Question 1

Robert Costanza of the University of Vermont estimates the world's forests provide us with ecological services worth how much per year?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

Which of the following is not true of tree plantations?

Accepted Answer

Tree plantations are not biologically highly diverse as they are often monocultures, grown with a single species of tree for commercial purposes.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is false?

Accepted Answer

Surface fires do not increase the chance of a severe crown fire. In fact, they can help prevent crown fires by removing flammable ground material and reducing the fuel available for a crown fire.

Question 4

Which of the following is not true about surface fires?

Accepted Answer

Surface fires increase soil erosion, which is not beneficial to the ecosystem. The other choices are true statements about surface fires.

Question 5

Four of the following are true about tree plantations; one is not.Choose the one that is not true.

Accepted Answer

Tree plantations are monocultures that are created for the sole purpose of producing wood. They lack the biodiversity of old-growth or second-growth forests, and they can deplete the soil of nutrients, making it difficult for any type of forest to grow. However, they are still considered more sustainable than traditional logging practices, which tend to focus on old-growth forests. The controversy regarding genetically engineered tree species is a real issue, but it is not necessarily a characteristic of all tree plantations.

Question 6

Which of the following is not among the countries with the largest areas of old-growth forests?

Accepted Answer

The United States does not have as extensive old-growth forests as the other countries listed, which are known for their vast and relatively undisturbed forest areas.

Question 7

Controlling or reducing the harmful impacts of tree diseases and insect pests on forests can be accomplished by all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Introducing nonnative predators can often have unintended negative consequences on the ecosystem and may even exacerbate the problem. It is best to focus on using natural and local control methods, such as biological controls like predaceous bugs or genetically resistant tree species. The other options listed, which include banning imported timber, using pesticides, and promoting genetic resistance, are all viable strategies for controlling or reducing the impacts of tree diseases and insect pests on forests.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a benefit coming from the Green Belt Movement begun by Wangari Maathai?

Accepted Answer

There is no mention or evidence that the Green Belt Movement provides continent wide distribution of wood products, therefore D is the correct choice. The other options are benefits that have been attributed to the movement, such as providing income for women, fruits and building materials, fuelwood for cooking and heating, and aiding in climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon dioxide.

Question 9

Clear-cutting does all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Clear-cutting does not enhance biodiversity. It actually reduces biodiversity by destroying the habitats of many species and leaving a uniform stand of trees.

Question 10

An old-growth forest would be defined as

Accepted Answer

An old-growth forest is defined as an uncut or regenerated primary forest that has been undisturbed for several hundred years. It is characterized by multiple layers of vegetation, diverse species, and a complex ecological structure. The other choices given do not fully meet the definition of an old-growth forest.

Question 11

Removing intermediate-aged or mature trees from a forest is known as

Accepted Answer

Selective cutting involves removing individual trees or small groups of mature trees from a forest. This allows for the regeneration of the forest and promotes a more diverse ecosystem. It also helps to maintain the overall health and productivity of the forest. Intermediate cutting and partial cutting are similar methods, but they may not target only mature trees. Clear-cutting and strip-cutting involve removing all or most of the trees in an area, which can have negative impacts on the environment and wildlife. Therefore, selective cutting is the best choice for sustainable forest management.

Question 12

Four of the following are true about forests; one is not.Choose the one that is not true.

Accepted Answer

Forests are crucial for biodiversity, medicine, and livelihoods, but they are not home to one-half of the world's people. This statement exaggerates the direct residential dependency on forests.

Question 13

A second-growth forest is

Accepted Answer

A second-growth forest refers to trees that have regrown after a previous forest stand has been harvested or cleared. This process is called secondary succession, where new trees and plant species gradually establish and grow in an area that has been disturbed. Therefore, the best choice is C, trees resulting from secondary succession.

Question 14

Which of the following is not an economic service provided by forests?

Accepted Answer

Reducing erosion is an ecological service provided by forests, not an economic one. Economic services typically involve direct financial benefits or resources like fuelwood, mining, lumber, and recreation.

Question 15

Robert Costanza of the University of Vermont estimates the monetary worth of the earth's ecological services per year at which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Robert Costanza and his colleagues estimated the monetary worth of the earth's ecological services to be approximately $33 trillion per year. This figure was intended to highlight the immense value of these services, which include water purification, air quality regulation, pollination, and climate regulation, among others.

Question 16

Which of the following is the most dangerous type of fire?

Accepted Answer

Crown fires are the most dangerous type of fire as they move quickly through the tops of trees, making them difficult to control and posing a threat to both property and lives.

Question 17

Even carefully designed logging roads have harmful effects, including all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Logging roads actually increase access to farms, mines, and ranches, which is one of the reasons why they are constructed in the first place. The other options are all negative effects of logging roads.

Question 18

Four of the following are important ecological services provided by forests; one is not.Choose the one that is not.

Accepted Answer

Forests do not release atmospheric carbon as an ecological service. In fact, they are crucial for sequestering carbon dioxide and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The other options are all important ecological services provided by forests.

Question 19

Wangari Maathai started the Green Belt Movement by encouraging which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Wangari Maathai started the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in 1977 by encouraging the planting of trees. The movement aimed to combat deforestation, promote environmental conservation, and improve the lives of rural women by providing them with income through selling seedlings and fruits from the trees they plant.

Question 20

Forests, both natural and planted, occupy how much of the earth's land surface, other than Greenland and Antarctica?

Accepted Answer

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), forests, both natural and planted, occupy approximately 30% of the earth's land surface, excluding Greenland and Antarctica.

Quiz 10: Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: the Ecosystem Approach