Question 1

Which factor is not part of the growing taxonomic homogenization of Earth's biota?

Accepted Answer

A)  Increases in the number of native specialist species 
B)  Decreases in the distribution of native specialist species 
C)  Increases in the number of native generalist species 
D)  Rapid spread of introduced species 
A)  Increases in the number of native specialist species 
B)  Decreases in the distribution of native specialist species 
C)  Increases in the number of native generalist species 
D)  Rapid spread of introduced species

Question 2

The cheetah has helped garner public support for various conservation projects due in part to its charismatic nature. For this reason, the cheetah could best be classified as what type of species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Surrogate 
B)  Flagship 
C)  Umbrella 
D)  Focal 
A)  Surrogate 
B)  Flagship 
C)  Umbrella 
D)  Focal

Question 3

Tropical cloud forests are extremely biodiverse, but are strongly affected by climate change, leading to a loss of many unique species. Conservationists want to preserve a species of frog unique to the cloud forests of Costa Rica. How might demographic models help in this effort?

Accepted Answer

Demographic models can answer questions

Question 4

Biologists can make population viability analysis (PVA) models more effective by

Accepted Answer

A)  checking the validity of the models against field observations. 
B)  choosing only small populations to model. 
C)  using the models to predict the time to extinction of a given species only. 
D)  combining data from different species in a model. 
A)  checking the validity of the models against field observations. 
B)  choosing only small populations to model. 
C)  using the models to predict the time to extinction of a given species only. 
D)  combining data from different species in a model.

Question 5

The use of species‒area relationships to predict extinction rates assumes that most extinction is due to

Accepted Answer

A)  invasive species. 
B)  overexploitation. 
C)  habitat loss. 
D)  global climate change. 
A)  invasive species. 
B)  overexploitation. 
C)  habitat loss. 
D)  global climate change.

Question 6

Refer to the figure.
  The figure shows the tons of cod caught off Newfoundland, Canada over 150 years. The spike in catch during the 1960s and 1970s, followed by the collapse of the fishery in the 1990s could be considered evidence of

Accepted Answer

A)  overexploitation of an economically important species. 
B)  the devastating effect of bycatch on an important fishery. 
C)  the result of severe ocean pollution beginning in the 1960s. 
D)  the ability of a species to recover from a collapse. 
A)  overexploitation of an economically important species. 
B)  the devastating effect of bycatch on an important fishery. 
C)  the result of severe ocean pollution beginning in the 1960s. 
D)  the ability of a species to recover from a collapse.

Question 7

Refer to the figure.
  The figure shows the current level of threat faced by each biome from a variety of sources. The arrows show the direction whether the threat is decreasing, continuing, increasing, or rapidly increasing. 
-Which two threats, regardless of their past effect (from low to very high) are currently showing a rapidly increasing risk in all biomes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Habitat loss and climate change 
B)  Climate change and pollution (nitrogen/phosphorus) 
C)  Climate change and invasive species 
D)  Overexploitation and pollution (nitrogen/phosphorus) 
A)  Habitat loss and climate change 
B)  Climate change and pollution (nitrogen/phosphorus) 
C)  Climate change and invasive species 
D)  Overexploitation and pollution (nitrogen/phosphorus)

Question 8

A conservation biologist is studying the variation that occurs in the species composition of ponds in a region. This scientist is studying which level of biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Species diversity 
B)  Community diversity 
C)  Genetic diversity within species 
D)  Both genetic and species diversity 
A)  Species diversity 
B)  Community diversity 
C)  Genetic diversity within species 
D)  Both genetic and species diversity

Question 9

For which purpose is molecular genetic analysis not useful?

Accepted Answer

A)  Determining whether food items come from species that have been hunted illegally 
B)  Estimating the genetic diversity in a population 
C)  Estimating the extent of gene flow between populations 
D)  Estimating whether the growth rate of a population is high enough to allow it to persist 
A)  Determining whether food items come from species that have been hunted illegally 
B)  Estimating the genetic diversity in a population 
C)  Estimating the extent of gene flow between populations 
D)  Estimating whether the growth rate of a population is high enough to allow it to persist

Question 10

Asian long-horned beetles, introduced into North America, lay their eggs in almost any available deciduous tree. The larvae eat the soft bark and sap, making it difficult for nutrients to reach other parts of the tree, then burrow into the middle of it, leaving large tunnels and weakening the tree. Adult beetles emerge from the tree by burrowing through the bark, leaving large holes. Many trees do not survive these infestations. Asian long-horned beetles thus impact native species by

Accepted Answer

A)  out-competing them. 
B)  preying on and killing them. 
C)  destroying their habitat. 
D)  specifically attacking rare species. 
A)  out-competing them. 
B)  preying on and killing them. 
C)  destroying their habitat. 
D)  specifically attacking rare species.

Question 11

The Nile perch in Africa's Lake Victoria is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  species that has become threatened due to habitat loss. 
B)  invasive predator that is adversely affecting native species. 
C)  flagship species. 
D)  umbrella species. 
A)  species that has become threatened due to habitat loss. 
B)  invasive predator that is adversely affecting native species. 
C)  flagship species. 
D)  umbrella species.

Question 12

The major factor leading to the extinction of the passenger pigeon was

Accepted Answer

A)  habitat loss. 
B)  climate change. 
C)  overharvesting. 
D)  the introduction of an invasive species. 
A)  habitat loss. 
B)  climate change. 
C)  overharvesting. 
D)  the introduction of an invasive species.

Question 13

Refer to the table.
 
- As of 2019, out of all documented endangered species, what percentage of insects evaluated were considered threatened?

Accepted Answer

A)  About 5.7% 
B)  About 8.2% 
C)  About 29.9% 
D)  About 47.0% 
A)  About 5.7% 
B)  About 8.2% 
C)  About 29.9% 
D)  About 47.0%

Question 14

Refer to the figure.
  The top figure shows concentrations of PCBs in killer whales and harbor seals at several locations. The bottom figure shows concentrations of PBDEs in both groups of mammals. These persistent organic chemicals build up in animal tissues and disrupt their endocrine systems, including reproductive systems. What is the most reasonable conclusion that can be drawn regarding the effect of these chemicals based on the data in these figures?

Accepted Answer

A)  The levels of both types of chemicals have been high, but are now decreasing. 
B)  The levels of both types of chemicals vary by population, but some are dangerously high. 
C)  The levels of both types of chemicals are often high, but never dangerously so. 
D)  In most cases, harbor seals appear to concentrate and remove the chemicals, where killer whales do not. 
A)  The levels of both types of chemicals have been high, but are now decreasing. 
B)  The levels of both types of chemicals vary by population, but some are dangerously high. 
C)  The levels of both types of chemicals are often high, but never dangerously so. 
D)  In most cases, harbor seals appear to concentrate and remove the chemicals, where killer whales do not.

Question 15

Refer to the figure.
  This figure shows results of Steadman's study of bird extinctions in the Pacific Islands, specifically differing rates of extinctions among different guilds of birds. Based on this information, the extinction of which guild(s) of birds probably had the greatest effect on the island's plant communities?

Accepted Answer

A)  Frugivores 
B)  Nectarivores 
C)  Omnivores 
D)  Insectivores and predators 
A)  Frugivores 
B)  Nectarivores 
C)  Omnivores 
D)  Insectivores and predators

Question 16

Describe taxonomic homogenization and give an example. How does it affect biodiversity and extinction of species?

Accepted Answer

Taxonomic homogenization occurs when Ear

Question 17

Refer to the figure.
  The green in the figure represents forest cover in western Ecuador at three different times. The decreasing amount of forest cover is most representative of

Accepted Answer

A)  declining biodiversity in the region. 
B)  the conservation work of Alwyn Gentry. 
C)  the impact of climate change on forest habitats. 
D)  the difficulty of identifying endangered species. 
A)  declining biodiversity in the region. 
B)  the conservation work of Alwyn Gentry. 
C)  the impact of climate change on forest habitats. 
D)  the difficulty of identifying endangered species.

Question 18

Which of these is an example of an anthropogenic Allee effect?

Accepted Answer

A)  As rhinos become rarer, there is an increased effort by poachers to obtain their increasingly valuable horns. 
B)  The extinction of island endemics is often coupled with the introduction of cosmopolitan species. 
C)  As the population of a species of butterflies drops, there is more inbreeding in the species. 
D)  The introduction of an invasive grass species alters the ecological relationships of other species. 
A)  As rhinos become rarer, there is an increased effort by poachers to obtain their increasingly valuable horns. 
B)  The extinction of island endemics is often coupled with the introduction of cosmopolitan species. 
C)  As the population of a species of butterflies drops, there is more inbreeding in the species. 
D)  The introduction of an invasive grass species alters the ecological relationships of other species.

Question 19

An insect has habitat requirements that overlap substantially with those of other endangered species. Because this insect is well known for its beautiful coloration, efforts to protect it have garnered much support. It is thus acting as which kind of species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Keystone 
B)  Invasive 
C)  Flagship 
D)  Focal 
A)  Keystone 
B)  Invasive 
C)  Flagship 
D)  Focal

Question 20

Population viability analysis (PVA) is useful for all of these reasons except that biologists can use it to

Accepted Answer

A)  calculate the likelihood that a particular species will persist for a certain amount of time under various conditions. 
B)  determine likely future habitat conditions with great accuracy. 
C)  evaluate different options for protecting threatened species. 
D)  identify particularly vulnerable age or stage classes. 
A)  calculate the likelihood that a particular species will persist for a certain amount of time under various conditions. 
B)  determine likely future habitat conditions with great accuracy. 
C)  evaluate different options for protecting threatened species. 
D)  identify particularly vulnerable age or stage classes.

Exam 23: Conservation Biology

Which factor is not part of the growing taxonomic homogenization of Earth's biota?

The cheetah has helped garner public support for various conservation projects due in part to its charismatic nature. For this reason, the cheetah could best be classified as what type of species?

Tropical cloud forests are extremely biodiverse, but are strongly affected by climate change, leading to a loss of many unique species. Conservationists want to preserve a species of frog unique to the cloud forests of Costa Rica. How might demographic models help in this effort?

Biologists can make population viability analysis (PVA) models more effective by

The use of species‒area relationships to predict extinction rates assumes that most extinction is due to

Refer to the figure. The figure shows the tons of cod caught off Newfoundland, Canada over 150 years. The spike in catch during the 1960s and 1970s, followed by the collapse of the fishery in the 1990s could be considered evidence of

A conservation biologist is studying the variation that occurs in the species composition of ponds in a region. This scientist is studying which level of biodiversity?

For which purpose is molecular genetic analysis not useful?

The Nile perch in Africa's Lake Victoria is an example of a(n)

The major factor leading to the extinction of the passenger pigeon was

Refer to the table. - As of 2019, out of all documented endangered species, what percentage of insects evaluated were considered threatened?

Describe taxonomic homogenization and give an example. How does it affect biodiversity and extinction of species?

Refer to the figure. The green in the figure represents forest cover in western Ecuador at three different times. The decreasing amount of forest cover is most representative of

Which of these is an example of an anthropogenic Allee effect?

An insect has habitat requirements that overlap substantially with those of other endangered species. Because this insect is well known for its beautiful coloration, efforts to protect it have garnered much support. It is thus acting as which kind of species?

Population viability analysis (PVA) is useful for all of these reasons except that biologists can use it to

The Web of Life

The Physical Environment

The Biosphere

Coping With Environmental Variation:

Coping With Environmental Variation: Energy

Evolution and Ecology

Life History

Behavioral Ecology

Population Distribution and Abundance

Population Dynamics

Population Growth and Regulation

Predation

Parasitism

Competition

Mutualism and Commensalism

The Nature of Communities

Change in Communities

Biogeography

Species Diversity in Communities

Production

Energy Flow and Food Webs

Nutrient Supply and Cycling

Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Management

Global Ecology

Filters