The word triage originated during World War I and was first used by French doctors in prioritizing patients based on the severity of their wounds, because there were more wounded soldiers in need of urgent care than there were resources to treat them. Conservation biologists have to make similar determinations with degraded ecosystems. Which of the following is the most important consideration when it comes to managing for maintenance of biodiversity?
A) identifying large, high-profile vertebrates first, because steps to saving them would be most recognized by the public
B) determining which species is most important for conserving biodiversity as a whole
C) replanting suitable habitat for fauna
D) assessing the economic costs and the gains for society
E) maintaining optimum size of all populations in the ecosystem
