Question 1

What is NOT an example of an ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

A)  fuel made from forest materials 
B)  water purification 
C)  decomposition of organic material 
D)  camping 
E)  All of the above are examples of ecosystem services. 
A)  fuel made from forest materials 
B)  water purification 
C)  decomposition of organic material 
D)  camping 
E)  All of the above are examples of ecosystem services. E

Question 2

Of the following ecosystems, which likely has the most biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  desert 
B)  lake 
C)  temperate forest 
D)  frozen tundra 
E)  tropical rain forest 
A)  desert 
B)  lake 
C)  temperate forest 
D)  frozen tundra 
E)  tropical rain forest E

Question 3

It is common for fast food restaurants to use a particular species of potato to make their French fries. This species has a characteristic shape and size that fits nicely in the potato cutting machines. They also have the desired taste and color the fast food restaurants, and their patrons, prefer. You can image that potato farming for fast food restaurants is a lucrative business. Given what you know about the Irish Potato Famine, how are fast food restaurants endangering potato crops and farming?

Accepted Answer

The Irish Potato Famine was so devastating because the lack of genetic diversity of the potato plants left them susceptible to mass infection and death due to the pathogen Phytophthora. Since each potato plant was identical to the next, the pathogen was able to rapidly infect and kill entire fields of plants. When fast food restaurants hire farmers to only grow a very specific species of potato, they are decreasing the genetic diversity of the population. If a pathogen were to infect the fast food potato field, and the plants were susceptible to the pathogen, the disease would spread quickly and decimate the crops, leaving no plant behind. This would reduce the potato production of the nation and likely send many farms into a financial crisis.

Question 4

Habitat fragmentation can be detrimental to species because:

Accepted Answer

A)  populations of the same species may be separated and would no longer be able to mate. 
B)  there are no livable habitats left after fragmentation. 
C)  it increases the chance that species will breed with other species out of necessity. 
D)  it decreases the isolation of particular populations. 
E)  it encourages genetic diversity, which leads to species diversity. 
A)  populations of the same species may be separated and would no longer be able to mate. 
B)  there are no livable habitats left after fragmentation. 
C)  it increases the chance that species will breed with other species out of necessity. 
D)  it decreases the isolation of particular populations. 
E)  it encourages genetic diversity, which leads to species diversity.

Question 5

Why is palm oil a good alternative to other edible oils?

Accepted Answer

A)  Palm oil plantations produce more oil per acre than other oil crops. 
B)  Palm oil is cheaper. 
C)  Palm oil is healthier than other edible oils containing trans fats. 
D)  Palm oil can be sustainably farmed. 
E)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  Palm oil plantations produce more oil per acre than other oil crops. 
B)  Palm oil is cheaper. 
C)  Palm oil is healthier than other edible oils containing trans fats. 
D)  Palm oil can be sustainably farmed. 
E)  All of the above are correct.

Question 6

There are currently around 1.9 million species that have been identified. What is the total number of species predicted to live on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  between 1 million and 2 million 
B)  between 2 million and 3 million 
C)  between 3 million and 11 million 
D)  between 11 million and 19 million 
E)  over 1 billion 
A)  between 1 million and 2 million 
B)  between 2 million and 3 million 
C)  between 3 million and 11 million 
D)  between 11 million and 19 million 
E)  over 1 billion

Question 7

What are ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

A)  a system of trade for nature products 
B)  nonessential processes of nature 
C)  life-supporting ecological processes 
D)  services that are only valuable to humans 
E)  all life-supporting processes that do not garner a monetary benefit for humans 
A)  a system of trade for nature products 
B)  nonessential processes of nature 
C)  life-supporting ecological processes 
D)  services that are only valuable to humans 
E)  all life-supporting processes that do not garner a monetary benefit for humans

Question 8

What is one major motivation for companies to source sustainably grown palm oil?

Accepted Answer

A)  The palm oil is cheaper. 
B)  The palm oil tastes better. 
C)  Their customers demand sustainably grown palm oil. 
D)  Their customers demand cheaper prices on palm oil products. 
E)  The government requires them to. 
A)  The palm oil is cheaper. 
B)  The palm oil tastes better. 
C)  Their customers demand sustainably grown palm oil. 
D)  Their customers demand cheaper prices on palm oil products. 
E)  The government requires them to.

Question 9

Habitat fragmentation can lead to the same loss of biodiversity as habitat destruction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

If an extirpated species is only extinct in one particular location, is this important or does the fact that it still exists in other places make the extinction not a big deal?

Accepted Answer

The extinction of a species, whether it

Question 11

In an effort to repair damage to the ecosystem, some lumber companies plant trees after they have cleared the forest for timber. Can you think of any scenarios where this would be a BAD thing for the ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

If not done properly, the replanting of

Question 12

Why might a species become endangered?

Accepted Answer

A)  habitat loss 
B)  low genetic diversity 
C)  human involvement (for example, hunting, destruction of habitat, etc.) 
D)  A and C 
E)  A, B, and C 
A)  habitat loss 
B)  low genetic diversity 
C)  human involvement (for example, hunting, destruction of habitat, etc.) 
D)  A and C 
E)  A, B, and C

Question 13

If a species is extirpated, this means that:

Accepted Answer

A)  it does not exist in any ecosystem-it is extinct. 
B)  its close relatives, but not the same species, will continue to exist. 
C)  it is extinct in one ecosystem but still exists in others. 
D)  it has grown in numbers and disrupts the evenness of the species diversity for that ecosystem. 
E)  None of the above are correct. 
A)  it does not exist in any ecosystem-it is extinct. 
B)  its close relatives, but not the same species, will continue to exist. 
C)  it is extinct in one ecosystem but still exists in others. 
D)  it has grown in numbers and disrupts the evenness of the species diversity for that ecosystem. 
E)  None of the above are correct.

Question 14

Compare and contrast habitat destruction and habitat fragmentation.

Accepted Answer

Habitat destruction and habitat fragment

Question 15

What is biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  the measurement of individuals in a particular population 
B)  diversity that only refers to coloration of fur, feathers, and skin 
C)  the variety of all living and nonliving things on Earth 
D)  the variety of all living things on Earth 
E)  a field of study that focuses on humans and their interactions with the environment 
A)  the measurement of individuals in a particular population 
B)  diversity that only refers to coloration of fur, feathers, and skin 
C)  the variety of all living and nonliving things on Earth 
D)  the variety of all living things on Earth 
E)  a field of study that focuses on humans and their interactions with the environment

Question 16

An ecosystem with high species richness but low evenness would have:

Accepted Answer

A)  many different species, with each population having similar amounts of individuals in the ecosystem. 
B)  few species, with one population being overrepresented in the ecosystem. 
C)  many different species, with one population being overrepresented in the ecosystem. 
D)  few species, with each population having similar amounts of individuals in the ecosystem. 
E)  none of the above. 
A)  many different species, with each population having similar amounts of individuals in the ecosystem. 
B)  few species, with one population being overrepresented in the ecosystem. 
C)  many different species, with one population being overrepresented in the ecosystem. 
D)  few species, with each population having similar amounts of individuals in the ecosystem. 
E)  none of the above.

Question 17

Why must certified sustainable palm oil plantations be required to minimize their use of fire and pesticides?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fire and pesticides decrease the genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity of the local ecosystem. 
B)  Fire and pesticides will kill the palm trees, causing the farmers to replant the trees every year. 
C)  Fire and pesticides make the palm oil taste bad. 
D)  Fire and pesticides may cause harm to plantation workers. 
E)  Certified sustainable palm oil plantations are not restricted in their use of fire and pesticides. 
A)  Fire and pesticides decrease the genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity of the local ecosystem. 
B)  Fire and pesticides will kill the palm trees, causing the farmers to replant the trees every year. 
C)  Fire and pesticides make the palm oil taste bad. 
D)  Fire and pesticides may cause harm to plantation workers. 
E)  Certified sustainable palm oil plantations are not restricted in their use of fire and pesticides.

Question 18

Take what you know about biodiversity and climate change. Which ecosystem do you think would be more resistant to the effects of climate change (to a point): one with a high level of biodiversity or one with a low level of biodiversity? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The ecosystem with a high level of biodi

Question 19

There are more categorized than uncategorized species on Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Habitat destruction only affects the species that live in that habitat.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 12: Biodiversity- Palm Planet: Production of a Common Household Ingredient Is Wreaking Havoc on Wildlife Across the Globe

What is NOT an example of an ecosystem service?

Of the following ecosystems, which likely has the most biodiversity?

Habitat fragmentation can be detrimental to species because:

Why is palm oil a good alternative to other edible oils?

There are currently around 1.9 million species that have been identified. What is the total number of species predicted to live on Earth?

What are ecosystem services?

What is one major motivation for companies to source sustainably grown palm oil?

Habitat fragmentation can lead to the same loss of biodiversity as habitat destruction.

If an extirpated species is only extinct in one particular location, is this important or does the fact that it still exists in other places make the extinction not a big deal?

In an effort to repair damage to the ecosystem, some lumber companies plant trees after they have cleared the forest for timber. Can you think of any scenarios where this would be a BAD thing for the ecosystem?

Why might a species become endangered?

If a species is extirpated, this means that:

Compare and contrast habitat destruction and habitat fragmentation.

What is biodiversity?

An ecosystem with high species richness but low evenness would have:

Why must certified sustainable palm oil plantations be required to minimize their use of fire and pesticides?

Take what you know about biodiversity and climate change. Which ecosystem do you think would be more resistant to the effects of climate change (to a point): one with a high level of biodiversity or one with a low level of biodiversity? Explain your answer.

There are more categorized than uncategorized species on Earth.

Habitat destruction only affects the species that live in that habitat.

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