Question 1

What is the Endangered Species Act? Describe one of its successes and explain some of the current controversies surrounding it.

Accepted Answer

The Endangered Species Act is the primary legislation for protecting biodiversity in the United States.It forbids the government and private citizens from taking actions (such as developing land)that would destroy endangered species or their habitats and also forbids trade in products made from endangered species.The aim is to prevent extinctions,stabilize declining populations,and,when possible,to enable populations to recover to the point where they no longer need protection.The ESA has had a number of notable successes; students might mention any of the following.After the b of DDT and years of management programs,birds such as the peregrine falcon,brown pelican,and bald e have recovered and been taken off the endangered list.Intensive management efforts with other species s as the red -cockaded woodpecker have held formerly declining populations steady in the face of continue habitat degradation.Roughly 40% of declining populations have been held stable.While most Americans support endangered species protection,some have opposed provisions of the ESA.of the resentment results from the perception that the ESA is focused only on single species and values the an endangered species over the life or livelihood of a person.Most of the concern over the ESA,however,is basically economic and has stemmed from worries of landowners that federal officials will restrict the use of private land if threatened or endangered species are found on it.

Question 2

The country of Belize depends on lobster for a major portion of its income,along with fishing and tourism.Over the past 30 years the average size of an individual lobster has dropped,even as increasing numbers of Belizeans buy boats,build lobster traps,and enter the industry.This is an example of ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) the problems with monoculture 
B) the results of an invasive species 
C) overharvesting 
D) the effects of pollution 
E) habitat alteration 
A) the problems with monoculture 
B) the results of an invasive species 
C) overharvesting 
D) the effects of pollution 
E) habitat alteration C

Question 3

A species of lizard has gone extinct.All of the following may have contributed to this extinction EXCEPT ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) habitat destruction by humans 
B) increased genetic diversity within the species 
C) introduction of a species that competed for food resources 
D) climate change 
E) inbreeding 
A) habitat destruction by humans 
B) increased genetic diversity within the species 
C) introduction of a species that competed for food resources 
D) climate change 
E) inbreeding B

Question 4

What is the greatest contributing factor in the loss of polar bears in arctic areas?

Accepted Answer

A) fires in the taiga and tundra 
B) decline in sea ice 
C) hunting of the polar bear by the Inuit people 
D) the tundra shifting northward 
E) the decline of lemmings; the primary food of the polar bear 
A) fires in the taiga and tundra 
B) decline in sea ice 
C) hunting of the polar bear by the Inuit people 
D) the tundra shifting northward 
E) the decline of lemmings; the primary food of the polar bear

Question 5

The causes of the current (sixth)mass extinction include all of the following EXCEPT ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) earthquakes,tsunamis,and forest fires 
B) habitat alteration and destruction 
C) invasive exotic species 
D) global climate change 
E) pollution from pesticides,eutrophication,and other causes 
A) earthquakes,tsunamis,and forest fires 
B) habitat alteration and destruction 
C) invasive exotic species 
D) global climate change 
E) pollution from pesticides,eutrophication,and other causes

Question 6

Animals that are harmed by human modification of the environment tend to have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ________________

Accepted Answer

A) being a species covering a small geographic range 
B) being high on the food chain 
C) being a habitat specialist 
D) being a dietary generalist 
E) being K -selected 
A) being a species covering a small geographic range 
B) being high on the food chain 
C) being a habitat specialist 
D) being a dietary generalist 
E) being K -selected

Question 7

Species richness is affected by many variables.As one travels to higher latitudes,one would generally find ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) other factors to be more important than latitude 
B) the number of species to increase 
C) population viability to increase 
D) the number of species to be fairly constant 
E) the number of species to decrease 
A) other factors to be more important than latitude 
B) the number of species to increase 
C) population viability to increase 
D) the number of species to be fairly constant 
E) the number of species to decrease

Question 8

One of the ongoing problems for wild California condors is ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) that they readily succumb to sylvatic plague,which can ravage an entire colony of condors in a matter of weeks 
B) that there are so few of them that they cannot find mates 
C) that the federal government refuses to list the condor as being endangered because doing so would have a negative impact on the oil and gas industry 
D) that people continue to hunt condors for sport,despite the bird's being listed as federally endangered and despite the educational campaigns that teach young people the value of having condors in an ecosystem 
E) that lead shot is still used for hunting,and the lead can build up in a condor's system because condors eat dead animals that have been shot 
A) that they readily succumb to sylvatic plague,which can ravage an entire colony of condors in a matter of weeks 
B) that there are so few of them that they cannot find mates 
C) that the federal government refuses to list the condor as being endangered because doing so would have a negative impact on the oil and gas industry 
D) that people continue to hunt condors for sport,despite the bird's being listed as federally endangered and despite the educational campaigns that teach young people the value of having condors in an ecosystem 
E) that lead shot is still used for hunting,and the lead can build up in a condor's system because condors eat dead animals that have been shot

Question 9

What is the value,to a species,of having genetic diversity?

Accepted Answer

Species with more genetic diversity have

Question 10

What do researchers hope to accomplish by performing genetic analyses on confiscated ivory?

Accepted Answer

A) They hope to determine whether the ivory came from elephants or from seals. 
B) They hope to determine whether possession of the ivory violated international treaties. 
C) They hope to determine how long ago each animal was killed for its ivory. 
D) They hope to learn more about the extent of inbreeding of elephants in different areas of Africa. 
E) They hope to determine where the elephants were poached. 
A) They hope to determine whether the ivory came from elephants or from seals. 
B) They hope to determine whether possession of the ivory violated international treaties. 
C) They hope to determine how long ago each animal was killed for its ivory. 
D) They hope to learn more about the extent of inbreeding of elephants in different areas of Africa. 
E) They hope to determine where the elephants were poached.

Question 11

Which of the following activities would violate CITES?

Accepted Answer

A) Your friend shoots a bald eagle that seems to be eying the calf he has been raising for his 4 -H project. 
B) Your friend brings back an ivory chess set that he bought while on safari in Lesotho. 
C) Your friend catches a small -mouth bass that is technically not large enough to keep,but he keeps it and cooks it for dinner instead of releasing it. 
D) Your friend transports firewood infested with emerald ash borer from Minneapolis to the Black Hills of South Dakota,inadvertently introducing the pest to Rapid City,where it destroys all of the ash trees in the city within a decade. 
E) Your friend breaks into a California condor breeding facility and releases all of the condors being raised there because he feels sorry for them. 
A) Your friend shoots a bald eagle that seems to be eying the calf he has been raising for his 4 -H project. 
B) Your friend brings back an ivory chess set that he bought while on safari in Lesotho. 
C) Your friend catches a small -mouth bass that is technically not large enough to keep,but he keeps it and cooks it for dinner instead of releasing it. 
D) Your friend transports firewood infested with emerald ash borer from Minneapolis to the Black Hills of South Dakota,inadvertently introducing the pest to Rapid City,where it destroys all of the ash trees in the city within a decade. 
E) Your friend breaks into a California condor breeding facility and releases all of the condors being raised there because he feels sorry for them.

Question 12

The field of conservation biology ________________

Accepted Answer

A) attempts to integrate an understanding of evolution and extinction into their field research 
B) developed in response to government intervention 
C) tries to conserve every species,everywhere 
D) endeavors to increase speciation events in order to increase biodiversity 
E) was initially viewed as too measurement oriented,looking at details and not at the big picture 
A) attempts to integrate an understanding of evolution and extinction into their field research 
B) developed in response to government intervention 
C) tries to conserve every species,everywhere 
D) endeavors to increase speciation events in order to increase biodiversity 
E) was initially viewed as too measurement oriented,looking at details and not at the big picture

Question 13

Contrary to popular belief,the Endangered Species Act allows ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) landowners to harm a protected species in one area if they improve habitat for it elsewhere 
B) international trade in protected species to aid in times of economic hardship 
C) landowners to kill endangered species for food if necessary 
D) habitats of protected species to be developed or logged as long as no individuals of the species are killed 
E) endangered species to be hunted as long as records are kept of numbers and sex of individuals taken 
A) landowners to harm a protected species in one area if they improve habitat for it elsewhere 
B) international trade in protected species to aid in times of economic hardship 
C) landowners to kill endangered species for food if necessary 
D) habitats of protected species to be developed or logged as long as no individuals of the species are killed 
E) endangered species to be hunted as long as records are kept of numbers and sex of individuals taken

Question 14

The greatest species diversity is found in which of the following groups?

Accepted Answer

A) birds 
B) insects 
C) flowering plants 
D) mammals 
E) fish 
A) birds 
B) insects 
C) flowering plants 
D) mammals 
E) fish

Question 15

The species that are generally most vulnerable to human impact are ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) keystone species 
B) K -selected species 
C) producers 
D) decomposers 
E) competitive species 
A) keystone species 
B) K -selected species 
C) producers 
D) decomposers 
E) competitive species

Question 16

What are the major causes of the sixth mass extinction event,and why is it of particular concern?

Accepted Answer

The most potent cause of the sixth mass

Question 17

Wildlife in the Serengeti is currently threatened by ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) plans to build a highway that passes through the park 
B) an invasive fish that has been introduced into the major river that flows through the park 
C) an overabundance of elephants 
D) pollution from a nearby coal power plant 
E) plans to legalize hunting of most of the large animal species in the park 
A) plans to build a highway that passes through the park 
B) an invasive fish that has been introduced into the major river that flows through the park 
C) an overabundance of elephants 
D) pollution from a nearby coal power plant 
E) plans to legalize hunting of most of the large animal species in the park

Question 18

What is the greatest known cause of global amphibian declines?

Accepted Answer

A) habitat loss 
B) fires 
C) parasites and disease 
D) pollution 
E) displacement by invasive species 
A) habitat loss 
B) fires 
C) parasites and disease 
D) pollution 
E) displacement by invasive species

Question 19

The Convention on Biological Diversity has goals that ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) are designed to reduce biodiversity 
B) spell out future management plans for all biomes 
C) ensure the distribution of biodiversity's benefits to wealthy countries who can pay for them 
D) include using biodiversity in a sustainable manner 
E) include a set of international laws 
A) are designed to reduce biodiversity 
B) spell out future management plans for all biomes 
C) ensure the distribution of biodiversity's benefits to wealthy countries who can pay for them 
D) include using biodiversity in a sustainable manner 
E) include a set of international laws

Question 20

Is extinction natural? How has the extinction rate changed over time? Why are extinction rates today different from rates in the past?

Accepted Answer

Students should discuss some of the foll

Exam 11: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

What is the Endangered Species Act? Describe one of its successes and explain some of the current controversies surrounding it.

A species of lizard has gone extinct.All of the following may have contributed to this extinction EXCEPT ________________.

What is the greatest contributing factor in the loss of polar bears in arctic areas?

The causes of the current (sixth)mass extinction include all of the following EXCEPT ________________.

Animals that are harmed by human modification of the environment tend to have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ________________

Species richness is affected by many variables.As one travels to higher latitudes,one would generally find ________________.

One of the ongoing problems for wild California condors is ________________.

What is the value,to a species,of having genetic diversity?

What do researchers hope to accomplish by performing genetic analyses on confiscated ivory?

Which of the following activities would violate CITES?

The field of conservation biology ________________

Contrary to popular belief,the Endangered Species Act allows ________________.

The greatest species diversity is found in which of the following groups?

The species that are generally most vulnerable to human impact are ________________.

What are the major causes of the sixth mass extinction event,and why is it of particular concern?

Wildlife in the Serengeti is currently threatened by ________________.

What is the greatest known cause of global amphibian declines?

The Convention on Biological Diversity has goals that ________________.

Is extinction natural? How has the extinction rate changed over time? Why are extinction rates today different from rates in the past?

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