Exam 39: Biodiversity and People

The number of species of organisms on Earth is estimated to range between

Examine the figure below, which shows a housing development. In what way(s) does this use of the land differ from the forest present prior to the construction of the development?

Anthropologists note that the arrival of humans almost always corresponds to the disappearance of large carnivorous animal species. What type of problem would the loss of these animals cause?

Human developments like housing, shopping centers, or highways typically

Nonnative species can be accidentally or intentionally introduced into a new habitat; in most instances

Those events during which many species become _______ are called mass extinction events.

_______ activity appears to have the potential to cause a decline in the diversity of life on Earth equal to those of past mass extinctions.

Ocean reefs typically require millions of years to recover from mass extinctions.

_______ is the term used to describe the variety of the world's species of organisms.

As a byproduct of their photosynthesis, _______ produce most of the oxygen in the atmosphere.

Abandoned woodpecker cavities are used by many songbirds unable to create their own. The starling, an invasive species in N. America, aggressively competes for these cavities. Either a(n) _______ in woodpecker populations or a(n) _______ in the starling population has the potential to further reduce songbird populations.

Which of the following groups of organisms are arthropods?

It is estimated that as many as 74 species become extinct daily; if a species has become extinct,

Numerous threats to biodiversity have recently been identified, however, ______ is(are) not included among them.

As humans, our primary concern(s) with the present mass extinction should be that

Where would you expect to find the largest number of different species?

At least five mass extinction events have occurred during the history of life; the event that impacted the dinosaurs took place

Housing developments tend to stabilize surrounding habitats by creating roadways, which channel runoff and minimize erosion.

Those organisms whose distinctive features are primarily microscopic are challenging to study; thus, the most poorly known kingdoms are the Fungi, the Bacteria, and the __________ .

A current hypothesis suggests the decline in amphibian reproductive success is caused by an increased exposure to _______ light that in turn is related to global climate change.