Question 1

Genetic resources are important for the development of all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  new fungicides from centipedes. 
B)  new cancer treatments from marine organisms. 
C)  new food sources like winged beans. 
D)  new oils and lubricants from various plants. 
E)  genetic resources are important for the development of all of these 
A)  new fungicides from centipedes. 
B)  new cancer treatments from marine organisms. 
C)  new food sources like winged beans. 
D)  new oils and lubricants from various plants. 
E)  genetic resources are important for the development of all of these

Question 2

An example of an invasive species is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the California condor. 
B)  the blue whale. 
C)  the water hyacinth. 
D)  the Tiburon mariposa lily. 
E)  Quinoa. 
A)  the California condor. 
B)  the blue whale. 
C)  the water hyacinth. 
D)  the Tiburon mariposa lily. 
E)  Quinoa.

Question 3

The practice of conservation biology uses information about all of the following variables except:

Accepted Answer

A)  habitat area 
B)  connectivity among habitats 
C)  accessibility to humans 
D)  degree of ecosystem degradation 
E)  economic value of biological resources 
A)  habitat area 
B)  connectivity among habitats 
C)  accessibility to humans 
D)  degree of ecosystem degradation 
E)  economic value of biological resources

Question 4

Which of the following is not characteristic of species that are vulnerable to extinction?
I. endemic to islands
II. high reproductive rates
III. low reproductive success
IV. occupation of a large territory or region

Accepted Answer

A)  I 
B)  II 
C)  III 
D)  IV 
E)  I and III 
A)  I 
B)  II 
C)  III 
D)  IV 
E)  I and III

Question 5

Identify and explain the significance of the various components of biological diversity. Supply one specific example of each type of diversity in your explanation.

Accepted Answer

Variation among organisms is referred to

Question 6

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Genetic variation increases a species' resistance to disease. 
B)  Pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and parasites have been implicated in the developmental abnormalities observed in amphibians. 
C)  The present extinction rate is 10,000 times the background rate. 
D)  Commercial extinction is permanent 
E)  Genetic diversity is important for agriculture 
A)  Genetic variation increases a species' resistance to disease. 
B)  Pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and parasites have been implicated in the developmental abnormalities observed in amphibians. 
C)  The present extinction rate is 10,000 times the background rate. 
D)  Commercial extinction is permanent 
E)  Genetic diversity is important for agriculture

Question 7

What is the goal of conservation biology? What are in situ and ex situ conservation practices, and how are they used to meet the goal of conservation biology? What gets in the way of each of these conservation practices being effective and highly successful?

Accepted Answer

The goal of conservation biology is to s

Question 8

Insects are an important biological resource because they:

Accepted Answer

A)  fix nitrogen in the soil. 
B)  help control weeds and insect pests. 
C)  help control the severity of local flooding. 
D)  prevent soil erosion. 
E)  produce antibiotics. 
A)  fix nitrogen in the soil. 
B)  help control weeds and insect pests. 
C)  help control the severity of local flooding. 
D)  prevent soil erosion. 
E)  produce antibiotics.

Question 9

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Capture-release programs have been very successful in saving many endangered species from extinction. 
B)  We now have the ability to make genes. 
C)  The 20 best-selling prescription drugs are all synthetic. 
D)  There are less than 100 species that are endangered or threatened in the United States. 
E)  Very few species have been evaluated for their economic (i.e., medical, agricultural, industrial) potential. 
A)  Capture-release programs have been very successful in saving many endangered species from extinction. 
B)  We now have the ability to make genes. 
C)  The 20 best-selling prescription drugs are all synthetic. 
D)  There are less than 100 species that are endangered or threatened in the United States. 
E)  Very few species have been evaluated for their economic (i.e., medical, agricultural, industrial) potential.

Question 10

Which of the following affects organisms even in undisturbed, natural ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  global warming 
B)  ozone depletion 
C)  acid precipitation 
D)  thermal pollution 
E)  all of these choices are correct 
A)  global warming 
B)  ozone depletion 
C)  acid precipitation 
D)  thermal pollution 
E)  all of these choices are correct

Question 11

Snow geese:

Accepted Answer

A)  are currently a threatened species under the ESA. 
B)  are experiencing a reduced range and decreasing population due to habitat destruction. 
C)  are commercially hunted throughout their migratory range. 
D)  have destroyed much of the Arctic's fragile coastal ecosystem due to increased foraging. 
E)  are negatively impacting the farm sites where they spend the winter. 
A)  are currently a threatened species under the ESA. 
B)  are experiencing a reduced range and decreasing population due to habitat destruction. 
C)  are commercially hunted throughout their migratory range. 
D)  have destroyed much of the Arctic's fragile coastal ecosystem due to increased foraging. 
E)  are negatively impacting the farm sites where they spend the winter.

Question 12

Which of the following is a shortcoming of many of the world's protected areas?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are easily accessible to humans. 
B)  They encompass one large area, rather than several small areas 
C)  They are in lightly populated areas. 
D)  They are located too close to other protected areas. 
E)  They are often created to protect specific species 
A)  They are easily accessible to humans. 
B)  They encompass one large area, rather than several small areas 
C)  They are in lightly populated areas. 
D)  They are located too close to other protected areas. 
E)  They are often created to protect specific species

Question 13

One of the controversies associated with the Endangered Species Act is that it:

Accepted Answer

A)  has generated too many unresolved cases with developers, over 1000 to date. 
B)  allows for no compromises between species protection and development or livelihood concerns. 
C)  only enhances economic development in specific regions of the country. 
D)  provides too much consideration of individual property rights. 
E)  focuses on saving a few popular species rather than the larger number of less glamorous species. 
A)  has generated too many unresolved cases with developers, over 1000 to date. 
B)  allows for no compromises between species protection and development or livelihood concerns. 
C)  only enhances economic development in specific regions of the country. 
D)  provides too much consideration of individual property rights. 
E)  focuses on saving a few popular species rather than the larger number of less glamorous species.

Question 14

Which of the following characteristics is known to make a species more vulnerable to extinction?

Accepted Answer

A)  herbivory 
B)  occupying a small (localized) range 
C)  living on a continent 
D)  population less than 1 million 
E)  high reproductive success 
A)  herbivory 
B)  occupying a small (localized) range 
C)  living on a continent 
D)  population less than 1 million 
E)  high reproductive success

Question 15

Which of the following is a mismatch between the animal poached and the highly valued black-market product?

Accepted Answer

A)  rhinoceros - liver 
B)  bears - gall bladder 
C)  gorilla - bushmeat 
D)  caimans - skin 
E)  birds - pets 
A)  rhinoceros - liver 
B)  bears - gall bladder 
C)  gorilla - bushmeat 
D)  caimans - skin 
E)  birds - pets

Question 16

The corn blight of 1970 was brought under control by:

Accepted Answer

A)  crossing highly uniform U.S. corn varieties with genetically diverse ancestral varieties from Mexico. 
B)  strange weather patterns resulting in a drought that killed the fungus. 
C)  the accidental release of a genetically engineered fungus from a research lab. 
D)  repetitive treatment with various chemical sprays. 
E)  pollution that seemed to have a greater adverse effect on the corn blight fungus than on the corn itself. 
A)  crossing highly uniform U.S. corn varieties with genetically diverse ancestral varieties from Mexico. 
B)  strange weather patterns resulting in a drought that killed the fungus. 
C)  the accidental release of a genetically engineered fungus from a research lab. 
D)  repetitive treatment with various chemical sprays. 
E)  pollution that seemed to have a greater adverse effect on the corn blight fungus than on the corn itself.

Question 17

Define extinction and give the possible causes of mass extinction. What single human activity increases the susceptibility of a given species to extinction. Why?

Accepted Answer

Extinction is the irreversible eliminati

Question 18

In situ conservation occurs:

Accepted Answer

A)  in laboratories. 
B)  in zoos. 
C)  in parks and reserves. 
D)  without human intervention. 
E)  in seed banks. 
A)  in laboratories. 
B)  in zoos. 
C)  in parks and reserves. 
D)  without human intervention. 
E)  in seed banks.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about amphibians is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Amphibians are represented by about 500 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders. 
B)  Populations of amphibians in a few local areas have declined dramatically in the last few decades. 
C)  Amphibians lay their eggs in dry, sandy areas close to a source of water. 
D)  Their moist, absorptive skin makes amphibians very susceptible to environmental contaminants. 
E)  Scientists increasingly perceive amphibians to be fair-weather species. 
A)  Amphibians are represented by about 500 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders. 
B)  Populations of amphibians in a few local areas have declined dramatically in the last few decades. 
C)  Amphibians lay their eggs in dry, sandy areas close to a source of water. 
D)  Their moist, absorptive skin makes amphibians very susceptible to environmental contaminants. 
E)  Scientists increasingly perceive amphibians to be fair-weather species.

Question 20

Which of the following have been linked to the dramatic global decline of amphibian populations?

Accepted Answer

A)  drainage of wetlands 
B)  pollutants 
C)  infectious diseases 
D)  global climate warming 
E)  all of these choices are correct 
A)  drainage of wetlands 
B)  pollutants 
C)  infectious diseases 
D)  global climate warming 
E)  all of these choices are correct

Exam 16: Biological Resources

Genetic resources are important for the development of all of the following except:

An example of an invasive species is:

The practice of conservation biology uses information about all of the following variables except:

Which of the following is not characteristic of species that are vulnerable to extinction? I. endemic to islands II. high reproductive rates III. low reproductive success IV. occupation of a large territory or region

Identify and explain the significance of the various components of biological diversity. Supply one specific example of each type of diversity in your explanation.

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

What is the goal of conservation biology? What are in situ and ex situ conservation practices, and how are they used to meet the goal of conservation biology? What gets in the way of each of these conservation practices being effective and highly successful?

Insects are an important biological resource because they:

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

Which of the following affects organisms even in undisturbed, natural ecosystems?

Snow geese:

Which of the following is a shortcoming of many of the world's protected areas?

One of the controversies associated with the Endangered Species Act is that it:

Which of the following characteristics is known to make a species more vulnerable to extinction?

Which of the following is a mismatch between the animal poached and the highly valued black-market product?

The corn blight of 1970 was brought under control by:

Define extinction and give the possible causes of mass extinction. What single human activity increases the susceptibility of a given species to extinction. Why?

In situ conservation occurs:

Which of the following statements about amphibians is true?

Which of the following have been linked to the dramatic global decline of amphibian populations?

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

The Urban World

Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

Land Resources

Food Resources

Air Pollution

Global Climate Change

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

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