Graduate Take-Home Exam

Type your answers and conform to word limits. Return the completed exam by Monday, 6 May at 11:00 a.m. Please use an alias to identify your exam. The exam is open-book and open-notes.

1. Some conservation biologists believe that non-human species are as important as human species. Provide a compelling, science-based argument to the contrary. [200 words or fewer; 10 points]

2. Forests and rangelands are not inherently simple. Yet, humans typically have tried to simplify vegetation management. What is wrong with this approach? How can we "do better" in the future? (Hint: think creatively.) [300 words or fewer; 15 points]

3. This course attempts to reach seniors and graduate students, and graduate students are expected to complete additional work in exchange for graduate credit. However, it is difficult to reach both audiences simultaneously. We have been largely dissatisfied with numerous and varied attempts to offer a meaningful graduate experience in this course. Thus, we seek your input on how to do so, within the constraints of a 4-credit course (i.e., completely separate class meetings for the two target audiences is unacceptable). How can we elevate RAM 546 to a level that is meaningful for graduate students? This question is not a gift; please take it seriously. [No limit; 25 points]

   
   

1. Describe the concept of "ecological footprint." [4 points]

2. Some people think the concept of an "ecological footprint" is ludicrous. Provide evidence or examples to support this view. [5 points]

3. List three factors that cause an individual's "ecological footprint" to increase. [6 points]

4. Define conservation biology. [4 points]

5. List five reasons that humans should attempt to conserve biological diversity. [5 points]

6. Whose model of succession (i.e., vegetation dynamics) is implied by the use of habitat types and range sites? [2 points]

7. Name and briefly describe the contemporary model of vegetation dynamics. [6 points]

8. List five reasons we do not manage for late-successional (i.e., "climax") vegetation. [5 points]

9. List the two primary ecological constraints on development of tropical dry forest at Guanacaste National Park. [4 points]

10. What specific steps are being taken to overcome the constraints you identified in the previous question? [4 points]

11. List the four general steps used by The Nature Conservancy in the implementation of Conservation by Design. [4 points]

12. The Nature Conservancy uses a Five-S framework for site conservation planning. List and briefly describe the five S's. [10 points]

13. Define the terms "policy," "science," and "management" within the context of natural resource management in the United States. [6 points]

14. List three specific steps policy-makers can take to strengthen links between science, policy, and management of natural resources. [3 points]

15. List three specific steps scientists can take to strengthen links between science, policy, and management of natural resources. [3 points]

16. List three specific steps natural resource managers can take to strengthen links between science, policy, and management of natural resources. [3 points]

17. In this year, humans made the first conscious decision to cause the extinction of another species (select the single best answer). [2 points]

    a. 1912

    b. 1969

    c. 1973

    d. 1979

    e. 1982

    
    List the species: _______________________________ [2 points]

    
    

18. This year was characterized by exceptionally high seedling establishment of ponderosa pine on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (select the single best answer). [2 points]

    a. 1909

    b. 1919

    c. 1924

    d. 1934

    e. 1939

    
    

19. During this year, Forest Energy Corporation began manufacturing fuel for pellet stoves in Show Low, Arizona (select the single best answer). [2 points]

    a. 1973

    b. 1982

    c. 1990

    d. 1992

    e. 2000

    
    

20. According to Ed Collins, which of the following general categories of vegetation management are necessary for management of nearly all ponderosa pine forests in the Lakeside Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest? [4 points; circle all that apply]

    a. biological

    b. chemical

    c. cultural

    d. chain-flail debarking

    e. mechanical

    
    

21. What is the approximate cost of administering a timber-harvest operation on the Lakeside Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, using the following three approaches? [6 points]

    a. mark the "leave" trees: $_______/acre

    b. mark the "remove" trees: $_______/acre

    c. size-based removal (no marking): $_______/acre

    
    

22. List and briefly describe the "four spikes" discussed by Ed Ayres in "God's Last Offer." [8 points]