Deck 9: Sustaining Biodiversity: the Ecosystem Approach

Question 1

All of the following are examples of economic services that forests provide except:

A) Fuelwood
B) reduce soil erosion
C) Recreation
D) Jobs
E) livestock grazing

Answer 1

reduce soil erosion

Question 2

All of the following statements about Wangari Maathai's tree planting program in Kenya are true except

A) It was initially very successful, but has since failed due to government support.
B) It has sparked the creation of similar programs in 30 other African countries.
C) Since its inception in 1977, it has had 50,000 members.
D) It has established 6,000 village nurseries.
E) It started with a small nursery in her backyard.

Answer 2

It was initially very successful, but has since failed due to government support.

Question 3

Which type of forest is considered a reservoir of biodiversity?

A) old-growth
B) second-growth
C) Commercial
D) tree plantation
E) All forests are reservoirs of biodiversity.

Answer 3

old-growth

Question 4

When roads are built into previously inaccessible forest areas to harvest timber, all of the following things happen except:

A) the forest becomes fragmented
B) topsoil erodes
C) biodiversity is lost
D) sediment runoff occurs in waterways
E) the forest ecosystem remains intact with no disturbance or damage

Question 5

The most compelling issue that is causing loss of grasslands in the Western United States is

A) destructive range fires
B) harvesting grasses for hay for domestic animals
C) conversion to cropland
D) Overgrazing
E) intrusion of forests into grassland areas

Question 6

Countries with the largest areas of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified trees, in order from largest to smallest certified areas, are:

A) United States, Poland, Brazil, Canada, Russia, and Sweden
B) Sweden, United States, Canada, Russia, Brazil, and Poland
C) Russia, Canada, United States, Sweden, Poland, and Brazil
D) Canada, Russia, Sweden, United States, Poland, and Brazil

Question 7

As a consequence of the reintroduction of the gray wolf into Yellowstone National Park and northern Idaho, the following other wild species have made a comeback:

A) Beavers
B) round squirrels, mice, and gophers
C) willow, aspen, and cottonwood trees
D) beavers, ground squirrels, mice, gophers, willow, aspen and cottonwood trees.
E) wolf reintroduction caused other species to decline, not reemerge or increase.

Question 8

A process in which grazing cattle are confined with portable fencing to specific small areas for a short time and then moved is called

A) erosion control
B) rotational grazing
C) nutrient cycling
D) organic grazing
E) organizing grazing and erosion control

Question 9

Fairly diverse second- and third-growth forests now exist in all parts of the United States except the

A) East
B) West
C) North
D) South
E) Northeast

Question 10

A tree harvesting method that involves cutting intermediate-aged or mature trees singly or in small groups is called

A) clear-cutting
B) strip cutting
C) selective cutting
D) patch cutting
E) landscape cutting

Question 11

All of the following are important aspects of sustainable forestry except

A) no logging of old-growth forests
B) no clear-cutting on steep slopes
C) reduce road-building into uncut forest areas
D) rely more on clear-cutting
E) certify timber grown by sustainable methods

Question 12

Which of the following is a secondary cause of forest degradation rather than a basic cause?

A) crop and timber exports
B) government policies
C) population growth
D) Fires
E) Poverty

Question 13

A program undertaken by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Advertising Council that has helped humans and saved forests is

A) the prescribed burn program
B) the Smokey Bear campaign
C) the program to restore watersheds below clear cuts
D) the program to remove dams
E) the program to thin trees in old growth forests

Question 14

A plant called kenaf would help to reduce the pressure to cut trees because its fiber is very useful for

A) making paper
B) home construction material
C) furniture making
D) fencing and decking material
E) fabric for outdoor carpeting

Question 15

According to environmental writer Bill McKibbin, "the great environmental story of the United States, and in some ways, the whole world" is the

A) restoration of grasslands
B) regrowth of forests
C) production of biofuels on forest land
D) restoration of aquatic ecosystems
E) restoration of saguaro cactus stands

Question 16

The Green Belt Movement, founded by Wangari Maathai, combines tree planting and preservation with

A) a drug rehabilitation program
B) a women's self help group that addresses poverty
C) a family planning organization
D) a sustainable agriculture program
E) a cooperative farming college course

Question 17

Natural ecological restoration of riparian areas can happen if

A) enough chemical fertilizer is applied
B) there is aggressive planting of native trees and shrubs
C) the native fish in the adjacent stream or river are restocked
D) protecting overgrazed land by moving cattle around
E) cloud seeding is performed

Question 18

Strip cutting of timber is a method of harvesting that

A) harvests trees singly or in small groups
B) involves clearing trees along a contour of the land within a narrow corridor
C) removes all trees from a very large area, with no attention to land contours
D) is particularly damaging to the forest
E) is promoted by logging companies because of the high profit margin

Question 19

Political steps that can help reduce the destruction and degradation of tropical forests include all of the following except

A) certifying sustainably grown timber
B) establishing programs to teach settlers sustainable agriculture and forestry strategies
C) subsidizing only sustainable-use forestry
D) encouraging migration to undisturbed tropical forests
E) reducing poverty

Question 20

Sustainable management and harvesting of forests is certified by the

A) U.S. Forest Service
B) California Conservation Core
C) Forest Stewardship Council
D) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
E) Endangered Species Act

Question 21

The zone of a biosphere reserve where there would be little, if any, disturbance from human activities would be the

A) buffer zone
B) transition zone
C) core
D) mantle
E) biozone

Question 22

In the United States, about 4.7% of our land is set aside as protected wilderness. The vast majority of that land is in Alaska, which accounts for ____________of the total.

A) 80%
B) 75%
C) 50%
D) 45%
E) Actually of the protected wilderness land in the U.S. is in Alaska

Question 23

Reintroduction of the wolf eventually reduced attacks on domestic cattle by what other species?

A) golden eagle
B) Coyote
C) Fox
D) grizzly bear
E) local wild dogs

Question 24

The wolf reintroduction was based partly on its importance as a(n)

A) indicator species
B) generalist species
C) fur-bearing species
D) keystone species
E) predator on grizzly bear cubs

Question 25

According to Stephen Saunders, former deputy assistant Secretary of the Interior, the greatest threat the national parks have ever had is

A) large scale deforestation
B) the projected climate change
C) overuse by tourists
D) air pollution
E) pollution of both air and fresh water bodies such as streams and rivers

Question 26

A former taxi driver from San Francisco led a successful community project to restore native wild salmon to the Mattole River on the north coast of California. He eventually convinced California Fish and Game to use his program to restore all coastal California river systems and reintroduce biodiversity to native salmon stocks. This is best described as an example of

A) pure fantasy
B) reconciliation ecology
C) deep ecology
D) biocultural restoration
E) biocultural ecology

Question 27

All of the following are approaches to helping ecosystems recover except

A) Rehabilitation
B) secondary succession
C) Replacement
D) creating artificial ecosystems
E) Restoration

Question 28

Referring to the scenario in the previous question, respond to this question: Resurgence of the cottonwood forest along the riverbank led to cooler water in certain areas of the river. Cool water contains more oxygen than warm water. How would this cooler water affect the native fish populations in the river?

A) they would decrease
B) they would stay the same
C) they would initially increase and then decrease
D) they would increase
E) they would be choked out by the algal bloom that resulted from the increased oxygen

Question 29

It can be said that coastal habitats are actually

A) increasing in area
B) disappearing up to 10 times faster than tropical forests
C) maintaining a solid level of biodiversity
D) disappearing at the same rate as tropical forests
E) declining in many areas but rebounding in others

Question 30

The area of ocean needed to sustain the consumption of fish for an average person, nation, or the world is called the

A) footprint
B) ecological footprint
C) biodiversity print
D) fishprint
E) foodprint

Question 31

According to your textbook, the biggest problem for U.S. national and state parks today is

A) popularity
B) nearby human activities
C) non-native species
D) poaching
E) soil erosion

Question 32

The hotspots strategy is thought to be a very _____ way to protect much of the earth's remaining biodiversity.

A) expensive
B) cost effective
C) questionable
D) unscientific
E) politically correct

Question 33

Conservation biologists want the protection of at least ____ of the Earth's land.

A) 10%
B) 15%
C) 20%
D) 25%
E) 30%

Question 34

"Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it." This statement was made by ____ about ____.

A) Bill Clinton, wilderness
B) Richard Nixon, environmental laws
C) George W. Bush, national park maintenance
D) Barack Obama, Yellowstone National Park
E) Theodore Roosevelt, wilderness

Question 35

Which country pays landowners to restore tree cover?

A) Panama
B) Brazil
C) Costa Rica
D) China
E) Norway

Question 36

Which common problem of U.S. cities is now a problem in United States national parks?

A) homeless people
B) lack of funding for schools
C) air pollution
D) high crime rates
E) alcoholism

Question 37

Of Earth's remaining wilderness areas, about ____ are strictly or partially protected by law from human activities.

A) 5%
B) 20%
C) 45%
D) 50%
E) 55%

Question 38

A certain lake in the arid west contains an endangered species of fish. The legal status of this fish required water diversions out of the river feeding the lake to be decreased substantially. About 10 years following this decree, the declining cottonwood forest and canopy along the riverbanks was noted to be recovering. This situation illustrates the potential effectiveness of

A) the species approach to sustaining biodiversity
B) the ecosystem approach to sustaining biodiversity
C) cottonwood trees as part of all stream recovery programs
D) water as a solution to species decline
E) fish as indicator species

Question 39

The Wilderness Act passed in 1964 allows the government to

A) take legal action against environmental degradation in wildlife preserves
B) protect native species
C) protect undeveloped tracts of public land
D) protect national parks and reserves
E) rotate usage of wildlife areas

Question 40

Biocultural restoration refers to

A) restoration of the cultural aspect of cities damaged by natural disasters
B) embedding cultural awareness as part of biology courses
C) projects that have biological themes for school art projects
D) projects that involve local people in restoration of degraded areas
E) both restoration of the cultural aspect of cities damaged by natural disasters and projects that involve local people in restoration of degraded areas

Question 41

The United States is the clear leader in total area of forests approved by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Question 42

Commercial forests have the same biodiversity as old-growth forests.

Question 43

E.O. Wilson said we might as well go ahead and log the world's remaining old growth forests.

Question 44

Introduction of the gray wolf to Yellowstone National Park caused the squirrel population to increase.

Question 45

Although there are currently more than 4,000 marine protected areas (MPA's) worldwide, nearly all of these sites still allow

A) Dredging
B) trawler fishing
C) other harmful human resource extraction activities
D) skin diving for viewing coral
E) dredging, trawling and other harmful human resource extraction activities

Question 46

Millions of trees are cut down in North, Central and South America to make ultra-soft toilet paper.

Question 47

The difference between a nature reserve and a wilderness area is that people are allowed to visit nature reserves.

Question 48

A program called a debt-for-nature swap makes it financially attractive for countries to protect their tropical forests.

Question 49

The United States is the only country that has set aside about 25% of its total land area for nature reserves and national parks.

Question 50

A helpful, but somewhat more expensive way of controlling unwanted vegetation such as invasive plants is short-term trampling by large numbers of livestock.

Question 51

Sylvia Earle

A) seeks to ignite public support for "hope spots"
B) seeks to ignite public support for "hot spots"
C) is an oceanographer
D) is an explorer and seeks to ignite public support for "hot spots"
E) is an oceanographer, explorer and seeks to ignite public support for "hope spots"

Question 52

In the United States, more wood is grown than is cut in a year.

Question 53

The overall loss of forest biodiversity on the planet violates all three principles of sustainability.

Question 54

Recycling paper and buying recycled paper products is one way you can help to sustain terrestrial biodiversity.

Question 55

Which of the following is a fish harvesting method used for harvesting schools of fish in shallow or surface waters, which has caused the death of large numbers of dolphins?

A) longlining
B) purse-seine fishing
C) trawler fishing
D) drift-net fishing
E) sport fishing

Question 56

____________________ contributes to the greenhouse effect by destroying plants that store carbon dioxide.

Question 57

Removing dams and allowing rivers to flow freely can help restore biodiversity.

Question 58

Forest fires cause the germination of seeds of certain tree species.

Question 59

Uncut forests or regenerated forests that have not been significantly impacted by humans or natural disasters for several hundred years or more are known as ____________________.

Question 60

Costa Rica is a global conservation leader.

Question 61

Explain both the positive and negative aspect of the Smokey the Bear educational campaign.

Question 62

Scientists estimate that _________ __________ _______account for at least 17% of all human-created greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 63

In a forest ecosystem, occasional ____________________ fires have a number of ecological benefits.

Question 64

Using the graph pictured below that shows the tons of cod catch in the North Atlantic from 1900 on, match the appropriate letter with the description given.
What point on the graph represents the fish catch after the use of bottom trawlers was established?

Question 65

Wangari Maathai's Green Belt Movement in Kenya planted a total of ____________________ trees between 1977 and 2005.

Question 66

Using the graph pictured below that shows the tons of cod catch in the North Atlantic from 1900 on, match the appropriate letter with the description given.
At what point on the graph would it have been most beneficial to implement sustainable fishing practices to preserve the cod fishery?

Question 67

The Body Shop is the name of a very popular and successful cosmetics and personal care chain of stores located in the United States and abroad. The founder of this store sought out natural remedies known by native peoples in developing countries, and does not use animal testing. She not only paid the natives for the recipes to the remedies, she employed them in production of the items for sale. How is this enterprise helpful to the preservation of wild species?

Question 68

Using the graph pictured below that shows the tons of cod catch in the North Atlantic from 1900 on, match the appropriate letter with the description given.
What area on the graph represents a slight recovery in the collapsed fishery?

Question 69

Wilderness serves as a(n) ____________________ bank.

Question 70

Using the graph pictured below that shows the tons of cod catch in the North Atlantic from 1900 on, match the appropriate letter with the description given.
What area on the graph represents the point when fishermen began to use bottom trawlers to catch fish?

Question 71

If a stream is located at the bottom of a slope of forest that has been strip cut or selectively cut, the stream would likely be ____________________.

Question 72

It has been estimated that up to 60% of the wood consumed in the United States is ________________ _____________.

Question 73

Recreation and jobs are two ____________________ services that forests provide.

Question 74

Costa Rica's largest source of income is its $1 billion-a-year tourism industry, two-thirds of which is ____________________.

Question 75

Today, forests in the United States cover ____________________ area than they did in 1920.

Question 76

____________________ is a non-tree plant fiber from a rapidly growing woody plant that yields more paper pulp per area of land than tree farms do.

Question 77

Using the graph pictured below that shows the tons of cod catch in the North Atlantic from 1900 on, match the appropriate letter with the description given.
What point on the graph represents the year when 20,000 fishermen and fish processors lost their jobs?

Question 78

One suggestion for sustainably managing fisheries is to use wide-meshed nets for harvesting fish caught with nets. This would allow escape of ____________________.

Question 79

The majority of deforestation on the planet that has been caused by human activities has occurred since ____________________.

Question 80

Definite priorities for protecting the world's remaining ecosystems and species have been proposed by ____________________.