Question 1

The causes of the current (sixth) mass extinction include all of these, but not _______________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
Many biologists and environmental educators are interested in maintaining biodiversity in urban landscapes, where preserves or reserves are scarce unless land has been set aside for them in urban planning. Nonetheless, they have discovered that making even small changes in commercial and residential landscaping can help promote biodiversity. Some of the changes that have been recommended and are having success are using native species for street trees and for decorative landscaping, reducing pesticide use on lawns and gardens and reducing fertilizer use through composting and mulching. Also, managers of schools, larger businesses and residences are encouraged to increase habitat diversity by creating ʺlandscape islandsʺ that include larger trees surrounded by shrubs and herbaceous plants. Landscape islands ideally should include native species, mixed with exotic ornamentals at the discretion of the land owners.
-You also decide to greatly reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers you use in your landscape and rely more on mulching and composting. This will benefit your yard ʺecosystemʺ by _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing the populations of butterflies 
B)  making habitats for pollinators 
C)  decreasing the plant biodiversity of the yard 
D)  decreasing the number of predatory animals and insects 
E)  reducing nutrient pollution in nearby areas and increasing soil organismsʹ biodiversity 
A)  increasing the populations of butterflies 
B)  making habitats for pollinators 
C)  decreasing the plant biodiversity of the yard 
D)  decreasing the number of predatory animals and insects 
E)  reducing nutrient pollution in nearby areas and increasing soil organismsʹ biodiversity

Question 3

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 primar

Question 4

Provide several reasons why our estimates of species numbers are incomplete.

Accepted Answer

One reason is that some areas of Earth r

Question 5

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
Many biologists and environmental educators are interested in maintaining biodiversity in urban landscapes, where preserves or reserves are scarce unless land has been set aside for them in urban planning. Nonetheless, they have discovered that making even small changes in commercial and residential landscaping can help promote biodiversity. Some of the changes that have been recommended and are having success are using native species for street trees and for decorative landscaping, reducing pesticide use on lawns and gardens and reducing fertilizer use through composting and mulching. Also, managers of schools, larger businesses and residences are encouraged to increase habitat diversity by creating ʺlandscape islandsʺ that include larger trees surrounded by shrubs and herbaceous plants. Landscape islands ideally should include native species, mixed with exotic ornamentals at the discretion of the land owners.
-From your experiences with the lawn and the butterfly garden, you can affirm that _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  once natural habitats are altered or destroyed they can never be restored, even in part 
B)  native plant landscaping can be done so that no predators or parasites are present 
C)  higher biodiversity of plants means a lower biodiversity of animals 
D)  native plants are more likely to support local herbivorous animals than are exotic plant species 
E)  pesticides need to be used to maintain a diversity of native species 
A)  once natural habitats are altered or destroyed they can never be restored, even in part 
B)  native plant landscaping can be done so that no predators or parasites are present 
C)  higher biodiversity of plants means a lower biodiversity of animals 
D)  native plants are more likely to support local herbivorous animals than are exotic plant species 
E)  pesticides need to be used to maintain a diversity of native species

Question 6

Bullfrog tadpoles are often sold as fish bait, even in areas where they do not occur naturally. When people buy 10 of them and donʹt use them all, they often dump the remainder into the lake or river. This is an example of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  inbreeding 
B)  overharvesting of species from the wild 
C)  introduced species 
D)  extirpation 
E)  habitat destruction 
A)  inbreeding 
B)  overharvesting of species from the wild 
C)  introduced species 
D)  extirpation 
E)  habitat destruction

Question 7

A population of birds is found on a remote island. Which of the following information is most important in deciding if the birds all belong to a single species?

Accepted Answer

A)  That all the birds appear to eat the same range of food. 
B)  Whether they can breed with one another. 
C)  Whether the matings produce viable eggs or offspring of some matings are sterile. 
D)  That they share many physical characteristics. 
E)  That the males all sing very similar songs. 
A)  That all the birds appear to eat the same range of food. 
B)  Whether they can breed with one another. 
C)  Whether the matings produce viable eggs or offspring of some matings are sterile. 
D)  That they share many physical characteristics. 
E)  That the males all sing very similar songs.

Question 8

The wood thrush makes its nest in woodlands in the northern and eastern United States. As patches of woods become smaller, increasing numbers of wood thrush nests have eggs laid in them by the brown-headed cowbird. Cowbirds live in open fields and are nest parasites; the female cowbird flies up to an unattended nest, quickly lays an egg in another birdʹs nest, and leaves the host parents to raise their ʺadoptedʺ young. Wood thrushes are decreasing in numbers because _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  cowbirds are an invasive species that is rapidly increasing 
B)  overharvesting in the open fields has driven the cowbirds into the woodlands 
C)  habitat fragmentation makes it easier for cowbird parasitism to occur 
D)  pollution of the open fields has caused a change in cowbird behavior 
E)  climate change is reducing nest site availability 
A)  cowbirds are an invasive species that is rapidly increasing 
B)  overharvesting in the open fields has driven the cowbirds into the woodlands 
C)  habitat fragmentation makes it easier for cowbird parasitism to occur 
D)  pollution of the open fields has caused a change in cowbird behavior 
E)  climate change is reducing nest site availability

Question 9

Use the figure above to answer the following question
-Direct consequences of biodiversity loss are ______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  health and social impacts 
B)  increased human population growth 
C)  overharvesting 
D)  global climate change 
E)  loss of sources of medicines 
A)  health and social impacts 
B)  increased human population growth 
C)  overharvesting 
D)  global climate change 
E)  loss of sources of medicines

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Students should discuss some of the foll

Question 13

______________ classify species using an organismʹs physical appearance and genetic makeup.

Accepted Answer

A)  Ecologists 
B)  Taxonomists 
C)  Agronomists 
D)  Environmentalists 
E)  Geneticists 
A)  Ecologists 
B)  Taxonomists 
C)  Agronomists 
D)  Environmentalists 
E)  Geneticists

Question 14

In general, successfully introduced non-native species experience _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  decreased biotic potential 
B)  competitive success against native species 
C)  increases in limiting factors 
D)  increased competition from other organisms 
E)  increased environmental resistance 
A)  decreased biotic potential 
B)  competitive success against native species 
C)  increases in limiting factors 
D)  increased competition from other organisms 
E)  increased environmental resistance

Question 15

A migratory bat species pollinates agave plants in northern Mexico on its way to the southwestern United States where it spends the summer eating insects and reproducing. Farmers spraying pesticides affect these bats, which eat the insects and also feed them to the baby bats. This could be the start of a story about ________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  sustainable agriculture 
B)  an extirpation 
C)  threats to a keystone species 
D)  an umbrella species 
E)  insect biodiversity 
A)  sustainable agriculture 
B)  an extirpation 
C)  threats to a keystone species 
D)  an umbrella species 
E)  insect biodiversity

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 sixth mass exti

Question 17

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
Many biologists and environmental educators are interested in maintaining biodiversity in urban landscapes, where preserves or reserves are scarce unless land has been set aside for them in urban planning. Nonetheless, they have discovered that making even small changes in commercial and residential landscaping can help promote biodiversity. Some of the changes that have been recommended and are having success are using native species for street trees and for decorative landscaping, reducing pesticide use on lawns and gardens and reducing fertilizer use through composting and mulching. Also, managers of schools, larger businesses and residences are encouraged to increase habitat diversity by creating ʺlandscape islandsʺ that include larger trees surrounded by shrubs and herbaceous plants. Landscape islands ideally should include native species, mixed with exotic ornamentals at the discretion of the land owners.
-The butterflies you established in your yard are now thriving, but you notice that some of the caterpillars are suffering from predators and parasites. After some study and consultation, you decide to _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  give up on the butterfly species you encouraged and try to attract new species 
B)  resume spraying pesticides on the lawn 
C)  catch and kill the predators and parasites by hand 
D)  plant more host plants in several different areas but otherwise do nothing 
E)  spray pesticides on the plants to control the predators 
A)  give up on the butterfly species you encouraged and try to attract new species 
B)  resume spraying pesticides on the lawn 
C)  catch and kill the predators and parasites by hand 
D)  plant more host plants in several different areas but otherwise do nothing 
E)  spray pesticides on the plants to control the predators

Question 18

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
-Differences in DNA composition among individuals within a given species

Accepted Answer

A) speciation 
B) umbrella species 
C) major species 
D) genetic diversity 
E) extinction
F)ecocentricity
G)biophilia
H)hotspot
I)community
J)alleles
K)extirpation 
A) speciation 
B) umbrella species 
C) major species 
D) genetic diversity 
E) extinction
F)ecocentricity
G)biophilia
H)hotspot
I)community
J)alleles
K)extirpation

Question 19

Use the figure above to answer the following question
-Loss of aesthetic and spiritual ties with nature would be less if we ________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  decreased the rate of habitat alteration and destruction 
B)  accelerated globalization 
C)  do nothing to slow global climate change 
D)  had more per capita consumption 
E)  increased the rate of harvesting economically important species 
A)  decreased the rate of habitat alteration and destruction 
B)  accelerated globalization 
C)  do nothing to slow global climate change 
D)  had more per capita consumption 
E)  increased the rate of harvesting economically important species

Question 20

Of the following, _________________ can change local species diversity but not global species diversity.

Accepted Answer

A)  extirpation and extinction 
B)  speciation and immigration 
C)  emigration and extinction 
D)  speciation and extinction 
E)  immigration and extirpation 
A)  extirpation and extinction 
B)  speciation and immigration 
C)  emigration and extinction 
D)  speciation and extinction 
E)  immigration and extirpation

The causes of the current (sixth) mass extinction include all of these, but not _______________.

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

Provide several reasons why our estimates of species numbers are incomplete.

Bullfrog tadpoles are often sold as fish bait, even in areas where they do not occur naturally. When people buy 10 of them and donʹt use them all, they often dump the remainder into the lake or river. This is an example of ____________________.

A population of birds is found on a remote island. Which of the following information is most important in deciding if the birds all belong to a single species?

Use the figure above to answer the following question -Direct consequences of biodiversity loss are ______________.

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

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

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

______________ classify species using an organismʹs physical appearance and genetic makeup.

In general, successfully introduced non-native species experience _________________.

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

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following: -Differences in DNA composition among individuals within a given species

Use the figure above to answer the following question -Loss of aesthetic and spiritual ties with nature would be less if we ________________.

Of the following, _________________ can change local species diversity but not global species diversity.

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development

Human Population

Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Geology, Minerals, and Mining

Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Epilogue

Filters

Exam 8: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

The causes of the current (sixth) mass extinction include all of these, but not _______________.

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

Provide several reasons why our estimates of species numbers are incomplete.

Bullfrog tadpoles are often sold as fish bait, even in areas where they do not occur naturally. When people buy 10 of them and donʹt use them all, they often dump the remainder into the lake or river. This is an example of ____________________.

A population of birds is found on a remote island. Which of the following information is most important in deciding if the birds all belong to a single species?

Use the figure above to answer the following question -Direct consequences of biodiversity loss are ______________.

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

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

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

______________ classify species using an organismʹs physical appearance and genetic makeup.

In general, successfully introduced non-native species experience _________________.

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

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following: -Differences in DNA composition among individuals within a given species

Use the figure above to answer the following question -Loss of aesthetic and spiritual ties with nature would be less if we ________________.

Of the following, _________________ can change local species diversity but not global species diversity.

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development

Human Population

Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Geology, Minerals, and Mining

Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Epilogue

Filters