Question 1

Ecologists conclude there is a biodiversity crisis because

Accepted Answer

A) biophilia causes humans to feel ethically responsible for protecting other species. 
B) scientists have at last discovered and counted most of Earth's species and can now accurately calculate the current extinction rate. 
C) current extinction rates are very high and many species are threatened or endangered. 
D) many potential life-saving medicines are being lost as species evolve. 
E) there are too few biodiversity hot spots. 
A) biophilia causes humans to feel ethically responsible for protecting other species. 
B) scientists have at last discovered and counted most of Earth's species and can now accurately calculate the current extinction rate. 
C) current extinction rates are very high and many species are threatened or endangered. 
D) many potential life-saving medicines are being lost as species evolve. 
E) there are too few biodiversity hot spots.

Question 2

Brown-headed cowbird populations require forested habitat where they can

Accepted Answer

A) parasitize the nests of other forest-adapted host birds. 
B) burrow for insect larvae under the bark of trees. 
C) nest in cavities in old growth timber. 
D) avoid competition with other open area cowbird species. 
E) feed on upper canopy-adapted insect species. 
A) parasitize the nests of other forest-adapted host birds. 
B) burrow for insect larvae under the bark of trees. 
C) nest in cavities in old growth timber. 
D) avoid competition with other open area cowbird species. 
E) feed on upper canopy-adapted insect species.

Question 3

What term did E. O. Wilson coin for our innate appreciation of wild environments and living organisms?

Accepted Answer

A) bioremediation 
B) bioethics 
C) biophilia 
D) biophobia 
E) landscape ecology 
A) bioremediation 
B) bioethics 
C) biophilia 
D) biophobia 
E) landscape ecology

Question 4

Of the following, which ecosystem types are the ones that have been impacted by humans the most?

Accepted Answer

A) wetland and riparian 
B) open and benthic ocean 
C) desert and high alpine 
D) taiga and second growth forests 
E) tundra and arctic 
A) wetland and riparian 
B) open and benthic ocean 
C) desert and high alpine 
D) taiga and second growth forests 
E) tundra and arctic

Question 5

If we say a species is endemic to a certain area, we mean that

Accepted Answer

A) it is found only in one particular area of the world. 
B) it has been introduced to that area. 
C) it is endangered in that area. 
D) it is threatened in that area. 
E) it used to live there but no longer does. 
A) it is found only in one particular area of the world. 
B) it has been introduced to that area. 
C) it is endangered in that area. 
D) it is threatened in that area. 
E) it used to live there but no longer does.

Question 6

Extinction is a natural phenomenon. It is estimated that 99% of all species that ever lived are now extinct. Why then do we say that we are now in a biodiversity crisis?

Accepted Answer

A) Humans are ethically responsible for protecting endangered species. 
B) Scientists have finally identified most of the species on Earth and are thus able to quantify the number of species becoming extinct. 
C) The current rate of extinction is high and human activities threaten biodiversity at all levels. 
D) Humans have greater medical needs than at any other time in history, and many potential medicinal compounds are being lost as plant species become extinct. 
E) Most biodiversity hot spots have been destroyed by recent ecological disasters. 
A) Humans are ethically responsible for protecting endangered species. 
B) Scientists have finally identified most of the species on Earth and are thus able to quantify the number of species becoming extinct. 
C) The current rate of extinction is high and human activities threaten biodiversity at all levels. 
D) Humans have greater medical needs than at any other time in history, and many potential medicinal compounds are being lost as plant species become extinct. 
E) Most biodiversity hot spots have been destroyed by recent ecological disasters.

Question 7

Managing southwestern forests specifically for the Red-cockaded woodpecker

Accepted Answer

A) was whole-heartedly supported by the timber extraction industry. 
B) contributed to greater abundance and diversity of other forest bird species. 
C) caused other species of songbird to decline. 
D) involved strict fire suppression measures 
E) involved the creation of fragmented forest habitat. 
A) was whole-heartedly supported by the timber extraction industry. 
B) contributed to greater abundance and diversity of other forest bird species. 
C) caused other species of songbird to decline. 
D) involved strict fire suppression measures 
E) involved the creation of fragmented forest habitat.

Question 8

How is habitat fragmentation related to biodiversity loss?

Accepted Answer

A) Less carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants in fragmented habitats. 
B) In fragmented habitats, more soil erosion takes place. 
C) Populations of organisms in fragments are smaller and, thus, more susceptible to extinction. 
D) Animals are forced out of smaller habitat fragments. 
E) Fragments generate silt that negatively affect sensitive river and stream organisms. 
A) Less carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants in fragmented habitats. 
B) In fragmented habitats, more soil erosion takes place. 
C) Populations of organisms in fragments are smaller and, thus, more susceptible to extinction. 
D) Animals are forced out of smaller habitat fragments. 
E) Fragments generate silt that negatively affect sensitive river and stream organisms.

Question 9

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) A, B, C and D 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) A, B, C and D are correct.

Question 10

Biodiversity hot spots are not necessarily the best choice for nature preserves because

Accepted Answer

A) hot spots are situated in remote areas not accessible to wildlife viewers. 
B) their ecological importance makes land purchase very expensive. 
C) a hot spot for one group of organisms may not be a hot spot for another group. 
D) hot spots are designated by abiotic factors present, not biotic factors. 
E) designated hot spots change on a daily basis. 
A) hot spots are situated in remote areas not accessible to wildlife viewers. 
B) their ecological importance makes land purchase very expensive. 
C) a hot spot for one group of organisms may not be a hot spot for another group. 
D) hot spots are designated by abiotic factors present, not biotic factors. 
E) designated hot spots change on a daily basis.

Question 11

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 12

Human use of prokaryotic organisms to help detoxify a polluted wetland would be an example of

Accepted Answer

A) ecosystem augmentation. 
B) keystone species introduction. 
C) biological control. 
D) bioremediation. 
E) population viability analysis. 
A) ecosystem augmentation. 
B) keystone species introduction. 
C) biological control. 
D) bioremediation. 
E) population viability analysis.

Question 13

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

Question 14

If the sex ratio in a population is significantly different from 50:50, then which of the following will always be True?

Accepted Answer

A) The population will enter the extinction vortex. 
B) The genetic variation in the population will increase over time. 
C) The genetic variation in the population will decrease over time. 
D) The effective population size will be greater than the actual population size. 
E) The effective population size will be less than the actual population size. 
A) The population will enter the extinction vortex. 
B) The genetic variation in the population will increase over time. 
C) The genetic variation in the population will decrease over time. 
D) The effective population size will be greater than the actual population size. 
E) The effective population size will be less than the actual population size.

Question 15

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 many variables to ecosystem services making their calculation is 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 many variables to ecosystem services making their calculation is impossible. 
E) Ecosystem services only take into account abiotic factors that affect local environments.

Question 16

The term "biotic boundary" refers to the

Accepted Answer

A) area that an animal defends as its territory. 
B) area needed to sustain a population. 
C) home range of an animal. 
D) distribution of an organism. 
E) range where a species used to live, but no longer does. 
A) area that an animal defends as its territory. 
B) area needed to sustain a population. 
C) home range of an animal. 
D) distribution of an organism. 
E) range where a species used to live, but no longer does.

Question 17

Which of the following statements correctly describes genetic variation?

Accepted Answer

A) Genetic variation does not contribute to biodiversity. 
B) Population size is always positively correlated with genetic variation. 
C) Populations with low $N _ { e }$ are relatively susceptible to effects of bottlenecking and genetic drift. 
D) Recent increases in population size of the northern sea elephant are probably related to high levels of genetic variation. 
E) Cord grass populations that live in salt marshes require great genetic variation to thrive. 
A) Genetic variation does not contribute to biodiversity. 
B) Population size is always positively correlated with genetic variation. 
C) Populations with low $N _ { e }$ are relatively susceptible to effects of bottlenecking and genetic drift. 
D) Recent increases in population size of the northern sea elephant are probably related to high levels of genetic variation. 
E) Cord grass populations that live in salt marshes require great genetic variation to thrive.

Question 18

Review the formula for effective population size. Imagine a population of 1,000 small rodents. Of these, 300 are breeding females, 300 are breeding males, and 400 are nonbreeding juveniles. What is the effective population size?

Accepted Answer

A) 1,000 
B) 1,200 
C) 600 
D) 400 
E) 300 
A) 1,000 
B) 1,200 
C) 600 
D) 400 
E) 300

Question 19

One chief area of concern among biologists who use the small-population approach is

Accepted Answer

A) intraspecific competition. 
B) sexual selection. 
C) genetic diversity. 
D) runaway selection. 
E) both A and D 
A) intraspecific competition. 
B) sexual selection. 
C) genetic diversity. 
D) runaway selection. 
E) both A and D

Question 20

The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to more natural states is known as

Accepted Answer

A) population viability analysis. 
B) landscape ecology. 
C) conservation ecology. 
D) restoration ecology. 
E) resource conservation. 
A) population viability analysis. 
B) landscape ecology. 
C) conservation ecology. 
D) restoration ecology. 
E) resource conservation.

Exam 56: Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology

Ecologists conclude there is a biodiversity crisis because

Brown-headed cowbird populations require forested habitat where they can

What term did E. O. Wilson coin for our innate appreciation of wild environments and living organisms?

Of the following, which ecosystem types are the ones that have been impacted by humans the most?

If we say a species is endemic to a certain area, we mean that

Extinction is a natural phenomenon. It is estimated that 99% of all species that ever lived are now extinct. Why then do we say that we are now in a biodiversity crisis?

Managing southwestern forests specifically for the Red-cockaded woodpecker

How is habitat fragmentation related to biodiversity loss?

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

Biodiversity hot spots are not necessarily the best choice for nature preserves because

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

Human use of prokaryotic organisms to help detoxify a polluted wetland would be an example of

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?

If the sex ratio in a population is significantly different from 50:50, then which of the following will always be True?

The term "biotic boundary" refers to the

Which of the following statements correctly describes genetic variation?

Review the formula for effective population size. Imagine a population of 1,000 small rodents. Of these, 300 are breeding females, 300 are breeding males, and 400 are nonbreeding juveniles. What is the effective population size?

One chief area of concern among biologists who use the small-population approach is

The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to more natural states is known as

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and the Fitness of the Environment

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: Harvesting Chemical Energy

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

Control 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 Introduction to Animal Diversity

Invertebrates

Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

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

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