Question 1

What is the difference between background extinction and mass extinction

Accepted Answer

A) background extinction is continuous and low-level; mass extinction occurs during a relatively short period of time and involves large numbers of species 
B) background extinction is indiscriminate; mass extinction targets particular species 
C) background extinction may be due to a human induced catastrophic event; mass extinction is a natural biological process 
D) background extinction has occurred 5-6 times throughout Earth's history; mass extinctions have occurred hundreds of times 
E) background extinction is a synonym for mass extinction 
A) background extinction is continuous and low-level; mass extinction occurs during a relatively short period of time and involves large numbers of species 
B) background extinction is indiscriminate; mass extinction targets particular species 
C) background extinction may be due to a human induced catastrophic event; mass extinction is a natural biological process 
D) background extinction has occurred 5-6 times throughout Earth's history; mass extinctions have occurred hundreds of times 
E) background extinction is a synonym for mass extinction

Question 2

When was the Endangered Species Act originally passed and what was its purpose

Accepted Answer

A) 1920 for the purpose of listing all plant and animal species that are endangered. 
B) 1935 for the purpose of limiting the amount of development on federal lands. 
C) 1973 authorizing the FWS to protect endangered and threatened species in the U.S.and abroad. 
D) 1999 sanctioning urban development after examining area for endangered species 
E) 2010 for the purpose of providing legal protection to listed endemic species 
A) 1920 for the purpose of listing all plant and animal species that are endangered. 
B) 1935 for the purpose of limiting the amount of development on federal lands. 
C) 1973 authorizing the FWS to protect endangered and threatened species in the U.S.and abroad. 
D) 1999 sanctioning urban development after examining area for endangered species 
E) 2010 for the purpose of providing legal protection to listed endemic species

Question 3

What is biological diversity
(a)What are three components that make up biological diversity
 Explain what each of these components contributes.
(b)Discuss two ways to reverse the trend of declining biological diversity.

Accepted Answer

Biological diversity is the number and v

Question 4

The species richness of a community depends on all of the following factors except

Accepted Answer

A) the geological history of the region. 
B) the productivity of the ecosystem. 
C) the abundance of ecological niches. 
D) the quality of ecosystem services. 
E) the stability of the ecosystem. 
A) the geological history of the region. 
B) the productivity of the ecosystem. 
C) the abundance of ecological niches. 
D) the quality of ecosystem services. 
E) the stability of the ecosystem.

Question 5

The goal of the World Conservation Strategy is to

Accepted Answer

A) provide legal protection to listed endangered species and to reduce their danger of extinction. 
B) compensate individual countries for developing wildlife habitat. 
C) limit the amount of development on various islands. 
D) develop detailed plans for managing and preserving global biodiversity. 
E) develop stringent controls for the exploitation of endangered species. 
A) provide legal protection to listed endangered species and to reduce their danger of extinction. 
B) compensate individual countries for developing wildlife habitat. 
C) limit the amount of development on various islands. 
D) develop detailed plans for managing and preserving global biodiversity. 
E) develop stringent controls for the exploitation of endangered species.

Question 6

Restoration ecology plays a large role in

Accepted Answer

A) in ex situ conservation to reduce extinctions. 
B) introducing species that have economic value into blighted ecosystems. 
C) the harvesting of natural resources for human use. 
D) adhering to old procedures because "that's what has always been done." 
E) the regeneration of soil damaged by agriculture or mining. 
A) in ex situ conservation to reduce extinctions. 
B) introducing species that have economic value into blighted ecosystems. 
C) the harvesting of natural resources for human use. 
D) adhering to old procedures because "that's what has always been done." 
E) the regeneration of soil damaged by agriculture or mining.

Question 7

Which of the following term is incorrectly matched with its definition

Accepted Answer

A) endangered species : species that faces threats that may cause it to become extinct within a short period 
B) threatened species : a species whose extinction is less imminent but its population is quite low 
C) species richness : the genetic variety within all populations of a given species 
D) invasive species : a foreign species that spreads rapidly when introduced into a new area 
E) endemic species : species that are native to or confine to a specific place 
A) endangered species : species that faces threats that may cause it to become extinct within a short period 
B) threatened species : a species whose extinction is less imminent but its population is quite low 
C) species richness : the genetic variety within all populations of a given species 
D) invasive species : a foreign species that spreads rapidly when introduced into a new area 
E) endemic species : species that are native to or confine to a specific place

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the goal of restoration ecology

Accepted Answer

A) to provide legal protection to listed threatened species 
B) to study how humans impact organisms 
C) to return a human-damaged ecosystem to its former state 
D) to develop strict controls for the exploitation of endangered species 
E) to produce more natural ecosystems in urban settings 
A) to provide legal protection to listed threatened species 
B) to study how humans impact organisms 
C) to return a human-damaged ecosystem to its former state 
D) to develop strict controls for the exploitation of endangered species 
E) to produce more natural ecosystems in urban settings

Question 9

Of all the species that have ever existed,how many are now extinct

Accepted Answer

A) <5% 
B) 21.2% 
C) 58.8% 
D) 75% 
E) 99.9% 
A) <5% 
B) 21.2% 
C) 58.8% 
D) 75% 
E) 99.9%

Question 10

If the forest in question #7 were re-sampled a year later,which of the following would best indicate that the forest had been adversely affected by adjacent development

Accepted Answer

A) the trees are showing rapid growth 
B) the biodiversity of the forest has decreased 
C) no one species is beginning to dominate the forest 
D) no uncommon species has become more numerous 
E) the species richness of the forest has increased 
A) the trees are showing rapid growth 
B) the biodiversity of the forest has decreased 
C) no one species is beginning to dominate the forest 
D) no uncommon species has become more numerous 
E) the species richness of the forest has increased

Question 11

A plan designed to conserve biological diversity worldwide,formulated in 1980 by the international environmental agencies is the ___.

Accepted Answer

A) World Conservation Strategy 
B) International Biological Diversity Scheme 
C) US Endangered Species Act 
D) Global Restoration Proposal 
E) Comprehensive Preservation Design 
A) World Conservation Strategy 
B) International Biological Diversity Scheme 
C) US Endangered Species Act 
D) Global Restoration Proposal 
E) Comprehensive Preservation Design

Question 12

Ecosystems with lower species richness

Accepted Answer

A) provide ecosystem uniformity. 
B) supply better ecosystem services. 
C) supply worst ecosystem services. 
D) create bioconsistency hotspots. 
E) set standards of species quality. 
A) provide ecosystem uniformity. 
B) supply better ecosystem services. 
C) supply worst ecosystem services. 
D) create bioconsistency hotspots. 
E) set standards of species quality.

Question 13

Which species has a more imminent danger of extinction throughout all of its range

Accepted Answer

A) endangered species 
B) threatened species 
C) endemic species 
D) invasive species 
E) indigenous species 
A) endangered species 
B) threatened species 
C) endemic species 
D) invasive species 
E) indigenous species

Question 14

Individuals within all populations of a particular species each have a unique combination of traits.This broad genetic base is known as

Accepted Answer

A) genetic uniformity. 
B) genetic diversity. 
C) genetic engineering. 
D) genetic drift. 
E) genetic evolution. 
A) genetic uniformity. 
B) genetic diversity. 
C) genetic engineering. 
D) genetic drift. 
E) genetic evolution.

Question 15

Which of the following statements concerning the US Endangered Species Act (ESA)is false

Accepted Answer

A) According to the ESA,there are less than 100 species that are endangered or threatened in the U.S.today. 
B) The ESA designates species as endangered or threatened entirely on biological grounds. 
C) The ESA was updated in 1982,1985 and 1988 to be one of the strongest pieces of U.S.environmental legislation. 
D) The ESA provides legal protection to listed species to reduce their danger of extinction. 
E) The ESA does not provide tax cuts for property owners who are good land stewards in protecting the endangered species on their lands. 
A) According to the ESA,there are less than 100 species that are endangered or threatened in the U.S.today. 
B) The ESA designates species as endangered or threatened entirely on biological grounds. 
C) The ESA was updated in 1982,1985 and 1988 to be one of the strongest pieces of U.S.environmental legislation. 
D) The ESA provides legal protection to listed species to reduce their danger of extinction. 
E) The ESA does not provide tax cuts for property owners who are good land stewards in protecting the endangered species on their lands.

Question 16

Biological diversity is the

Accepted Answer

A) change in species occurring in transitional zones between communities. 
B) number and variety of ecosystems in the biosphere. 
C) environmental benefits species provide in a community. 
D) number of different ecosystem services. 
E) number and variety of Earth's organisms. 
A) change in species occurring in transitional zones between communities. 
B) number and variety of ecosystems in the biosphere. 
C) environmental benefits species provide in a community. 
D) number of different ecosystem services. 
E) number and variety of Earth's organisms.

Question 17

The Carolina parakeet,endemic to the southern U.S.became extinct by 1920 because

Accepted Answer

A) the birds ate fruit and grain crops so farmers killed the birds as part of a pest management program. 
B) poachers captured the birds to sell in the commercial market. 
C) a category 5 hurricane destroyed the bird's natural habitat. 
D) the introduced Asian tiger mosquito carried avian flu to the bird population and wiped it out. 
E) human produced acid precipitation and climate warming degraded the birds' habitat. 
A) the birds ate fruit and grain crops so farmers killed the birds as part of a pest management program. 
B) poachers captured the birds to sell in the commercial market. 
C) a category 5 hurricane destroyed the bird's natural habitat. 
D) the introduced Asian tiger mosquito carried avian flu to the bird population and wiped it out. 
E) human produced acid precipitation and climate warming degraded the birds' habitat.

Question 18

Why is the US Endangered Species Act controversial

Accepted Answer

A) it arbitrarily lists species as "experimental,nonessential species" in order to allow ranching and mining in sensitive areas 
B) it does not have jurisdiction over whole ecosystems,but isolated pockets of endangered species habitat 
C) it does not provide compensation to private property owners who suffer financial losses related to its enforcement 
D) it bans hunting on federal lands 
E) it approves illegal trade in product made from commercially valuable endangered species 
A) it arbitrarily lists species as "experimental,nonessential species" in order to allow ranching and mining in sensitive areas 
B) it does not have jurisdiction over whole ecosystems,but isolated pockets of endangered species habitat 
C) it does not provide compensation to private property owners who suffer financial losses related to its enforcement 
D) it bans hunting on federal lands 
E) it approves illegal trade in product made from commercially valuable endangered species

Question 19

Why don't scientists know the exact number of species on Earth

Accepted Answer

A) because about 10,000 new species are identified each year. 
B) because species are becoming extinct at a rate that is too fast to count 
C) because the system used to define what constitutes a species keeps changing 
D) because historical records are inaccurate 
E) Scientists do know.There are 1.8 million existing species on Earth 
A) because about 10,000 new species are identified each year. 
B) because species are becoming extinct at a rate that is too fast to count 
C) because the system used to define what constitutes a species keeps changing 
D) because historical records are inaccurate 
E) Scientists do know.There are 1.8 million existing species on Earth

Question 20

Define extinction and discuss the major causes of extinction
(a)in recent times and 
(b)before people existed on Earth.

Accepted Answer

When the last individual member of a spe

What is the difference between background extinction and mass extinction

When was the Endangered Species Act originally passed and what was its purpose

What is biological diversity (a)What are three components that make up biological diversity Explain what each of these components contributes. (b)Discuss two ways to reverse the trend of declining biological diversity.

The species richness of a community depends on all of the following factors except

The goal of the World Conservation Strategy is to

Restoration ecology plays a large role in

Which of the following term is incorrectly matched with its definition

Which of the following best describes the goal of restoration ecology

Of all the species that have ever existed,how many are now extinct

If the forest in question #7 were re-sampled a year later,which of the following would best indicate that the forest had been adversely affected by adjacent development

A plan designed to conserve biological diversity worldwide,formulated in 1980 by the international environmental agencies is the ___.

Ecosystems with lower species richness

Which species has a more imminent danger of extinction throughout all of its range

Individuals within all populations of a particular species each have a unique combination of traits.This broad genetic base is known as

Which of the following statements concerning the US Endangered Species Act (ESA)is false

Biological diversity is the

The Carolina parakeet,endemic to the southern U.S.became extinct by 1920 because

Why is the US Endangered Species Act controversial

Why don't scientists know the exact number of species on Earth

Define extinction and discuss the major causes of extinction (a)in recent times and (b)before people existed on Earth.

The Environmental Challenges We Face

Sustainability and Human Values

Environmental History, Politics, and Economics

Risk Analysis and Environmental Health Hazards

How Ecosystems Work

Ecosystems and Evolution

Human Population Change and the Environment

Air and Air Pollution

Global Atmospheric Changes

Freshwater Resources and Water Pollution

The Ocean and Fisheries

Mineral and Soil Resources

Land Resources

Agriculture and Food Resources

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

Renewable Energy Resources

Filters

Exam 15: Biodiversity and Conservation

What is the difference between background extinction and mass extinction

When was the Endangered Species Act originally passed and what was its purpose

What is biological diversity (a)What are three components that make up biological diversity Explain what each of these components contributes. (b)Discuss two ways to reverse the trend of declining biological diversity.

The species richness of a community depends on all of the following factors except

The goal of the World Conservation Strategy is to

Restoration ecology plays a large role in

Which of the following term is incorrectly matched with its definition

Which of the following best describes the goal of restoration ecology

Of all the species that have ever existed,how many are now extinct

If the forest in question #7 were re-sampled a year later,which of the following would best indicate that the forest had been adversely affected by adjacent development

A plan designed to conserve biological diversity worldwide,formulated in 1980 by the international environmental agencies is the ___.

Ecosystems with lower species richness

Which species has a more imminent danger of extinction throughout all of its range

Individuals within all populations of a particular species each have a unique combination of traits.This broad genetic base is known as

Which of the following statements concerning the US Endangered Species Act (ESA)is false

Biological diversity is the

The Carolina parakeet,endemic to the southern U.S.became extinct by 1920 because

Why is the US Endangered Species Act controversial

Why don't scientists know the exact number of species on Earth

Define extinction and discuss the major causes of extinction (a)in recent times and (b)before people existed on Earth.

The Environmental Challenges We Face

Sustainability and Human Values

Environmental History, Politics, and Economics

Risk Analysis and Environmental Health Hazards

How Ecosystems Work

Ecosystems and Evolution

Human Population Change and the Environment

Air and Air Pollution

Global Atmospheric Changes

Freshwater Resources and Water Pollution

The Ocean and Fisheries

Mineral and Soil Resources

Land Resources

Agriculture and Food Resources

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

Renewable Energy Resources

Filters