Deck 8: Sustaining Biodiversity: the Species Approach

Question 1

The most important threat to survival of polar bears at this time is

A)ocean currents delivering pollutants to the Arctic Ocean from oceans in more temperate climate zones
B)hunting by native populations
C)tourism disruptions
D)warming of the frozen Arctic, which has has caused the winter ice pack to shrink and break up earlier, thus limiting hunting opportunities for the bears
E)a normal population cycle that will result in their slow extinction

Answer 1

warming of the frozen Arctic, which has has caused the winter ice pack to shrink and break up earlier, thus limiting hunting opportunities for the bears

Question 2

Wild species' instrumental value includes their use as

A)food crops
B)fuelwood and lumber
C)sources of medicine we take for granted
D)all of these
E)food crops and sources of medicine we take for granted

Answer 2

all of these

Question 3

An increase in the number of polar bears seen visiting human settlements indicates that

A)Polar bear populations are not actually declining.
B)More limited hunting is driving the bears to seek food in human settlements more frequently.
C)Polar bear populations are on the increase.
D)Human food is more appealing to polar bears than wild seals.
E)Polar bear populations are on the increase and human food is more appealing to polar bears than wild seals.

Answer 3

More limited hunting is driving the bears to seek food in human settlements more frequently.

Question 4

While the hide of a male lion in Kenya will bring in $1,000, if the same male lion lives to age seven, he would bring in approximately ____ ecotourist dollars.

A)$5,000
B)$50,000
C)$515,000
D)The value of a male lion in ecotourist dollars cannot be estimated.
E)none of these answers

Question 5

Which group of organisms currently is in the most jeopardy, based on the percentage of members that are endangered?

A)mammals
B)amphibians
C)reptiles
D)plants
E)fish

Question 6

A bioprospector is most likely someone who

A)searches for fuel produced by plants
B)tests plants and animals in tropical forests, and other ecosystems, to find chemicals that are potentially useful as medicinal drugs
C)searches for truffles with the use of pigs to sniff out their partially hidden locations
D)searches for oil and natural gas in areas below biologically rich ecosystems
E)has a degree in biology but prospects for gold or other metals

Question 7

The greatest threat to most species is

A)loss of habitat
B)water pollution
C)parasites
D)sport hunting
E)climate change

Question 8

There is evidence to suggest that previous mass extinctions (prior to the current one) were caused by

A)prehistoric humans
B)asteroids
C)major climate changes
D)all of these answers
E)asteroids and major climate changes

Question 9

The species area relationship concept suggests that if 90% of a coral reef is lost

A)90% of the species utilizing the reef will go extinct.
B)100% of the species will go extinct.
C)50% of the species will go extinct.
D)35% will go extinct.
E)There will be no loss of species.

Question 10

The greatest eliminator of species is habitat destruction of

A)coral reefs
B)grasslands
C)tropical forests
D)deserts
E)temperate forests

Question 11

Which of the following is a problem encountered by biologists who are attempting to estimate past extinction rates?

A)Species typically live for a very long time, and thus their extinction is not easy to document.
B)We have only currently identified about 2 million of the world's estimated 8 million to 100 million species.
C)Scientists know little about the nature and ecological roles of the species that have been identified.
D)All of these.
E)We have only currently identified about 2 million of the world's estimated 8 million to 100 million species and Scientists know little about the nature and ecological roles of the species that have been identified.

Question 12

Habitat fragmentation

A)can create barriers that limit the ability of species to find food and mates
B)can block migration routes
C)can create small populations that are more vulnerable
D)may limit the ability of some species to disperse and colonize new areas
E)all of these answers

Question 13

Causes of extinction and reduction in wild species' populations include all of the following except

A)habitat loss
B)human population growth
C)sustainable development
D)pollution
E)invasive species

Question 14

_____ have estimated that up to 25% of the world's current animal and plant species could be gone by 2050, and 50% could be gone by the end of the century.

A)Edward O. a.Wilson and Stuart Pimm
B)Philip Levin and Donald Levin
C)Norman Myers and Aldo Leopold
D)Donald Levin and Stuart Pimm
E)none of these answers

Question 15

National parks can be viewed as habitat islands surrounded by

A)logging
B)industrial activity
C)mining
D)agriculture
E)all of these answers

Question 16

The type of species that are expected to increase in a world with degraded and simplified habitats are

A)rodent species
B)insect species, such as cockroaches
C)weeds
D)all of these answers
E)none of these answers

Question 17

People who believe that wild species have an inherent right to exist generally believe that species have

A)economic value
B)extrinsic value
C)intrinsic value
D)utilitarian value
E)recreational value

Question 18

The current rate of extinction is between _____ and _____ times the rate that existed before humans arrived on Earth.

A)5 and 10
B)10 and 100
C)100 and 1,000
D)The rate is the same as it was before humans arrived on Earth.
E)none of these answers

Question 19

An endangered species is any species that can

A)undergo alteration of its genetic traits
B)become rare within the next century
C)soon become extinct in all or part of its range
D)eventually become threatened or rare
E)be considered economically important, but is rare

Question 20

A biologist is most likely to say that the passenger pigeon is

A)endangered
B)locally extinct
C)ecologically extinct
D)biologically extinct
E)threatened

Question 21

Egg pulling refers to

A)techniques used to extend the breeding span of captured birds
B)collecting eggs from the wild and hatching them in zoos or research centers
C)using fertility drugs to increase productivity
D)production of hybrids in captive breeding programs
E)collecting unfertilized eggs from ovaries of wild animals

Question 22

Animals listed as endangered or threatened cannot be ____ in the United States.

A)injured
B)hunted
C)collected
D)killed
E)all of these answers

Question 23

The international illegal trade in wildlife brings in an average of

A)$1.1 billion per year
B)$1.1 million per hour
C)$1.1 million per year
D)$100 million per year
E)none of these answers

Question 24

The decline in approximately 70% of the world's bird species is particularly alarming to scientists because

A)This is the first time any bird species have been threatened with declining numbers.
B)It is not caused by any human activities that scientists can determine.
C)Only land birds are affected, while water birds seem to be maintaining normal population numbers.
D)Birds are excellent environmental indicators.
E)Birdwatching now generates a significant portion of tourist dollars in some countries.

Question 25

A small orchid plant that is found only on a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Florida, has been listed as an endangered species. a.Which agency was responsible for listing this plant as endangered?

A)National Marine Fisheries Service
B)U.S. a.Fish and Wildlife Service
C)U.S. a.Botanical Survey
D)International Commission on Rare Plants
E)Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Question 26

All of the following actions will help to control invasive species except

A)Do not remove wild plants from their natural areas.
B)After each use, clean your mountain bike before heading for home.
C)Do not dump the contents of an aquarium into a storm drain.
D)Do not brush your dog after a hike until you get home.
E)None of these answers.

Question 27

The basic causes of depletion and premature extinction of wild species include

A)human population growth
B)rising resource use
C)undervaluing of natural capital
D)poverty
E)all of these answers

Question 28

Recent genetic research indicates that ____ or more individuals are needed for an endangered species to maintain its capacity for biological evolution.

A)10
B)100
C)1,000
D)10,000
E)100,000

Question 29

All of the following would strengthen the Endangered Species Act except

A)establishing a core of survival habitats for listed species
B)greatly increasing the funding for carrying out the ESA
C)making the protection of endangered species on private land voluntary
D)developing recovery plans for listed species more quickly
E)emphasizing the protection of biological diversity and ecosystem functioning

Question 30

The Convention on Biological Diversity

A)has not been ratified by the United States
B)is a landmark in international law because it focuses on ecosystems rather than individuals
C)has been ratified by 188 countries
D)all of these answers
E)only two of these answers

Question 31

All of the following statements about invasive species is true except

A)Approximately 40% of species listed as endangered in the United States are on the list because of threats from invasive species.
B)Most successful invader species are specialists.
C)Both the European wild boar and the Burmese python are problematic invasive species in the state of Florida.
D)Some invasive species have arrived in the ballast water in ships from distant ports.
E)The African honeybee (killer bee) was deliberately introduced.

Question 32

Living just off the coast of California, a rare dolphin is listed as an endangered species. a.What agency or group was responsible for studying the status of this animal, and subsequently listing it as endangered?

A)The animal would have been studied by the National Marine Fisheries Service, but would have to be listed as endangered by the U.S. a.Fish and Wildlife Service.
B)Because of its location in ocean waters, it would have been listed by CITES.
C)The National Marine Fisheries Service would list it.
D)The Convention on Biological Diversity would list it.
E)The U.S. a.Fish and Wildlife Service would study and list it.

Question 33

Poaching of exotic species for profit has depleted populations of

A)birds
B)mammals
C)tropical fish
D)orchids
E)all of these answers

Question 34

Japanese kudzu vine offers all of the following except

A)starch used in Asian beverages and herbal remedies
B)control of soil erosion
C)toxic berries that deplete bird populations
D)a source of tree-free paper
E)herbal remedies for diseases

Question 35

Captive breeding programs in zoos

A)eliminate the need to preserve critical habitats
B)can be used for most species except mammals
C)increase the genetic variability of species
D)require the captive population to number between 100 and 500
E)is very unsuccessful

Question 36

A major factor in the population explosion of the zebra mussel in the Great Lakes region is

A)the zebra mussel's specialist ecological niche
B)its rapid reproductive rate
C)its lack of natural enemies that might control its population
D)that it is a prey species of the sea lamprey
E)its rapid reproductive rate and its lack of natural enemies that might control its population

Question 37

The Endangered Species Act of 1973

A)is one of the world's most far-reaching environmental laws
B)is very controversial
C)authorizes identification of endangered species solely on a biological basis
D)makes it illegal to buy products made from threatened or endangered species
E)all of these answers

Question 38

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) addresses all of the following except

A)It restricts international trade of roughly 5,000 species of animals.
B)It restricts international trade of roughly 28,000 species of plants.
C)It focuses on ecosystems rather than individual species.
D)It has helped to reduce international trade on elephant ivory.
E)It has been signed by 174 member countries, including the United States.

Question 39

Argentina fire ants can be described by all of the following except:

A)They attack with painful and burning stings.
B)They have killed humans, pets, and livestock.
C)They cause an estimated $68,000 worth of damage per hour to crops and phone and power lines.
D)Native ant species help to keep them in check.
E)They have spread throughout much of the southern United States.

Question 40

In addition to deforestation of tropical forests, which of the following are causes of species extinction?

A)destruction of coral reefs
B)destruction of wetlands
C)plowing of grasslands
D)pollution of lakes and streams
E)all of these answers

Question 41

The United States Endangered Species Act offers protection only for species located within United States boundaries.

Question 42

Ecosystems that do not undergo periodic fires are much more vulnerable to invader species.

Question 43

Pollution from human activities primarily affects human health; its effect on the environment is small.

Question 44

One of the causes of depletion of the environment is human population growth.

Question 45

The International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling was imposed in 1986. a.Following this:

A)Worldwide commercial whaling was completely eliminated.
B)There was no change in the number of whales killed outside U.S. a.waters.
C)Whale killing declined, and only 1,300 whales were killed in 2008, compared to over 42,000 in 1970.
D)None of these answers is correct.
E)Commercial whaling actually increased in some areas outside the U.S.

Question 46

When a species has disappeared from the Earth, it is biologically extinct.

Question 47

Alien species thrive in new ecosystems because they have long generation times.

Question 48

Gene banks, zoos, and aquariums are sanctuaries being used to protect wild species.

Question 49

The world's species biodiversity is estimated to have declined by 30% since 1975.

Question 50

The whales killed by Japan are primarily the

A)fin and minke whales
B)blue whales
C)sperm and minke whales
D)pilot and minke whales
E)grey and sperm whales

Question 51

Biologists feel the Endangered Species Act is effective as it is, and requires no modification to help save more species.

Question 52

The Endangered Species Act, unfortunately, has not led to the recovery of any listed species.

Question 53

Because of the lucrative ecotourism trade, both mature male lions and elephants bring in more money as tourist attractions than if they are poached for their hide or ivory.

Question 54

It is estimated that from one-fourth to one-half of the world's plant and animal species will suffer premature extinction during this century.

Question 55

A slow reproduction rate makes a species especially vulnerable to biological extinction.

Question 56

All of the following are true about the California condor captive breeding program except

A)Animals were successfully reared in captivity and then released into the wild.
B)The number of surviving condors has increased about eight-fold since the program began.
C)Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, there are currently no threats in the wild to the newly reintroduced birds.
D)The captive birds were isolated from human contact.
E)None of these answers

Question 57

Bush meat is a very safe and disease-free source of protein.

Question 58

The invasive kudzu vine has no useful properties.

Question 59

The primary threat to polar bears is pollution from oil spills in Arctic waters.

Question 60

Extinction can be the result of habitat fragmentation.

Question 61

The United States has signed the international treaty called CITES but has not signed/ratified the treaty called ____________________.

Question 62

The common sense thought of "better safe than sorry" when applied to preventing species extinction is called the____________________.

Question 63

____________________ are environmental indicators because they live in every climate and biome, respond quickly to environmental changes in their habitats, and are fairly easy to track and count.

Question 64

For the list of animals, select the characteristic that would most likely contribute to its possible premature extinction.
California condor or blue whale

A)low reproductive rate
B)specialized niche
C)narrow distribution
D)feeds at a high trophic level
E)rare
F)fixed migratory pattern
G)commercially valuable
H)large territory

Question 65

____________________ is a process by which chemicals entering the food chain in lower organisms become concentrated as they move to animals at higher trophic levels.

Question 66

For the list of animals, select the characteristic that would most likely contribute to its possible premature extinction.
snow leopard

A)low reproductive rate
B)specialized niche
C)narrow distribution
D)feeds at a high trophic level
E)rare
F)fixed migratory pattern
G)commercially valuable
H)large territory

Question 67

The United States currently has about ____________________ invasive species that were accidentally or deliberately introduced.

Question 68

Biologists conservatively estimate that the current extinction rate is ____________________ times the normal background extinction rate.

Question 69

Birds contaminated with ____________________ were unable to successfully reproduce because of excessively fragile egg shells.

Question 70

Any habitat surrounded by a different one can be viewed as a(n) ____________________.

Question 71

____________________ is a mysterious disease that causes adult bees to disappear from their hives without a trace.

Question 72

The use of diclofenac in dairy cows in India was the cause of an unfortunate chain of events that resulted in a high number of human deaths from ____________________.

Question 73

In 2004, the United States banned long-line sword-fishing off the Pacific coast to help dwindling populations of ____________________.

Question 74

Conservation biologists use the acronym ____________________ to summarize the most important secondary causes of premature extinction.

Question 75

Most failed species reintroduction occurs because of lack of ____________________.

Question 76

____________________ is the best way to reduce threats from invasive species.

Question 77

Scientists believe that human activities that cause ____________________ and climate change will have a serious impact on premature extinctions.

Question 78

For the list of animals, select the characteristic that would most likely contribute to its possible premature extinction.
African violet

A)low reproductive rate
B)specialized niche
C)narrow distribution
D)feeds at a high trophic level
E)rare
F)fixed migratory pattern
G)commercially valuable
H)large territory

Question 79

The common pigeon, Argentina fire ant, and sea lamprey are all examples of ____________________ introduced species.

Question 80

It can be said that, of the species now listed under the Endangered Species Act, more than half have populations that are either ____________________ or ____________________.