Umbrella Over the Canopy: teacher key

Harpy Eagles, grade 12 edition, written for 12th grade and up. Tracking studies, nest cameras and release programs show how researchers learn what harpy eagles need. Released eagles ranged across borders in one study.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What is an umbrella species?
   • A species that lives only in rain
   • A species with large habitat needs whose protection could lead to the conservation of many other species (answer)
   • A species with the largest wings
2. In the tracking study, what share of home ranges did released eagles have inside protected areas, on average?
   • 71.8 percent (answer)
   • 7.18 percent
   • About 100 percent
3. What do the authors advise about release sites?
   • No buffer is needed
   • Release sites should be near towns
   • A buffer of approximately 30 km, completely within a protected area (answer)
4. Why might conservation fail if countries do not coordinate?
   • Home ranges cross borders (answer)
   • Eagles speak different languages
   • Eagles live only in zoos
5. What did camera-trap researchers estimate for seeing a nestling on 99 percent of days?
   • A minimum of 26 nests (answer)
   • A minimum of 2 nests
   • A minimum of 260 nests
6. Which sources give different rear talon lengths?
   • Only zoos
   • No sources
   • The Peregrine Fund and a wildlife magazine (answer)

Words

• telemetry: remote tracking
• dispersal: spreading out
• umbrella: protects others
• flagship: symbol species