Question 1

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973

Accepted Answer

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is the most far-reaching environmental law ever adopted, it is controversial, requires the identification of endangered and threatened species, and forbids federal agencies from jeopardizing endangered or threatened species. Therefore, option E is the best choice.

Question 2

Some toxic chemicals, such as those in DDT, can be stored in the fat tissue of animals.As these animals become food for larger and larger animals, the amount of the toxin gets larger and larger.This process is called

Accepted Answer

This process is called biomagnification, where the concentration of toxic chemicals increases as it moves up the food chain. Option A (biophilia) refers to the love and connection with nature, Option B (biosphere) refers to the entire ecosystem of living organisms, Option C (biotechnology) refers to the use of biology to develop or improve products and processes, and Option E (iophosphoresence) refers to the emission of light by a living organism.

Question 3

The best way to limit the impact of invasive species is to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

It is always better to prevent a problem from occurring rather than trying to solve it after the fact. Invasive species can cause significant harm to ecosystems, so preventing their introduction through measures such as monitoring and regulating trade and transportation is the most effective way to limit their impact. Using pesticides or destroying them can have unintended consequences for other species and the environment, while introducing natural predators or altering their genes can also have negative consequences and may not be effective in controlling populations in the long term.

Question 4

The primary causes of population declines among birds, especially long-distance migrant birds, includes all of the following, except

Accepted Answer

Intentional poisoning of food supplies is not listed as a primary cause of population declines among birds, especially long-distance migrant birds, unlike the other options listed. However, incidental poisoning may be a factor in declines through the use of certain pesticides and rodenticides.

Question 5

Those who oppose the Endangered Species Act say it has been a failure. Biologists say it has not, because of four of the following five reasons. Choose the one that is not one of the four reasons.

Accepted Answer

The statement that federal regulators have been heavy handed in enforcing the Endangered Species Act is not one of the four reasons given by biologists for why the ESA has not been a failure. The four reasons they give are that the ESA has not been in existence long enough for endangered species to recover, species are only listed when critically endangered, many will be lost, more than one-half of listed species are stable or improving, and the budget for protecting endangered species amounted to 9 cents per U.S. citizen.

Question 6

Illegal hunting for profit is called

Accepted Answer

Poaching refers to the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually for commercial profit or personal gain.

Question 7

Which of the following was intentionally introduced into the United States?

Accepted Answer

Kudzu was intentionally introduced into the United States in the early 20th century as a means of erosion control and forage for livestock. However, it quickly spread and became an invasive species causing harm to native plants and ecosystems.

Question 8

Which of the following organisms pollinates nearly 100 commercially grown crops in the U.S., including one-third of U.S.fruit, nut, and vegetable crops?

Accepted Answer

Honeybees are one of the most important pollinators in the U.S. as they pollinate nearly 100 commercially grown crops, including one-third of U.S. fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. They are crucial to the agriculture industry and contribute to the production of approximately $19 billion worth of crops each year.

Question 9

The biggest problem with invasive species is that in the new location they

Accepted Answer

Invasive species often lack natural predators and other population controls in their new environment, which allows them to reproduce uncontrollably and outcompete native species for resources. This leads to a decline in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

Question 10

Four of the following are causes of an increase in hunting bushmeat; one is not.Choose the one that is not.

Accepted Answer

The spread of AIDS is not a cause of an increase in hunting bushmeat. The other options (A, B, D, E) are directly related to the increased demand or access to bushmeat, either through population growth, economic opportunities, depletion of alternative food sources, or improved access to hunting areas. The spread of AIDS does not directly increase the demand for or access to bushmeat.

Question 11

The Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by 191 countries, seeks to reverse the global decline of biodiversity and share the benefits from the use of genetic resources, but has been slowed by

Accepted Answer

The Convention on Biological Diversity faces challenges due to a lack of severe penalties for violators, lack of enforcement mechanisms, the U.S. not ratifying it, and implementation delays. These factors collectively slow down its progress in reversing the global decline of biodiversity and sharing the benefits from the use of genetic resources.

Question 12

CITES is a(n)

Accepted Answer

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is a multilateral treaty that aims to regulate and monitor international trade in certain endangered species of plants and animals. It seeks to protect these species from overexploitation due to trade, ensuring their survival in the wild.

Question 13

Captive breeding programs in zoos

Accepted Answer

The answer of Captive breeding programs in zoos
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Question 14

The use of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in cattle caused the die-off of vultures and increased the incidence of which of the following diseases?

Accepted Answer

The decline in vulture populations due to diclofenac led to an increase in carcasses, which were then consumed by other scavengers like dogs. This increased the population of stray dogs, which are major carriers of rabies, thus increasing the incidence of the disease.

Question 15

The group of animals receiving the most protection by the use of wildlife refuges are

Accepted Answer

Migratory waterfowl are the group of animals receiving the most protection by the use of wildlife refuges. Many national wildlife refuges were established specifically to protect waterfowl and their habitats during their annual migrations. Refuges also provide critical breeding habitats for waterfowl, which are important for maintaining healthy populations.

Question 16

Four of the following are ways that the pressure can be taken off of some endangered species; one is not.Choose the one that is not.

Accepted Answer

Harvesting endangered species would actually contribute to their further decline and would not alleviate the pressure on their populations. The best choices to take pressure off endangered species are A, B, and C as they all involve conservation and preservation of genetic information and plant species without causing harm to the populations. E is a controversial method and is not universally accepted as a viable conservation strategy.

Question 17

Four of the following are true about the plant "kudzu"; one is not.Choose the one that is not.

Accepted Answer

Kudzu is a highly invasive plant that can quickly overtake areas and is difficult to control with normal weed control measures.

Question 18

Which of the following would be allowed under a habitat conservation plan?

Accepted Answer

Habitat conservation plans (HCPs) allow for some limited destruction of critical habitat in exchange for conservation measures that benefit the species. This approach is intended to balance conservation goals with economic interests. However, HCPs must still ensure that the overall effect of the permitted activities will not result in the species' extinction. The other choices listed here are not allowed under an HCP.

Question 19

When the Endangered Species Act was established in 1973, the list included 92 U.S.species.In 2010, that number had risen to

Accepted Answer

The question asks for the number of species on the Endangered Species Act list in 2010. The only answer choice that matches this is A, which states that the number had risen to 1,370.

Question 20

DDT use in the 1950s and 1960s was nearly responsible for the extinction of what familiar bird species?

Accepted Answer

DDT use in the 1950s and 1960s nearly caused the extinction of the bald eagle due to the chemical's harmful effects on the bird's eggs, causing them to be thin and break easily during incubation.

Quiz 9: Sustaining Biodiversity: the Species Approach