Deck 6: Sustaining Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

Question 1

Forest degradation leads to all of the following except

A) increased flooding.
B) CO₂ release into the atmosphere.
C) an increase in species biodiversity.
D) erosion and loss of soil fertility.
E) extinction of some species.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Compared to 1900,American forests today are generally

A) bigger.
B) healthier.
C) less diverse.
D) all of these answers
E) bigger and healthier

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Roads into forests do all of the following except

A) cause erosion and sedimentation of waterways.
B) open up forests to economic activities.
C) expose forests to invasions by pests and diseases.
D) provide valuable wildlife habitat.
E) increase habitat fragmentation.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The removal of a band of trees along a natural contour that allows the forest to regenerate naturally within a few years is called

A) selective cutting.
B) seed-tree cutting.
C) clear-cutting.
D) shelterwood cutting.
E) strip cutting.

Question 5

An area of forest that is repeatedly clear-cut and replanted in order to provide commercial wood products is called a(n)

A) old growth forest.
B) tree farm.
C) pulp mill.
D) second growth forest.
E) virgin forest.

Question 6

Sustainable use of U.S.forests would be encouraged by all of the following except

A) making biodiversity and ecological integrity the top priorities of national forest management policy.
B) building more roads to encourage recreational use of national forests.
C) moving toward full-cost pricing of U.S. timber.
D) disallowing the Forest Service to keep money from timber sales.
E) certification of timber grown by sustainable methods.

Question 7

Economic services provided by forests include all of the following except

A) wood harvesting and mineral extraction.
B) pastures for livestock.
C) places for recreation.
D) petrochemicals.
E) employment.

Question 8

Deforestation of tropical forests have been a major problem in all of the following areas except

A) Indonesia.
B) Kenya.
C) Nigeria.
D) Brazil.
E) Canada.

Question 9

Ecological services provided by forests

A) destabilize climate change.
B) are an infinite supply of ecological income.
C) are not essential for humans and their economies.
D) are worth hundreds of times less than their economic value.
E) are worth hundreds of times more than their economic value.

Question 10

Second-growth forests can be described by all of the following except they

A) result from primary succession.
B) provide less species diversity than old-growth forests.
C) often developed after abandonment of farms.
D) may be tree farms.
E) are the predominant forests in the United States.

Question 11

Old-growth forests can be described by all of the following except they

A) have not been disturbed for several hundred years.
B) have large numbers of snags.
C) provide a variety of ecological niches.
D) have a clear forest floor.
E) are the predominant forests in the tropics.

Question 12

Deforestation may lead to

A) improved ecological services.
B) increased biodiversity.
C) decreased soil erosion.
D) less habitat for birds.
E) reduced flooding of rivers.

Question 13

Clear-cutting on a large scale leads to all of the following except

A) erosion.
B) flooding.
C) sediment water pollution.
D) increased biodiversity.
E) habitat loss.

Question 14

Clear-cutting

A) leaves unattractive and unnatural forest openings.
B) reduces biodiversity.
C) can lead to erosion and flooding.
D) disrupts habitats.
E) all of these answers

Question 15

Forests provide natural capital in all of the following ecological services except

A) reducing soil erosion.
B) storing atmospheric carbon.
C) grazing for livestock.
D) purifying the air.
E) recycling chemical nutrients.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true about tree plantations?

A) Tree plantations decrease overall forest biodiversity.
B) Tree plantations increase overall forest biodiversity.
C) The majority of tree plantations in the U.S. have been replaced by old-growth forests.
D) Tree plantations are best established on land that has not been degraded.
E) More tree plantations in the U.S. lead the way for more biologically diverse primary growth forests.

Question 17

Currently,most of the world's forests are

A) secondary-growth.
B) old-growth.
C) tree plantations.
D) clear cut.
E) protected.

Question 18

The removal of all trees from a given area in a single cutting to establish a new even-aged stand is called

A) selective cutting.
B) seed-tree cutting.
C) clear-cutting.
D) shelterwood cutting.
E) strip cutting.

Question 19

The increases in American forests today are generally a result of

A) commercial tree plantations.
B) regenerated forests from cleared forest areas.
C) regenerated forests on abandoned crop land.
D) all of the above answers.
E) none of the above answers.

Question 20

The removal of a single or small groups of mature trees is called

A) selective cutting.
B) seed-tree cutting.
C) clear-cutting.
D) shelterwood cutting.
E) strip cutting.

Question 21

In developed countries,many national parks are threatened by

A) air and water pollution.
B) poaching and invasion of alien species.
C) roads, noise and ATV's.
D) population growth and surrounding industrial development.
E) all of these answers

Question 22

The majority of the world's remaining tropical forests are found in

A) Indonesia.
B) Kenya.
C) Nigeria.
D) Ethiopia.
E) Brazil.

Question 23

An arrangement where a developing nation protects some forest area in exchange for debt relief or financial support from a developed nation is called

A) bankruptcy.
B) a conservation easement.
C) a land sale.
D) a debt for nature swap.
E) a conservation concession.

Question 24

Approaches to protect tropical forests include all but which strategy?

A) slowing population growth
B) reducing poverty
C) teaching settlers sustainable small-scale agriculture
D) banning debt-for-nature swaps
E) reforming timber-cutting regulations

Question 25

Forests cover about ____ of the United States.

A) 1/2
B) 1/3
C) 1/4
D) 1/5
E) 1/6

Question 26

Which of the following is not considered to be a major underlying factor in the destruction of tropical rain forests?

A) population growth
B) poverty
C) not valuing ecological services.
D) demand for tropical pets
E) government subsidies

Question 27

Which of the following statements about tropical forests is false?

A) They cover about 6% of Earth's land area.
B) They grow near the equator.
C) Over half of the world's tropical forests have already been cleared or degraded.
D) Reforestation is ensuring that tropical forests are being used on a sustainable-yield basis.
E) They are a primary storehouse for carbon.

Question 28

Sustainable use of tropical forests can be encouraged by all of the following except

A) reforestation of degraded forests.
B) encouragement of debt-for-nature swaps and conservation concessions.
C) requiring loggers to use more sustainable harvesting practices.
D) increasing exports of raw lumber and wood products.
E) encouraging the purchase of certified lumber products.

Question 29

Major problems faced by national parks include all but which one?

A) Invasive species
B) Poaching
C) Increased funding
D) Too small sized to adequately house some native wildlife
E) Illegal logging, mining and grazing

Question 30

The demand for wood could be reduced by all but which one?

A) Reducing construction waste, junk mail and packaging
B) Recycling more paper
C) Using paper from fibers obtained from plants other than trees
D) Improved efficiency of wood products such as reusing wooden shipping containers
E) All of these answers

Question 31

Plants used to produce paper as substitutes for wood pulp include all but which one?

A) kenaf
B) ragweed
C) hemp
D) cotton
E) rice

Question 32

Forests provide habitats for about ____ of U.S.wildlife species.

A) 50%
B) 60%
C) 70%
D) 80%
E) 90%

Question 33

Tropical forest destruction and degradation result from

A) unsustainable small-scale farming and raising of cash crops.
B) cattle ranching and commercial logging.
C) mining operations and oil drilling.
D) economic growth and development.
E) all of these answers

Question 34

Tropical rainforests are being rapidly fragmented by all except

A) roads and settlements.
B) commercial farms.
C) sustainable farms.
D) grazing areas.
E) logging operations.

Question 35

Economic approaches to protecting tropical forests include all of the following except

A) full-cost pricing of tropical forest trees.
B) pressuring international lending agencies to not lend money for environmentally destructive projects.
C) phasing out subsidies that encourage unsustainable deforestation.
D) subsidizing poor loggers through road construction.
E) long-term sustainable harvesting practices.

Question 36

Forest management strategies that would make use of our national forests more sustainably include all of the following except

A) excluding most of the remaining old-growth forests from logging.
B) encouraging even-aged management in second-growth forests.
C) banning additional roads in national forests.
D) making biodiversity and ecological integrity the first priority.
E) establishing federally funded reforestation projects.

Question 37

An arrangement where a developing nation receives payment from a developed nation to preserve their natural resources is called

A) bankruptcy.
B) a conservation easement.
C) a land sale.
D) a debt for nature swap.
E) a conservation concession.

Question 38

Tropical forests are found in all but which of the following continents?

A) North America
B) Africa
C) South America
D) Asia
E) None of these answers

Question 39

Cash crops provided by tropical rain forests include all of the following except

A) coffee.
B) apples.
C) sugarcane.
D) cashews.
E) soybeans.

Question 40

The process of tropical deforestation tends to occur in the sequence below.Which of the following activities is not part of the sequence?

A) conservation concession
B) road building
C) logging
D) settlements
E) ranching and grazing

Question 41

Ecologists have identified ____ hot spots (or endangered centers of biodiversity)world wide that contain a large number of endemic plant and animal species found nowhere else.

A) 17
B) 24
C) 34
D) 44
E) 54

Question 42

Currently,____ of the earth's land area is protected either strictly or partially by nature reserves,parks,wildlife refuges,wilderness and other areas.

A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 12%
D) 20%
E) 30%

Question 43

What country contains the highest concentration of endangered animals?

A) Mexico
B) United States of America
C) Costa Rica
D) Trinidad and Tobago
E) Tanzania

Question 44

Large predators

A) have been excessively hunted and poisoned.
B) have sharply declining populations.
C) are no longer keeping prey species in check.
D) are illegally killed.
E) all of these answers

Question 45

According to the National Park Service,air pollution affects scenic views in national parks more than ____ of the time.

A) 90%
B) 75%
C) 50%
D) 40%
E) 30%

Question 46

The top four countries in order of megadiversity are:

A) Brazil, Mexico, Columbia, Indonesia.
B) Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Indonesia.
C) Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Columbia.
D) Indonesia, Columbia, Mexico, Brazil.
E) Indonesia, Brazil, Columbia and Ecuador.

Question 47

Ecologists have identified ____ megadiversity countries that contain two thirds of all species.

A) 17
B) 24
C) 34
D) 44
E) 54

Question 48

Wilderness areas are needed for

A) aesthetic reasons.
B) getting away from noise and stress.
C) preserving biological diversity.
D) recreation.
E) all of these answers

Question 49

Vegetation in some parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is threatened by ____ that were introduced to North Carolina from Europe in 1912.

A) mountain goats
B) white-tailed deer
C) wild boar
D) rabbits
E) long-horn sheep

Question 50

Protected wilderness areas allow all of the following except

A) maintain biological diversity.
B) provide wildlife with undisturbed habitats.
C) allow scientists to reintroduce species to their natural habitats.
D) being degraded by hunting, fishing , boating and excessive use by ATV's.
E) provide natural laboratories for research.

Question 51

Reintroducing the gray wolf as a keystone species to Yellowstone National Park has resulted in all but which of the following?

A) Control of herds of elk, moose and deer
B) Less erosion
C) Less vegetation loss
D) Devastation of cattle herds
E) Healthier habitat and increased biodiversity

Question 52

The Central American country that has established a system of reserves and national parks that by 2008 included about a quarter of its land,and is forefront in biodiversity conservation,is

A) Nicaragua.
B) Costa Rica.
C) Panama.
D) El Salvador.
E) Honduras.

Question 53

The U.S.national park system includes ____ major national parks.

A) 12
B) 28
C) 58
D) 100
E) 110

Question 54

In 1995,____ were reintroduced to the Yellowstone ecosystem.

A) coyotes
B) mountain lions
C) gray wolves
D) elk
E) buffalo

Question 55

In order to maintain ecological integrity and prevent depletion of biodiversity,conservation biologists recommend that a minimum of ____ of the globe's land be protected.

A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 12%
D) 20%
E) 30%

Question 56

A strategy that helped Costa Rica move from having one of the world's highest deforestation rates to having one of the lowest is

A) reserving large areas of land to biodiversity.
B) engaging local and indigenous people in conservation efforts.
C) eliminating subsidies for converting forests to rangeland.
D) utilizing ecotourism as a major source of income.
E) all of these answers.

Question 57

Large areas of farmlands,woodlands,and green spaces in the United States have been protected by private,nonprofit groups called

A) urban green space.
B) ecologists for conservation.
C) debt-for-nature.
D) land trusts.
E) biosphere conservation.

Question 58

Solutions for expanding and sustaining the national park system in the U.S.include all of the following except

A) Increase federal funds for park maintenance and repairs.
B) Limit the number of visitors in crowded areas.
C) Make all areas accessible to off-road vehicles.
D) Host lectures and educational tours.
E) Increase the number and pay of park rangers.

Question 59

A well-designed biosphere reserve is composed of all but

A) a transition zone.
B) a buffer zone.
C) a core area.
D) a recreation center.
E) partnerships between invested parties.

Question 60

Wilderness areas

A) maintain biological diversity.
B) provide undisturbed habitats.
C) provide natural laboratories to enable scientists to discover how organisms live.
D) allow scientists to reintroduce species to their natural habitats.
E) all of these answers

Question 61

Tropical forests account for 25% of the earth's forested areas.

Question 62

Public lands (parks,zoos,national forests,national seashores,etc.)help sustain biodiversity.

Question 63

Coral reefs

A) provide habitat for many freshwater species.
B) are threatened by decreasing ocean pH and increasing ocean temperature.
C) are projected to recover in 50% of their natural range by 2010.
D) all of the above answers.
E) none of these answers.

Question 64

According to E.O.Wilson,protecting the world's biodiverse ecosystems is best implemented by all of the following steps except

A) mapping the world's biodiversity and identifying and protecting biological hotspots.
B) protecting remaining old-growth forests.
C) restoration projects, including rivers and lakes.
D) prioritizing protection of the world's endangered megafauna.
E) making conservation affordable for people living near reserves.

Question 65

Marine areas where no human activity is allowed are called

A) marine reserves.
B) MPA's.
C) coral reefs.
D) coastal zones.
E) ocean parks.

Question 66

An emergency action plan to protect the world's most biodiverse areas from imminent threats of degradation and extinction refers to

A) the vertebrate strategy.
B) biodiversity hotspots.
C) the Wilderness Act.
D) the Extinction Prevention Plan.
E) coastal areas and old-growth forests.

Question 67

Although we have explored only a small portion of the world's oceans,general patterns in marine biodiversity observed include:

A) Ecological services in marine ecosystems are valued at twice that of terrestrial ecosystems.
B) Biodiversity is greater in costal areas than in the open sea.
C) The greatest marine biodiversity occur in estuaries, coral reefs and deep-ocean floor
D) Biodiversity is greater in bottom region than the surface regions of the ocean.
E) All of these answers.

Question 68

Deforestation affects agriculture,water supplies,and biodiversity.

Question 69

Invasive species that threaten biodiversity and ecological function in the Great Lakes include all of the following species except

A) sea lamprey.
B) zebra mussel.
C) round goby.
D) lake sturgeon.
E) Asian carp.

Question 70

Protecting marine biodiversity is difficult because of all the following reasons except

A) human ecological footprint is expanding rapidly.
B) much of the damage is not visible to people.
C) much of the ocean lies outside of countries' legal jurisdiction.
D) people can't protect what they can't access.
E) people often view the ocean as inexhaustible.

Question 71

Researchers have suggested all of the following science-based principles for carrying out most forms of ecological restoration and rehabilitation except

A) identifying the cause of the degradation.
B) introducing nonnative species.
C) reintroduction of native species.
D) protection of the area under threat.
E) eliminating causes of degradation.

Question 72

Forests and woodlands cover about 30% of the earth's land.

Question 73

The ecosystem approach employs all of the following four points except

A) prioritizing the protection of megafauna.
B) map the world's most critical ecosystems.
C) protect endangered ecosystems and species.
D) restore as many ecosystems as possible.
E) provide landowners with financial assistance to protect biodiversity on their property.

Question 74

Examples of ecological restoration include all of the following except

A) replanting a forest.
B) restoring a prairie.
C) removing a dam.
D) building levees to minimize a floodplain.
E) eliminating invasive species.

Question 75

Natural ecosystem recovery can be achieved through

A) restoration.
B) rehabilitation.
C) replacement.
D) creating artificial ecosystems.
E) all of these answers

Question 76

The major threats to freshwater ecosystems include

A) dams restricting natural river flow.
B) excessive water withdrawal for agriculture.
C) destruction of wetlands.
D) invasive species crowding out native species.
E) all of these answers.

Question 77

Approaches to protect and sustain marine biodiversity include

A) national and international regulations.
B) economic incentives.
C) marine sanctuaries.
D) integrated-coastal management.
E) all of these answers.

Question 78

Reconciliation ecology is the science of

A) protecting land from industrial development.
B) creating megareserves.
C) restoring terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
D) establishing biodiversity within areas of human settlement and use.
E) creating artificial ecosystems.

Question 79

A commercial forest is a forest reserved exclusively for growing Christmas trees.

Question 80

Major threats to marine biodiversity include all but which of the following?

A) loss of habitat and coastal development
B) deep ocean exploration and ecotourism
C) unsustainable fishing operations
D) invasive species introduction into coastal waters
E) climate change and pollution.