Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Both mammal and bird extinction rates have increased as human populations have grown, largely due to habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and overhunting.

Question 2

SLOSS stands for single long or several short.

Accepted Answer

The answer of SLOSS stands for single long or several...

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

This statement is true, based on the results of field experiments conducted by David Tilman. His research demonstrated that higher plant diversity can reduce the establishment and success of invasive plant species.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Avian malaria was introduced to Hawaii by non-native birds in the 1800s, and it had devastating effects on Hawaii's native bird populations, leading to the extinction of almost half of them.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Cloning as a conservation strategy often requires finding appropriate surrogate mothers (A) and detailed knowledge of species' reproductive biology (C). Additionally, cloning does not address the root causes of species loss, such as habitat destruction or poaching (E).

Question 6

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.

Accepted Answer

Sea otters are best described as keystone species because they have a disproportionately large effect on the structure and function of their ecosystem. Without sea otters to keep sea urchin populations in check, the kelp forests would disappear, leading to cascading effects throughout the food chain.

Question 7

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.

Accepted Answer

The rescue program for the California condor involved capturing the few remaining wild birds and breeding them in captivity to increase the population and protect the species from extinction.

Question 8

The propagation of animals and plants outside their natural habitat is called
A)captive breeding.
B)reintroduction.
C)cloning.
D)rehabilitation.
E)replacement.

Accepted Answer

Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals outside their natural habitat, typically in controlled environments such as zoos or wildlife reserves, with the aim of conserving species that may be endangered or extinct in the wild.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Both rare and common species may have unique genetic characteristics that could lead to the development of medical treatments. For example, the Madagascar periwinkle is a rare plant species that has proven effective in treating leukemia, while aspirin, a common drug, is derived from salicylic acid found in willow trees. Therefore, both rare and common species should be considered in medical research.

Question 10

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.

Accepted Answer

An umbrella species is a species that has a large habitat range, and protecting it can indirectly protect other species in the same habitat. Northern spotted owls have a large range and are an indicator of the health of their habitat, making them a good example of an umbrella species.

B, C, D, and E are not good examples of umbrella species because they have smaller habitat ranges or do not serve as indicators of the health of their habitat.

Question 11

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.

Accepted Answer

The Florida panther serves as a flagship species for Florida's conservation campaign, as it is a recognizable and charismatic species that can draw attention and support for conservation efforts.

Question 12

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.

Accepted Answer

Grizzly bears are an umbrella species as they require a large range of habitats and resources, including pristine water sources. Protecting these areas for the grizzly bear's survival also indirectly protects many other species that share these habitats.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Regular exchange of bears between isolated populations helps maintain genetic variation by introducing new alleles and preventing inbreeding.

Question 14

The United States contains at least one biodiversity hot spot.

Accepted Answer

The United States does contain at least one biodiversity hot spot, specifically in California's Mediterranean region.

Question 15

The passenger pigeon went extinct due to an introduced parasite.

Accepted Answer

While introduced parasites may have contributed to the decline of the passenger pigeon, the primary cause of their extinction was human hunting and habitat destruction.

Question 16

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.

Accepted Answer

Water lilies in this study are acting as an indicator species because their presence or absence correlates with changes in water quality (toxicity, turbidity, pH) and nutrient levels, which in turn affects the abundance of other organisms in the ecosystem. Indicator species are those whose status provides information on the overall condition of the ecosystem and the impact of environmental changes.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The question states that a smaller percentage of bird species are endangered than coral reef-dwelling fish species. This means that a higher percentage of coral reef-dwelling fish species are endangered than bird species.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes within a species or population. Breeding individuals with partial resistance to Devil Facial Tumor Disease and preserving their DNA would fall under genetic diversity.

Question 19

What shape park is preferable for minimizing edge effects?
A)square
B)oblong
C)linear
D)jagged
E)rectangular

Accepted Answer

The answer of What shape park is preferable for minimizing...

Question 20

Captive breeding could potentially save all rare species.

Accepted Answer

Captive breeding can help increase the population of some rare species, but it is not a universal solution. Factors like habitat loss, genetic diversity, and the species' specific needs can limit its effectiveness.

Quiz 47: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

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

SLOSS stands for single long or several short.

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

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

What are the problems with cloning as a conservation strategy? Check all that apply.

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

The United States contains at least one biodiversity hot spot.

The passenger pigeon went extinct due to an introduced parasite.

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

What shape park is preferable for minimizing edge effects?

Captive breeding could potentially save all rare species.