Deck 8: Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Species

Question 1

The world's wild species provide ecological resources and services that keep us alive and support human economies.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Human population growth is one of the causes of extinction.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The United States Endangered Species Act offers protection only for species located within United States boundaries.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

If human activities allow an invasive species to thrive, its speciation and population growth rates may be higher at the same time that it depresses speciation and growth rates of other species.

Question 5

When introduced to a new area, nonnative species always thrive because their predators are not present.

Question 6

Red fire ants have developed a genetic resistance to pesticides.

Question 7

Aquariums have been effectively used as gene banks for large marine mammals.

Question 8

The primary reason that polar bear populations are declining is because the higher temperatures resulting from climate change cause them to overheat due to their thick fur.

Question 9

Although many species are useful for humans, introduced exotic species are almost never useful.

Question 10

Roads do not cause habitat fragmentation.

Question 11

Pollution from human activities has only minor effects on the environment, so the primary concern when pollution occurs is that it affects human health.

Question 12

It is estimated that between 20% and 50% of the world's plant and animal species will suffer premature extinction by the end of this century.

Question 13

The African honeybee, also known as the killer bee, is a deliberately introduced invasive species.

Question 14

A male lion in Kenya generates more money through ecotourism than if killed for its skin.

Question 15

A particular species of endangered bird distributes seeds for plants and is an important food for other animals, so it may be considered a keystone species and especially important to target for conservation efforts.

Question 16

Species can be more vulnerable to storms and forest fires because of habitat fragmentation.

Question 17

A species is discovered in a remote area of Hawaii during a new building project. This species is especially likely to be at risk of extinction due to this type of habitat change just because it is an island species.

Question 18

A species is considered biologically extinct when it has disappeared from the earth.

Question 19

Extinction can occur as the result of habitat fragmentation.

Question 20

The most important reason to preserve wild species is to provide game hunting and fishing opportunities.

Question 21

Which of the following is an important problem in predicting future extinction rates?

A) Scientists often do not know all of the details of the ecological roles of species.
B) Most of the world's species have already been identified.
C) It is difficult to work out how many individuals are needed for a population to be viable.
D) Scientists have no information about extinctions prior to having written human records.
E) Mathematical models cannot be used to make these predictions even when detailed data are available for species because the models are so complex.

Question 22

A biologist is most likely to say that the European honeybee is ____.

A) endangered
B) migrating away because of climate change
C) going extinct
D) experiencing colony collapse disorder
E) threatened

Question 23

A bioprospector is someone who ____.

A) searches for plants that can be used as biofuels
B) tests plants and animals in various ecosystems to find chemicals that are potentially useful as medicinal drugs
C) searches for new ways to economically exploit animals
D) prospects for wild organic foods
E) is a biologist and medical doctor who works for a private industry

Question 24

What is the cause of extinction and reduction in wild species that compete for resources with humans?

A) Hunting similar prey
B) Use of pesticides that inadvertently kill wild species
C) Human population growth
D) Pollution
E) Invasive species

Question 25

What is currently the most important threat to the survival of polar bears?

A) Pollutants driven by currents from oceans in more temperate climate zones
B) Hunting by native populations
C) Disruptions from tourism
D) Limited hunting opportunities due to less floating ice
E) Slow extinction as a result of documented global population cycles

Question 26

Recoveries after mass extinctions can ____.

A) never happen
B) take several million years
C) happen over a few hundred years
D) be detrimental to existing species
E) only happen in the absence human activity

Question 27

The species-area relationship suggests that if 90% of the habitat of a terrestrial species is lost, then ____.

A) 90% of the species utilizing the area will go extinct
B) 100% of the species utilizing the area will go extinct
C) 50% of the species utilizing the area will go extinct
D) the speciation rate of invasive animals will increase
E) the habitat will become increasingly fragmented

Question 28

You are trying to decide on a conservation plan for a large national park. Which of the species below is likely to be the biggest conservation concern and important to consider first?

A) A large predator that lives on huge territories and has only 2-3 offspring per litter
B) A plant that is sparsely distributed in diverse habitats over a large geographic area
C) A species that produces very large numbers of offspring each year
D) A species that has no commercial value
E) A primary consumer that has a wide and varied diet

Question 29

Which of the following is the best example of ecotourism?____.

A) Tourists go on arranged hunts of animals such as lions that are kept in restricted areas to make hunting easier.
B) Tourists spent time seeing ways that human communities can be made more sustainable in ecologically friendly cities.
C) Tourists spend money while visiting cities that have diverse species of animals living in zoos, where they are used in captive breeding and other conservation programs.
D) Tourists explore tropical rain forests in Costa Rica to see the diverse animals, ranging from monkeys to poison dart frogs.
E) Tourists go on tours to see environmental damage in order to better understand the importance of protecting the environment.

Question 30

The Florida panther is a species of particular conservation concern that lives in southern Florida. Which of the following is an important characteristic of these cats that contributes to their increased risk of extinction?

A) Panthers are abundant, making them a target for hunting.
B) Panthers are of limited commercial value.
C) Panthers require large territories.
D) Panthers are spread over a large geographic area.
E) Panthers feed at a low trophic level.

Question 31

The butchering and eating of some forms of bushmeat has helped to spread diseases such as HIV/AIDS and the Ebola virus.

Question 32

Island species cannot easily move to new areas, so damage to their habitat can rapidly cause them to experience population declines.

Question 33

A major reason for preventing extinction is the belief of many people that ____.

A) all species have economic value
B) nature has a spiritual value
C) wild species have a right to exist
D) animals have the same rights as humans
E) there is recreational value of species to humans

Question 34

There are an estimated 61,000 orangutans in the wild that are ____ at a rate of 1,000 to 2,000 per year.

A) becoming threatened
B) becoming endangered
C) increasing speciation
D) raising ecotourism dollars
E) disappearing

Question 35

Some plant species could go extinct if bird species become displaced by climate change and habitat loss.

Question 36

Various plant species provide value as food crops, fuelwood, lumber, paper from trees, and useful scientific knowledge. What term best describes this type of value?

A) Natural benefits
B) Value for ecotourism
C) Ecologic provisions
D) Economic services
E) Bioprospecting potential

Question 37

The current rate of extinction is ____ , compared to the historical background extinction rate.

A) about the same
B) slightly less
C) up to 1,000 times higher
D) almost 1,000 times lower
E) fluctuating wildly

Question 38

There is evidence that polar bears are more frequently reported encountering humans and visiting human settlements. What is the most likely explanation for this behavior?

A) Because conservation efforts have been so successful, polar bear populations are increasing so much that they are expanding their range.
B) Because they have less ice on which to hunt and have trouble finding prey, polar bears must search for food in other places.
C) Excessive hunting is causing polar bears to leave their normal habitat.
D) The seals that polar bears eat must have moved into human settlements first.
E) There is a decreasing polar bear population, so this must be a result of mistaken identification of other species.

Question 39

Biologists warn that human activities might actually increase the ____ for various weeds and pests.

A) ecological services
B) habitat fragmentation
C) extinction rates
D) biodiversity
E) speciation rates

Question 40

An endangered species is best described as any species that ____.

A) has fewer than two individuals remaining
B) is in danger of becoming rare
C) could soon become extinct
D) may eventually become threatened
E) is considered economically important

Question 41

The Endangered Species Act was designed to ____.

A) catalogue and protect threatened species from extinction in the United States
B) identify and protect endangered species only in the United States
C) identify and protect endangered species in the United States and abroad
D) develop recovery plans for listed species more quickly
E) emphasize the protection of biological diversity and ecosystem functioning

Question 42

Establishing international treaties that ban the transfer of potentially harmful species from one country to another is a good way to control ____.

A) overexploitation
B) poaching
C) population growth
D) habitat fragmentation
E) invasive species

Question 43

HIPPCO is ____.

A) an acronym that summarizes the Endangered Species Act goals
B) an acronym to summarize the direct causes of extinction resulting from human activities
C) the name of an ecotourism company in Africa that specializes in hippopotamus sightings
D) an acronym to summarize the health care right to privacy act
E) a trading company in Africa that sells hippopotamus hides

Question 44

According to federal data, almost ____ of the ESA-protected species are recovering at the rate projected in their recovery plans.

A) none
B) 90%
C) 35%
D) 20%
E) 10%

Question 45

Captive breeding programs in zoos ____.

A) eliminate the need to preserve critical habitats
B) can be used for most species except mammals
C) increase the genetic variability of species
D) require the captive population to number between 100 and 500
E) are largely unsuccessful

Question 46

The Convention on Biological Diversity was ratified or accepted by 193 countries. Which country was NOT among those who ratified this treaty?

A) Russia
B) China
C) The United Kingdom
D) Canada
E) The United States

Question 47

Kudzu was deliberately introduced to the U.S. to help ____.

A) stabilize honey bee populations
B) eliminate other invasive species
C) control soil erosion
D) manage colony collapse disorders in various species
E) produce sustainable food sources for humans

Question 48

The greatest threat to species habitat is ____.

A) climate change
B) pollution
C) tropical deforestation
D) desertification
E) invasive species

Question 49

To help save kiwi, a type of flightless bird found only in New Zealand, scientists use a technique called egg pulling. This means that they ____.

A) collect and measure eggs in the wild in order to study them, then immediately return them to the nest
B) collect eggs from kiwi nests in the wild and hatch them in captivity to increase the chance that the baby kiwis will survive
C) eliminate as many wild predators as possible to protect the kiwis
D) collect eggs of predators to reduce predator populations to protect kiwis
E) use artificial breeding techniques in captive populations to increase breeding success

Question 50

The "extinction capital" of the United States is ____.

A) Florida, with 63% of its species at risk
B) Key West, with 72% of its species at risk
C) California, with 63% of its species at risk
D) Hawaii, with 63% of its species at risk
E) Puerto Rico, with 63% of its species at risk

Question 51

With the absence of emergency action to curtail ____ and preserve tiger habitats, few if any tigers, including the Sumatran tiger, will be left in the wild by 2022.

A) pollution
B) climate change
C) invasive species
D) fragmentation
E) poaching

Question 52

What is the best way to reduce threats from invasive species?

A) Eradication
B) Prevention
C) Pesticides
D) Genetic engineering
E) Technology and science

Question 53

The term "biomagnification" means that a chemical ____ at each trophic level in a food chain or web.

A) undergoes chemical changes
B) becomes more concentrated
C) becomes less concentrated
D) changes
E) enters the system

Question 54

The decline in approximately 70% of the world's bird species is particularly alarming to scientists because ____ .

A) this is the first time any bird species have been threatened with declining numbers
B) the cause is a non-human activity that scientists cannot determine
C) only land birds are affected, while water birds seem to be maintaining normal population numbers
D) birds are excellent environmental indicators
E) bird watching now generates a significant portion of tourist dollars in some countries

Question 55

The greatest threat to most species is ____.

A) loss of habitat
B) water pollution
C) parasites
D) sport hunting
E) global drought conditions

Question 56

All of the statements below explain ways that scientists can learn about invasive species to better understand them, prevent their arrival in new areas, and control them once they have been established. Of the approaches listed, which is the most effective way that people attempt to prevent invasive species from being introduced and potentially becoming established?

A) Releasing natural predators and parasites to help control existing populations of invasive species
B) Educating people about the importance of preventing introductions, including the risks of releasing pets into the wild
C) Using transmitters and tracking devices to learn more about existing populations of invasive species
D) Using models to predict how new arrivals of a species will spread
E) Using transmitters to collect data for mathematical models to examine patterns of spread

Question 57

What is a threat to 60% of the U.S. wildlife refuges?

A) Ecotourism and hunting
B) Invasive species
C) Human population growth
D) Habitat fragmentation
E) Mining, oil drilling, and use of off-road vehicles

Question 58

The zebra mussel was introduced into the Great Lakes, where it has outcompeted other species and done economic damage. What is the most important reason that the introduced zebra mussels were so successful?

A) All introduced species are able to outcompete native species in this way.
B) Zebra mussel populations grew rapidly because they are photosynthetic and do not have to find food.
C) Zebra mussels can attach to boats and irrigation pipes, giving them more possible habitats than in their native range.
D) Zebra mussels were deliberately introduced into the Great Lakes, so humans helped to protect them until the population grew to a stable size.
E) Zebra mussels were able to exploit an ecological niche without their natural predators to control their numbers.

Question 59

Why has the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity been slow?

A) Lack of acceptance by the United Nations
B) War and conflict in many biodiversity hotspots
C) Inability of poor countries to enforce the conventions
D) Lack of ratification by key countries including the United States.
E) Difficulties in controlling poaching

Question 60

The red fire ant is ____.

A) extinct because of insecticides
B) threatened
C) endangered
D) an accidentally introduced species
E) a deliberately introduced species

Question 61

The growing consensus is that ____________________ in the European honeybee population is likely caused by a combination of interacting factors related to several forms of environmental degradation.

Question 62

The Endangered Species Act requires that all commercial shipments of wildlife products ____.

A) be inspected for disease-carrying animals
B) enter or leave the country through one of 17 designated airports or ocean ports
C) must be banned
D) pay heavy import taxes that discourage trafficking of endangered species
E) occur in specially designed containers that protect animals and plants

Question 63

In the 1950s and 1960s, birds exposed to excessive levels of the chemical ____________________ were often unable to reproduce successfully because their eggshells were so fragile.

Question 64

____________________ is a process by which chemicals entering the food chain at lower levels become concentrated as they move to animals at higher trophic levels.

Question 65

A habitat that is isolated by roads, agriculture, or urban development is called a(n) ____________________.

Question 66

The ____________________ relationship explains how 90% of land habitat loss can cause 50% of the species to go extinct in a given area.

Question 67

What agency or group is responsible for studying the status of threatened dolphins and whether they should be listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act?

A) Environmental Protection Agency
B) CITES
C) National Marine Fisheries Service
D) Convention on Biological Diversity
E) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Question 68

In the 1600s, English settlers introduced the ____________________, which is a deliberately introduced invasive species that is used to pollinate most crops.

Question 69

When it comes to wood products, what is the most important step you can take to help protect endangered species?

A) Do not buy furs or ivory.
B) Do not buy wood products from tropical or old-growth forests.
C) Do not buy pet animals from the tropics.
D) Support your local forester.
E) Avoid having campfires.

Question 70

Biologists conservatively estimate that the current extinction rate is at least ____________________ times the normal background extinction rate.

Question 71

What is to the best approach to preserving genetic information for endangered plant species?

A) National laws
B) Protected areas
C) Wildlife refuges
D) Arboretums
E) Seed banks

Question 72

Most species reintroductions fail because a suitable ____________________ is not available.

Question 73

Recent genetic research indicates that ____ or more individuals are needed for an endangered species to maintain its capacity for biological evolution.

A) 10
B) 100
C) 1,000
D) 10,000
E) 100,000

Question 74

The United States has not signed or ratified the ____________________, a treaty that has been signed or ratified by 196 countries.

Question 75

Scientists believe that the greatest human-influenced threat to wild species is ____________________.

Question 76

____________________ are environmental indicators because they live in every climate and biome, respond quickly to environmental changes in their habitats, and are fairly easy to track and count.

Question 77

What does the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) specifically address?

A) It bans the poaching of all protected wild species.
B) It contains detailed criteria to determine whether individual species should be listed as threatened.
C) It bans the hunting, capturing, and selling of threatened or endangered species.
D) It establishes trade laws for all economically important wild species.
E) It legally requires governments to reduce the global rate of biodiversity loss.

Question 78

A small orchid plant that is found only on a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Florida, has been listed as an endangered species. Which agency was responsible for listing this plant as endangered?

A) National Marine Fisheries Service
B) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
C) U.S. Botanical Survey
D) International Commission on Rare Plants
E) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Question 79

Domestic cats that live outdoors can consume wild animals. This has been a particular problem in Australia, where native marsupial mammals evolved without similar predators. How would you classify domestic cats in Australia?

A) An accidentally introduced native species
B) An accidentally introduced nonnative species
C) A deliberately introduced nonnative species
D) A deliberately introduced native species
E) A native species but not an introduced species

Question 80

The sea lamprey is an example of a(n) ____________________ species.