P1

1. Why is it more difficult for top carnivores to obtain sufficient energy resources than it is for
animals lower on the food chain?
- Top carnivores struggle to obtain sufficient energy due to the inefficiency of energy
transfer between trophic levels and their higher energy requirements.

2. What sorts of genetic changes are more common in smaller populations than large ones? Are
these problematic and, if so, how?
- In smaller populations, genetic changes such as genetic drift and inbreeding are more
common due to reduced genetic diversity and increased chances of mating between
closely related individuals. These changes can lead to decreased fitness and reduced
adaptive potential, posing challenges for population viability and potentially extinction.

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?

- Effective population size: Factors that might reduce the number of breeding individuals
would be reproductive output and bottlenecks. Reproductive output may be reduced
since there is less access to resources, and the fence would act as a bottleneck.

4. Is it important for people to try to protect endangered species?

- Yes, it is crucial for people to try to protect endangered species. Biodiversity is essential
for the health and stability of ecosystems, and each species plays a unique role in
maintaining ecological balance. Protecting endangered species helps preserve
biodiversity, ensures the integrity of ecosystems, and provides valuable ecosystem
services that benefit humans, such as pollination, pest control, and clean air and water
control.

P2

1. What does island biogeography theory suggest about the ideal design of a nature preserve?
(Think of a preserve as a habitat island.)
- Island biogeography theory suggests that we should make the preserve as large as
possible since the smaller the island, the higher the extinction rate. We should also
connect preserves to allow for migration and enhance adaptation. By doing these and
adding in nature preserves we can increase the survival rate for some organisms.
-
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).
 - Preserves are limited because they cost lots of money to maintain, have an economic
incentive to be developed, and stop classically efficient use of land economically such as
resource extraction.

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?
- Near me on the grid, the corridors are both alleys and yards, which are commonly used
by wildlife to access other areas. Additionally, bike/walking trails and paths allow for
quick movement on a path that has fewer people and is free of vehicles.

P3

1. How and why might animals move between habitat patches?

- To access other resources and breeding opportunities, avoid competition.
2. How and why might plants move between habitat patches?
- Moving into areas where there is less competition of resources such as sunlight, water,
and even pollinators. They do this by seeds being transported by the wind and animals.

3. As Haddad et al. point out, we often think of forests as “good” habitats (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?
- Species that a forest would be a barrier for might be certain species that require open
areas such as butterflies, some species of grasses, some small bushes and even large
animals that live in plains such as pronghorn (Antilocapra americana).

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?
- They likely wanted to study small species such as insects, mice, and some birds. Since
these species only use a small area and thus wouldn't need a larger sample space.

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

- They likely wanted to compare isolated preserves with preserves that had a corridor and
how that affected survival rate and population sizes. The data to investigate this would
be population size, effective population size, and reproductive rate. Investigating small
species would make it difficult but a “traffic” population would be good by counting the
number of times a species uses the corridor.
P4

1. Briefly describe the overall pattern you see in the data.

- There was more movement when corridors were connecting areas than when it was
unconnected.
2. For which species are the results significant?
- Junonia coenia
- Peromyscus polionotus
- Euptoieta claudia
- Rhus copallina
- Myrica cerifera

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.
- Butterflies moved while bees did not, suggesting that bees were not as affected by
corridors. Comparatively, one mammal's movement was significant, and the other was
not. However, most plants did not have enough observations to support them as moving
or stationary organisms.

4. Haddad and colleagues conclude that “In our study, we lack data on population viability and
genetic diversity, and our dramatic increases in the 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.
- It is a fair assessment since they did not have the relevant data to make that
determination about whether or not corridors result in greater diversity and survival.

(b) What other data do the researchers suggest 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 types of data would be Genetic variance, reproductive success rate, Biodiversity,
and total population over time. They are right since all their data relates to movement
which does not necessitate greater success among organisms.

(c) How could researchers collect these data? Give suggestions for several of the species in
their study.
- Researchers could collect and calculate biodiversity and compare it across areas.
Collect and calculate data on the reproductive success of species.
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.

- The effect would be a decrease in population and genetic variance of jaguars since they
would have access to fewer resources and fewer mates as they are blocked off from
another section of the jaguar population.