Deck 5: Conservation: Why Is It Important to Protect Biodiversity

Question 1

Which of the following is a human impact on biodiversity?

A) extinction of species
B) alteration of habitats
C) introduction of invasive species
D) All of these are correct.

Answer 1

All of these are correct.

Question 2

Which of the following would be impacts of a decline in wild salmon populations?

A) Commercial fishing would decrease.
B) Cultural traditions would be lost.
C) Intrinsic value would be decreased.
D) All of these are correct.

Answer 2

All of these are correct.

Question 3

One human impact on biodiversity is the overexploitation of resources. Which of the following best exemplifies this?

A) creation of the national parks
B) overhunting of the passenger pigeon
C) introduction of invasive species
D) removal of swamp lands

Answer 3

overhunting of the passenger pigeon

Question 4

Many people desire to have a home with a view of a river or lake. While there is no monetary value in this view of water, it still has

A) provisioning services.
B) instrumental value.
C) intrinsic value.
D) replacement cost.

Question 5

A cow can produce milk, which is sold to food producers who make cheese, ice cream, and other products. Therefore, the cow can have

A) provisioning services.
B) instrumental value.
C) intrinsic value.
D) ecosystem services.

Question 6

Consider the following: we use wood to build our homes, we use compounds derived from plants for pharmaceutical drugs, and we use fish for sustenance, all of which are examples of

A) ecosystem services.
B) cultural services.
C) intrinsic value.
D) replacement cost.

Question 7

Consider the following: we use wood to build our homes, we use compounds derived from plants for pharmaceutical drugs, and we use fish for sustenance. Which of these are considered provisioning services?

A) wood to build our homes
B) pharmaceutical drugs made from plants
C) fish caught for food
D) All of these are correct.

Question 8

High bush blueberry plants (Vaccinium corymbosum) rely on bees and other pollinating insects for fruit production. This particular benefit from the ecosystem is an example of services.

A) provisioning
B) regulating
C) supporting
D) cultural

Question 9

The establishment of parks and other recreational areas allows for which type of ecosystem service?

A) provisioning services
B) regulating services
C) supporting services
D) cultural services

Question 10

Environmental scientists are concerned about the impact of invasive species being introduced into the Great Lakes, so they attempt to calculate the monetary impact on fishing. An assessment of the value from commercial and recreational fishing, fish processors, boat building, and guide services would be considered a

A) provisioning service.
B) value chain.
C) replacement cost.
D) supporting service.

Question 11

A study published in the scientific journal PLOS-One in 2008 found that if insects were not available, the cost to pollenate all fruit crops in just one region of South Africa would be over $350 million. This shows the for this ecosystem service.

A) replacement cost
B) value chain
C) assessment
D) intrinsic value

Question 12

In some parts of Peru, there are still wild tomato plants that grow. It was found that when these wild plants were crossed with commercial tomatoes, the yields from the hybrid tomatoes were doubled and the plants had increased disease resistance. The wild tomato plants would be considered an example of

A) regulating services.
B) value chains.
C) cultural services.
D) ecosystem services.

Question 13

A unique series of connected forest ecosystems has been found on public lands in the western United States, which has been found to contain three species of rare toads. What type of designation would be best to preserve the toads in this ecosystem?

A) national recreation area
B) national forest
C) national wildlife refuge system
D) None of these are correct.

Question 14

The Land Between the Lakes is a region of land located between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. The area is located in both Kentucky and Tennessee. Lake Barkley was created by damning the Cumberland River in the 1960s. This area would be designated as a

A) national recreation area.
B) national forest.
C) national wildlife refuge system.
D) wildlife corridor.

Question 15

Lands used by the United States Department of Agriculture for provisioning services, such as timber, would be considered a

A) national recreation area.
B) national forest.
C) national wildlife refuge system.
D) None of these are correct.

Question 16

In comparing the establishment of the first national park, the first national recreational area, and first national wildlife refuge system, which was established first in the United States?

A) the national recreation area
B) the national forest
C) the national wildlife refuge system
D) the national park

Question 17

What is the difference between an area designated as wilderness (according to the Wilderness Act) and a national park?

A) Motorized transportation is only allowed in national parks, not wilderness areas.
B) Visiting is only allowed in national parks, not wilderness areas.
C) Wilderness areas cannot be located near cities, but national parks can.
D) There is no difference as a wilderness area is one type of national park.

Question 18

If a new cave system was to be recognized as a World Heritage Site, this would require recognition by which international organization?

A) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
B) United Nations Environment Programme
C) World Trade Organization
D) Convention on Biological Diversity

Question 19

Cheetahs are found in many protected preserves in Africa, including the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Many of the preserves are isolated and surrounded by areas without protections for cheetahs. When cheetahs travel outside the preserves to hunt and find mates, they are often hit by cars or exposed to diseases from pests. This is an example of

A) a wildlife corridor.
B) intrinsic value.
C) the ecological island effect
D) ecological restoration.

Question 20

A mining company plans to build a highway through a forest in northern Canada that is important for caribou migration. What could ensure the safe migration of caribou without having to cancel plans for this highway?

A) a wildlife corridor
B) relocation of the caribou
C) the ecological island effect.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 21

What was responsible, in part, for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which was passed in 1918?

A) increased interest in hunting
B) changes in climate
C) lack of breeding grounds
D) fashion trends that required bird feathers

Question 22

What is the primary objective of the Marine Mammal Protection Act?

A) ensuring protections for marine mammals such as dolphins and manatees
B) protecting all saltwater habitats
C) ensuring protections for all endangered species
D) finding relocation sites for marine mammals

Question 23

Ivory is banned from importation into the United States. This is a result of

A) synthetic sources of ivory becoming available.
B) the fact that elephants are too close to extinction.
C) the Convention on Biological Diversity.
D) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Question 24

The Convention on Biological Diversity commits member countries to take several steps to improve biodiversity in their countries. Which of the following is part of the commitment from this convention?

A) developing conservation strategies for habitats and species
B) expanding protected areas
C) restoring degraded ecosystems
D) All of these are correct.

Question 25

Large parts of Brazil are being clear-cut of all vegetation to allow more land for the grazing of cattle.One outcome of this is

A) edge effects.
B) regulating services.
C) deforestation.
D) a national forest.

Question 26

Which of the following is a common edge effect in areas of deforestation?

A) Species have higher access to mates.
B) Species are more vulnerable to predation
C) There is an increase in forested habitats.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 27

Many consumer products are labeled with a certification from the Forest Stewardship Council that guarantees that sustainable forest management was used for that product. What is one example of a practice done in sustainable forest management?

A) removing all plant material from an area
B) harvesting selectively and leaving large dead trees
C) ensuring that only the most profitable trees are planted
D) harvesting trees only in the poorest countries

Question 28

A city might have certain regions where agricultural use is allowed, other regions where housing developments are allowed, and still other areas where development is not allowed. These designations would collectively be referred to as

A) zoning ordinances.
B) recreation areas.
C) cultural services.
D) ecological services.

Question 29

If populations of white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) continue to decline, one approach to prevent extinction would be captive breeding. How does this process work?

A) The remaining animals are moved to a national park.
B) The remaining animals are moved into captivity to try to increase the population, after which they are reintroduced into the wil
C) The remaining animals are taken to the largest zoos so more people can see them.
D) A few individuals are moved to an outdoor enclosure to ensure that mates are available.

Question 30

Ecological restoration is different from habitat restoration. Which of the following statements is correct regarding their differences?

A) Ecological restoration does not involve animals, only plants.
B) Ecological restoration is done on a larger scale, restoring an entire ecosystem.
C) Ecological restoration is only done is areas designated by the Wilderness Act.
D) There is no difference: these terms describe the same process.

Question 31

On average, there are several oil spills in the United States every year. Companies that are deemed responsible are assessed fines according to the Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Which of the following would be an example of how these fines are used?

A) restoring wetlands
B) increased political lobbying
C) creating national parks
D) building new oil and gas pipelines

Question 32

Rabbits are not native to Australia. They were first introduced by humans in a game ranch by for hunting, and subsequently escaped and reproduced into the millions. This is an example of

A) ecosystem services.
B) invasive species.
C) captive breeding.
D) ecological restoration.

Question 33

Which of the following is a supporting service related to plants?

A) High school and college students can do scientific research on plants.
B) Shade from plants cools our homes.
C) Plants can be eaten as food.
D) Plants can convert sunlight into chemical energy for the ecosystem.

Question 34

Why is monoculture (growing a single crop) potentially harmful to the surrounding ecosystem?

A) It reduces protections and food for other animals.
B) Deforestation is often used to prepare land for monoculture.
C) It reduces biodiversity of the ecosystem
D) All of these are correct.

Question 35

The beginning of Chapter 5 discusses the importance of wild pacific salmon. Describe two reasons why salmon are valuable to humans and they should be preserved in their native ecosystem. Be sure to use terms from the chapter.

Question 36

Of the four categories of ecosystem services, which is most important to humans? Justify your answer using specific examples.

Question 37

Describe two examples from the chapter that show the importance of preserving biodiversity.

Question 38

If humans acquire the ability to artificially synthesize all the compounds found in the rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), should efforts continue to preserve the ecosystem in Madagascar where this plant is found? Why or why not?

Question 39

What are the arguments for and against the Endangered Species Act (ESA)? In your personal opinion, does the law need to be changed?