Question 1

Which of the following is a cultural service of ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  soil formation 
B)  climate moderation 
C)  nutrient cycling 
D)  providing genetic resources 
E)  education 
A)  soil formation 
B)  climate moderation 
C)  nutrient cycling 
D)  providing genetic resources 
E)  education

Question 2

A land developer and several ecologists are discussing how a parcel of private land should be developed while saving 20 hectares as natural habitat. The land developer suggests that the 20 hectares be divided into twenty separate 1-hectare areas. The ecologists suggest that it would be better to have one intact parcel of 20 hectares. What is the significance of these different arrangements of the 20 hectares?

Accepted Answer

A)  There really is no difference; they should both work equally well. 
B)  The isolated hectare plots increase the ability of individuals to disperse from one habitat to another. 
C)  The isolated plots are more vulnerable to edge effects. 
D)  The large plot will create more inbreeding in many species. 
A)  There really is no difference; they should both work equally well. 
B)  The isolated hectare plots increase the ability of individuals to disperse from one habitat to another. 
C)  The isolated plots are more vulnerable to edge effects. 
D)  The large plot will create more inbreeding in many species.

Question 3

-Based on the accompanying figure, what snake antivenom would you administer to a person bitten by a king brown snake if king brown snake antivenom were not available?

Accepted Answer

A)  taipan 
B)  common brown snake 
C)  red-bellied black snake 
D)  death adder 
E)  tiger snake 
A)  taipan 
B)  common brown snake 
C)  red-bellied black snake 
D)  death adder 
E)  tiger snake

Question 4

Philippe Bouchet and colleagues conducted a massive survey of marine mollusks on the west coast of New Caledonia. Twenty percent of the species found had only a single specimen collected. What does that suggest about the diversity of mollusks in this area?

Accepted Answer

A)  The west coast of New Caledonia is not an appropriate habitat for mollusks. 
B)  They did not spend enough time sampling in the area. 
C)  Many of the species from this 20 percent are probably rare. 
D)  They were not sampling uniformly throughout the area. 
E)  Many of the species from this 20 percent are most likely just dispersing through the area. 
A)  The west coast of New Caledonia is not an appropriate habitat for mollusks. 
B)  They did not spend enough time sampling in the area. 
C)  Many of the species from this 20 percent are probably rare. 
D)  They were not sampling uniformly throughout the area. 
E)  Many of the species from this 20 percent are most likely just dispersing through the area.

Question 5

Copyright © 2003 American Institute of Biological Sciences. (Foster, D. R., F. Swanson, J. Aber, D. Tilman, N. Brokaw, I. Burke, and A. Knapp. 2003. The importance of land-use and its legacies to ecology and environmental management. BioScience 53:77-88.)
Based on the accompanying figure, what can you conclude about the history of land use in the southern Yucatán?

Accepted Answer

A)  Massive soil erosion caused the Mayan population to crash. 
B)  Reduction in forest cover caused the Mayan population to crash. 
C)  As Mayan population increased, deforestation increased, probably leading to increased soil erosion. 
D)  This Mayan population practiced sustainable development. 
A)  Massive soil erosion caused the Mayan population to crash. 
B)  Reduction in forest cover caused the Mayan population to crash. 
C)  As Mayan population increased, deforestation increased, probably leading to increased soil erosion. 
D)  This Mayan population practiced sustainable development.

Question 6

Erwin and Scott used an insecticidal fog to knock down insects from the top of a L. seemannii tree. The researchers identified over 900 species of beetles among the individuals that fell. Erwin also projected that this entire tree is host to about 600 arthropod species unique to this tree species. There are approximately 50,000 species of tropical trees. Although it could not be entirely accurate, what would be the best way to estimate the total number of arthropod species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Estimate the species density and then multiply by 50,000. 
B)  Multiply 900 by 50,000. 
C)  Multiply 600 by 50,000. 
D)  Divide 900 by 600 and then multiply by 50,000. 
A)  Estimate the species density and then multiply by 50,000. 
B)  Multiply 900 by 50,000. 
C)  Multiply 600 by 50,000. 
D)  Divide 900 by 600 and then multiply by 50,000.

Question 7

According to most conservation biologists, the single greatest threat to global biodiversity is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  chemical pollution of water and air 
B)  stratospheric ozone depletion 
C)  overexploitation of certain species 
D)  alteration or destruction of the physical habitat 
A)  chemical pollution of water and air 
B)  stratospheric ozone depletion 
C)  overexploitation of certain species 
D)  alteration or destruction of the physical habitat

Question 8

-By knowing the interrelatedness of various snake species, the appropriate antivenom can be chosen. Based on the accompanying figure, which snake antivenom would you administer to a person bitten by an Australian copperhead, if antivenom to the Australian copperhead were not available?

Accepted Answer

A)  taipan 
B)  common brown snake 
C)  red-bellied black snake 
D)  death adder 
E)  tiger snake 
A)  taipan 
B)  common brown snake 
C)  red-bellied black snake 
D)  death adder 
E)  tiger snake

Question 9

What is TRUE concerning the high consumption of fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has no effect on biodiversity. 
B)  It affects biodiversity by directly harming species. 
C)  It affects biodiversity indirectly via climate change. 
D)  It affects biodiversity both directly and indirectly via climate change. 
E)  It affects biodiversity indirectly via decreases in CO2 emissions. 
A)  It has no effect on biodiversity. 
B)  It affects biodiversity by directly harming species. 
C)  It affects biodiversity indirectly via climate change. 
D)  It affects biodiversity both directly and indirectly via climate change. 
E)  It affects biodiversity indirectly via decreases in CO2 emissions.

Question 10

Which of the following criteria have to be met for a species to qualify as invasive?

Accepted Answer

A)  endemic to the area, spreads rapidly, and displaces foreign species 
B)  introduced to a new area, spreads rapidly, and displaces native species 
C)  introduced to a new area, spreads rapidly, and displaces other invasive species 
D)  endemic to the area, spreads slowly, and displaces native species 
A)  endemic to the area, spreads rapidly, and displaces foreign species 
B)  introduced to a new area, spreads rapidly, and displaces native species 
C)  introduced to a new area, spreads rapidly, and displaces other invasive species 
D)  endemic to the area, spreads slowly, and displaces native species

Question 11

Community resilience refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the ability of a community to maintain productivity and other aspects of ecosystem function as conditions change over time and to recover to former levels of productivity or species richness after a disturbance 
B)  the extent to which a community remains unchanged during a disturbance 
C)  how quickly a community recovers following a disturbance 
D)  how many species are in the community 
A)  the ability of a community to maintain productivity and other aspects of ecosystem function as conditions change over time and to recover to former levels of productivity or species richness after a disturbance 
B)  the extent to which a community remains unchanged during a disturbance 
C)  how quickly a community recovers following a disturbance 
D)  how many species are in the community

Question 12

Community stability refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the ability of a community to maintain productivity and other aspects of ecosystem function as conditions change over time and to recover to former levels of productivity or species richness after a disturbance 
B)  the extent to which a community remains unchanged during a disturbance 
C)  how quickly a community recovers following a disturbance 
D)  how many species are in the community 
A)  the ability of a community to maintain productivity and other aspects of ecosystem function as conditions change over time and to recover to former levels of productivity or species richness after a disturbance 
B)  the extent to which a community remains unchanged during a disturbance 
C)  how quickly a community recovers following a disturbance 
D)  how many species are in the community

Question 13

Which of the following is a regulating service of ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  soil formation 
B)  recreation 
C)  nutrient cycling 
D)  providing genetic resources 
E)  education 
A)  soil formation 
B)  recreation 
C)  nutrient cycling 
D)  providing genetic resources 
E)  education

Question 14

-Use the accompanying figure to answer this question: What two variables were manipulated?

Accepted Answer

A)  plant biomass and species richness 
B)  plant biomass and number of functional groups 
C)  number of functional groups and species richness 
D)  plot size and plant biomass 
A)  plant biomass and species richness 
B)  plant biomass and number of functional groups 
C)  number of functional groups and species richness 
D)  plot size and plant biomass

Question 15

If all individuals in the last remaining population of a particular bird species were all highly related, which type of diversity would be of greatest concern when planning to keep the species from going extinct?
I. genetic diversity
II. species diversity
III. ecosystem diversity

Accepted Answer

A)  only I 
B)  only II 
C)  only III 
D)  only II and III 
E)  I, II, and III 
A)  only I 
B)  only II 
C)  only III 
D)  only II and III 
E)  I, II, and III

Question 16

The introduction of the Burmese python by pet owners in Florida has resulted in ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  eradication of nonnative rats and other undesirable/pest species 
B)  the threatening of many native species 
C)  a good lesson in biological control 
D)  a new species of hybrids from crossbreeding with a native snake species 
E)  its failure to compete with native species and its quick elimination 
A)  eradication of nonnative rats and other undesirable/pest species 
B)  the threatening of many native species 
C)  a good lesson in biological control 
D)  a new species of hybrids from crossbreeding with a native snake species 
E)  its failure to compete with native species and its quick elimination

Question 17

With regard to the destruction of tropical forests, the focus is often on biodiversity and the impact on these ecosystems. What is a direct benefit to humans that helps explain why these forests need to be preserved?

Accepted Answer

A)  This diversity could contain undocumented insect species. 
B)  Natural and undisturbed areas are important wildlife habitats. 
C)  The diversity could contain novel drugs for consumers. 
D)  The plant diversity provides shade, which reduces the impact of global warming. 
A)  This diversity could contain undocumented insect species. 
B)  Natural and undisturbed areas are important wildlife habitats. 
C)  The diversity could contain novel drugs for consumers. 
D)  The plant diversity provides shade, which reduces the impact of global warming.

Question 18

Relatively small geographic areas with high concentrations of endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species are known as ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  endemic sinks 
B)  critical communities 
C)  biodiversity hot spots 
D)  endemic metapopulations 
E)  bottlenecks 
A)  endemic sinks 
B)  critical communities 
C)  biodiversity hot spots 
D)  endemic metapopulations 
E)  bottlenecks

Question 19

-Based on the species-area plot in the accompanying figure, if habitable area on an island were reduced from 10,000 km2 (square kilometers) to 1000 km2, roughly what percentage of the species would disappear?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.3 percent 
B)  3 percent 
C)  30 percent 
D)  60 percent 
A)  0.3 percent 
B)  3 percent 
C)  30 percent 
D)  60 percent

Question 20

-In looking at the species-area plot in the accompanying figure, what can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of bird species increases linearly with island area. 
B)  The number of bird species remains the same on these various islands. 
C)  Diversity is independent from island area. 
D)  The number of bird species increases exponentially with island area. 
A)  The number of bird species increases linearly with island area. 
B)  The number of bird species remains the same on these various islands. 
C)  Diversity is independent from island area. 
D)  The number of bird species increases exponentially with island area.

Exam 54: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Which of the following is a cultural service of ecosystems?

-Based on the accompanying figure, what snake antivenom would you administer to a person bitten by a king brown snake if king brown snake antivenom were not available?

Philippe Bouchet and colleagues conducted a massive survey of marine mollusks on the west coast of New Caledonia. Twenty percent of the species found had only a single specimen collected. What does that suggest about the diversity of mollusks in this area?

According to most conservation biologists, the single greatest threat to global biodiversity is ________.

-By knowing the interrelatedness of various snake species, the appropriate antivenom can be chosen. Based on the accompanying figure, which snake antivenom would you administer to a person bitten by an Australian copperhead, if antivenom to the Australian copperhead were not available?

What is TRUE concerning the high consumption of fossil fuels?

Which of the following criteria have to be met for a species to qualify as invasive?

Community resilience refers to ________.

Community stability refers to ________.

Which of the following is a regulating service of ecosystems?

-Use the accompanying figure to answer this question: What two variables were manipulated?

If all individuals in the last remaining population of a particular bird species were all highly related, which type of diversity would be of greatest concern when planning to keep the species from going extinct? I. genetic diversity II. species diversity III. ecosystem diversity

The introduction of the Burmese python by pet owners in Florida has resulted in ________.

With regard to the destruction of tropical forests, the focus is often on biodiversity and the impact on these ecosystems. What is a direct benefit to humans that helps explain why these forests need to be preserved?

Relatively small geographic areas with high concentrations of endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species are known as ________.

-Based on the species-area plot in the accompanying figure, if habitable area on an island were reduced from 10,000 km2 (square kilometers) to 1000 km2, roughly what percentage of the species would disappear?

-In looking at the species-area plot in the accompanying figure, what can be concluded?

Biology and the Tree of Life

Water and Carbon: the Chemical Basis of Life

Protein Structure and Function

Nucleic Acids and the Rna World

An Introduction to Carbohydrates

Ecosystems and Global Ecology

Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells

Inside the Cell

Energy and Enzymes: an Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cellcell Interactions

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis

Mendel and the Gene

Dna and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair

How Genes Work

Transcription, Rna Processing, and Translation

Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria

Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology and Beyond

Genes, Development, and Evolution

Evolution by Natural Selection

Evolutionary Processes

Speciation

Phylogenies and the History of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Green Algae and Land Plants

Fungi

An Introduction to Animals

Protostome Animals

Deuterostome Animals

Viruses

Plant Form and Function

Water and Sugar Transport in Plants

Plant Nutrition

Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses

Plant Reproduction and Development

Animal Form and Function

Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals

Animal Nutrition

Gas Exchange and Circulation

Animal Nervous Systems

Animal Sensory Systems

Animal Movement

Chemical Signals in Animals

Animal Reproduction and Development

The Immune System in Animals

An Introduction to Ecology

Behavioral Ecology

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

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