Exam 39: Biodiversity and People

Introduced species that aggressively compete with and displace native species are often called a(n) ____________ species.

During mass extinctions all existing species become extinct.

Habitat loss is a serious problem in the world's rainforests, but is an insignificant issue in the world's temperate zones.

After a mass extinction, surviving species often _______ into new groups that rapidly recolonize the planet.

On occasion introduced species like the Chinese ring-necked pheasant have created beneficial recreational opportunities, however, in most instances their impact is detrimental.

The colonization of new areas by humans, both past and present, has several distinctive features; one of the most common is the

Nonnative organisms can be serious threats to native species when they

About half of the known species on Earth are insects.

Attacked by chestnut blight, the American chestnut is now a rare tree in eastern forests. The disease is caused by a European fungus and illustrates the potential damage that _______ can cause.

Characteristic types of environments or places in which different species can live are called ___________.

The earth's average temperature appears to be slowly increasing, and heralds a new era in environmental challenges for numerous species. Most evidence supports the hypothesis that climatic change is the result of

The figure below shows various groups drawn in sizes proportional to their contribution to known biodiversity. If the current extinction crisis continues, in future versions of the diagram, _______ will most likely be _______.