Deck 47: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Question 1

According to the diversity-stability hypothesis:

A)Genetic diversity is the most important part of ecosystem stability.
B)A loss of any species from an ecosystem leads to an approximately equal decline in stability.
C)The loss of a few species from an ecosystem does significantly affect ecosystem functioning.
D)Losing even a few species from an ecosystem causes a drastic decline in ecosystem stability.
E)Every species has an important role in ecosystem function,but we cannot predict the effect of species loss.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Introduced species become invasive when they

A)compete with native species without expanding their range.
B)move from temperate to tropical settings.
C)expand their range and outcompete native species.
D)lead to a cost for humans.
E)fill an empty ecological nichE.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Ecosystem diversity

A)is the diversity of animal species within a defined geographical areA.
B)is primarily associated with aquatic habitats.
C)refers to the structure and function within an ecosystem.
D)includes only species-rich ecosystems.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Megadiversity countries are those countries which

A)spend the most money on conservation.
B)have the greatest number of species.
C)contain the highest genetic diversity.
D)have the largest number of endemic plant species.
E)have the highest ecosystem diversity.

Question 5

Endangered species

A)will become extinct in the next 50 years.
B)are likely to be in danger of extinction in the future.
C)are those species found only in zoos,aquaria,and museums.
D)are mainly found in the tropics.
E)are in danger of extinction throughout all or most of their rangE.

Question 6

An endemic species is one that

A)has been cultivated by humans.
B)requires a very large territory.
C)is found in only one particular place or region.
D)can be used as an indicator species.
E)has a disproportionate effect on its ecosystem.

Question 7

Threatened species

A)are rare species that are exploited by humans.
B)are species likely to become endangered in the future.
C)are currently in danger of extinction throughout all or most of their range.
D)will be extinct within 100 years.
E)are found only in captivity.

Question 8

The idiosyncratic hypothesis suggests that:

A)Ecosystem function changes unpredictably as the number of species increases or decreases.
B)Ecosystem function decreases as the number of species decreases.
C)Ecosystem function changes in a predictable,but non-linear manner with a change in species number.
D)Ecosystem function is independent of the number of species.
E)Ecosystem function decreases as the number of species increases.

Question 9

Biological diversity is composed of what three levels?

A)trophic diversity,ecosystem diversity,and species diversity.
B)ecosystem diversity,species diversity,and process diversity.
C)genetic diversity,function diversity,and process diversity.
D)genetic diversity,species diversity,and ecosystem diversity.

Question 10

A large effective population size is important so that a species

A)can maintain an adequate geographical range.
B)does not change its trophic relationships.
C)will not lose large amounts of genetic diversity.
D)can minimize edge effects.
E)can remain endemic to a small area.

Question 11

The probable extinction of the ivory-billed woodpecker was mainly driven by

A)direct exploitation.
B)introduced species.
C)habitat destruction.
D)climate change.
E)genetic drift.

Question 12

Geographic biodiversity "hot spots"

A)have the highest vascular plant species richness and $\ge$ 3 unique ecosystems.
B)have the greatest number of species that have lost >50% of their original range.
C)contain $\ge$ 1500 vascular plant species and have lost >50% of their original range.
D)have $\ge$ 1500 endemic plant species and have lost $\ge$ 70% of the original habitat.

Question 13

In the context of biodiversity,genetic diversity consists of

A)all the alleles and transcription factors within a species
B)the amount of genetic variation that occurs within and between populations
C)the amount of genetic variation that occurs in an individual
D)the amount of genetic variation that occurs between species
E)the amount of genetic variation that occurs within and between species

Question 14

In a series of field experiments,David Tilman and colleagues investigated biodiversity and ecosystem function.They found a relationship between

A)ecosystem diversity and species richness.
B)ecosystem diversity and genetic diversity.
C)species diversity and genetic diversity.
D)species diversity and ecosystem function.

Question 15

What statement is most in accordance with the keystone hypothesis?

A)Each species plays a small,but important role in the health of an ecosystem.
B)The fewer species present in an ecosystem,the more stable the community.
C)Only a few species contribute to the functioning of a particular ecosystem.
D)The role of each species within an ecosystem is highly unpredictable.

Question 16

The biodiversity crisis refers to

A)an area in the tropics where extinction rates are high.
B)the global elevated loss of species over the last several hundred years.
C)recent extinctions due to human-induced climate change.
D)the difficulty in restoring disturbed habitats.

Question 17

What strategies employed in habitat conservation? Select all that apply.

Question 18

The study of the spatial arrangement of elements in communities and ecosystems is known as

A)landscape ecology.
B)community ecology.
C)population ecology.
D)ecosystem ecology.
E)global ecology.

Question 19

According to the redundancy hypothesis,species are redundant if

A)they could be eliminated or replaced by others with no loss of ecosystem function.
B)they have grown beyond their carrying capacity for a particular ecosystem.
C)their ecological niche overlaps somewhat with another species.
D)they have an effect on the ecosystem that is disproportionate with their abundance.

Question 20

How can the preservation of biological diversity be justified?
Check all that apply.
__X__ ethical grounds.
_____ supernatural responsibility.
__X__ economic value.
__X__ ecological value.
_____ exploitative value.

Question 21

The extinction rate of mammal species has gone up as human populations have increased,while the extinction rate of birds has declined.

Question 22

SLOSS stands for single long or several short.

Question 23

Field experiments by David Tilman showed that increased plant diversity reduced the occurrence of invasive species.

Question 24

The introduction of avian malaria to Hawaii was responsible for the extinction of almost half of Hawaii's native birds.

Question 25

What are the problems with cloning as a conservation strategy?
Check all that apply.
__X__ It often requires finding appropriate surrogate mothers.
_____ Populations of cloned individuals grow too quickly.
__X__ It requires detailed knowledge of species' reproductive biology.
_____ It increases genetic diversity of a species beyond natural levels.
__X__ The root causes of species loss are not addressed by cloning methods.

Question 26

In the northeastern Pacific ocean,sea otters occur at a relatively low abundance.By preying upon sea urchins,sea otters maintain underwater kelp (large algae)"forests",which would otherwise be decimated by the herbivorous sea urchins.The kelp forests supply food for a wide variety of marine organisms,as well as providing refuge from predation and nursery habitat for juveniles.Based on this,what type of species best describes sea otters?

A)indicator species.
B)flagship species.
C)keystone species.
D)dominant species.
E)umbrella species.

Question 27

In an effort to protect and breed the California condor,a rescue program

A)captured the few remaining wild birds to breed them in captivity.
B)cloned several female birds in captivity.
C)captured the remaining wild birds and distributed them for display at zoos worldwide.
D)developed new genetic engineering techniques.
E)was able to restore habitat in much of southern California.

Question 28

The propagation of animals and plants outside their natural habitat is called

A)captive breeding.
B)reintroduction.
C)cloning.
D)rehabilitation.
E)replacement.

Question 29

Both rare and common species may have economic value in terms of developing medical treatments.

Question 30

Which of these is the best example of an umbrella species?

A)northern spotted owl.
B)Burmese python
C)American beaver.
D)giant panda.
E)cogongrass.

Question 31

The Florida panther,as a symbol of Florida's conservation campaign,serves as a(n)

A)indicator species.
B)flagship species.
C)endemic species.
D)keystone species.
E)umbrella species.

Question 32

Grizzly bears have large geographic ranges that consist of mosaics of forests and grasslands at varying altitudes.Grizzlies also require relatively pristine water sources in their range.Based on this,what species type best describes grizzly bears?

A)indicator species.
B)keystone species.
C)endemic species.
D)flagship species.
E)umbrella species.

Question 33

The range of the grizzly bear in the 48 contiguous United States is now less than 1% of what it was in 1800.What has been proposed to help maintain genetic variation in the remaining populations of this species?

A)protected corridors between all of the remaining populations
B)regular exchange of bears between isolated populations
C)preserving more small patches of forest
D)cloning of the most genetically diverse remaining females
E)establishment of new parks in Colorado and New Mexico

Question 34

The United States contains at least one biodiversity hot spot.

Question 35

The passenger pigeon went extinct due to an introduced parasite.

Question 36

You are conducting a long term study of ecosystem functioning in a freshwater lake.You and your field assistants gather data for many biotic and abiotic factors,including species diversity,water and benthic quality,and turbidity.Over the ten years of your study,you find that the abundance of water lilies is correlated with several other factors.When water toxicity and turbidity are high and water pH is abnormally low,water lilies quickly become scarce,followed by periods where fish,amphibians,and water birds are also scarce or absent.In years with very high water nutrient levels,water lilies quickly become abundant,followed by years where wading birds are scarce.From these data,you conclude that water lilies are __________.

A)an umbrella species.
B)a keystone species.
C)an endemic species.
D)a flagship species.
E)an indicator species.

Question 37

According to the IUCN's data,a smaller percentage of bird than coral reef-dwelling fish species are endangered.

Question 38

The wild Tasmanian devil population has decreased 70% since 1996 due to a contagious form of cancer known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease.Researchers have found several individuals that show partial resistance to the cancer.Attempts to breed these individuals and preserve their DNA would fall under what level of biological diversity?

A)Ecosystem diversity
B)Disease diversity
C)Species diversity
D)Genetic diversity

Question 39

What shape park is preferable for minimizing edge effects?

A)square
B)oblong
C)linear
D)jagged
E)rectangular

Question 40

Captive breeding could potentially save all rare species.

Question 41

As you walk between classes on your college campus,you notice squirrels busily burying acorns.You realize you are witnessing what ecosystem service?

A)Pest control
B)Pollination
C)Biological control
D)Erosion control
E)Seed dispersal

Question 42

A nonprofit conservation organization receives a sizeable donation and decides to purchase several thousand acres of 'high desert' in southern California.This particular type of desert has an intermediate level of species diversity and relatively few unique species.However,much of the original areas of high desert have been converted to suburban housing and shopping.The decision by the nonprofit to preserve this area was most likely based upon what conservation strategy?

A)Conservation of areas rich in endemic species
B)Conservation of representative habitats
C)Conservation of megadiverse areas
D)Conservation of single species

Question 43

A population of salamanders consisting of 2150 individuals will lose genetic diversity due to genetic drift at _______ the rate of a population consisting of 250 individuals.

A)five times
B)ten times
C)one tenth
D)twice
E)one hundredth

Question 44

In a population of 2400 long horn sheep,400 males and 750 females breed each season.What percentage of the actual population is the effective population size?

A)~48%
B)~43%
C)~27%
D)~65%
E)~17%

Question 45

Island biogeography predicts that a single large area would have higher biodiversity than several small areas.However,in practice,several small areas could have an advantage for what reason(s)? Check all that apply.
_____ Facilitating the spread of disease
__X__ Decreasing extinction risk from natural disasters
_____ Being less expensive
__X__ Containing more habitat types
_____ Minimizing edge effects