Question 1

You are a climate scientist who wants to investigate climate change. Which measurement would be the least useful?

Accepted Answer

Methane levels from dairy farms in Iowa during a specific, short two-year period would be the least useful for investigating climate change, as climate change research typically requires long-term data to identify trends and patterns.

Question 2

According to this figure, which organisms have the highest concentration of PCBs, and why?

Accepted Answer

PCBs tend to accumulate and biomagnify up the food chain. Therefore, organisms at the top of the food chain, such as herring gulls, have the highest concentrations of PCBs.

Question 3

As the climate warms, the population ranges of organisms may shift to different areas that are cooler. However, as humans continue to fragment large tracts of land, species will face increasing challenges in adapting their ranges to new climates. For example, movement corridors may not be able to be built if the amount of land needed for a species' range is fragmented due to cities and roads. One alternative to creating movement corridors is called managed relocation. This requires physically moving species to cooler climates.
-What is a disadvantage of using managed relocation?

Accepted Answer

Managed relocation could lead to unintended consequences, such as introducing non-native species to new areas where they may become invasive and negatively impact existing ecosystems. Choices A, B, and D are not supported by the information in the paragraph.

Question 4

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) monitors changes in global biodiversity. It is a network that is composed of both government and nongovernment organizations. The IUCN collects data on the status of the natural world and uses these data to make conservation and sustainable development recommendations. One widely recognized metric for evaluating organismal conservation is the IUCN Red List. This list uses several criteria to calculate the survival probability of organisms throughout the world. The aggregate Red List survival probability for birds, mammals, amphibians, corals, and cycads in different geographic regions is summarized in the table.
Table 1. Aggregate survival probabilities for birds, mammals, amphibians, corals, and cycads according to the IUCN Red List.
 $\begin{array} { | l | l | l | } 
\hline \text { Region } & 1993 & 2016 \
\hline \text { Southern Asia } & 0.77 & 0.68 \
\hline \text { Southeastern Asia } & 0.83 & 0.72 \
\hline \text { Latin America and the Caribbean } & 0.79 & 0.74 \
\hline \text { Eastern Asia } & 0.83 & 0.75 \
\hline \text { Sub-Saharan Africa } & 0.82 & 0.75 \
\hline \text { Oceania } & 0.88 & 0.80 \
\hline \text { Western Asia } & 0.88 & 0.82 \
\hline \text { Northern Africa } & 0.92 & 0.86 \
\hline \text { Caucasus and Central Asia } & 0.92 & 0.91 \
\hline \text { Developed regions } & 0.88 & 0.82 \
\hline \text { Developing regions } & 0.81 & 0.73 \
\hline \text { World } & 0.82 & 0.74 \
\hline
\end{array}$ Source: United Nations Statistics Division Statistical Services Branch. (n.d.). Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from http://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2016/Goal-15.
-Which region had the least amount of change in species survival from 1993 to 2016?

Accepted Answer

Caucasus and Central Asia had the least amount of change in species survival from 1993 to 2016, with a decrease from 0.92 to 0.91.

Question 5

The accompanying figure depicts natural fluctuation of ozone levels in Switzerland between 1925 and 1976. Dobson units are a way to measure the total amount of atmospheric ozone above a point on the Earth's surface. What can you conclude from this figure?

Accepted Answer

The figure shows that there is a natural fluctuation of ozone levels in Switzerland between 1925 and 1976, and that the fluctuation varies greatly year to year. There is no clear pattern of increasing or decreasing ozone levels over time, so option D can be ruled out. The figure only pertains to Switzerland, so options B and C can be ruled out. Based on the fluctuations seen in the figure, it can be concluded that the average for this 50-year span was approximately 330 Dobson units, which is the best choice.

Question 6

According to this graph of changes in Earth's atmosphere, which change took place between the years 1800 and 2000?

Accepted Answer

The graph shows that the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere increased from 290 ppm to 380 ppm between the years 1800 and 2000. The other options shown on the graph are incorrect as they either show different gases or different concentration levels than the ones stated in the answer choices.

Question 7

As the climate warms, the population ranges of organisms may shift to different areas that are cooler. However, as humans continue to fragment large tracts of land, species will face increasing challenges in adapting their ranges to new climates. For example, movement corridors may not be able to be built if the amount of land needed for a species' range is fragmented due to cities and roads. One alternative to creating movement corridors is called managed relocation. This requires physically moving species to cooler climates.
-What is an advantage of using managed relocation?

Accepted Answer

Managed relocation does not require the maintenance of large conserved areas for corridors, which can be a significant cost saving for governments. The other options overstate the predictability and success of managed relocation in terms of survival, distribution, and prevention of extinction.

Question 8

While habitat destruction by humans creates fragmented ecosystems, fragmentation can also occur due to natural processes. Which natural process would most likely create a fragmented ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Volcanic eruptions can create fragmented ecosystems by depositing lava and ash across landscapes, which can isolate populations of species and create distinct habitats separated by inhospitable areas.

Question 9

Suppose a species of wild boar (a type of pig) is actively hunted when it is at a young age because at that stage of its development the meat of the boar is particularly tender. What is a likely outcome if this species is overharvested?

Accepted Answer

Overharvesting of young boars will decrease the number of boars that can reproduce, potentially leading the population to dwindle and go extinct. Option A is not a likely outcome because habitat loss is not mentioned in the scenario. Option B is also unlikely because older boars may not be as desirable for consumption and could still be vulnerable to hunting. Option D is not applicable in this scenario as boundaries have not been mentioned as a factor. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Question 10

As global temperatures continue to rise, what is a likely outcome?

Accepted Answer

As global temperatures rise, the Arctic sea ice will continue to melt, leading to the loss of populations of polar fish species that rely on the ice for habitat and food sources. This is supported by scientific research and observations of declining populations of Arctic fish species.

Question 11

Based on the characteristics of the snakehead described, which strategy is most likely to reduce the spread of this species significantly?

Accepted Answer

Introducing a natural predator to feed on juvenile snakeheads can help control their population by reducing the number of individuals that reach maturity and reproduce.

Question 12

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) monitors changes in global biodiversity. It is a network that is composed of both government and nongovernment organizations. The IUCN collects data on the status of the natural world and uses these data to make conservation and sustainable development recommendations. One widely recognized metric for evaluating organismal conservation is the IUCN Red List. This list uses several criteria to calculate the survival probability of organisms throughout the world. The aggregate Red List survival probability for birds, mammals, amphibians, corals, and cycads in different geographic regions is summarized in the table.
Table 1. Aggregate survival probabilities for birds, mammals, amphibians, corals, and cycads according to the IUCN Red List.
 $\begin{array} { | l | l | l | } 
\hline \text { Region } & 1993 & 2016 \
\hline \text { Southern Asia } & 0.77 & 0.68 \
\hline \text { Southeastern Asia } & 0.83 & 0.72 \
\hline \text { Latin America and the Caribbean } & 0.79 & 0.74 \
\hline \text { Eastern Asia } & 0.83 & 0.75 \
\hline \text { Sub-Saharan Africa } & 0.82 & 0.75 \
\hline \text { Oceania } & 0.88 & 0.80 \
\hline \text { Western Asia } & 0.88 & 0.82 \
\hline \text { Northern Africa } & 0.92 & 0.86 \
\hline \text { Caucasus and Central Asia } & 0.92 & 0.91 \
\hline \text { Developed regions } & 0.88 & 0.82 \
\hline \text { Developing regions } & 0.81 & 0.73 \
\hline \text { World } & 0.82 & 0.74 \
\hline
\end{array}$ Source: United Nations Statistics Division Statistical Services Branch. (n.d.). Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from http://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2016/Goal-15.
-At the world level, the difference for species survival is 0.08 between 1993 and 2016. Of the first four regions in the table, which show a greater decrease in species survival than the change at the world level?

Accepted Answer

The difference in species survival at the world level between 1993 and 2016 is 0.08. Southern Asia shows a decrease from 0.77 to 0.68 (a difference of 0.09), and Southeastern Asia shows a decrease from 0.83 to 0.72 (a difference of 0.11), both of which are greater than the world level change.

Question 13

Araschnia levana is a species of butterfly that breeds several times a year. It has two distinctly colored pupae. Although the genes for pupa color do not differ, those that emerge in spring are orange and those that emerge in summer are brown. The seasonal color variations in pupae mean that the pupae blend into the colors in their environment. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The seasonal color variations in pupae of Araschnia levana are an example of phenotypic plasticity, which is the ability of an organism to produce different phenotypes (observable traits) in response to different environmental conditions. In this case, the pupae produce different colors to blend into their surroundings and avoid being seen by predators.

Question 14

Introduced species are a problem all over the world, and there are many examples in the United States. Several years ago, a fisherman caught a northern snakehead fish in a pond in Crofton, Maryland (a suburb of Washington, DC). It was suspected that the fish in the Crofton pond were purchased locally and then intentionally released. Snakeheads are top predators, and 90% of the northern snakeheads' diet consists of other fishes. The northern snakehead can breathe out of water and travel short distances (about 100 feet) across land. They also breed rapidly. Females can lay more than 100,000 eggs per year. Juveniles have also been identified in the Potomac River and other rivers in Pennsylvania.
-When snakeheads enter aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity in these ecosystems would most likely

Accepted Answer

The passage states that snakeheads are top predators and their diet consists of other fishes. Therefore, introducing them into an ecosystem would likely decrease biodiversity as they would prey on native species.

Question 15

Rice is a staple crop across Asia; it serves as a main nutritional source for Asia's high population. In the 1970s, a pathogen called the grassy-stunt virus greatly decreased cultivated rice plant populations in Asia. Scientists found one wild relative of the rice plant in India that was resistant to the grassy-stunt virus, and today hybrid rice plants with that resistant gene are grown across Asia. To find this one rice plant species, approximately 17,000 rice plants samples were tested over the course of 4 years. If you were a scientist working on this project, how would you argue that the results of the research would be worth the time investment?

Accepted Answer

The discovery of a wild rice plant species with resistance to the grassy-stunt virus has allowed for the cultivation of hybrid rice plants that can resist the pathogen, which greatly impacted rice plant populations in Asia. Rice is a staple crop in Asia and its loss could have significant economic and nutritional implications. Therefore, finding a way to continue to cultivate rice in the face of this pathogen is important.

Question 16

In Clackamas, Oregon, a stand of hybrid poplar trees was planted on an area of land that is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Why would someone purposely plant trees in an area with contaminated soil?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of planting hybrid poplar trees on contaminated soil is to use them for phytoremediation, which involves using plants to remove or mitigate pollutants from the soil or water. Hybrid poplar trees are known for their ability to absorb VOCs such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and benzene from the soil, making them a popular choice for phytoremediation projects.

Question 17

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) monitors changes in global biodiversity. It is a network that is composed of both government and nongovernment organizations. The IUCN collects data on the status of the natural world and uses these data to make conservation and sustainable development recommendations. One widely recognized metric for evaluating organismal conservation is the IUCN Red List. This list uses several criteria to calculate the survival probability of organisms throughout the world. The aggregate Red List survival probability for birds, mammals, amphibians, corals, and cycads in different geographic regions is summarized in the table.
Table 1. Aggregate survival probabilities for birds, mammals, amphibians, corals, and cycads according to the IUCN Red List.
 $\begin{array} { | l | l | l | } 
\hline \text { Region } & 1993 & 2016 \
\hline \text { Southern Asia } & 0.77 & 0.68 \
\hline \text { Southeastern Asia } & 0.83 & 0.72 \
\hline \text { Latin America and the Caribbean } & 0.79 & 0.74 \
\hline \text { Eastern Asia } & 0.83 & 0.75 \
\hline \text { Sub-Saharan Africa } & 0.82 & 0.75 \
\hline \text { Oceania } & 0.88 & 0.80 \
\hline \text { Western Asia } & 0.88 & 0.82 \
\hline \text { Northern Africa } & 0.92 & 0.86 \
\hline \text { Caucasus and Central Asia } & 0.92 & 0.91 \
\hline \text { Developed regions } & 0.88 & 0.82 \
\hline \text { Developing regions } & 0.81 & 0.73 \
\hline \text { World } & 0.82 & 0.74 \
\hline
\end{array}$ Source: United Nations Statistics Division Statistical Services Branch. (n.d.). Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from http://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2016/Goal-15.
-What is the best description of the trend for species survival from 1993 to 2016?

Accepted Answer

The table shows a decrease in the aggregate survival probabilities for all listed regions from 1993 to 2016, indicating that species survival has decreased across the board.

Question 18

Which alteration is an example of a predicted impact of climate change?

Accepted Answer

Climate change is predicted to have significant impacts on biodiversity, and decreasing wildflower diversity in northeastern United States is one example of this.

Answer: D
 Climate change is causing ocean temperatures to rise, which can lead to coral bleaching and loss of marine life. However, this answer is incorrect as it proposes less loss of marine life, which is not a predicted impact of climate change.

Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 19

If current trends in global warming continue for the next 50 years, where will the greatest effects of global warming likely be felt?

Accepted Answer

The greatest effects of global warming are likely to be felt in Russia due to its vast expanse of permafrost, which is highly sensitive to temperature changes. Melting permafrost can lead to significant ecological and infrastructural impacts.

Question 20

Sustainable development will

Accepted Answer

Sustainable development requires global, multinational cooperation because the issues facing the world today, such as climate change and resource depletion, do not respect national borders and cannot be solved by any one country alone. Cooperation is needed to ensure that everyone is working towards the common goal of sustainability and that actions taken by one country do not negatively impact others. A and B are not necessarily true for sustainable development, and C does not make sense as sustainability is about preserving the current ecosystem, not accelerating evolution.

Quiz 38: Conservation Biology