Deck 5: Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Question 1

____ occurs when a species no longer exists on the earth.

A)Ecological extinction
B)Local extinction
C)Biological extinction
D)Natural selection
E)Speciation

Answer 1

C

Question 2

As human populations have spread over the globe, the species extinction rate has

A)increased rapidly.
B)remained equal to the species formation rate.
C)decreased by about one species per year.
D)decreased to historically low levels.
E)remained unchanged.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

People who propose that threatened plants should be protected because they may yield valuable medicines believe in the ____ value of species.

A)economic value.
B)instrumental value.
C)medical value.
D)ecological value.
E)biological value.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which species is known to be threatened or endangered with premature extinction largely because of human activities?

A)Turkey vulture
B)Gray wolf
C)Mule deer
D)Grizzly bear
E)Red fox

Question 5

An endangered species is any species that

A)can undergo alteration of its genetic traits.
B)might become rare within the next century.
C)has so few individuals it may soon becomes extinct.
D)will eventually become threatened or rare.
E)can be considered economically important, but is rare.

Question 6

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

A)economic value.
B)genetic value.
C)intrinsic value.
D)utilitarian value.
E)ecological value.

Question 7

Which of the following is false?

A)Habitat islands can be wildlife preserves set aside to sustain endangered species.
B)Habitat islands are isolated fragments of wildlife habitats.
C)Habitat islands often cannot support the number of individuals required to sustain a population.
D)Habitat islands may be national parks, protected areas, or freshwater lakes.
E)Habitat islands are often surrounded by industrial areas.

Question 8

Habitat islands are created by

A)conservation efforts.
B)habitat fragmentation.
C)the Secretary of the Interior and authorized by the Endangered Species Act.
D)listing by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
E)international treaty.

Question 9

A 1/1,000,000 species per year extinction rate, which is the estimated average rate of extinction in the history of life on the earth, is called ____ extinction.

A)background
B)local
C)ecological
D)biological
E)total

Question 10

____ occurs when one or more populations of a species is no longer found in an area it once inhabited, but is found elsewhere.

A)Ecological extinction
B)Local extinction
C)Biological extinction
D)Natural selection
E)Speciation

Question 11

A threatened species is

A)likely to become endangered.
B)near extinction.
C)immune to the effects of habitat destruction.
D)always a victim of invasive species
E)rarely seen.

Question 12

A male lion living to age seven in Kenya represents the greatest instrumental value as a(n)

A)sporting trophy.
B)tourist attraction.
C)exotic pet.
D)specimen sold alive to a zoo.
E)specimen killed for its skin.

Question 13

When an area surrounding a national park is heavily logged, the park is in danger of becoming a

A)fragmentation zone.
B)habitat island.
C)barrier island.
D)urban landscape.
E)temperate region.

Question 14

The single greatest cause of extinction and decline in global diversity is habitat destruction of

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

Question 15

John James Audubon described a single flock of ____ of perhaps a billion birds, which took three days to travel past him and darkened the skies.

A)Carolina parakeets
B)starlings
C)sparrows
D)passenger pigeons
E)California condors

Question 16

The case of the passenger pigeon best illustrates the

A)strength of natural selection.
B)theory of evolution.
C)concept of coevolution.
D)role humans play in extinction of species.
E)excellence of enforcing laws to protect species.

Question 17

An endemic species would most likely be found in a(n)

A)island habitat such as Hawaii.
B)fragmented habitat such as a logged area.
C)urban locale such as New York City.
D)temperate deciduous forest as in the northeast United States.
E)aquatic ecosystem such as a coastal estuary.

Question 18

____ occurs when a population is too small to sustain its role in biological communities.

A)Ecological extinction
B)Local extinction
C)Biological extinction
D)Natural selection
E)Speciation

Question 19

One characteristic of a species that is likely to become extinct is

A)being invasive.
B)requiring a small territory.
C)having a high reproduction rate.
D)being a generalist.
E)having a specialized niche.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is false?

A)Humans are causing the current high rate of extinction.
B)The current rate of extinction is much higher than average.
C)Extinction is being balanced by the production of new species.
D)Humans are eliminating many of the biologically diverse habitats that have been sources of new species in the past.
E)The current rate of extinction is taking place at a faster pace than ever before.

Question 21

The U.S. National Wildlife Refuges system is most effective at protecting ____.

A)small mammals.
B)migratory waterfowl.
C)large mammals.
D)songbirds.
E)reptiles.

Question 22

What is one possible reason for why Burmese and African pythons are successful invasive species in the Florida Everglades?

A)A similarity in climate between the Everglades and the climate of origin for the snakes
B)The presence of the American alligator as a common predator in the Everglades
C)The frequent occurrence of wildfires in the Everglades
D)The high natural biodiversity of the Everglades
E)The fact that all snakes are protected under Florida law

Question 23

The wild pet trade has impacted all but which of the following animals or types of animals?

A)Parrots
B)Reptiles
C)Amphibians
D)Guinea pigs
E)Tropical fish

Question 24

Illegal hunting for profit is called

A)subsistence hunting.
B)sport hunting.
C)poaching.
D)commercial hunting.
E)trophy hunting.

Question 25

Which species has been introduced into the United States?

A)Mule deer
B)Grizzly bear
C)Argentine fire ant
D)Red fox
E)Diamondback rattlesnake

Question 26

The greatest threat to most species is

A)the destruction of habitats.
B)water pollution.
C)parasites.
D)the buildup of toxic substances in food chains.
E)flooding.

Question 27

What major effect has the Argentina fire ant had on southeastern ecosystems?

A)They wipe out native ants.
B)They take up mounds of dirt around their holes.
C)They sting people.
D)They provide food for armadillos.
E)They eat food supplies of other insects.

Question 28

About one third of all endangered and threatened bird species in the United States live in

A)Alabama
B)Louisiana
C)Alaska
D)Hawaii
E)Florida

Question 29

Captive breeding and egg pulling are techniques that are primarily used to

A)harvest animals for research.
B)genetically alter wild species.
C)supply zoos and aquariums with wild species.
D)teach students about conservation biology.
E)protect critically endangered wild animals from extinction.

Question 30

The Endangered Species Act requires that agencies add or remove species from the endangered list based on

A)biological factors alone.
B)the instrumental value of the species.
C)the intrinsic value of the species.
D)the economic feasibility of saving the species.
E)the practicality of saving the species.

Question 31

The European wild boar is considered an invasive species because it

A)competes for food with native endangered species.
B)causes traffic accidents.
C)provides game.
D)controls pest populations of the Argentina fire ant.
E)is a variety of the feral pig.

Question 32

The process by which chemicals ingested by species in the lower trophic levels of an ecosystem build up in organisms in higher trophic levels is called

A)bioaccumulation.
B)fragmentation.
C)CITES.
D)invasion.
E)specialization.

Question 33

Biodiversity scientists view the worldwide decline in bird species with alarm because

A)birds are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
B)birds are an important source of food for many people.
C)birds are excellent environmental indicators.
D)birds live in nearly every climate and biome.
E)about three fourths of all bird species live in forests.

Question 34

A nonnative species is most likely to become a harmful invasive species in its new ecosystem if it

A)is a specialist.
B)is an indicator species.
C)faces no natural competition in the new ecosystem.
D)ecological niche is similar to native species.
E)is vulnerable to parasites in the new ecosystem.

Question 35

Most wildlife experts believe that the United States needs a new law that

A)is designed to protect particular species.
B)is designed to protect and sustain biodiversity and ecosystem function.
C)is weaker than the Endangered Species Act
D)emphasizes the use of seed banks and captive breeding over habitat protection.
E)bans egg pulling

Question 36

The bioaccumulation of DDT threatened several species of fish eating birds by

A)making them dizzy and unable to fly.
B)making them lose their feathers.
C)making them lose their urge to hunt.
D)making their egg shells too strong for hatching young birds to break free from.
E)causing them to lay eggs with shells too fragile to reproduce successfully.

Question 37

What is one reason that the effectiveness of CITES is limited?

A)The treaty was written to protect the rights of poachers.
B)No member countries have signed the treaty.
C)Member countries have the ability to exempt themselves from protecting any listed species.
D)Member countries have the ability to enforce their own laws world-wide
E)The mandated fines are unreasonably heavy.

Question 38

Successful recovery plans under the Endangered Species Act have benefited the

A)American alligator
B)Peregrine falcon
C)Bald Eagle
D)Brown Pelican
E)Burmese python

Question 39

Captive breeding programs in zoos

A)eliminate the need to preserve critical habitats.
B)require the captive population to number between 100 and 500.
C)increase the genetic variability of species.
D)are relatively inexpensive to operate.
E)are used for all zoo species.

Question 40

Egg pulling involves

A)a technique used to extend the breeding span of captured birds.
B)the collection of eggs from the wild.
C)the use of fertility drugs to increase productivity.
D)the production of hybrids in captive breeding programs.
E)in vitro fertilization.

Question 41

Gene banks, zoos, and aquariums are adequate replacements for habitat conservation in protecting wild species.

Question 42

Rehabilitation of wild endangered species is best done in zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens.

Question 43

Once a harmful non-native species becomes established in an area, they can be easily eliminated by passing international laws to prohibit the transfer of species.

Question 44

A city park and a freshwater lake are examples of ____________________ that are vulnerable to non-native species and pollution.

Question 45

A(n) ____________________ is the percentage or number of species that go extinct within a certain period of time such as a year.

Question 46

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

Question 47

The ____________________ suggests that, on average, loss of 90% of the habitat in an area causes extinction of about 50% of the species in that area.

Question 48

Ecosystems that are disturbed by human activities are not vulnerable to invasive species.

Question 49

Habitat loss is an underlying cause of species extinction.

Question 50

International treaties help protect wild species and thus help maintain biological diversity.

Question 51

As human populations have spread over most of the globe, extinction rates have dropped.

Question 52

The earth has never recovered from a mass extinction.

Question 53

When a species disappears from the earth, it is said to be biologically extinct.

Question 54

During smuggling, many animals that are caught die before reaching their destination.

Question 55

It is estimated that 10,000 individual organisms are necessary for an endangered species to continue biological evolution.

Question 56

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

Question 57

The best way to deal with harmful invasive species is to prevent them from becoming established in an area.

Question 58

____________________ is diminished by extinction.

Question 59

____________________ is the greatest cause of extinction because of habitat loss.

Question 60

The earth's biodiversity is determined by the balance between the formation of new species and biological extinction.

Question 61

One solution to the problem of ____________________ is to connect the patches by planting corridors of native vegetation.

Question 62

What are two major hindrances to protecting species extinction within a single human lifetime?

Question 63

What is the difference between the instrumental and intrinsic value of a species? Provide examples to support your explanation.

Question 64

A species inherent right to exist despite its usefulness humans is its ____________________.

Question 65

Poaching, the illegal pet trade, and wildlife smuggling threaten biodiversity in several ways. Give examples of species under threat from these activities. What specific actions can individuals take to avert the threats that these activities pose?

Question 66

Some species are good ____________________ because they live in all biomes and climates, respond promptly to changes in the environment, and are easy to mark and recapture.

Question 67

____________________ is the practice of collecting wild organisms and breeding them for eventual reintroduction to the wild.

Question 68

How can harmful invasive species disrupt ecosystems? Provide an example.

Question 69

Scientists recognize three levels of extinction. Identify and briefly explain each of these. How seriously does each of the levels affect the earth's biodiversity?

Question 70

a.osprey
b.zooplankton
As DDT bioaccumulates in the accompanying ecosystem, which species would have the lowest concentration in their body?

Question 71

Habitat fragmentation occurs when a habitat is broken into smaller areas by a man-made activity such as road-building, logging, or urban development. Why is this a cause of ecological concern?

Question 72

List four ways in which we can protect wild species from human caused extinctions.

Question 73

Identify three ecological characteristics of the blue whale that make it vulnerable to extinction.

Question 74

a.osprey
b.zooplankton
As DDT bioaccumulates in the accompanying ecosystem, which species would have the highest concentration in their body?

Question 75

____________________ is the practice of collecting wild eggs laid by endangered bird species and then hatching them in zoos or research centers.