Deck 47: Conservation of Biodiversity

Question 1

Which of the following statements applies to an ecosystem with a high level of biodiversity?

A)The ecosystem will have a higher rate of photosynthesis than a similar ecosystem with a lower biodiversity.
B)Resource partitioning will occur more easily in an ecosystem that has a high level of biodiversity.
C)The food web will be more complex and will have a greater number of connections within it.
D)Areas of high biodiversity are economically more valuable than areas with limited biodiversity.
E)All of these apply to an ecosystem with high biodiversity.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Approximately what percentage of the known biodiversity on Earth is composed of plants?

A)16-19%
B)50-55%
C)12-15%
D)63-67%
E)6-8%

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The use of noncultivated fruit,animal skins,fiber,beeswax,and fish are examples of the ________ value of biodiversity.

A)agricultural use
B)medicinal use
C)consumptive use
D)contributions to the biogeochemical cycles

Answer 3

The use of noncultivated fruit,animal skins,fiber,beeswax,and fish are examples of the consumptive use.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about biological diversity is NOT true?

A)Scientists estimate that 10-50 million species exist.
B)Biodiversity is described in terms of genetic,community,and landscape diversity.
C)Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth.
D)Biodiversity is evenly distributed throughout the biosphere.
E)Many species that are in danger of extinction have not been identified and studied.

Question 5

Which of the following fields of study provide useful information for making decisions about conservation?

A)agronomy
B)veterinary science
C)genetics
D)physiology
E)All of these fields provide useful information for making decisions about conservation.

Question 6

As human civilization spread around the world,there were species that benefited greatly from new human-made habitats.However,generally with the expansion of human populations and agriculture,

A)there has been an increase in biological diversity.
B)levels of biological diversity have remained the same,with human-associated organisms replacing the few natural species displaced.
C)biological diversity has decreased for a short time,rebounding to higher levels relatively quickly.
D)biological diversity levels drop dramatically.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about keystone species is NOT true?

A)The extinction of keystone species can lead to other extinctions and a loss of biodiversity.
B)Keystone species are defined as a population subdivided into several small,isolated populations due to habitat fragmentation.
C)Examples of keystone species are grizzly bears,bats,beavers and alligators.
D)The numbers of individuals in the keystone species in their respective community may or may not be excessively high.

Question 8

All of the following are ways in which biodiversity is directly valuable to humans EXCEPT

A)agricultural.
B)medicinal.
C)consumptive use.
D)contributions to biogeochemical cycles.

Question 9

The use of wheat,corn,rice and other crops derived from wild ancestors is an example of the ________ value of biodiversity.

A)agricultural
B)medicinal
C)consumptive use
D)climatic regulation

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an indirect value of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

A)biogeochemical cycling
B)waste recycling
C)water purification
D)prevention of soil erosion
E)All of the choices are roles played by biodiversity.

Question 11

Which of the following statements concerning the indirect values of biodiversity is NOT correct?

A)Trees take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen when they photosynthesize.
B)Forests act like a giant sponge,soaking up excess water and releasing it during drier periods.
C)If human impacts on the environment damage or destroy biogeochemical cycles,then technology will have to artificially re-create those cycles.
D)Diverse organisms are critical in breaking down wastes and immobilizing pollutants.
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 12

Species that are revered by humans due to their appearance or emotional ties are

A)flagship species.
B)keystone species.
C)endangered species.
D)threatened species.

Question 13

________ is (are)associated with 85% of the cases of threatened and endangered species.

A)Pollution
B)Habitat loss
C)Overexploitation
D)Disease
E)Exotic species

Question 14

Madagascar is considered a biodiversity "hotspot" because

A)it originated as a volcanic island.
B)it has lost nearly all of its native species to extinction.
C)it contains an unusually high concentration of species.
D)it has resisted habitat destruction that has caused extinctions elsewhere.
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 15

What is the primary goal of conservation biology?

A)management of the Earth's biodiversity
B)discovery of new sources of food and medicines
C)preservation of crucial habitat for the benefit of multiple species
D)balance the needs of the human population against the rest of the species on Earth
E)identify the most endangered and threatened species so efforts can be made to protect them

Question 16

Which of the following are causes for extinction?

A)habitat loss
B)exotic species
C)pollution
D)All of these are causes for extinction.
E)None of these are causes for extinction.

Question 17

Introduction of alien or exotic species into new ecosystems can occur through

A)colonization when new settlers arrive in an area.
B)accidental transport by ship or plane without anyone's knowledge.
C)agricultural and horticultural activities.
D)All of the choices are correct.

Question 18

Rosy periwinkle,the nine-banded armadillo,and some species of fungus and bacteria have ________ value to man.

A)agricultural
B)medicinal
C)consumptive use
D)indirect
E)no

Question 19

Which of the following statements about extinction is TRUE?

A)Overexploitation by hunting and fishing is the biggest threat to tropical animals and plants.
B)Without human activity,all species would survive and there would be no extinctions.
C)Wild species often become extinct due to different combinations of factors.
D)Commercial hunting and fishing are always careful not to deplete animal reserves.
E)Introduction of new exotic species should help increase biodiversity,slowing species extinctions.

Question 20

The identification and mitigation of factors causing habitat decline is known as

A)the edge effect.
B)a habitat restoration plan.
C)a population viability analysis.
D)a gap analysis.
E)landscape dynamics.

Question 21

The science of collecting,analyzing,and making readily available biological information is

A)habitat restoration planning.
B)landscape preservation.
C)bioinformatics.
D)a population viability analysis.

Question 22

Describe the sequence of problems associated with tropical rainforest destruction.

Question 23

Studies show that biodiversity maximizes resource acquisition and retention within an ecosystem.

Question 24

In which of these landscape patches are species most subject to the edge effect? Explain your answer.

Question 25

Researchers have identified several factors that have increased the number of threatened and endangered species.Identify the causes,as defined by the percentage (%)of species affected.
Use the following word bank: pollution,overexploitation,disease,exotic species,habitat loss. A: ________
B: ________
C: ________
D: ________
E: ________

Question 26

What is the correct sequence of events that has led to the decimation of the kelp beds along the west coast of the U.S.? a.sea otters decline in numbers
B)increase in orca predation on sea otters
C)decline in the seals and sea lions
D)overfishing of the herring and perch
E)increase in the sea urchin population

A)d - c - b - a - e
B)d - c - b - e - a
C)a - d - c - b - e
D)d - b - c - a - e
E)b - d - c - a - e

Question 27

Scientists have predicted minimum,maximum,and probable temperature increases due to global warming by the year 2060 that will lead to further species extinctions. A.What is the maximum likely increase in temperature by the year 2060?
B.What is the minimum likely increase in temperature by the year 2060?
C.What is the most probable increase in temperature by the year 2060?

Question 28

________ is when the number of individuals taken from a wild population is so great that the population becomes severely reduced in number.

A)Overexploitation
B)A source population
C)An "edge effect"
D)Eutrophication

Question 29

Conservation biology is a field that relies on multiple other disciplines,such as taxonomy and genetics,for support.

Question 30

Which of the following causes of extinction has not been attributed to human activity?

A)exotic species
B)habitat loss
C)eutrophication
D)increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
E)All of the above.

Question 31

Why is there great value in preserving biodiversity hotspots?

A)Biodiversity hotspots have a large diversity of species in them.
B)Biodiversity hotspots have a direct value to humans.
C)Biodiversity hotspots have an indirect value to humans.
D)Biodiversity hotspots are often a source of new medicines.
E)All of these are values of preserving biodiversity hotspots.

Question 32

How does ocean fishing affect marine ecosystems today?

A)Because the oceans are so large,they are the one remaining natural ecosystem that is not susceptible to extinction.
B)Only 2 of the 15 major oceanic fishing areas are considered overexploited.
C)Ocean fishing has resulted in overexploitation in 11 of the 15 major oceanic fishing areas.
D)There has been an increase of bottom-dwelling ocean fish,but schools of swimming fish have declined.
E)Bottom-dwelling fish are frequently overfished by trawling,but schools of swimming fish that can easily get away are increasing.

Question 33

What was the root cause of the decline of kelp beds on the west coast of the U.S.?

A)Overfishing of the perch and herring in the area.
B)A decline in the sea otter population that would control the sea urchin population.
C)An increase in the orca population preying upon the sea otters.
D)An explosion of the sea urchin population.
E)A decline in the seal and sea otter population.

Question 34

Which of the following factors would make the strongest contribution to global climate change?

A)large-scale deforestation
B)disruption of the waste recycling by decomposers
C)over-harvesting of wild species for consumptive value
D)drainage of wetlands producing a disruption of water purification
E)an increase in soil erosion leading to siltation of rivers and estuaries

Question 35

Which of the following are characteristics of a keystone species?

A)Their presence dictates the survival of the entire community.
B)They evoke a strong emotional response in people.
C)They have a very large population.
D)They are most often mammals.
E)None of these are characteristics of keystone species.

Question 36

Biodiversity is described in terms of genetic,community,and landscape diversity.

Question 37

While the preservation of a landscape is often intended for one particular organism,often times other species will also benefit.

Question 38

Which of the following species is both a keystone species and a flagship species?

A)grizzly bear
B)panda
C)beaver
D)dolphin
E)alligator

Question 39

Forests and other ecosystems may decrease the chances of flooding in an area due to their water-holding capacity.

Question 40

A decrease in the overfishing of herring and perch would have prevented the decimation of the kelp beds along the west coast of the U.S.

Question 41

Which of the following preservation tactics would have the greatest impact on saving the largest number of species?

A)preserve a large tract of land that contains source populations of keystone species
B)preserve several small tracts of land that contain source populations of keystone species
C)preserve a large tract of land that contains sink populations of keystone species
D)preserve a large tract of land that contains source populations of flagship species
E)preserve multiple small tracts of land that each contain source populations of keystone species

Question 42

Rabbits were introduced to Australia by pioneer settlers in the mid-1800s for sporting hunters.They have since stressed native marsupial and plant populations.This is an example of the introduction of exotic species through accidental transport.

Question 43

What is the main reason that the field of conservation biology has developed?

A)the current rates of extinction on Earth due to human-related factors
B)humans looking for new methods of obtaining resources from the natural environment
C)the consolidation of multiple fields of science into one in an attempt to be more efficient
D)as a means of monitoring the stability of ecosystems

Question 44

Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that attempts to preserve the environment while not considering the needs of humans in the present and future.

Question 45

Scientists estimate that at least 50-60% of all species now living will most likely become extinct in the next 20-50 years unless planned,coordinated action takes place.

Question 46

Identify the 5 main human influenced causes of extinction,starting with the cause with the greatest impact and moving towards the lowest impact.