Food and fear: Modeling animal trade-offs shaped by landscape complexity

The video explores the research on pygmy rabbits in Eastern Idaho's Lemhi Valley, focusing on their habitat, challenges, and the use of technology to track their movements. The research aims to understand the ecosystem and contribute to habitat preservation efforts, especially in the face of large fires affecting sagebrush environments.

Where is the Lemhi Valley located, and what type of environment does it represent?

• In Southern Idaho, representing a coastal plain

• In Eastern Idaho, representing a sagebrush steppe

• In Northern Idaho, representing a tundra

• In Western Idaho, representing a tropical rainforest

What is a significant challenge faced by pygmy rabbits in their habitat?

• Competition with larger mammals

• Scarcity of nesting materials

• High number of predators

• Lack of water sources

What is unique about the pygmy rabbit's diet?

• They rely on aquatic plants

• They can eat sagebrush almost exclusively

• They consume a variety of fruits

• They eat only insects

How do researchers track the movements of pygmy rabbits?

• Through satellite tracking

• By following their footprints

• Using GPS collars and aerial imagery

• By observing them directly in the wild

What is a key goal of the research on pygmy rabbits in terms of habitat restoration?

• To understand habitat quality for effective restoration

• To develop urban areas in sagebrush regions

• To increase the population of predators

• To introduce new plant species to the area