The Lord Howe Island stick insect was thought extinct about 1930, after introduced mice and rats eliminated it from the Australian island, its only known habitat.Then, in 2001, scientists found 24 individuals living under a single shrub on an extremely isolated islet in the Pacific.They produced about 1,000 adults and 20,000 eggs through captive breeding, and a captive colony was established on Lord Howe Island.The individuals cannot be released to their former habitat until the rodents have been eradicated, and the Australian government has now initiated a program to do this.The best conclusion that can be drawn from this story is that
A) captive breeding is futile as a restoration measure.
B) extinction can be just a short-term problem.
C) invasive species are not likely to be a cause of extinction.
D) captive breeding plus habitat restoration can restore an endangered species.
E) rare species with special habitat needs are resistant to extinction.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The story of the Lord Howe Island stick insect demonstrates that captive breeding combined with habitat restoration can successfully restore an endangered species. This is evidenced by the fact that the species was thought extinct, but was rediscovered and successfully bred in captivity, with plans to release individuals back into their former habitat once invasive species have been eradicated.

The Lord Howe Island Stick Insect Was Thought Extinct About