Question 1

The introduction of the brown tree snake in the 1940s to the island of Guam has resulted in

Accepted Answer

A)  eradication of non-native rats and other undesirable/pest species. 
B)  the extirpation of many of the island's bird and reptile species. 
C)  a good example of 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 from the island. 
A)  eradication of non-native rats and other undesirable/pest species. 
B)  the extirpation of many of the island's bird and reptile species. 
C)  a good example of 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 from the island.

Question 2

Which statement is true with regard to current human population growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is at a zero growth rate. 
B)  Its rate of increase continues to grow at an exponential rate. 
C)  Its rate of growth is slowing. 
D)  Its rate of growth is increasing. 
E)  There is no scientific prediction that can be made about human population growth. 
A)  It is at a zero growth rate. 
B)  Its rate of increase continues to grow at an exponential rate. 
C)  Its rate of growth is slowing. 
D)  Its rate of growth is increasing. 
E)  There is no scientific prediction that can be made about human population growth.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A)  length of life span after reproduction 
B)  body size of individuals 
C)  number of alleles per trait 
D)  amount of gene flow between geographically separated populations 
A)  length of life span after reproduction 
B)  body size of individuals 
C)  number of alleles per trait 
D)  amount of gene flow between geographically separated populations

Question 4

Considering the most important ecological issue of the future, what is the biggest challenge that Costa Rica will likely face in its dedication to conservation and restoration in the future?

Accepted Answer

A)  the pressures of its growing population 
B)  its small size (as a country), which may not be able to maintain large enough reserves 
C)  the potential for disturbance of sensitive species in reserves by ecotourists 
D)  spread of disease and parasites via corridors from neighboring countries 
E)  the large number of Costa Rican species already in the extinction vortex 
A)  the pressures of its growing population 
B)  its small size (as a country), which may not be able to maintain large enough reserves 
C)  the potential for disturbance of sensitive species in reserves by ecotourists 
D)  spread of disease and parasites via corridors from neighboring countries 
E)  the large number of Costa Rican species already in the extinction vortex

Question 5

Which of the following investigations would shed the most light on the future distribution of organisms in temperate regions that are faced with climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Remove, to the mineral soil, all of the organisms from an experimental plot and monitor the colonization of the area over time in terms of both species diversity and abundance. 
B)  Look at the climatic changes that occurred since the last ice age and how species redistributed as glaciers melted, then make predictions on future distribution in species based on past trends. 
C)  Quantify the impact of humankind's activities on present-day populations of threatened and endangered species to assess the rate of extirpation and extinction. 
D)  There is no scientific investigation that can help make predictions on the future distribution of organisms. 
A)  Remove, to the mineral soil, all of the organisms from an experimental plot and monitor the colonization of the area over time in terms of both species diversity and abundance. 
B)  Look at the climatic changes that occurred since the last ice age and how species redistributed as glaciers melted, then make predictions on future distribution in species based on past trends. 
C)  Quantify the impact of humankind's activities on present-day populations of threatened and endangered species to assess the rate of extirpation and extinction. 
D)  There is no scientific investigation that can help make predictions on the future distribution of organisms.

Question 6

Which of the following is consistent with forest fragmentation research?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of species is the same in both fragmented forests and forest interiors. 
B)  Edge communities consistently have low species diversity. 
C)  Forest-interior species show declines in small patch communities. 
D)  Landscapes dominated by small forest fragments support more species than continuous forest. 
A)  The number of species is the same in both fragmented forests and forest interiors. 
B)  Edge communities consistently have low species diversity. 
C)  Forest-interior species show declines in small patch communities. 
D)  Landscapes dominated by small forest fragments support more species than continuous forest.

Question 7

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), 73% of species have become extinct, endangered, vulnerable, or rare because of

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. 
E)  global climate change resulting from a variety of human activities. 
A)  chemical pollution of water and air. 
B)  stratospheric ozone depletion. 
C)  overexploitation of certain species. 
D)  alteration or destruction of the physical habitat. 
E)  global climate change resulting from a variety of human activities.

Question 8

What is our innate appreciation of wild environments and living organisms called?

Accepted Answer

A)  biodiversity 
B)  overharvesting 
C)  biophilia 
D)  conservation 
E)  landscape ecology 
A)  biodiversity 
B)  overharvesting 
C)  biophilia 
D)  conservation 
E)  landscape ecology

Question 9

Which of the following examples poses the greatest potential threat to biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  replanting, after a clear cut, a monoculture of Douglas fir trees on land that consisted of old-growth Douglas fir, western cedar, and western hemlock 
B)  allowing previously used farmland to go fallow and begin to fill in with weeds and then shrubs and saplings 
C)  lack of regulations to limit the harvest of the medicinal plant ginseng 
D)  constructing oil and gas pipelines through old growth forest 
A)  replanting, after a clear cut, a monoculture of Douglas fir trees on land that consisted of old-growth Douglas fir, western cedar, and western hemlock 
B)  allowing previously used farmland to go fallow and begin to fill in with weeds and then shrubs and saplings 
C)  lack of regulations to limit the harvest of the medicinal plant ginseng 
D)  constructing oil and gas pipelines through old growth forest

Question 10

Which of the following best illustrates human efforts to improve environmental sustainability?

Accepted Answer

A)  rerouting major highways around cities to avoid traffic congestion 
B)  increasing our reliance on renewable sources of energy 
C)  upgrading computers every few years to improve performance 
D)  converting automobiles from gasoline to natural gas as a new source of fuel 
A)  rerouting major highways around cities to avoid traffic congestion 
B)  increasing our reliance on renewable sources of energy 
C)  upgrading computers every few years to improve performance 
D)  converting automobiles from gasoline to natural gas as a new source of fuel

Question 11

What is the single greatest threat to biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  overharvesting of commercially important species 
B)  habitat alteration, fragmentation, and destruction 
C)  introduced species that compete with native species 
D)  pollution of Earth's air, water, and soil 
A)  overharvesting of commercially important species 
B)  habitat alteration, fragmentation, and destruction 
C)  introduced species that compete with native species 
D)  pollution of Earth's air, water, and soil

Question 12

How are movement corridors potentially harmful to certain species?

Accepted Answer

A)  They increase inbreeding. 
B)  They promote dispersion. 
C)  They spread disease and parasites. 
D)  They increase genetic diversity. 
E)  They allow seasonal migration. 
A)  They increase inbreeding. 
B)  They promote dispersion. 
C)  They spread disease and parasites. 
D)  They increase genetic diversity. 
E)  They allow seasonal migration.

Question 13

Which of the following refers to the reflecting and absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric methane, carbon dioxide, and water?

Accepted Answer

A)  acid precipitation 
B)  biological magnification 
C)  greenhouse effect 
D)  eutrophication 
A)  acid precipitation 
B)  biological magnification 
C)  greenhouse effect 
D)  eutrophication

Question 14

Which of the following terms includes all of the others?

Accepted Answer

A)  species diversity 
B)  biodiversity 
C)  genetic diversity 
D)  ecosystem diversity 
E)  species richness 
A)  species diversity 
B)  biodiversity 
C)  genetic diversity 
D)  ecosystem diversity 
E)  species richness

Question 15

The use of DDT as an insecticide in the United States has been outlawed since 1971, yet it is still a problem for certain top-level carnivores in the United States. Which of the following choices best explains this apparent incongruity?

Accepted Answer

A)  DDT is still used for mosquito control in tropical countries, and certain migratory predators can be affected by a seasonal biomagnification. 
B)  DDT is persistent in the environment, and all of the pre-1971 DDT is still available in toxic form to poison top-level carnivores. 
C)  Pre-1971 DDT has been deposited in certain habitats, particularly wetlands and estuaries, so predators in these ecosystems are vulnerable to biomagnifications of DDT. 
D)  Whereas most DDT-susceptible species have become resistant to persistent DDT, others are still vulnerable. 
A)  DDT is still used for mosquito control in tropical countries, and certain migratory predators can be affected by a seasonal biomagnification. 
B)  DDT is persistent in the environment, and all of the pre-1971 DDT is still available in toxic form to poison top-level carnivores. 
C)  Pre-1971 DDT has been deposited in certain habitats, particularly wetlands and estuaries, so predators in these ecosystems are vulnerable to biomagnifications of DDT. 
D)  Whereas most DDT-susceptible species have become resistant to persistent DDT, others are still vulnerable.

Question 16

Which of the following is the most direct threat to biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide 
B)  the depletion of the ozone layer 
C)  overexploitation of selected species 
D)  habitat destruction 
E)  zoned reserves 
A)  increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide 
B)  the depletion of the ozone layer 
C)  overexploitation of selected species 
D)  habitat destruction 
E)  zoned reserves

Question 17

Please use the following information to answer the question(s) below.
The contamination of soils with heavy metals has become more common as a result of the burning of fossil fuels, industrial activities, and agricultural fertilizer application. These heavy metals can be toxic depending on the concentrations that accumulate in an organism. A scientist hypothesizes that biological magnification of heavy metals in fragment-dwelling, insect-eating birds should be greater in forest fragments with relatively more edge habitat because edge-dwelling bird species may forage for insects in contaminated areas outside of the forest. Forest fragments with more interior habitat would not have as much biological magnification because insect-eating interior bird species would have less exposure to insects that contain heavy metals.
-The scientist finds that the heavy metal concentration in the insect-eating birds of a fragment does not depend on the relative amount of edge habitat of that fragment. Which of the following describes how experimental error may have influenced the results?

Accepted Answer

A)  The density of birds is higher in edge habitat compared to interior habitat. 
B)  The forest fragments studied were too small, and there was no true interior habitat for birds to live in. 
C)  The insects eaten by both edge and interior birds do not differ in heavy metal concentration. 
D)  Heavy metals deposited from atmospheric pollution are equal across the landscape. 
A)  The density of birds is higher in edge habitat compared to interior habitat. 
B)  The forest fragments studied were too small, and there was no true interior habitat for birds to live in. 
C)  The insects eaten by both edge and interior birds do not differ in heavy metal concentration. 
D)  Heavy metals deposited from atmospheric pollution are equal across the landscape.

Question 18

What is a critical load?

Accepted Answer

A)  the amount of nutrient augmentation necessary to bring a depleted habitat back to its former level 
B)  the level of a given toxin in an ecosystem that is lethal to 50% of the species present 
C)  the maximum abundance level of a particular species beyond which additional numbers will degrade a habitat 
D)  the amount of added nutrient that can be absorbed by plants without damaging ecosystem integrity 
E)  the number of predators an ecosystem can support that effectively culls prey populations to healthy levels 
A)  the amount of nutrient augmentation necessary to bring a depleted habitat back to its former level 
B)  the level of a given toxin in an ecosystem that is lethal to 50% of the species present 
C)  the maximum abundance level of a particular species beyond which additional numbers will degrade a habitat 
D)  the amount of added nutrient that can be absorbed by plants without damaging ecosystem integrity 
E)  the number of predators an ecosystem can support that effectively culls prey populations to healthy levels

Question 19

One characteristic that distinguishes a population in an extinction vortex from most other populations is that

Accepted Answer

A)  it it is a rare, top-level predator. 
B)  its effective population size is much lower than its total population size. 
C)  its genetic diversity is very low. 
D)  it is not well adapted to edge conditions. 
A)  it it is a rare, top-level predator. 
B)  its effective population size is much lower than its total population size. 
C)  its genetic diversity is very low. 
D)  it is not well adapted to edge conditions.

Question 20

Overharvesting encourages extinction and is most likely to affect

Accepted Answer

A)  animals that occupy a broad ecological niche. 
B)  large animals with low intrinsic reproductive rates. 
C)  most organisms that live in the oceans. 
D)  terrestrial organisms more than aquatic organisms. 
E)  edge-adapted species. 
A)  animals that occupy a broad ecological niche. 
B)  large animals with low intrinsic reproductive rates. 
C)  most organisms that live in the oceans. 
D)  terrestrial organisms more than aquatic organisms. 
E)  edge-adapted species.

Exam 43: Global Ecology and Conservation Biology

The introduction of the brown tree snake in the 1940s to the island of Guam has resulted in

Which statement is true with regard to current human population growth?

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

Considering the most important ecological issue of the future, what is the biggest challenge that Costa Rica will likely face in its dedication to conservation and restoration in the future?

Which of the following investigations would shed the most light on the future distribution of organisms in temperate regions that are faced with climate change?

Which of the following is consistent with forest fragmentation research?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), 73% of species have become extinct, endangered, vulnerable, or rare because of

What is our innate appreciation of wild environments and living organisms called?

Which of the following examples poses the greatest potential threat to biodiversity?

Which of the following best illustrates human efforts to improve environmental sustainability?

What is the single greatest threat to biodiversity?

How are movement corridors potentially harmful to certain species?

Which of the following refers to the reflecting and absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric methane, carbon dioxide, and water?

Which of the following terms includes all of the others?

The use of DDT as an insecticide in the United States has been outlawed since 1971, yet it is still a problem for certain top-level carnivores in the United States. Which of the following choices best explains this apparent incongruity?

Which of the following is the most direct threat to biodiversity?

What is a critical load?

One characteristic that distinguishes a population in an extinction vortex from most other populations is that

Overharvesting encourages extinction and is most likely to affect

Introduction: Evolution and the Foundations of Biology

The Chemical Context of Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Transport and Cell Signaling

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer

Viruses

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent With Modification

Phylogeny

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

Broad Patterns of Evolution

Early Life and the Diversification of Prokaryotes

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

The Colonization of Land by Plants and Fungi

The Rise of Animal Diversity

Plant Structure and Growth

Resource Acquisition, Nutrition, and Transport in Vascular Plants

Reproduction and Domestication of Flowering Plants

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Homeostasis and Endocrine Signaling

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Reproduction and Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous and Sensory Systems

Motor Mechanisms and Behavior

Population Ecology and the Distribution of Organisms

Species Interactions

Ecosystems and Energy

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