Question 1

The biggest challenge that Costa Rica will likely face in its dedication to conservation and restoration in the future is

Accepted Answer

A)  the pressures of its growing population. 
B)  its small size (as a country), which may not be able to maintain large enough reserves. 
C)  the potential for disturbance of sensitive species in reserves by ecotourists. 
D)  spread of disease and parasites via corridors from neighboring countries. 
E)  the large number of Costa Rican species already in the extinction vortex. 
A)  the pressures of its growing population. 
B)  its small size (as a country), which may not be able to maintain large enough reserves. 
C)  the potential for disturbance of sensitive species in reserves by ecotourists. 
D)  spread of disease and parasites via corridors from neighboring countries. 
E)  the large number of Costa Rican species already in the extinction vortex.

Question 2

Although extinction is a natural process, current extinctions are of concern to environmentalists because

Accepted Answer

A)  more animals than ever before are going extinct. 
B)  most current extinctions are caused by introduced species. 
C)  the rate of extinction is unusually high. 
D)  current extinction is primarily affecting plant diversity. 
E)  None of the options are correct. 
A)  more animals than ever before are going extinct. 
B)  most current extinctions are caused by introduced species. 
C)  the rate of extinction is unusually high. 
D)  current extinction is primarily affecting plant diversity. 
E)  None of the options are correct.

Question 3

According to the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), the difference between an endangered species and a threatened one is that

Accepted Answer

A)  an endangered species is closer to extinction. 
B)  a threatened species is closer to extinction. 
C)  threatened species are endangered species outside the U.S. borders. 
D)  endangered species are mainly tropical. 
E)  only endangered species are vertebrates. 
A)  an endangered species is closer to extinction. 
B)  a threatened species is closer to extinction. 
C)  threatened species are endangered species outside the U.S. borders. 
D)  endangered species are mainly tropical. 
E)  only endangered species are vertebrates.

Question 4

The main cause of the increase in the amount of CO₂ in Earth's atmosphere over the past 150 years is

Accepted Answer

A)  increased worldwide primary production. 
B)  increased worldwide standing crop. 
C)  an increase in the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the atmosphere. 
D)  the burning of larger amounts of wood and fossil fuels. 
E)  additional respiration by the rapidly growing human population. 
A)  increased worldwide primary production. 
B)  increased worldwide standing crop. 
C)  an increase in the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the atmosphere. 
D)  the burning of larger amounts of wood and fossil fuels. 
E)  additional respiration by the rapidly growing human population.

Question 5

How are movement corridors potentially harmful to certain species?

Accepted Answer

A)  They increase inbreeding. 
B)  They promote dispersion. 
C)  They spread disease and parasites. 
D)  They increase genetic diversity. 
E)  They allow seasonal migration. 
A)  They increase inbreeding. 
B)  They promote dispersion. 
C)  They spread disease and parasites. 
D)  They increase genetic diversity. 
E)  They allow seasonal migration.

Question 6

What is the estimated number of extant species on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  1,000 to 50,000 
B)  50,000 to 150,000 
C)  500,000 to 1,000,000 
D)  10,000,000 to 100,000,000 
E)  5 billion to 10 billion 
A)  1,000 to 50,000 
B)  50,000 to 150,000 
C)  500,000 to 1,000,000 
D)  10,000,000 to 100,000,000 
E)  5 billion to 10 billion

Question 7

How might the extinction of some Pacific Island bats called "flying foxes" threaten the survival of over 75% of the tree species in those islands?

Accepted Answer

A)  The bats eat the insects that harm competitor plants. 
B)  The bats consume the fruit including the seeds that would disrupt the trees' reproductive cycle. 
C)  The bats roost in the trees and fertilize soil around the trees with their nitrogen-rich droppings. 
D)  The bats pollinate the trees and disperse seeds. 
E)  The bats pierce the fruit, which allows the seeds to germinate. 
A)  The bats eat the insects that harm competitor plants. 
B)  The bats consume the fruit including the seeds that would disrupt the trees' reproductive cycle. 
C)  The bats roost in the trees and fertilize soil around the trees with their nitrogen-rich droppings. 
D)  The bats pollinate the trees and disperse seeds. 
E)  The bats pierce the fruit, which allows the seeds to germinate.

Question 8

Relatively small geographic areas with high concentrations of endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species are known as

Accepted Answer

A)  endemic sinks. 
B)  critical communities. 
C)  biodiversity hot spots. 
D)  endemic metapopulations. 
E)  bottlenecks. 
A)  endemic sinks. 
B)  critical communities. 
C)  biodiversity hot spots. 
D)  endemic metapopulations. 
E)  bottlenecks.

Question 9

Suppose you attend a town meeting at which some experts tell the audience that they have performed a cost-benefit analysis of a proposed transit system that would probably reduce overall air pollution and fossil fuel consumption. The analysis, however, reveals that ticket prices will not cover the cost of operating the system when fuel, wages, and equipment are taken into account. As a biologist, you know that if ecosystem services had been included in the analysis the experts might have arrived at a different answer. Why are ecosystem services rarely included in economic analyses?

Accepted Answer

A)  Their cost is difficult to estimate and people take them for granted. 
B)  They are not worth much and are usually not considered. 
C)  There are no laws that require investigation of ecosystem services in environmental planning. 
D)  There are too many variables to ecosystem services, making their calculation impossible. 
E)  Ecosystem services only take into account abiotic factors that affect local environments. 
A)  Their cost is difficult to estimate and people take them for granted. 
B)  They are not worth much and are usually not considered. 
C)  There are no laws that require investigation of ecosystem services in environmental planning. 
D)  There are too many variables to ecosystem services, making their calculation impossible. 
E)  Ecosystem services only take into account abiotic factors that affect local environments.

Question 10

Which of the following is true about "hot spots"?

Accepted Answer

A)  One-third of all species on Earth occupy less than 1.5% of Earth's land area (hot spots). 
B)  All of the plants and animals containing genes that may be useful to humankind are located in Earth's hot spots. 
C)  Around 75% of all of the undiscovered species of organisms live in ecological hot spots. 
D)  As conservation measures improve over the next ten years, hot spots will likely disappear. 
E)  The hot spots that are in most dire need of remediation are located in the tundra. 
A)  One-third of all species on Earth occupy less than 1.5% of Earth's land area (hot spots). 
B)  All of the plants and animals containing genes that may be useful to humankind are located in Earth's hot spots. 
C)  Around 75% of all of the undiscovered species of organisms live in ecological hot spots. 
D)  As conservation measures improve over the next ten years, hot spots will likely disappear. 
E)  The hot spots that are in most dire need of remediation are located in the tundra.

Question 11

The greatest cause of the biodiversity crisis, the one which includes all of the others, is

Accepted Answer

A)  pollution. 
B)  global warming. 
C)  habitat destruction. 
D)  introduced species. 
E)  human overpopulation. 
A)  pollution. 
B)  global warming. 
C)  habitat destruction. 
D)  introduced species. 
E)  human overpopulation.

Question 12

For the following questions, match the statement with the appropriate term/phrase.
-This is caused by excessive nutrient runoff into aquatic ecosystems.

Accepted Answer

A)  depletion of ozone layer 
B)  acid precipitation 
C)  biological magnification 
D)  greenhouse effect 
E)  eutrophication 
A)  depletion of ozone layer 
B)  acid precipitation 
C)  biological magnification 
D)  greenhouse effect 
E)  eutrophication

Question 13

Modern conservation biology increasingly aims at

Accepted Answer

A)  protecting federally listed endangered species. 
B)  lobbying for strict enforcement of the U.S. Endangered Species Act. 
C)  sustaining biodiversity of entire ecosystems and communities. 
D)  maintaining genetic diversity in all species. 
E)  saving as much habitat as possible from development and exploitation. 
A)  protecting federally listed endangered species. 
B)  lobbying for strict enforcement of the U.S. Endangered Species Act. 
C)  sustaining biodiversity of entire ecosystems and communities. 
D)  maintaining genetic diversity in all species. 
E)  saving as much habitat as possible from development and exploitation.

Question 14

Which of the following conditions is the most likely indicator of a population in an extinction vortex?

Accepted Answer

A)  The population is geographically divided into smaller populations. 
B)  The species in question is found only in small pockets of its former range. 
C)  The effective population size of the species falls below 500. 
D)  Genetic measurements indicate a loss of genetic variation over time. 
E)  The population is no longer connected by corridors. 
A)  The population is geographically divided into smaller populations. 
B)  The species in question is found only in small pockets of its former range. 
C)  The effective population size of the species falls below 500. 
D)  Genetic measurements indicate a loss of genetic variation over time. 
E)  The population is no longer connected by corridors.

Question 15

Use the graph and information provided in the paragraph below to answer the following questions.
Flycatcher birds that migrate from Africa to Europe feed their nestlings a diet that is almost exclusively moth caterpillars. The graph below shows the mean dates of arrival, bird hatching, and peak caterpillar season for the years 1980 and 2000.
  
-The shift in the peak of caterpillar season is most likely due to

Accepted Answer

A)  pesticide use. 
B)  earlier migration returns of flycatchers. 
C)  an innate change in the biological clock of the caterpillars. 
D)  global warming. 
E)  acid precipitation in Europe. 
A)  pesticide use. 
B)  earlier migration returns of flycatchers. 
C)  an innate change in the biological clock of the caterpillars. 
D)  global warming. 
E)  acid precipitation in Europe.

Question 16

Of the following statements about protected areas that have been established to preserve biodiversity, which one is not correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  About 25% of Earth's land area is now protected. 
B)  National parks are one of many types of protected areas. 
C)  Most protected areas are too small to protect species. 
D)  Management of a protected area should be coordinated with management of the land surrounding the area. 
E)  It is especially important to protect biodiversity hot spots. 
A)  About 25% of Earth's land area is now protected. 
B)  National parks are one of many types of protected areas. 
C)  Most protected areas are too small to protect species. 
D)  Management of a protected area should be coordinated with management of the land surrounding the area. 
E)  It is especially important to protect biodiversity hot spots.

Question 17

For the following questions, match the statement with the appropriate term/phrase.
-This term refers to the reflecting and absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric methane, carbon dioxide, and water.

Accepted Answer

A)  depletion of ozone layer 
B)  acid precipitation 
C)  biological magnification 
D)  greenhouse effect 
E)  eutrophication 
A)  depletion of ozone layer 
B)  acid precipitation 
C)  biological magnification 
D)  greenhouse effect 
E)  eutrophication

Question 18

Which of the following life history traits can potentially influence effective population size (Ne)?

Accepted Answer

A)  maturation age 
B)  genetic relatedness among individuals in a population 
C)  family and population size 
D)  gene flow between geographically separated populations 
E)  All of the options are correct. 
A)  maturation age 
B)  genetic relatedness among individuals in a population 
C)  family and population size 
D)  gene flow between geographically separated populations 
E)  All of the options are correct.

Question 19

-Based on what you know about ecosystem stability and the information provided in the graph, which community (A-E)would likely support the most biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Question 20

-Study the information above about quail habitats. Assuming that only one quail can occupy a habitat where all cover requirements are met, what is the maximum number of quail that could inhabit any of the hypothetical plots shown?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  4 
D)  6 
E)  9 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  4 
D)  6 
E)  9

Exam 56: Conservation Biology and Global Change

The biggest challenge that Costa Rica will likely face in its dedication to conservation and restoration in the future is

Although extinction is a natural process, current extinctions are of concern to environmentalists because

According to the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), the difference between an endangered species and a threatened one is that

The main cause of the increase in the amount of CO₂ in Earth's atmosphere over the past 150 years is

How are movement corridors potentially harmful to certain species?

What is the estimated number of extant species on Earth?

How might the extinction of some Pacific Island bats called "flying foxes" threaten the survival of over 75% of the tree species in those islands?

Relatively small geographic areas with high concentrations of endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species are known as

Which of the following is true about "hot spots"?

The greatest cause of the biodiversity crisis, the one which includes all of the others, is

For the following questions, match the statement with the appropriate term/phrase. -This is caused by excessive nutrient runoff into aquatic ecosystems.

Modern conservation biology increasingly aims at

Which of the following conditions is the most likely indicator of a population in an extinction vortex?

Of the following statements about protected areas that have been established to preserve biodiversity, which one is not correct?

For the following questions, match the statement with the appropriate term/phrase. -This term refers to the reflecting and absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric methane, carbon dioxide, and water.

Which of the following life history traits can potentially influence effective population size (Ne)?

-Based on what you know about ecosystem stability and the information provided in the graph, which community (A-E)would likely support the most biodiversity?

-Study the information above about quail habitats. Assuming that only one quail can occupy a habitat where all cover requirements are met, what is the maximum number of quail that could inhabit any of the hypothetical plots shown?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

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