Question 1

Of the following statements about protected areas that have been established to preserve biodiversity, which one is not correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  About 25% of Earth's land area is now protected. 
B)  National parks are one of many types of protected areas. 
C)  Management of a protected area should be coordinated with management of the land surrounding the area. 
D)  It is especially important to protect biodiversity hot spots. 
A)  About 25% of Earth's land area is now protected. 
B)  National parks are one of many types of protected areas. 
C)  Management of a protected area should be coordinated with management of the land surrounding the area. 
D)  It is especially important to protect biodiversity hot spots.

Question 2

Which of the following nations has become a world leader in the establishment of zoned reserves?

Accepted Answer

A)  Costa Rica 
B)  Canada 
C)  China 
D)  United States 
E)  Mexico 
A)  Costa Rica 
B)  Canada 
C)  China 
D)  United States 
E)  Mexico

Question 3

Brown-headed cowbirds utilize fragmented forests effectively by

Accepted Answer

A)  feeding on the fruits of shrubs that tend to grow at the forest/open-field interface. 
B)  parasitizing the nests of forest birds and feeding on open-field insects. 
C)  roosting in forest trees and nesting in grassy fields. 
D)  outcompeting other songbird species in fragmented communities. 
E)  using forest cover to escape from predators in their normal grassland habitat. 
A)  feeding on the fruits of shrubs that tend to grow at the forest/open-field interface. 
B)  parasitizing the nests of forest birds and feeding on open-field insects. 
C)  roosting in forest trees and nesting in grassy fields. 
D)  outcompeting other songbird species in fragmented communities. 
E)  using forest cover to escape from predators in their normal grassland habitat.

Question 4

The success with which plants extend their range northward following glacial retreat is best determined by

Accepted Answer

A)  whether there is simultaneous migration of herbivores. 
B)  their tolerance to shade. 
C)  their seed dispersal rate. 
D)  their size. 
E)  their growth rate. 
A)  whether there is simultaneous migration of herbivores. 
B)  their tolerance to shade. 
C)  their seed dispersal rate. 
D)  their size. 
E)  their growth rate.

Question 5

Which of the following best illustrates the sustainable use of a resource?

Accepted Answer

A)  Coal mines in West Virginia remove the tops of mountains to extract large amounts of coal. 
B)  Fishing industries improve their methods and now remove more than 90% of the fish in a region. 
C)  Huge windmills in Texas are able to capture 50% of the wind energy in a specific region. 
D)  Corporations are converting their company automobiles from gasoline to natural gas, which is a less expensive fossil fuel. 
A)  Coal mines in West Virginia remove the tops of mountains to extract large amounts of coal. 
B)  Fishing industries improve their methods and now remove more than 90% of the fish in a region. 
C)  Huge windmills in Texas are able to capture 50% of the wind energy in a specific region. 
D)  Corporations are converting their company automobiles from gasoline to natural gas, which is a less expensive fossil fuel.

Question 6

Which of the following ecological locations, if destroyed, would result in the greatest loss of species diversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  tundra 
B)  deciduous forests 
C)  tropical rain forest 
D)  grasslands 
E)  islands 
A)  tundra 
B)  deciduous forests 
C)  tropical rain forest 
D)  grasslands 
E)  islands

Question 7

Which of the following species was driven to extinction by overharvesting by hunters/fishermen?

Accepted Answer

A)  African elephant 
B)  the great auk 
C)  North American bluefin tuna 
D)  flying foxes 
E)  American bison 
A)  African elephant 
B)  the great auk 
C)  North American bluefin tuna 
D)  flying foxes 
E)  American bison

Question 8

Review the formula for effective population size: Ne =   . 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 9

What is caused by excessive nutrient runoff into aquatic ecosystems?

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 10

Managing southeastern forests specifically for the red-cockaded woodpecker

Accepted Answer

A)  required the growth of a dense understory of trees and shrubs. 
B)  included providing nesting cavities for breeding groups. 
C)  caused other species of songbird to decline. 
D)  involved strict fire-suppression measures. 
E)  involved the creation of fragmented forest habitat. 
A)  required the growth of a dense understory of trees and shrubs. 
B)  included providing nesting cavities for breeding groups. 
C)  caused other species of songbird to decline. 
D)  involved strict fire-suppression measures. 
E)  involved the creation of fragmented forest habitat.

Question 11

The word triage originated during World War I and was first used by French doctors in prioritizing patients based on the severity of their wounds because there were more wounded soldiers in need of urgent care than there were resources to treat them. Conservation biologists have to make similar determinations with degraded ecosystems. Which of the following is the most important consideration when it comes to managing for maintenance of biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  identifying large, high-profile vertebrates first, because steps to saving them would be most recognized by the public 
B)  determining which species is most important for conserving biodiversity as a whole 
C)  altering habitat to be more suitable for a rare bird species 
D)  maintaining optimum size of all populations in the ecosystem 
A)  identifying large, high-profile vertebrates first, because steps to saving them would be most recognized by the public 
B)  determining which species is most important for conserving biodiversity as a whole 
C)  altering habitat to be more suitable for a rare bird species 
D)  maintaining optimum size of all populations in the ecosystem

Question 12

Agricultural lands frequently require nutrient augmentation because

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen-fixing bacteria are not as plentiful in agricultural soils because of the use of pesticides. 
B)  the nutrients that become the biomass of plants are not cycled back to the soil on lands where they are harvested. 
C)  land that is available for agriculture tends to be nutrient-poor. 
D)  grains raised for feeding livestock must be fortified and thus require additional nutrients. 
E)  cultivation of agricultural land inhibits the decomposition of organic matter. 
A)  nitrogen-fixing bacteria are not as plentiful in agricultural soils because of the use of pesticides. 
B)  the nutrients that become the biomass of plants are not cycled back to the soil on lands where they are harvested. 
C)  land that is available for agriculture tends to be nutrient-poor. 
D)  grains raised for feeding livestock must be fortified and thus require additional nutrients. 
E)  cultivation of agricultural land inhibits the decomposition of organic matter.

Question 13

Burning fossil fuels releases oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. These air pollutants can be responsible for

Accepted Answer

A)  the increase of fish populations in lakes. 
B)  precipitation with a pH as low as 3.0. 
C)  biological magnification of toxins. 
D)  preventing eutrophication. 
A)  the increase of fish populations in lakes. 
B)  precipitation with a pH as low as 3.0. 
C)  biological magnification of toxins. 
D)  preventing eutrophication.

Question 14

The main goal of sustainable development is to

Accepted Answer

A)  involve more countries in conservation efforts. 
B)  use only natural resources in the construction of new buildings. 
C)  use natural resources such that they do not decline over time. 
D)  reevaluate and re-implement management plans over time. 
A)  involve more countries in conservation efforts. 
B)  use only natural resources in the construction of new buildings. 
C)  use natural resources such that they do not decline over time. 
D)  reevaluate and re-implement management plans over time.

Question 15

The primary difference between the small-population approach (S-PA) and the declining-population approach (D-PA) to biodiversity recovery is

Accepted Answer

A)  S-PA is interested in bolstering the genetic diversity of a threatened population rather than the environmental factors that caused the population's decline. 
B)  D-PA would likely involve bringing together individuals from scattered small populations to interbreed in order to promote genetic diversity. 
C)  S-PA would investigate and eliminate all of the human impacts on the habitat of the species being studied for recovery. 
D)  D-PA would use recently collected population data to calculate an effective population size. 
A)  S-PA is interested in bolstering the genetic diversity of a threatened population rather than the environmental factors that caused the population's decline. 
B)  D-PA would likely involve bringing together individuals from scattered small populations to interbreed in order to promote genetic diversity. 
C)  S-PA would investigate and eliminate all of the human impacts on the habitat of the species being studied for recovery. 
D)  D-PA would use recently collected population data to calculate an effective population size.

Question 16

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 the abiotic factors present, not the 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 the abiotic factors present, not the biotic factors. 
E)  designated hot spots change on a daily basis.

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 wishes to summarize the data in a way that can be compared to other studies on biological magnification of heavy metals in insect-eating birds that live in other forest fragments. What is the best way for the scientist to summarize the data for comparative purposes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Calculate the mean concentration of heavy metals measured in the birds that were found in a fragment. 
B)  Calculate the mean concentration of heavy metals measured in the birds that were found in a fragment and divide by the size of the fragment. 
C)  Calculate the sum total concentrations of heavy metals across all the birds found in a fragment. 
D)  Calculate the sum total concentrations of heavy metals across all the birds found in a fragment, and divide by the size of the fragment. 
A)  Calculate the mean concentration of heavy metals measured in the birds that were found in a fragment. 
B)  Calculate the mean concentration of heavy metals measured in the birds that were found in a fragment and divide by the size of the fragment. 
C)  Calculate the sum total concentrations of heavy metals across all the birds found in a fragment. 
D)  Calculate the sum total concentrations of heavy metals across all the birds found in a fragment, and divide by the size of the fragment.

Question 18

What is the biological significance of genetic diversity between populations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Genes for adaptive traits to local conditions make microevolution possible. 
B)  The population that is most fit would survive by competitive exclusion. 
C)  Genetic diversity allows for species stability by preventing speciation. 
D)  Isolated populations become more fit. 
E)  Diseases and parasites are not spread between separated populations. 
A)  Genes for adaptive traits to local conditions make microevolution possible. 
B)  The population that is most fit would survive by competitive exclusion. 
C)  Genetic diversity allows for species stability by preventing speciation. 
D)  Isolated populations become more fit. 
E)  Diseases and parasites are not spread between separated populations.

Question 19

Figure 43.3
Use the graph in Figure 43.3 and the information provided in the paragraph below to answer the following questions.
Flycatcher birds that migrate from Africa to Europe feed their nestlings a diet that is almost exclusively moth caterpillars. The graph in Figure 43.3 shows the mean (peak) dates of bird arrival, bird hatching, and caterpillar season for the years 1980 and 2000.
-Why were ecologists concerned about the shift in the peak caterpillar season from June 3, 1980 to May 15, 2000?

Accepted Answer

A)  The caterpillars would have eaten much of the foliage of the trees where flycatchers would have nested, rendering their nests more open to predation. 
B)  The earlier hatching of caterpillars would compete with other insect larval forms that the flycatchers would also use to feed their young. 
C)  The flycatcher nestlings in 2000 would miss the peak caterpillar season and might not be as well fed, leading to population reductions. 
D)  The flycatchers would have to migrate sooner to match their brood-rearing to the time of peak caterpillar season. 
A)  The caterpillars would have eaten much of the foliage of the trees where flycatchers would have nested, rendering their nests more open to predation. 
B)  The earlier hatching of caterpillars would compete with other insect larval forms that the flycatchers would also use to feed their young. 
C)  The flycatcher nestlings in 2000 would miss the peak caterpillar season and might not be as well fed, leading to population reductions. 
D)  The flycatchers would have to migrate sooner to match their brood-rearing to the time of peak caterpillar season.

Question 20

Which of the following is a consequence of biological magnification?

Accepted Answer

A)  Toxic chemicals in the environment pose greater risk to top-level predators than to primary consumers. 
B)  Populations of top-level predators are generally smaller than populations of primary consumers. 
C)  The biomass of producers in an ecosystem is generally higher than the biomass of primary consumers. 
D)  Only a small portion of the energy captured by producers is transferred to consumers. 
A)  Toxic chemicals in the environment pose greater risk to top-level predators than to primary consumers. 
B)  Populations of top-level predators are generally smaller than populations of primary consumers. 
C)  The biomass of producers in an ecosystem is generally higher than the biomass of primary consumers. 
D)  Only a small portion of the energy captured by producers is transferred to consumers.

Exam 43: Global Ecology and Conservation Biology

Of the following statements about protected areas that have been established to preserve biodiversity, which one is not correct?

Which of the following nations has become a world leader in the establishment of zoned reserves?

Brown-headed cowbirds utilize fragmented forests effectively by

The success with which plants extend their range northward following glacial retreat is best determined by

Which of the following best illustrates the sustainable use of a resource?

Which of the following ecological locations, if destroyed, would result in the greatest loss of species diversity?

Which of the following species was driven to extinction by overharvesting by hunters/fishermen?

Review the formula for effective population size: Ne = . 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?

What is caused by excessive nutrient runoff into aquatic ecosystems?

Managing southeastern forests specifically for the red-cockaded woodpecker

Agricultural lands frequently require nutrient augmentation because

Burning fossil fuels releases oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. These air pollutants can be responsible for

The main goal of sustainable development is to

The primary difference between the small-population approach (S-PA) and the declining-population approach (D-PA) to biodiversity recovery is

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

What is the biological significance of genetic diversity between populations?

Which of the following is a consequence of biological magnification?

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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