Deck 40: Preserving Biodiversity

Question 1

If your UV detector showed higher levels of UV radiation than normal,you might suspect changes in what layer of the atmosphere?

A) benthic zone
B) ozone layer
C) cumulus clouds
D) particulate layer
E) profundal zone

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The normal pH of rainfall is

A) slightly acidic, pH 5.6.
B) slightly basic, pH 5.6.
C) slightly acidic, pH 9.6.
D) slightly basic, pH 9.6.
E) neutral, pH 7.0.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

How does damming or altering the path of a river destroy wetlands?

A) Fish can no longer migrate up and down the river.
B) Wetlands can no longer obtain nutrients from annual floods.
C) Wetlands can no longer obtain oxygen from the flowing water of the river.
D) Birds can no longer get to the wetlands.
E) Increased nutrients flow into the wetlands, causing eutrophication.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Greenhouse gases block

A) carbon dioxide escape from the earth.
B) heat escape from the earth.
C) oxygen escape from the earth.
D) UV wavelengths escape from the earth.
E) UV wavelengths from reaching earth's surface.

Question 5

How is tropical deforestation linked to climate change?

A) Burning the forests releases carbon dioxide, and transpiration by trees is diminished.
B) Burning the forests releases carbon dioxide, and transpiration by trees is increased.
C) Burning the forests consumes oxygen, and transpiration by trees is diminished.
D) Burning the forests consumes oxygen, and transpiration by trees is increased.

Question 6

Commercial fisheries are increasingly focusing on catching smaller fish like anchovies because of ______ large predatory fishes.

A) exotic
B) competition with
C) increases in
D) pollution in
E) overexploitation of

Question 7

Which of the following is an important invasive species?

A) Sumatran rhino
B) California condor
C) zebra mussel
D) Northern bluefin tuna
E) green pitcher plant

Question 8

A species that humans bring to an area where it did not previously occur is a(n)_____ species.

A) exotic
B) native
C) endemic
D) existing
E) endangered

Question 9

Which species is overexploited rather than invasive?

A) zebra mussels in the Great Lakes
B) brown tree snakes of Guam
C) bison in the North American plains
D) marine toads in Florida
E) gypsy moth caterpillars in North America

Question 10

To be considered _____,an introduced species must begin breeding in its new location and spread widely from its point of introduction.

A) resourceful
B) harmful
C) native
D) dominant
E) invasive

Question 11

Air pollution in the lower atmosphere charterized by a visible haze is called a fug.

Question 12

Since the 1950s,_____ of the ocean's large predatory fishes have disappeared.

A) 1%
B) 20%
C) 50%
D) 70%
E) 90%

Question 13

The primary cause for loss of biodiversity is

A) predation.
B) parasitism.
C) genetic mutation.
D) habitat destruction.
E) global warming.

Question 14

Since the settling of North America by Europeans,only about _____ of the original temperate forest area survives.

A) 1%
B) 5%
C) 10%
D) 20%
E) 25%

Question 15

The background species extinction rate

A) estimates how many extinctions humans are causing.
B) estimates how quickly species disappeared before human intervention.
C) measures today's extinction rate of animals.
D) measures today's extinction rate of plants.
E) All of the answer choices are correct.

Question 16

An increase in the surface temperature of the earth caused by heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere is known as

A) the greenhouse effect.
B) the biome effect.
C) bioremediation.
D) desertification.
E) the nursery effect.

Question 17

In a process called _____,nitrogen and phosphorus fertilize algae in the water resulting in algal blooms.

A) particulation
B) eutrophication
C) denitrification
D) nitrification
E) desertification

Question 18

Any chemical,physical,or biological change in the environment that harms living organisms is

A) nitrification.
B) an upwelling.
C) deforestation.
D) ozone depletion.
E) pollution.

Question 19

If you are planning to test a new cream designed to protect Australian cows' udders against decreased layers of ozone,you would need a lamp producing what kind of light?

A) ultraviolet
B) violet
C) red
D) blue
E) green

Question 20

The current extinction rate of vertebrates is 100-1000 times the historical background.This is primarily due to

A) overharvesting.
B) competition with exotic species.
C) habitat destruction.
D) competition with native species.
E) random chance.

Question 21

The zebra mussel and the gypsy moth both have reduced biodiversity in North America.

Question 22

The greatest threat to the endangered great spotted kiwi of New Zealand is introduced predators.

Question 23

Melting of ice from sources on land (glaciers)raises sea levels.

Question 24

Fish ladders can help fish populations deal with obstructions created by dams.

Question 25

If you found a species of plant consisting of widely separated small populations,what might you expect?

A) low genetic diversity
B) bottleneck effects
C) increased likelihood of extinction
D) genetic isolation among subpopulations
E) All of the answer choices are correct.

Question 26

After nearing extinction in the 1960s,the bald eagle population is now about 10,000.

Question 27

One important conservation tool used to restore native populations is to set aside an area and protect it from overexploitation,invasive species,and habitat destruction.

Question 28

Why do populations that fragment in response to climate changes face a higher risk of extinction?

A) Population fragmentation leads to loss of genetic diversity.
B) Populations which have moved are subject to new predators.
C) Moving populations cannot breed as effectively.
D) The number of young decreases for several generations in new habitat.
E) All of the answer choices are correct.

Question 29

In addition to eutrophication in lakes,which process is being caused by excess nutrients in rivers?

A) warming of the water in the Gulf of Mexico
B) introduction of exotic species like Zebra mussels
C) the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico
D) decreased plant growth
E) clogging of city water lines

Question 30

Many environmentalists believe that reducing human population growth could improve environmental issues.

Question 31

Lodgepole chipmunks have moved to higher elevations in the last century as temperatures at Yellowstone warmed.

Question 32

Alpine chipmunks have moved to higher elevations in the last century as temperatures at Yellowstone warmed.

Question 33

In examining water samples preserved in glass jars over the last century,you notice a steadily declining pH.What is the most likely general explanation?

A) gradual eutrophication of water sources
B) rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels leading to gradual acidification
C) dumping of acids in waterways
D) mislabeling of samples
E) None of the answer choices is correct.

Question 34

Overexploitation is harvesting a species faster than it can reproduce.

Question 35

Smog,among other things,indicates change in large-scale chemical cycles.

Question 36

If you were preparing a generalized plan to conserve biodiversity,besides habitat destruction,you would list eutrophication as the primary threat to biodiversity.