Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was passed in part due to fashion trends that required bird feathers, which led to the overhunting and decline of many bird species. This legislation was aimed at protecting birds from being hunted to extinction for their feathers, which were highly valued in the fashion industry at the time.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The primary objective of the Marine Mammal Protection Act is to ensure protections for marine mammals such as dolphins, whales, seals, and manatees, safeguarding them from decline due to human activities.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The ban on ivory importation into the United States is primarily due to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

The Convention on Biological Diversity commits member countries to developing conservation strategies for habitats and species, expanding protected areas, and restoring degraded ecosystems, among other measures to improve biodiversity.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Deforestation is the removal of large areas of forest, which is happening in Brazil to create more land for cattle grazing.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Species are more vulnerable to predation at the edges of forests due to increased exposure and less cover, which is a common edge effect in areas of deforestation.

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

Sustainable forest management involves practices that maintain the biodiversity, productivity, and ecological processes of forest ecosystems. Selective harvesting and leaving large dead trees (snags) are examples of such practices. Selective harvesting minimizes the impact on the forest, while leaving dead trees provides habitats for wildlife, contributing to biodiversity.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Zoning ordinances are regulations that define how property in specific geographic zones can be used. They distinguish between areas designated for agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses, including areas where development is restricted.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Captive breeding involves moving the remaining animals into captivity with the goal of increasing their population through controlled breeding programs. Once the population has sufficiently increased, the plan typically involves reintroducing these animals back into the wild to restore natural populations.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Ecological restoration focuses on restoring an entire ecosystem, including its plants, animals, and other components, rather than just a specific habitat or species. This involves a broader scale of restoration efforts compared to habitat restoration, which might target specific needs of particular species or habitats.

Question 11

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?

Accepted Answer

Restoring wetlands is an example of how fines from oil spills are used, as these funds are often allocated towards environmental restoration and conservation efforts to mitigate the damage caused by the spills.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Rabbits in Australia are a classic example of an invasive species, as they were introduced by humans to an environment where they had no natural predators, leading to their rapid and uncontrolled population growth, which has caused significant ecological damage.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Supporting services are those that are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services. Plants converting sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis is a fundamental process that supports the ecosystem by providing energy for other organisms.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Monoculture can harm the surrounding ecosystem in several ways: it can reduce food and protection for animals, often involves deforestation to clear land, and reduces the biodiversity of the ecosystem by focusing on a single crop.

Question 15

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The beginning of Chapter 5 discusses the...

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Of the four categories of ecosystem services,...

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe two examples from the chapter that...

Question 18

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If humans acquire the ability to artificially...

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the arguments for and against...

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