Deck 6: Endangered Species

Question 1

A population of organisms facing a high risk of becoming extinct because of its population size or rate of population decline due to changing environmental trends or increased predation is considered

A) threatened.
B) vulnerable.
C) endangered.
D) a fire brigade.
E) on the "black" list.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

When humans deal with species in crisis after they have fallen to critical levels, instead of preserving ecosystems and habitats before declines in populations, it is referred to as

A) endangered species rescue.
B) the fire-brigade approach.
C) biodiversity management.
D) the critical species technique.
E) preservation of threatened species.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The way conservation biology works can be compared to

A) repairing a leaky dam.
B) evolutionary biology.
C) rebuilding the engine of a car.
D) building a house.
E) planting a garden.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following statements about endangered species is true?

A) Not all species are equally endangered but all are equally threatened.
B) All species are equally endangered and equally threatened.
C) Not all species are equally endangered and not all areas are equally threatened.
D) All species and all areas are threatened but not equally endangered.
E) None of the above

Question 5

In studying endangered species, why are patterns of vulnerability important to understand?

A) Patterns of vulnerability help conservation biologists understand the positive contributions humans make to habitats of endangered species.
B) Patterns of vulnerability are not helpful in studying endangered species; these patterns cause species to go endangered.
C) Patterns of vulnerability help conservation biologists use the fire-brigade approach to prevent negative impacts and extinction of species due to human behaviors.
D) Patterns of vulnerability help conservation biologists better mitigate the negative impacts that humans might cause and they may help prevent extinctions.
E) Patterns of vulnerability are not very helpful since so many species are at-risk; there is not enough time to implement preventive measures.

Question 6

Which of the following is the best resource if you want to research globally threatened species and major threats to species?

A) The Black List, compiled by Defenders of Wildlife
B) The Biodiversity List, compiled by the World Wildlife Federation
C) The Green List, compiled by Defenders of Wildlife
D) The Endangered Species List, compiled by US Fish and Wildlife
E) The Red List, compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Question 7

More than 34% of the species that have been described and assessed are considered threatened with extinction. Which of the following lists shows the highest proportion of vulnerable species?

A) Amphibians, gymnosperms, fish, and birds
B) Gymnosperms, amphibians, fungi, and birds
C) Vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fungi
D) Mammals, birds, amphibians, and gymnosperms
E) Fungi, protist species, birds, and mammals

Question 8

Refer to the chart below showing the major threats for plants, mammals, and birds that are considered vulnerable to extinction.

-Which threats are not caused by direct or indirect actions by humans?

A) Alien invasive species
B) Natural disasters
C) Alien invasive species and natural disasters
D) Direct loss/exploitation
E) Atmospheric pollution and intrinsic factors

Question 9

Refer to the chart below showing the major threats for plants, mammals, and birds that are considered vulnerable to extinction.

-What is the biggest threat, and why?

A) Intrinsic factors, because they have a big impact on threatened mammals
B) Direct loss/exploitation, because it affects both mammals and birds
C) Alien invasive species, because they have a big impact on threatened birds
D) Habitat loss/degradation, because it has the most impact on all three groups
E) Natural disasters, since they are the most unpredictable

Question 10

Which of the following statement about poaching (illegal harvesting) is true?

A) Poaching of primates in West Africa has been stopped and the population is recovering.
B) Illegal harvesting stops after species are identified as threatened or endangered.
C) For some species, poaching is a more immediate threat than habitat loss.
D) Both a and b
E) None of the above

Question 11

Are fisheries in decline? Why or why not?

A) Yes, fisheries are in decline because it is difficult to regulate fisheries in international waters.
B) No, fisheries are recovering because more consumers are demanding sustainable seafood.
C) Yes, fisheries are in decline because invasive species compete with the native fish.
D) No, fisheries are recovering as the fish farming industry releases fish into the wild to increase the populations.
E) No, fisheries are recovering due to strict international regulations and heavy penalties.

Question 12

Shifts in the timing of bird migrations due to _______ can affect the probability of the birds feeding on fish and insect populations. If birds migrate when fish are not spawning or insects are not at the peaks of their populations, the birds may not find food along their migratory paths and they will not be able to complete their journey due to weakness or death. This may affect their ability to successfully reproduce and thus their populations will decline.

A) introduction of invasive species
B) poaching
C) global climate change
D) habitat loss
E) introduction of disease

Question 13

Which characteristics may make a species more vulnerable to extinction due to large stochastic change?

A) A tendency to live away from each other and be territorial
B) High reproductive rates but small body size
C) High population density
D) Large body sizes and large areas to live in
E) Many large populations and high reproductive rates

Question 14

Which of the following statements about rare species is false?

A) Rare species are found in small numbers or at very low densities.
B) Rarity makes species very vulnerable to extinction.
C) Some species have always been rare.
D) Rare species that lose habitat can become extinct.
E) Rare species that have lost many individuals are more vulnerable to chance events such as tornados.

Question 15

The major threat to species is the loss of suitable habitat. In many parts of the world, most of the original habitat of species has been destroyed. This is particularly true in places where

A) the density of predators is high.
B) the density of amphibians is low.
C) the density of humans is high.
D) migration patterns have changed.
E) species have limited distribution.

Question 16

The demand for cheap beef and cocoa has led to

A) discovery of palm oil for biodiesel.
B) rainforest destruction.
C) more small-scale farms and a decrease in greenhouse gases.
D) for orangutans by conservation groups.
E) None of the above

Question 17

Which habitat is most affected by the production of energy or development?

A) Higher elevations and the polar regions
B) Coral reefs
C) Temperate grasslands
D) Wetlands and aquatic habitats
E) Island regions

Question 18

Areas that have a large number of endemic species and habitats that are at a great risk of loss are called

A) polar regions.
B) stochastic.
C) diversity areas.
D) fire brigades.
E) hotspots.

Question 19

_______, a well-respected global organization dedicated to conservation of native species and ecosystems worldwide, suggests that to effectively conserve biodiversity humans should focus on protecting _______.

A) Conservation International; all species
B) Defenders of Wildlife; hotspots
C) Conservation International; hotspots
D) Defenders of Wildlife; species on the Red List
E) World Wildlife Federation; mammals

Question 20

Suppose some conservation biologists and volunteers go to a forest in California to remove an invasive plant species from South Africa. This is an example of what type of conservation strategy?

A) Captive breeding and reintroduction
B) Removal of disease agents
C) Reduction of harvesting
D) Habitat restoration
E) Inbreeding depression

Question 21

Deciding which conservation strategy to use can best be compared to

A) the scientific method.
B) a fire brigade.
C) repairing a dam.
D) using GPS.
E) running a business.

Question 22

Which tool is most useful to conservation biologists when deciding on a new conservation strategy that may be costly or dangerous to implement?

A) GPS
B) Simulation models
C) The Red List
D) Graphs
E) Trial and error

Question 23

Suppose you are hired to develop a conservation plan to increase populations of a species of fish that is suffering from illegal harvesting and increased predation pressure from an invasive species. Which of the following conservation strategies would be best to include in your plan?

A) Captive breeding with reintroduction
B) Elimination of harmful exotic predators or competitors
C) Reduction or elimination of harvesting
D) Habitat protection
E) All of the above

Question 24

Good conservation strategies will do all of the following except

A) maintain critical ecological processes.
B) minimize threats.
C) conserve evolutionary processes.
D) be minimally intrusive.
E) maintain biodiversity of exotic species.

Question 25

In conservation biology there have been many success stories in which strategies were implemented and a population responded favorably. Which of the following endangered species was removed from the endangered species list due to policies limiting collection and then another strategy that involved limited human access to its habitat?

A) American peregrine falcon
B) Romer's tree frog
C) Przewalski's horse
D) Orangutan
E) Dwarf cinquefoil

Question 26

Explain why conservation biology works like repairing a leaky dam.

Question 27

Prepare a statement that could be used to educate the public about how human population growth and resource consumption is increasing the pressure on the environment and species.

Question 28

How do species become endangered?

Question 29

Some people may say that the actions of one individual cannot make a difference to the environment. Justify how each individual action can make a difference.

Question 30

Why is a large body size a characteristic that makes a species vulnerable to extinction?

Question 31

How is the need for palm oil destructive to species if it provides humans with an alternative energy source?

Question 32

Design a plan that includes good conservation strategies to protect a threatened or endangered species.

Question 33

How is developing a conservation plan similar to the scientific method?

Question 34

Modeling is important in science. How do models help conservation biologists?

Question 35

What are three things individual humans can do in their daily lives to help protect endangered species?