Deck 9: Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Ecosystems

Question 1

Today, forests in the United States (including tree plantations) cover more area than they did in 1920.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

When managed properly, ecotourism can be a useful form of reconciliation ecology, but without proper controls, it can lead to degradation of popular sites if visitors overrun them.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Despite significant efforts to protect biodiversity, Costa Rica has continued to experience biodiversity losses.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

When surface fires occur, they release valuable plant nutrients that had been tied up in slowly decomposing litter and undergrowth.

Question 5

Tree plantations can help protect the world's remaining old-growth and second-growth forests, as long as the forests are not cleared to make room for tree plantations.

Question 6

A tree plantation, also called a tree farm or commercial forest, is a managed forest that contains only one or two species of trees that are all of the same age.

Question 7

One way to reduce the demand for tree cutting is to decrease the use of throwaway paper products made from trees.

Question 8

If another country wanted to follow the model of Costa Rica, it should find ways to give incentives to protect land rather than to develop it.

Question 9

Conservation concessions involve governments or private conservation organizations paying nations for agreeing to preserve their natural resources.

Question 10

Ocean acidification benefits organisms that produce calcium carbonate shells, but harms other species.

Question 11

One way to help sustain terrestrial biodiversity would be to map the world's terrestrial ecosystems and create an inventory of the species contained in each of them, along with the ecosystem services they provide.

Question 12

One way that an individual living in a desert area could protect terrestrial biodiversity would be to xeriscape with native plants that do not require much water in the way that a traditional lawn does.

Question 13

Commercial forests have similar biodiversity to old-growth forests.

Question 14

Forest fires cause the seeds of some tree species to germinate.

Question 15

A program called a debt-for-nature swap makes it financially attractive for countries to protect their tropical forests.

Question 16

Many prescription medications were developed using chemicals that were initially discovered in tropical forests.

Question 17

Countries that are considered less-developed have more land that is protected from development than other countries, where development prevents the protection of land.

Question 18

One way to restore biodiversity is to remove dams so that rivers can flow freely.

Question 19

Surface fires burn away flammable material such as dry brush, increasing the likelihood of more destructive fires.

Question 20

Water evaporating from trees and vegetation in tropical rain forests has little effect on the amount of rainfall there.

Question 21

Which type of fires usually burn only undergrowth and leaf litter on the forest floor?

A) Ecotone fires
B) Transition fires
C) Canopy fires
D) Crown fires
E) Surface fires

Question 22

Why do vines increase the damage to a forest done by selective cutting?

A) The increased light penetration causes them to grow, damaging the remaining trees.
B) They cause many of the cut trees to be discarded rather than used.
C) They are ripped out of the ground and greatly disturb the soil.
D) When the selected trees are cut, the vines pull down other trees with them.
E) They are often cut and left behind, greatly increasing the forest's vulnerability to fire.

Question 23

Studies indicate that at least half of the world's known species of terrestrial plants, animals, and insects live in tropical forests.

Question 24

What could governments do regarding deforestation to be consistent with the full-cost pricing principle of sustainability?

A) Increase taxes on fuel to drive up the price of timber.
B) Replace subsidies/tax breaks that encourage deforestation with forest-sustaining economic rewards.
C) Outlaw logging.
D) Build logging roads so companies can access forest land more easily.
E) Ban the use of cardboard and other paper products.

Question 25

Once an area of tropical forest is logged and burned, ranchers can graze cattle there for decades.

Question 26

When trees in an area have been removed by human activities, such as clear-cutting, or natural forces, such as fires and hurricanes, which type of forest develops naturally if there is no further human interference?

A) Old-growth forest
B) Primary forest
C) Tree plantation
D) Second-growth forest
E) Recovery forest

Question 27

A plant called kenaf would help to reduce the pressure to cut trees because its fiber is very useful for ____.

A) paper manufacturing
B) home construction material
C) furniture making
D) fencing and decking material
E) fabric for outdoor carpeting

Question 28

Ocean acidification is the result of ____.

A) acid rain
B) the ocean absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
C) eutrophication
D) ecosystem changes induced by overfishing
E) warming ocean water

Question 29

One way to protect houses and other building in fire-prone areas is to thin trees and other vegetation in a zone around them.

Question 30

Overfishing is an example of the tragedy of the commons.

Question 31

In Indonesia, Malaysia, and other areas of Southeast Asia, tropical forests are being replaced by large ____ plantations.

A) kenaf
B) soybean
C) coconut
D) oil palm
E) rice

Question 32

Strip cutting of timber is a method of harvesting that ____.

A) harvests trees singly
B) involves clearing trees along a contour of the land within a narrow corridor
C) removes all trees from a very large area, with no attention to land contours
D) is particularly damaging to the forest
E) is promoted by logging companies because of the high profit margin

Question 33

A tree harvesting method that involves cutting intermediate-aged or mature trees singly or in small groups is called ____.

A) clear-cutting
B) strip cutting
C) selective cutting
D) patch cutting
E) landscape cutting

Question 34

Scientific studies show that in fully protected marine reserves, on average, commercially valuable fish populations double and fish increase in size.

Question 35

Tropical forests in the Amazon and other South American countries are cleared or burned primarily ____.

A) due to urban sprawl
B) to enable the construction of major highways
C) for lumber needed in growing cities
D) for cattle grazing and large soybean plantations
E) to enable the expansion of mining

Question 36

Which type of forest is usually a reservoir of biodiversity?

A) Old-growth
B) Second-growth
C) Commercial
D) Tree plantation
E) Selective

Question 37

Old-growth forests are also known as ____.

A) primary forests
B) second-growth forests
C) tree farms
D) succession forests
E) strip forests

Question 38

A(n) ____ is an extremely hot fire that leaps from treetop to treetop, burning whole trees.

A) surface fire
B) crown fire
C) ecotone fire
D) strip fire
E) clear fire

Question 39

The process of logging that removes all of the trees from an area is called ____.

A) selective cutting
B) clear-cutting
C) second cutting
D) strip cutting
E) purge cutting

Question 40

The organization that certifies forestry operations that use sustainable practices is the ____.

A) U.S. Forest Service
B) California Conservation Core
C) Forest Stewardship Council
D) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
E) Endangered Species Act

Question 41

____ involves turning a degraded ecosystem into a functional or useful ecosystem without trying to restore it to its original condition.

A) Replacement
B) Restoration
C) Reintroduction
D) Rehabilitation
E) Artificial construction

Question 42

Which practice would make forestry less sustainable?

A) Reduce road-building in forests.
B) Stop clear-cutting on steep slopes.
C) Clear old-growth forests for tree plantations.
D) Include ecosystem services of forests in estimates of their economic value.
E) Leave most standing dead trees and larger fallen trees for wildlife habitats and nutrient cycling.

Question 43

Some parks are so small that few species are able to live there. These are known as ____.

A) artificial parks
B) restoration parks
C) biodiversity hotspots
D) paper parks
E) developing parks

Question 44

In debt-for-nature swaps, participating countries ____.

A) act as custodians of protected forest reserves in return for foreign aid or debt relief
B) take out loans to finance nature preserves
C) sell nature preserves to industries to pay off debts
D) invest in ecologically sound companies
E) repay debts with raw natural resources rather than currency

Question 45

Wolves were successfully reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park after being absent for almost 50 years. The reason that wolves were chosen for this effort was partly that they are a(n) ____.

A) indicator species
B) generalist species
C) fur-bearing species
D) keystone species
E) predator on grizzly bear cubs

Question 46

The zone of a biosphere reserve where there is little, if any, disturbance from human activities is the ____.

A) wilderness zone
B) transition zone
C) inner core
D) perimeter
E) biozone

Question 47

Which country pays landowners to restore tree cover?

A) Panama
B) Brazil
C) Costa Rica
D) China
E) Norway

Question 48

After the number of wolves declined in Yellowstone National Park, ____.

A) the ecosystem recovered and became more stable
B) herds of elk, moose, and mule deer devastated willow and aspen trees near streams and rivers
C) the elk population crashed
D) forest fires decreased in frequency because the larger mule deer population controlled undergrowth
E) coyotes took over their role in the ecosystem, leading to few changes

Question 49

The Everglades in southern Florida were affected substantially by surrounding development and use of land for agricultural purposes. Additionally, introduced species have been a major problem. In one part of Everglades National Park, abandoned farmland was colonized by invasive plant species that outcompeted native species. Researchers are attempting to replace the invasive species with native species to produce an ecosystem more similar to the one that existed before these problems occurred. Which term best describes this type of study?

A) Formation of an artificial ecosystem
B) Reconciliation ecology
C) Restoration ecology
D) Replacement ecology
E) Rehabilitation ecology

Question 50

Gray wolves disappeared from Yellowstone National Park because ____.

A) their habitat had severely degraded
B) of a series of devastating crown fires
C) elk were over-hunted by humans
D) they were killed by humans
E) a virus wiped out the population

Question 51

Large numbers of visitors to parks and protected areas ______.

A) can result in damage from the use of facilities and recreational vehicles
B) are always beneficial in promoting more conservation
C) are always beneficial in increasing biodiversity
D) are associated with significant increases in poaching and illegal hunting
E) are generally discouraged

Question 52

Some areas of particular conservation concern are _____, which contain a wide range of species.

A) restoration ecosystems
B) biodiversity hotspots
C) artificial ecosystems
D) island niches
E) keystone islands

Question 53

According to the National Park Service, air pollution is responsible for ____.

A) increasing rates of soil erosion at U.S. national parks
B) reducing tourism throughout the year at U.S. national parks, even when the air quality is good
C) causing frequent forest fires in U.S. national parks
D) degrading scenic views in many U.S. national parks over 90% of the time
E) causing acid rain in almost all U.S. national parks throughout the year

Question 54

Reintroduction of the wolf eventually reduced attacks on domestic cattle by what other species?

A) Golden eagle
B) Coyote
C) Fox
D) Grizzly bear
E) Local wild dogs

Question 55

Natural ecological restoration of riparian areas can happen if ____.

A) enough chemical fertilizer is applied
B) there is aggressive planting of native trees and shrubs
C) the native fish in the adjacent stream or river are restocked
D) overgrazed land is protected through rotational grazing
E) cloud seeding is performed

Question 56

The process of ____ involves confining cattle with portable fencing to one area for a few days, then moving them to a new location.

A) erosion control
B) rotational grazing
C) nutrient cycling
D) organic grazing
E) confined animal feeding operations

Question 57

Sometimes, a human-made wetland may be created in order to help with sewage treatment or flooding. This is an example of _____.

A) restoration ecology
B) reconciliation ecology
C) artificial ecology
D) sewage treatment ecology
E) creating artificial ecosystems

Question 58

Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem service provided by forests?

A) Forests provide wood for fuel.
B) Forests reduce soil erosion.
C) Forests are used to make paper.
D) Forests are used for human recreation.
E) Forests are used for livestock grazing.

Question 59

Strips of vegetation along streams or rivers are called ____.

A) rangelands
B) transition forests
C) second-growth boundaries
D) lianas
E) riparian zones

Question 60

The Wilderness Act passed in 1964 allows the government to ____.

A) take legal action against environmental degradation in wildlife preserves
B) protect native species
C) protect undeveloped tracts of public land
D) protect national parks and reserves
E) rotate usage of wildlife areas

Question 61

Managed grasslands or fenced meadows often planted with domesticated grasses or other forage crops such as alfalfa and clover are called ____________________.

Question 62

____________________ contributes to the greenhouse effect by destroying plants that store carbon dioxide.

Question 63

In the United States, most protected land is found ____.

A) in the southern states
B) in Alaska and in the western states
C) in Hawaii
D) in the northeastern states
E) in the central states

Question 64

A(n) ____________________ ____________________forest is a stand of trees that results from secondary ecological succession.

Question 65

One reason protecting marine biodiversity is difficult is that ____.

A) much of the damage to the oceans and other bodies of water is not visible to most people
B) most species in marine ecosystems are keystone species
C) marine ecosystems are much more affected by urban sprawl
D) marine ecosystems cannot be restored
E) most of the world's ocean area lies within the legal jurisdiction of one country or another

Question 66

Old-growth forests provide homes for a wide range of animal species because they contain far more ecological ______ than a monoculture in a tree plantation.

Question 67

Since we began burning fossil fuels in large quantities during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, there has been a ____ in the average acidity of surface ocean water.

A) 170% rise
B) 30% drop
C) 3% rise
D) 30% rise
E) 300% rise

Question 68

A forested slope is set to be logged. Which method will reduce disturbance, such as erosion and pollution, of a stream at the base of the slope from excess sediment?

A) Strip-cutting
B) Clear-cutting
C) Surface cutting
D) Second-growth cutting
E) Crown cutting

Question 69

____________________ are unfenced grasslands in temperate and tropical climates that supply vegetation for grazing and browsing animals.

Question 70

Overfishing of smaller fish, such as sardines, is of particular concern because ____.

A) it will allow large fish to become overpopulated
B) it will directly lead to overpopulation of jellyfish
C) it signifies an increasing reliance on farmed fish, which are fed these smaller fish
D) it reduces the food supply for organisms at higher trophic levels
E) it will cause phytoplankton populations to crash

Question 71

Uncut forests or regenerated forests that have not been significantly impacted by humans or natural disasters for several hundred years or more are known as ____________________ forests.

Question 72

One problem that threatens aquatic biodiversity is the deliberate or accidental introduction of ____ into coastal waters, wetlands, and lakes throughout the world.

A) new sources of food for aquatic organisms
B) hundreds of harmful invasive species
C) excess oxygen
D) skewed sex ratios
E) groundwater

Question 73

Areas especially rich in highly endangered species that are found nowhere else can be described as ____________________.

Question 74

The _____ has been described as "an almost perfectly designed invasive species," with a broad diet and few, if any, predators.

A) gray wolf
B) lion fish
C) red ant
D) European honeybee
E) krill

Question 75

Focusing on establishing and maintaining new habitats to conserve species diversity in places where people live, work, or play in order to increase our beneficial environmental impact - by learning how to share some of the spaces we dominate with other species - is called____.

A) replacement ecology
B) urban sprawl
C) reintroduction
D) reconciliation ecology
E) the ecosystem approach

Question 76

A ____________________ contains only one species, as in a tree plantation.

Question 77

A(n) ____________________ is a concentration of a particular wild aquatic species suitable for commercial harvesting in a given ocean area or inland body of water.

Question 78

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains a list of the conservation status of species, including which are endangered, called the ____________________ List.

Question 79

____ involves replacing a degraded ecosystem with another type of ecosystem.

A) Rehabilitation
B) Replacement
C) Artificial construction
D) Restoration
E) Reintroduction

Question 80

What activity involves dragging huge nets weighted down with chains and steel plates over the ocean floor to harvest a few species of bottom fish and shellfish?

A) Deep sea aquaculture
B) Long-line fishing
C) Drift-net fishing
D) Purse-seine fishing
E) Trawler fishing