Question

Applying the theory of island biogeography to habitat fragmentation, what would be the best suggestion conservation managers could make to loggers to maintain the highest species diversity possible?

a)Clear-cut all trees and replant them as quickly as possible.

b)When logging, keep fragments large and near each other.

c)When logging, keep fragments large and far from each other.

d)When logging, keep fragments small and far from each other.

e)After logging, burn fragment boundaries to eliminate edge effects.

Answer 1

Answer=(b)When logging, keep fragments large and near each other.

Explanation=According to theory of island biogeography,highest species diversity occurs in large fragment and this large fragment should be near to mainland.

Now consider other option-

a)Clear-cut all trees and replant them as quickly as possible-

This makes species diversity lost so incorrect option.

c)c)When logging, keep fragments large and far from each other-

If fragments is far from other fragments then colonization affected so incorrect option.

d)When logging, keep fragments small and far from each other-

Low species diversity occurs in small fragments so incorrect option.

e)After logging, burn fragment boundaries to eliminate edge effects-

This is not associated with theory of island biogeography so incorrect option.