Question 1

In a given risk analysis, one observes that risk declines incrementally as more is invested to make changes intended to reduce risk. This infers that

Accepted Answer

A)  the best approach is to do nothing. 
B)  a balance will be determined between increased cost and reduced risk. 
C)  the only acceptable risk is no risk at all. 
D)  as long as risk decreases with increased investment of funds, the money is well spent. 
E)  zero risk will be easily and affordably attained. 
A)  the best approach is to do nothing. 
B)  a balance will be determined between increased cost and reduced risk. 
C)  the only acceptable risk is no risk at all. 
D)  as long as risk decreases with increased investment of funds, the money is well spent. 
E)  zero risk will be easily and affordably attained. B

Question 2

The role of scientists in policy making is to

Accepted Answer

A)  draft the legal language of legislation. 
B)  sway public opinion. 
C)  provide knowledge and informed assessments of proposals. 
D)  serve as advocates for their constituents. 
E)  provide legitimacy to lobbying groups. 
A)  draft the legal language of legislation. 
B)  sway public opinion. 
C)  provide knowledge and informed assessments of proposals. 
D)  serve as advocates for their constituents. 
E)  provide legitimacy to lobbying groups. C

Question 3

What is the role of scientists in the decision-making process? List three roles that scientists play and which decision-making bodies rely on them.

Accepted Answer

Scientists 1) provide knowledge, 2) assess the alternatives and impacts and 3) participate in various levels of the process. Scientists provide all this to educational institutions, governing and enforcement agencies, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, and media.

Question 4

Explain how sensitivity analysis is used as part of population viability analysis.

Accepted Answer

One of the important goals of PVA is to

Question 5

A mathematical description of a population is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  theorem. 
B)  set theory. 
C)  model. 
D)  matrix. 
E)  scenario. 
A)  theorem. 
B)  set theory. 
C)  model. 
D)  matrix. 
E)  scenario.

Question 6

Which of the following is not part of population viability analysis?

Accepted Answer

A)  Predictive modeling of species populations 
B)  Assisting species adapt to changing conditions 
C)  Instituting and enforcing strict regulations when the hunting traditions of indigenous humans are contradictory with species conservation 
D)  Making predictions to shape inputs 
E)  Improving the odds of survival of endangered species 
A)  Predictive modeling of species populations 
B)  Assisting species adapt to changing conditions 
C)  Instituting and enforcing strict regulations when the hunting traditions of indigenous humans are contradictory with species conservation 
D)  Making predictions to shape inputs 
E)  Improving the odds of survival of endangered species

Question 7

Refer to the figure below showing projections of population trends for woodpeckers. Scenario 1 is no change (current conditions), Scenario 2 is enhanced adult survival, and Scenario 3 is enhanced juvenile survival.
  
-Based on this figure, which of the following conclusions is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Enhancing juvenile populations will lead to increased probability of low percent decline in abundance. 
B)  Maintaining the current trends will cause both juveniles and adults to increase in number. 
C)  The highest probability of decline is associated with enhancing adult survival. 
D)  The best approach for maintaining populations at their current, stable level is to make no changes. 
E)  Enhancing the survival of either juveniles or adults would come at great cost. 
A)  Enhancing juvenile populations will lead to increased probability of low percent decline in abundance. 
B)  Maintaining the current trends will cause both juveniles and adults to increase in number. 
C)  The highest probability of decline is associated with enhancing adult survival. 
D)  The best approach for maintaining populations at their current, stable level is to make no changes. 
E)  Enhancing the survival of either juveniles or adults would come at great cost.

Question 8

Policy from international agencies

Accepted Answer

A)  includes managing local resources. 
B)  has a strong enforcement component. 
C)  de-emphasizes human impacts. 
D)  regulates globally shared resources through the formation of treaties. 
E)  discourages open exchange of information. 
A)  includes managing local resources. 
B)  has a strong enforcement component. 
C)  de-emphasizes human impacts. 
D)  regulates globally shared resources through the formation of treaties. 
E)  discourages open exchange of information.

Question 9

Risk assessment is most effective if the costs and benefits of potential options are

Accepted Answer

A)  known in advance. 
B)  in direct opposition. 
C)  put in the most simple terms possible. 
D)  in the same units. 
E)  discussed only in terms of money. 
A)  known in advance. 
B)  in direct opposition. 
C)  put in the most simple terms possible. 
D)  in the same units. 
E)  discussed only in terms of money.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about uncertainty faced by policy makers is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most people are willing to sacrifice the environment for technological progress but this is not known precisely. 
B)  Lack of relevant data is a significant component of uncertainty. 
C)  The precision of supporting data is usually known with certainty. 
D)  Future population dynamics are predictable. 
E)  Uncertainties are easily resolved. 
A)  Most people are willing to sacrifice the environment for technological progress but this is not known precisely. 
B)  Lack of relevant data is a significant component of uncertainty. 
C)  The precision of supporting data is usually known with certainty. 
D)  Future population dynamics are predictable. 
E)  Uncertainties are easily resolved.

Question 11

Methods of evaluating or reducing uncertainty do not include

Accepted Answer

A)  sensitivity analysis. 
B)  impact assessment. 
C)  the collection of more data. 
D)  discarding data that do not support conclusions. 
E)  worst case analysis. 
A)  sensitivity analysis. 
B)  impact assessment. 
C)  the collection of more data. 
D)  discarding data that do not support conclusions. 
E)  worst case analysis.

Question 12

Population viability analysis is not used for

Accepted Answer

A)  revealing the sensitivity of a population to certain external factors. 
B)  predicting the response of a given species to a combination of parameters. 
C)  assisting in allocating resources to the conservation of species. 
D)  determining the increased incidence of disease when increased populations of that species leads to overcrowding. 
E)  assisting species to retain their potential for natural progressions (including evolutionary change) without the need for intensive management. 
A)  revealing the sensitivity of a population to certain external factors. 
B)  predicting the response of a given species to a combination of parameters. 
C)  assisting in allocating resources to the conservation of species. 
D)  determining the increased incidence of disease when increased populations of that species leads to overcrowding. 
E)  assisting species to retain their potential for natural progressions (including evolutionary change) without the need for intensive management.

Question 13

Briefly explain population viability analysis.

Accepted Answer

Population viability analysis is an asse

Question 14

What is the goal of risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

The point of performing a risk assessmen

Question 15

Of the various policy-making entities listed below, none have enforcement power except

Accepted Answer

A)  international agencies. 
B)  non-governmental organizations. 
C)  religious institutions. 
D)  media. 
E)  corporations. 
A)  international agencies. 
B)  non-governmental organizations. 
C)  religious institutions. 
D)  media. 
E)  corporations.

Question 16

Refer to the figure below showing projections of population trends for woodpeckers. Scenario 1 is no change (current conditions), Scenario 2 is enhanced adult survival, and Scenario 3 is enhanced juvenile survival.
  
-What is the probability that this species of woodpecker eventually will become extinct if the survival of juveniles and adults remains unchanged?

Accepted Answer

A)  1% 
B)  10% 
C)  25% 
D)  60% 
E)  99% 
A)  1% 
B)  10% 
C)  25% 
D)  60% 
E)  99%

Question 17

_______ can be used to reduce uncertainty in endangered species issues by reducing data gaps through the use of data from similar or related species.

Accepted Answer

A)  Worst-case analysis 
B)  Similar entities 
C)  Impact assessment 
D)  Sensitivity analysis 
E)  Risk minimization 
A)  Worst-case analysis 
B)  Similar entities 
C)  Impact assessment 
D)  Sensitivity analysis 
E)  Risk minimization

Question 18

Explain the differences between governments and corporations in their ability to make policy.

Accepted Answer

Governments have far more power of enfor

Question 19

How do the goals of policy from international agencies differ from those of governments?

Accepted Answer

Governments are usually focused on balan

Question 20

Determining the maximum risk of the extinction of a species through the use of computer models is called

Accepted Answer

A)  impact assessment. 
B)  sensitivity analysis. 
C)  scenario building. 
D)  worst-case analysis. 
E)  similar entities. 
A)  impact assessment. 
B)  sensitivity analysis. 
C)  scenario building. 
D)  worst-case analysis. 
E)  similar entities.

In a given risk analysis, one observes that risk declines incrementally as more is invested to make changes intended to reduce risk. This infers that

The role of scientists in policy making is to

What is the role of scientists in the decision-making process? List three roles that scientists play and which decision-making bodies rely on them.

Explain how sensitivity analysis is used as part of population viability analysis.

A mathematical description of a population is called a

Which of the following is not part of population viability analysis?

Refer to the figure below showing projections of population trends for woodpeckers. Scenario 1 is no change (current conditions), Scenario 2 is enhanced adult survival, and Scenario 3 is enhanced juvenile survival. -Based on this figure, which of the following conclusions is true?

Policy from international agencies

Risk assessment is most effective if the costs and benefits of potential options are

Which of the following statements about uncertainty faced by policy makers is true?

Methods of evaluating or reducing uncertainty do not include

Population viability analysis is not used for

Briefly explain population viability analysis.

What is the goal of risk assessment?

Of the various policy-making entities listed below, none have enforcement power except

_______ can be used to reduce uncertainty in endangered species issues by reducing data gaps through the use of data from similar or related species.

Explain the differences between governments and corporations in their ability to make policy.

How do the goals of policy from international agencies differ from those of governments?

Determining the maximum risk of the extinction of a species through the use of computer models is called

The Scientific Method

Risk and Uncertainty

Biodiversity

Evolutionary Responses

Human Population Dynamics

Endangered Species

Interactions Among Species

Natural Resource Use and Planning

Energy Resources

Water Resources

Waste Management

Atmosphere and Climate

Air Pollution

Filters

Exam 14: Policy, Ethics, and Decision-Making

In a given risk analysis, one observes that risk declines incrementally as more is invested to make changes intended to reduce risk. This infers that

The role of scientists in policy making is to

What is the role of scientists in the decision-making process? List three roles that scientists play and which decision-making bodies rely on them.

Explain how sensitivity analysis is used as part of population viability analysis.

A mathematical description of a population is called a

Which of the following is not part of population viability analysis?

Refer to the figure below showing projections of population trends for woodpeckers. Scenario 1 is no change (current conditions), Scenario 2 is enhanced adult survival, and Scenario 3 is enhanced juvenile survival. -Based on this figure, which of the following conclusions is true?

Policy from international agencies

Risk assessment is most effective if the costs and benefits of potential options are

Which of the following statements about uncertainty faced by policy makers is true?

Methods of evaluating or reducing uncertainty do not include

Population viability analysis is not used for

Briefly explain population viability analysis.

What is the goal of risk assessment?

Of the various policy-making entities listed below, none have enforcement power except

_______ can be used to reduce uncertainty in endangered species issues by reducing data gaps through the use of data from similar or related species.

Explain the differences between governments and corporations in their ability to make policy.

How do the goals of policy from international agencies differ from those of governments?

Determining the maximum risk of the extinction of a species through the use of computer models is called

The Scientific Method

Risk and Uncertainty

Biodiversity

Evolutionary Responses

Human Population Dynamics

Endangered Species

Interactions Among Species

Natural Resource Use and Planning

Energy Resources

Water Resources

Waste Management

Atmosphere and Climate

Air Pollution

Filters