPA

answer

1970's. NEPA forced federal agencies to consider impacts of proposed actions, invited criticism. Only applies to MAJOR federal actions

question

Environmental Assessment (EA)

answer

1st requirement of federal action

question

FONSI

answer

"Finding of no significant impact". Result of EA. describes why there is no impact

question

Environmental Impact statement (EIS)

answer

Possible impact. More detailed statement. Public notice-comment-final EIS-decision-appeal

question

Shortcomings of NEPA

answer

lead agency has too much power. decisions always appealed. Funds diverted to litigation from research.

question

Problems with ESA

answer

Made Fish and Wildlife service too powerful. amendment allowed for committee to waive regulation when habitat designation too costly

question

Snail darter

answer

ESA upheld in supreme court that dam would destroy habitat

question

Scientific Criticisms of ESA

answer

Focused on individual species and habitat. applied too late. reactive rather than proactive. Doesn't protect metapopulations. VALUE OF SPECIES AND HABITAT DETERMINED BY COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS (CBA), PITS NATURE AGAINST MARKET VALUES

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Ecosystem approach

answer

Seeks middle ground in promoting protections. Replaces CBA w/ SAFE MINIMUM STANDARDS that establishes minimal level of protection

question

Habitat conservation Planning (HCP)

answer

Plan that landowners prepare to get incidental take permit. Explains how development would affect endangered species and how effects mitigated

question

Criticisms of HCP

answer

Did not require conservation commitment on part of landowner

question

Memoranda of Agreements (MOA) and Safe harbor agreements

answer

Landowners required to set aside habitat for species

question

Natural communities conservation planning

answer

California program. Landowners volunteered to set aside land for species. Allowed for flexibility

question

Conservation easements

answer

Lowers taxes on land in exchange for restriction of activity

question

Climate change and reserves

answer

Reserve locations fixed, can't change with shifting climate zones

question

Louisiana geology

answer

Quaternary sediment. Mostly holocene alluvium and pleistocene surfaces

question

Ecocoregions

answer

Cover large regions of land and water. Geographically distinct assemblages of natural communities and species

question

Land development in LA

answer

mostly agriculture. Wet and coastal prairies lost. Marsh disappearing.

question

Biodiversity in LA

answer

No formal biodiversity policy. Plants not covered by endangered species laws. No coordinated biodiversity assessment system (utilizes Natural heritage system).

question

Partners for Fish and Wildlife (USFWS)

answer

1987. Helps restore wetlands for waterfowl. Landowners receive financial assistance to restore wetlands

question

Wetland Reserves Program (WRP)

answer

offer landowners incentives to restore property. Easements, 30yr easements, restoration cost share agreements

question

Grassland reserve program (GRP)

answer

Protects grasslands that may be converted to other uses. Participants volunteer to limit future development. Grazing management plan mandatory

question

Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRLPP)

answer

Provides up to 50% of market price to acquire land

question

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

answer

Provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands

question

Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP)

answer

Assists landowners on voluntary basis through perpetual easements, 30yr contacts, cost sharing

question

Mitigation banking

answer

Replaces exact function of habitat in order to offset expected adverse impacts by proposed project.

question

Wetland Mitigation banks

answer

Mitigation bank sponsor sells credits to individuals who receive permit to destroy wetlands

question

Farmer's home administration lands

answer

Provides mechanism for farmers to decrease debt

question

Department of Agriculture

answer

Forest Service

question

Department of Commerce

answer

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, NIST, PTO

question

Department of Interior

answer

Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Geological Survey, Minerals Management Service, National Park Service

question

USDA mission

answer

enhance quality of life for American people by supporting production of agriculture

question

National Resources and Environment (NRE) Mission

answer

ensure health of land through sustainable management, prevent damage, restore resource. Composed of Forest service (FS) and National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

question

Duties of NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration)

answer

Charting, climate, FISHERIES, oceans, research, weather, satellites

question

National Marine Fisheries Service

answer

Fisheries management and Conservation, Marine Mammal Conservation, Sea Turtle Protection and Conservation, Marine Habitat Protection, Marine Biodiversity

question

Department of Interior (DOI)

answer

Nation's principle conservation agency, protects cultural heritage, conducts research, conservation of natural resources, protects wildlife. Manages 1/5 of all U.S land

question

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

answer

Improves habitat, protects endangered species, controls spread of invasive species, enforces wildlife laws, distributes tax revenue to wildlife agencies. LA in region 4

question

U.S Geological Survey

answer

Monitor information on earthquakes, volcanoes; monitor water quality (ground and above ground), estimate US and world energy and mineral supplies, conduct RESEARCH ON BIOLOGY, geology, and water

question

Top 5 Nongovernmental Organizations

answer

Environment Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Wilderness Society

question

Origins of FWS

answer

1871-US Commission on Fish and Fisheries created. Spencer Baird 1st commissioner

question

Bureau of Biological Survey Origin

answer

1885-Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy established. C. Hart Merriam 1st chief. Focuses on + effects of birds in controlling pests

question

Lacey Act

answer

1900-1st federal law protecting game, prohibited interstate shipment of wildlife taken illegally

question

Federal Bird Reservation

answer

1903-1sr federal bird reseve established by TR

question

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

answer

1918-protected migratory birds, regulation of migratory bird hunting

question

Duck Stamp Act

answer

1934-required purchase of stamp by hunters. Revenue gained from stamp used to acquire wetlands

question

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration

answer

1937-provided funding for wildlife/habitat management

question

Birth of FWS

answer

Bureau of Fisheries became FWS. Federal reservations designated as national wildlife refuges

question

Habitat Conservation Plan

answer

Permit obtained by landowners designed to prevent harm by proposed activity

question

What FWS does for ESA

answer

HCP's, international activities (working w/ other nations), recovery plans, grants, permits, consultations

question

US Forest Service

answer

1905-manages public lands in national forests and grasslands

question

Changing focus (USFS)

answer

Originally about sustainable use of resources. Now more about protecting forests for wildlife habitat and human enjoyment

question

Forest Service R and D

answer

Enhances understanding of organisms, ecological processes. Provides results essential for sustaining, air, water and soil quality. Experimental forests

question

FSR and D research areas

answer

Wildlife and aquatic habitat, watershed, soil, atmospheric sciences

question

Wildlife Habitat Research

answer

FSR and D provides land managers w/ info for sustaining animal and plant habitat. Emphasis on threatened or endangered species and declining communities

question

Aquatic Habitat Research

answer

Only research in country w/ focus on restoring and protecting fish habitat. Focus on native salmonids and imperiled invertebrates (crayfish)

question

Watershed research

answer

Focus on human disturbances and quality of water

question

Atmospheric Sciences Research

answer

Focus on effects of air pollution/weather on public lands

question

Roadless Rule

answer

prohibits new road construction and existing road reconstruction. Opposed by timber industry

question

Roadless Rule impacts

answer

decrease timber harvest by 2%. Lose a few timber and mining jobs

question

National Wilderness Preservation System

answer

1964-manages wilderness areas in US. manages 1/3 of US wilderness

question

National Park Service (NPS)

answer

Conserve scenery and natural and historic objects. Leave parks unimpaired

question

History of NPS

answer

Artist George Catlin credited with origin. Yosemite 1st step when donated as STATE PARK. Yosemite was 1st national park

question

Louisiana Nat Parks

answer

Poverty Point Monument, Cane River Heritage Area, Cane River Creole historical park, Jean Lafitte, New Orleans Jazz

question

National Resource Challenge

answer

Protect native species and habitat, provide leadership for healthy environment, connect parks to protected areas and people

question

Public and Parks

answer

Damage and pollution caused by vehicles, people get too close to wildlife, PS under pressure to permit all uses

question

Gulf Coast Network

answer

8 nat parks in southeast US. Includes LA

question

US Geological Survey (USGS)

answer

Monitor info on earthquakes and volcanoes. Conduct RESEARCH ON BIOLOGY, estimate mineral supplies

question

USGS Nat programs

answer

GCRP, GTP, LUHNA, NAWQA, VMP

question

Global Change Research Program (GCRP)

answer

Contributes to understanding of Global Warming

question

Geospatial Technology Program (GTP)

answer

Provides coordination for geographic systems, GPS

question

Land Use History of NA (LUHNA)

answer

Prepare scientific "history" of land use change in NA

question

National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA)

answer

Describes status and trends of nations water

question

USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program (VMP)

answer

Classify, describe, and map vegetation communities in Nat Parks

question

USGS Biological Resource Division (BRS)

answer

More focused on research (USFWS more concerned w/ practicality). Works to develop comprehensive pic of nations biological resources. Majority of programs directed to interior resource management

question

USGS/BRS National activities

answer

NABBS, NASP, NPFFD, BEST, BBL, GAP

question

NA Breeding Bird Survey (NABBS)

answer

Population trend and distribution of NA birds

question

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program (NASP)

answer

Information resource for accounts of nonindigenous aquatic species

question

NP Flora and Fauna databases (NPFFD)

answer

Databases of vertebrate and vascular plant occurences in Nat parks

question

Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST)

answer

Identify and understand effects of environmental contaminants

question

Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL)

answer

study movement, survival, and behavior of birds

question

Gap Analysis Program (GAP)

answer

Assessment of current protection of biodiversity over large geographic areas

question

Cooperative Research Unit (CRU)

answer

Conduct research on renewable resources. Provide assistance on issues

question

National Biographical Information Infrastructure (NBII)

answer

Network of databases on biological resources used by people

question

Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

answer

Standardize nomenclature and taxonomical information

question

Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON)

answer

Developing unified resource for discovery, linkage, and re-use of organismal data

question

BISON building blocks

answer

Global Biodiversity Information Facility's species occurrence records, Oak Ridge lab, USGS maps. partnerships w/ biodiversity community

question

Breeding Bird Survey Today

answer

Cooperative effort b/w PAXUTEND WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER and CANADIAN WILDLIFE CENTER

question

States Rights

answer

States maintain agencies to protect fish and wildlife and rights of people to use them

question

State Wildlife Agencies

answer

Vary. Some only have fishing and hunting regulation, others have science based agencies based off of Bureau of Biological Survey

question

State Natural Heritage Programs (SNHP)

answer

Established to make fish and wildlife conservation more uniform. Now managed by NatureServe

question

Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP) Mission

answer

Staff gather info on species, maintain data base, then either work w/public and private entities or evaluate development projects

question

2003 Inventory Projects

answer

Endangered plant, fish, bat, crawfish, ringed map turtle surveys; wading bird and seabird inventory

question

Inventory/Landowners

answer

Implementation of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Safe Harbor Program, LA Pearlshell Mussel Survey, LA Pine snake habitat enhancement

question

Inventory/research

answer

LA Black bear,gopher tortoise, and amphibian project

question

Rare and Protected Fishes Project

answer

Goal: update existing records in LNHP database. Approach: systematically visit streams

question

Implementation of RCW Safe Harbor Program

answer

Goal: Implement program in non federal land while alleviating restrictions for landowners on RCW habitat. Approach: biologist meets with landowners to explain benefits of program

question

Monitoring of LA black bear

answer

Goal: monitor establishment of breeding complex. Examine ecology of source bear population. Approach: black bear females w/ cubs moved to complex. Females equipped w/ transmitters

question

LA Gopher Tortoise Health Surveillance program

answer

Goal: establish health status of turtle. Evaluate turtle as sentinel for diseases and toxins. Approach: collect blood and fecal samples from turtles

question

Non-governmental Organizations (NGO)

answer

Private organization that PROTECTS ENVIRONMENT, relieves suffering, provides social services, or undertakes in community development

question

Operational NGO

answer

Design and implement of development related projects

question

Advocacy NGO

answer

Defend or promote specific cause, seek governmental influence (Conservation groups)

question

Wilderness Society

answer

Preserves wilderness. Passed Wilderness Act. Creates broad base for conservation and reaching out. Protects Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Curbs road building

question

National Audubon Soceity

answer

Fights for protection of wildlife and habitat. Maintains bird sanctuaries, Aided by Nat refuge System, sponsors research

question

Environmental Defense Fund

answer

Dedicated to protecting rights of people to clean air, water, and healthy ecosystems. Links science, econ, and law. Maintains ACTION NETWORK for alerting online activists to send emails to policymakers

question

Sierra Club

answer

Explores and protects Earth's wildlands. Established by John Muir. Congressional lobbying. Foundation for grant making.

question

Nature Conservancy

answer

Protects endangered species and threatened ecosystems

question

Nature Conservancy Approach

answer

Use CONSERVATION BY DESIGN (science-based planning process) to identify highest-priority places

question

Conservation by Design

answer

1)Setting priorities 2)Developing strategies 3)Taking direct conservation action 4)Measuring conservation success

question

Setting Priorities (TNC)

answer

Through major habitat type assessments and ecoregional planning

question

Ecoregion-based planning

answer

Set specific goals, assemble info, design network of conservation that meet goals, identify highest priority area

question

Developing Strategies (TNC)

answer

SINGLE-AREA STRATEGIES or MULT-AREA STRATEGIES

question

Single-Area Strategies

answer

Employ 5-S framework

question

Multi-Area Strategies

answer

Priorities that affect multiple conservation areas

question

5-S planning approach

answer

Systems (focal conservation targets), Stresses (most serious type of destruction), Sources of stress, strategies (actions necessary to abate threats), success measures (monitoring process for assessing progress)

question

Taking Action (TNC)

answer

Fee acquisition, environmental education, public policy, water/land management agreements

question

Measuring Success (TNC)

answer

Success: maintenance of biodiversity, abatement of critical threats, effective protection and management of places where action is taken WITH PARTNERS

question

Partnerships (TNC)

answer

TNC pursues partnerships w/ communities, COMPANIES, gvt agencies. Brings together gvt entities, land developers, and conservation interests. ex: Pearl River Conservation Planning

question

5-S Planning ex: Pearl River

answer

Systems: Costal plain riverine. Stresses: altered hydrology, substrate destabilization, contaminants. Sources: urban development, paper mill. Strategies: stakeholders workshop, land-use zoning. Successes: Conservation target in tact.

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