Deck 14: Policy, Ethics, and Decision-Making

Question 1

Transforming knowledge into public practice is called

A) decision making.
B) the law.
C) policy making.
D) institutionalization.
E) conscription.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Environmental policy is made by

A) the United Nations.
B) the Audubon Society.
C) religious organizations.
D) citizens' groups.
E) All of the above

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Of the various policy-making entities listed below, none have enforcement power except

A) international agencies.
B) non-governmental organizations.
C) religious institutions.
D) media.
E) corporations.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Institutions that make policy and own land most likely would not include

A) educational institutions.
B) international agencies.
C) non-governmental organizations.
D) federal government.
E) corporations.

Question 5

Policy from international agencies

A) includes managing local resources.
B) has a strong enforcement component.
C) de-emphasizes human impacts.
D) regulates globally shared resources through the formation of treaties.
E) discourages open exchange of information.

Question 6

Policy from non-governmental organizations

A) are general in nature and tend to avoid specific issues.
B) are not bound by the requirement of a consensus among their members.
C) attempt to influence governing bodies through the use of lobbying and media.
D) focus too broadly .
E) discourage environmental research.

Question 7

Policy from the media

A) often is motivated by economic rewards.
B) is openly accepted by all sides of most issues.
C) includes broad enforcement power.
D) tends to make even the most simple concepts far too complex.
E) is limited by the lack of an audience.

Question 8

The role of scientists in policy making is to

A) draft the legal language of legislation.
B) sway public opinion.
C) provide knowledge and informed assessments of proposals.
D) serve as advocates for their constituents.
E) provide legitimacy to lobbying groups.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about uncertainty faced by policy makers is true?

A) Most people are willing to sacrifice the environment for technological progress but this is not known precisely.
B) Lack of relevant data is a significant component of uncertainty.
C) The precision of supporting data is usually known with certainty.
D) Future population dynamics are predictable.
E) Uncertainties are easily resolved.

Question 10

Methods of evaluating or reducing uncertainty do not include

A) sensitivity analysis.
B) impact assessment.
C) the collection of more data.
D) discarding data that do not support conclusions.
E) worst case analysis.

Question 11

Impact assessment includes all of the following except

A) decomposing the uncertainty in data to sets of assumptions.
B) comparing risks with and without sets of assumptions.
C) finding means to determine relative risk.
D) establishing high, low, and medium groups of vital rates.
E) determining the absolute risk.

Question 12

Determining the maximum risk of the extinction of a species through the use of computer models is called

A) impact assessment.
B) sensitivity analysis.
C) scenario building.
D) worst-case analysis.
E) similar entities.

Question 13

_______ can be used to reduce uncertainty in endangered species issues by reducing data gaps through the use of data from similar or related species.

A) Worst-case analysis
B) Similar entities
C) Impact assessment
D) Sensitivity analysis
E) Risk minimization

Question 14

The process in which a model is run many times with different combinations of low and high values of each experimental parameter to help account for uncertainty in parameter values is called

A) sensitivity analysis.
B) iterative digression.
C) risk assessment.
D) scenario building.
E) modeling.

Question 15

Risk assessment is most effective if the costs and benefits of potential options are

A) known in advance.
B) in direct opposition.
C) put in the most simple terms possible.
D) in the same units.
E) discussed only in terms of money.

Question 16

The basic goal of risk assessment is to

A) minimize adverse effects.
B) minimize benefits.
C) predict the occurrence of an accident.
D) generate ecological regulations.
E) All of the above

Question 17

In a given risk analysis, one observes that risk declines incrementally as more is invested to make changes intended to reduce risk. This infers that

A) the best approach is to do nothing.
B) a balance will be determined between increased cost and reduced risk.
C) the only acceptable risk is no risk at all.
D) as long as risk decreases with increased investment of funds, the money is well spent.
E) zero risk will be easily and affordably attained.

Question 18

Population viability analysis is not used for

A) revealing the sensitivity of a population to certain external factors.
B) predicting the response of a given species to a combination of parameters.
C) assisting in allocating resources to the conservation of species.
D) determining the increased incidence of disease when increased populations of that species leads to overcrowding.
E) assisting species to retain their potential for natural progressions (including evolutionary change) without the need for intensive management.

Question 19

Which of the following is not part of population viability analysis?

A) Predictive modeling of species populations
B) Assisting species adapt to changing conditions
C) Instituting and enforcing strict regulations when the hunting traditions of indigenous humans are contradictory with species conservation
D) Making predictions to shape inputs
E) Improving the odds of survival of endangered species

Question 20

Computer models are a critical part of population viability analysis because

A) modeling is better than collecting data.
B) field data can be imprecise, and computers are highly precise.
C) computer models can predict the future with uncanny accuracy.
D) although computer modeling is more expensive than data collection, it allows the scientists to work more efficiently.
E) PVA requires projecting what will happen in the future, and computer models are the best approach.

Question 21

The first step in population viability analysis is

A) determining the species of animals that people value most and focus on protecting them.
B) asking the question, "Is this species threatened?".
C) building a conceptual model as the foundation for a computer simulation.
D) running scenarios.
E) filling in data gaps with using data from similar or related species.

Question 22

If population viability analysis reveals that a species is at risk, appropriate response measures would include

A) reintroduction of the species into impacted areas.
B) prescribed burning to remove competition or enhance survival.
C) captive breeding to increase numbers.
D) restoration of disturbed or destroyed habitats.
E) All of the above

Question 23

Refer to the figure below showing projections of population trends for woodpeckers. Scenario 1 is no change (current conditions), Scenario 2 is enhanced adult survival, and Scenario 3 is enhanced juvenile survival.

-Based on this figure, which of the following conclusions is true?

A) Enhancing juvenile populations will lead to increased probability of low percent decline in abundance.
B) Maintaining the current trends will cause both juveniles and adults to increase in number.
C) The highest probability of decline is associated with enhancing adult survival.
D) The best approach for maintaining populations at their current, stable level is to make no changes.
E) Enhancing the survival of either juveniles or adults would come at great cost.

Question 24

Refer to the figure below showing projections of population trends for woodpeckers. Scenario 1 is no change (current conditions), Scenario 2 is enhanced adult survival, and Scenario 3 is enhanced juvenile survival.

-What is the probability that this species of woodpecker eventually will become extinct if the survival of juveniles and adults remains unchanged?

A) 1%
B) 10%
C) 25%
D) 60%
E) 99%

Question 25

A mathematical description of a population is called a

A) theorem.
B) set theory.
C) model.
D) matrix.
E) scenario.

Question 26

How do the goals of policy from international agencies differ from those of governments?

Question 27

Explain the differences between governments and corporations in their ability to make policy.

Question 28

Explain how religious institutions and educational institutions are similar in their goals and contributions in developing environmental policy despite different basic missions.

Question 29

What is the role of scientists in the decision-making process? List three roles that scientists play and which decision-making bodies rely on them.

Question 30

What is sensitivity analysis in the context of uncertainty?

Question 31

What is the goal of risk assessment?

Question 32

A new law will impose fines for any industry in violation of revised air emission standards. Explain the analysis that a company in this industry might make to determine whether or not they will comply with the new standards.

Question 33

Explain how the graph below can be used in risk analysis.

Question 34

Briefly explain population viability analysis.

Question 35

Could population viability analysis be used to determine the impact of hunting on the long-term population trends of a threatened species of deer? Explain.

Question 36

Explain how sensitivity analysis is used as part of population viability analysis.