Deck 37: Conservation Biology

Question 1

Because certain areas have greater diversity, conservation biology would consider them

A) prioritized for preservation.
B) typically overcrowded.
C) sustainable ecosystems.
D) subjected to edge effects.
E) less stable.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Biodiversity is commonly described in terms of

A) species diversity.
B) genetic diversity.
C) ecosystem diversity.
D) landscape diversity.
E) conservation diversity.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Ecosystems are based on complex interactions between communities. What are possible consequences from a disruption of these interactions?

A) increases in pollution
B) increases in biodiversity
C) increases in extinctions
D) decreases in pollution
E) decreases in extinctions

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following is a reason that genetic diversity is important?

A) Evolution can only act on phenotypes that are present in the population.
B) The greater the genetic diversity of a population, the more likely that one organism will have an adaptive trait when the environment changes.
C) Lower genetic diversity can lead to the extinction of species.
D) Low genetic diversity can lead to greater susceptibility to pathogens.
E) All of the answer choices describe reasons why genetic diversity is important.

Question 5

The main goal of conservation biology is to

A) promote the needs of certain ecosystems that are determined to be in danger.
B) apply scientific principles to preserving and restoring ecosystems.
C) prevent the hunting and fishing of all species.
D) preserve land by preventing new developments like shopping malls and businesses.
E) promote the welfare of endangered species.

Question 6

Which of the following is a method intended to extend nonrenewable resources?

A) efficient use
B) recycling
C) better extraction methods
D) substitution
E) All of the answer choices list ways to extend the longevity of nonrenewable resources.

Question 7

The subdiscipline of conservation biology that seeks scientific ways to return ecosystems to their state prior to habitat degradation is called

A) organismal ecology.
B) historical ecology.
C) ecosystem ecology.
D) restoration ecology.
E) population ecology.

Question 8

Which of the following is a goal when restoring an ecosystem?

A) to create a sustainable ecosystem that will continue to function after restoration is complete
B) to use the wildlife and seeds from fragments of the original ecosystem to restore the original ecosystem
C) to begin restoration as soon as possible to salvage existing fragments of the habitat
D) to create a sustainable ecosystem that will provide services to humans
E) All of the answer choices describe goals of restoration ecology.

Question 9

Coastal degradation, such as the loss of mangrove swamps and coral reefs, is primarily caused by

A) erosion of seashores by storms.
B) slash-and-burn agriculture to raise crops.
C) increased ranching for beef export.
D) the large concentration of people living along coasts.
E) increased high-tech industry.

Question 10

Allowing animals to overgraze land could lead to

A) desertification.
B) famine.
C) less land suitable for human habitation.
D) more rainwater runoff.
E) All of the answer choices describe consequences of overgrazing.

Question 11

When designing a reserve area, there should be a limit to

A) the number of species included so it does not become overcrowded.
B) how large the area is so that it can be patrolled and monitored.
C) how small the area is so that edge effects will be minimized.
D) how close the area is to a national park so that wildlife will not be tempted to move from one area to the other.
E) the number of conservation corridors that connect to it.

Question 12

What kind of diversity is dependent on the interactions between species and their abiotic environment in a particular area?

A) species diversity
B) genetic diversity
C) ecosystem diversity
D) landscape diversity
E) conservation diversity

Question 13

Providing guided tours of natural ecosystems, such as tropical rain forests, is often more profitable than destroying them. Ecotourism is an example of a direct value of biodiversity.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about conservation biology is true?

A) Conservation biology relies on many subdisciplines of biology including genetics, physiology, and systematics.
B) Conservation biology relies on both scientists and government officials for conservation management.
C) Conservation biology depends on the education of the public to lead to better consumer choices that facilitate conservation practices.
D) Conservation biology relies on both biologists and social scientists to determine courses of action.
E) All of the answer choices are true statements about conservation biology.

Question 15

Biodiversity would be expected to be higher in Brazil than in Canada.

Question 16

Restoration ecology

A) seeks to design reserves that allow minimum impact on the species in the reserve.
B) seeks to return a damaged ecosystem to its natural functioning state.
C) seeks to use breeding programs in zoos to return extinct species to the wild.
D) seeks to import exotic species into specific areas.
E) seeks to encourage sustainable human development.

Question 17

Resources that are not in limited supply are called

A) renewable resources.
B) nonrenewable resources.
C) squandered resources.
D) fossil fuels.
E) minerals.

Question 18

Pandas live in the midst of bamboo forests located in a mountainous area. A study that examines how the presence of farmland in and around the bamboo forests prevents pandas from moving from one bamboo forest to another would utilize the study of which kind of biodiversity?

A) species diversity
B) genetic diversity
C) ecosystem diversity
D) landscape diversity
E) conservation diversity

Question 19

Which of these activities would be permitted in the core of a biosphere reserve?

A) research and hunting
B) light ecotourism and hunting
C) hunting and fishing
D) light ecotourism and research
E) None of the answer choices is correct.

Question 20

Pollution does not have an effect on the living environment.

Question 21

Most of the fossil fuels we consume were formed in the last 1000 years.

Question 22

Modern farming methods have resulted in

A) an increase in the overall food supply.
B) heavy use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
C) excessive fuel consumption.
D) planting of fewer genetic varieties of plants.
E) All of the answer choices describe modern farming methods.

Question 23

Excessive use of water from aquifers can lead to which of the following?

A) subsidence
B) sink holes
C) saltwater intrusion
D) water shortages
E) All of the answer choices describe consequences of removing too much water from aquifers.

Question 24

Dams provide water for 40 percent of irrigated land, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to dams. Which of the following is an advantage of dam use?

A) loss of water due to evaporation
B) provide electricity for many countries
C) increase in salinity due to evaporation and runoff
D) increase in sediment buildup leads to less available water
E) depletion of river water

Question 25

During summer months, many highly populated communities are placed under water restrictions. During this time, people are not allowed to wash their cars or water their lawns. The reason for this would probably be

A) low levels of water in underground aquifers.
B) the need to divert water to nearby farms.
C) high costs of pumping water from other cities.
D) excessive rainfall leading to nearby rivers being at flood stage.
E) restrictions of pollutants draining into local water supplies.

Question 26

The situation with major ocean fishing areas is

A) good since the oceans are so large; they are the one remaining natural ecosystem.
B) generally positive, with only 1 or 2 of the 15 major oceanic fishing areas overexploited.
C) generally negative, due to increased number and efficiency of fishing boats and the negative impact on biodiversity.
D) positive for the bottom dwellers that are protected, but negative for the schools of swimming fish.
E) negative for the bottom dwellers that are over-fished by trawling, but positive for the schools of swimming fish that can easily evade capture.

Question 27

What is the main use of most of the world's freshwater supply?

A) drinking water
B) irrigation of crops
C) cooking
D) bathing and flushing toilets
E) household uses

Question 28

Introduction of alien or exotic species into new ecosystems can occur by

A) colonization.
B) accidental transport.
C) agriculture.
D) horticulture.
E) All of the answer choices describe ways alien species can be introduced to an ecosystem.

Question 29

Conservation biology supports which of the following ethical principles?

A) Biodiversity is desirable for the biosphere and humans.
B) Biodiversity has value in and of itself, regardless of any practical human benefits.
C) Extinctions due to human actions are undesirable.
D) The complex interactions of ecosystems support biodiversity and are desirable.
E) All of the answer choices describe the principles of conservation biology.

Question 30

Which of the following is true about extinction?

A) Overexploitation by hunting and fishing is the foremost threat to tropical animals and plants.
B) Without human activity, all species would survive and there would be no extinctions.
C) There are many causes of extinctions and an animal or plant may go extinct for any of a combination of these factors.
D) Commercial hunting and fishing are careful not to deplete animal reserves.
E) Introduction of new alien species helps preserve biodiversity and slow extinction.

Question 31

Which form of renewable energy is considered diffuse energy and must be collected, converted to another form, and stored if it is to compete with other available forms of energy?

A) hydroelectric
B) wind
C) geothermal
D) coal
E) solar

Question 32

Farmland loses its productivity as a result of lost topsoil. Which of the following prevents loss of topsoil?

A) contour farming
B) terrace farming
C) natural fences
D) cover crops
E) All of the answer choices describe farming methods that reduce the loss of topsoil.

Question 33

Underground water that is heated by radioactive decay and used to produce steam for home heating or hot water use is known as

A) hydropower.
B) wind power.
C) fossil fuel power.
D) geothermal energy.
E) solar energy.

Question 34

Which of the following statements is true about biodiversity?

A) The size of tropical rain forests have been reduced from 14 percent to 6 percent.
B) Exotic species play a role in 50 percent of extinctions.
C) Coral reefs may become extinct in the next 40 years.
D) Overexploitation by human activities can lead to a loss of biodiversity.
E) All of the answer choices about biodiversity are true.

Question 35

Which of the the following is an example of a species native to the United States?

A) zebra mussels
B) dandelions
C) kudzu
D) opposum shrimp
E) buffalo

Question 36

Which of the following is a disadvantage to the use of fossil fuels?

A) contribution to the greenhouse gases
B) excessive pollution
C) nonrenewable resource
D) increased methane production
E) All of the answer choices describe disadvantages associated with fossil fuels.

Question 37

The depletion of the world's fisheries is most likely due to which of the following?

A) sport fishing
B) commercial large-scale fishing
C) discharge of sewage and garbage from cruise ships
D) natural climate shifts
E) natural extinction of fish population

Question 38

Which of the following statements about tropical rain forests is/are true?

A) Ranchers only temporarily benefit from deforestation.
B) People are settling in tropical rain forests due to road construction.
C) Humans remove vegetation for fuel or to feed animals.
D) Destruction of rain forests can lead to desertification.
E) All of the answer choices about tropical rain forests are true.

Question 39

Which of the following is the main reason that species go extinct?

A) hunting.
B) farming.
C) insecticides such as DDT.
D) habitat destruction.
E) scientific collecting.

Question 40

Which of the following is a renewable energy source?

A) coal
B) oil
C) hydropower
D) natural gas
E) fossil fuels

Question 41

Which service provided by the natural biodiversity of an ecosystem is unable to be duplicated by human technology?

A) biogeochemical cycles
B) waste disposal
C) provision of fresh water
D) prevention of soil erosion
E) flood prevention

Question 42

Which of the following is an example of the importance of biodiversity in a natural ecosystem?

A) pollination of flowers by bees
B) production of antibiotics from fungi
C) increasing the survival rate of childhood leukemia from 10 percent to 90 percent
D) increasing the availability of food for the human population
E) supplies building materials for new construction

Question 43

Which of the following statements about pollution is mismatched?

A) eutrophication-a lake dies due to lack of nutrients
B) acid deposition-water vapor and exhausts combine to form wet or dry acid deposits
C) climate change-changes in the Earth's climate are causing the sea levels to rise
D) organic chemicals-synthetic chemicals mimic hormones and cause abnormal growth and behavior in wild animals
E) ozone depletion-CFCs like Freon have chlorine atoms that break down the ozone shield

Question 44

The use of wheat, corn, rice, and other crops modified from wild ancestors are an example of what type of value drawn from biodiversity?

A) agricultural
B) medicinal
C) consumptive use
D) indirect
E) no

Question 45

Natural ecosystems are able to break down dead organic material and recycle their nutrients.

Question 46

The loss of a keystone species would lead to

A) a great number of secondary extinctions.
B) an increase in species diversity within the community.
C) an increase in the population of other keystone species.
D) immediate collapse of the community.
E) no noticeable change in the biodiversity of the community.

Question 47

Which species can be used to help motivate the public to conserve biodiversity?

A) giant pandas
B) lions
C) tigers
D) dolphins
E) All of the answer choices are correct.

Question 48

Biodiversity hotspots are valuable because they contain large numbers of exotic species.

Question 49

The use of uncultivated fruit, skins, fiber, beeswax, etc. are examples of what type of value drawn from biodiversity?

A) agricultural
B) medicinal
C) consumptive use
D) indirect
E) no

Question 50

Explain the four ethical principles embodied by conservation biology.

Question 51

Compare the direct and indirect values of biodiversity by listing three direct values and three indirect values of biodiversity.

Question 52

Rosy periwinkle, the nine-banded armadillo, and some species of fungus and bacteria have

A) agricultural value.
B) medicinal value.
C) consumptive use value.
D) indirect value.
E) no value.

Question 53

The regulation of climate, cleansing of fresh water, and support of ecotourism are examples of what type of value drawn from biodiversity?

A) agricultural
B) medicinal
C) consumptive use
D) indirect
E) no

Question 54

Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct concerning the indirect values of biodiversity?

A) Trees affect the climate and provide shade and cooling during the summer.
B) Trees can maintain rainfall to help prevent dry periods.
C) Diverse organisms are critical in breaking down wastes and immobilizing pollutants.
D) Erosion can lead to critical imbalances in an ecosystem.
E) All of the answer choices are accurate statements about the indirect value of biodiversity.

Question 55

Which of the following species would be considered a flagship species?

A) dolphins
B) grasshoppers
C) ants
D) bats
E) dandelions

Question 56

List and explain the five causes of extinction.

Question 57

An example of ecotourism would include

A) charging an airport tax to compensate for the pollution from jetliners.
B) vacationing to hike or watch birds in a natural outdoor environment.
C) volunteering to conduct ecological research at a university.
D) keeping an organic garden in your backyard.
E) planting trees on a vacant city lot.