Question 1

Today, forests in the United States (including tree plantations) cover more area than they did in 1920.

Accepted Answer

According to the US Forest Service, forests (including tree plantations) covered about 105 million acres in 1920 and about 304 million acres in 2020. Therefore, forests in the US cover more area now than they did in 1920.

Question 2

When managed properly, ecotourism can be a useful form of reconciliation ecology, but without proper controls, it can lead to degradation of popular sites if visitors overrun them.

Accepted Answer

Ecotourism, if managed properly, can provide economic benefits to local communities while also promoting conservation and environmental education. However, without proper management and limits on the number of visitors, it can lead to damage and degradation of sensitive ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Therefore, it is important to balance the potential benefits of ecotourism with the need for conservation and environmental protection.

Question 3

Despite significant efforts to protect biodiversity, Costa Rica has continued to experience biodiversity losses.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 4

When surface fires occur, they release valuable plant nutrients that had been tied up in slowly decomposing litter and undergrowth.

Accepted Answer

When surface fires occur, they can release nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus back into the soil. This can improve soil fertility and benefit plant growth. However, if fires are too intense or frequent, they can also lead to soil degradation and loss of nutrients.

Question 5

Tree plantations can help protect the world's remaining old-growth and second-growth forests, as long as the forests are not cleared to make room for tree plantations.

Accepted Answer

Tree plantations can provide a sustainable alternative to using old-growth and second-growth forests for timber and other forest products, but only if they are established on previously degraded or deforested land, and not by clearing intact forests. This can help reduce pressure on natural forests and allow them to regenerate and be conserved.

Question 6

A tree plantation, also called a tree farm or commercial forest, is a managed forest that contains only one or two species of trees that are all of the same age.

Accepted Answer

A tree plantation is a type of managed forest that is created for the production of timber or other wood products, and typically contains only one or two species of trees that are all of the same age. This is done to maximize the uniformity and efficiency of the growth and harvesting process.

Question 7

One way to reduce the demand for tree cutting is to decrease the use of throwaway paper products made from trees.

Accepted Answer

Using less throwaway paper products made from trees reduces the demand for cutting down trees to make more paper.

Question 8

If another country wanted to follow the model of Costa Rica, it should find ways to give incentives to protect land rather than to develop it.

Accepted Answer

Costa Rica has been successful in preserving its natural resources and biodiversity because it has given incentives to its citizens to protect land rather than to develop it. This includes programs such as payments for ecosystem services and the establishment of national parks and reserves. Therefore, for another country to follow Costa Rica's model, it would need to prioritize protecting its natural resources and find ways to incentivize its citizens and businesses to do so.

Question 9

Conservation concessions involve governments or private conservation organizations paying nations for agreeing to preserve their natural resources.

Accepted Answer

Conservation concessions involve payments made to nations in exchange for their commitment to preserve their natural resources. This practice is used as a means of promoting conservation efforts while also providing financial incentives to governments or private organizations that engage in such initiatives.

Question 10

Ocean acidification benefits organisms that produce calcium carbonate shells, but harms other species.

Accepted Answer

Ocean acidification generally harms organisms that produce calcium carbonate shells by making it more difficult for them to form and maintain their shells, while some other species might not be directly affected or could even potentially benefit from the changes in ocean chemistry.

Question 11

One way to help sustain terrestrial biodiversity would be to map the world's terrestrial ecosystems and create an inventory of the species contained in each of them, along with the ecosystem services they provide.

Accepted Answer

Creating a comprehensive map and inventory of terrestrial ecosystems and the species within them can help in their conservation and management, by identifying areas that may be particularly important for biodiversity conservation or ecosystem services provision.

Question 12

One way that an individual living in a desert area could protect terrestrial biodiversity would be to xeriscape with native plants that do not require much water in the way that a traditional lawn does.

Accepted Answer

Xeriscaping with native plants that are adapted to the local climate and do not require excessive amounts of water can help protect terrestrial biodiversity in desert areas by reducing the need for irrigation and preserving water resources. This can also provide habitat and food sources for local wildlife.

Question 13

Commercial forests have similar biodiversity to old-growth forests.

Accepted Answer

Commercial forests typically consist of monoculture plantations or selectively logged areas with lower biodiversity compared to old-growth forests which have a diverse range of tree species, understory plants, and wildlife.

Question 14

Forest fires cause the seeds of some tree species to germinate.

Accepted Answer

Some tree species, such as lodgepole pine, Eucalyptus, and some types of oak, have adapted to rely on forest fires to clear out their competition and stimulate the germination of their seeds.

Question 15

A program called a debt-for-nature swap makes it financially attractive for countries to protect their tropical forests.

Accepted Answer

A debt-for-nature swap is a financial arrangement in which a portion of a developing country's foreign debt is forgiven in exchange for investments in environmental conservation measures, such as protecting tropical forests. This makes it financially attractive for countries to protect their natural resources.

Question 16

Many prescription medications were developed using chemicals that were initially discovered in tropical forests.

Accepted Answer

Many prescription medications such as quinine, used to treat malaria, were initially discovered in tropical forests.

Question 17

Countries that are considered less-developed have more land that is protected from development than other countries, where development prevents the protection of land.

Accepted Answer

Less-developed countries often have less protected land due to various factors such as economic pressures, lack of resources for conservation, and prioritization of development projects over environmental protection.

Question 18

One way to restore biodiversity is to remove dams so that rivers can flow freely.

Accepted Answer

Dams can disrupt natural river ecosystems and hinder the migration of fish and other aquatic species, so removing them can help restore biodiversity in rivers.

Question 19

Surface fires burn away flammable material such as dry brush, increasing the likelihood of more destructive fires.

Accepted Answer

Surface fires actually reduce the likelihood of more destructive fires by consuming the underbrush and other flammable materials, thus reducing the amount of fuel available for potential larger fires.

Question 20

Water evaporating from trees and vegetation in tropical rain forests has little effect on the amount of rainfall there.

Accepted Answer

Water evaporating from trees and vegetation in tropical rain forests plays a significant role in the water cycle, and contributes to the formation of rain clouds and precipitation.

Quiz 9: Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Ecosystems