Deck 27: Conservation Ecology

Question 1

The mass extinction of dinosaurs occurred at the end of the ________ period.

Answer 1

Cretaceous

Question 2

Designation of a region as a ________ is based on supporting 1500 or more endemic species of plants and more than 70% of the original habitat lost.

Answer 2

hotspot

Question 3

The primary cause of current species extinctions is the destruction of ________.

Answer 3

habitat

Question 4

The mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period is thought to have been caused by the impact of a ________.

Question 5

As elevation increases, the number of terrestrial species ________.

Question 6

A species with a 20% or greater probability of extinction within 20 years or 5 generations, whichever is longer, is considered to be a(n)________ species.

Question 7

The area of suitable habitat necessary to ensure the long-term survival of a species is called the minimum ________ area.

Question 8

Briefly outline the evolution of vascular plants.

Question 9

Conservations often attempt to restore a locally extinct population of a species through ________ into the wild of individuals from captive-bred populations

Question 10

A mass extinction of large mammals occurred during the ________ epoch.

Question 11

As latitude increases, the number of marine species ________.

Question 12

As structural diversity within plant communities increases, the number of animal species ________.

Question 13

A species found to naturally occur in a single geographic area and nowhere else is regarded as ________ to that location.

Question 14

The number of individuals necessary to ensure the long-term survival of a species is called the minimum ________ population.

Question 15

As latitude increases, the number of terrestrial species ________.

Question 16

Species living on ________ are especially vulnerable to extinction by the introduction of exotic, alien, or invasive species.

Question 17

As estimates of actual and potential evapotranspiration increase, the number of terrestrial species ________.

Question 18

Over the past 600 million years, the overall trend in the number of species has been ________.

Question 19

Isolated protected areas should be linked together by habitat ________, which facilitate the dispersal of plants and animals between protected areas.

Question 20

As latitude increases, marine productivity ________.

Question 21

The dinosaurs and many other animals became extinct at the end of the

A)Cambrian period.
B)Permian period.
C)Cretaceous period.
D)Pleistocene epoch.

Question 22

The goal of ________ ecology is to return an ecosystem to a close approximation of its conditions prior to disturbance through the application of ecological principles.

Question 23

Species richness of terrestrial plants and animals increases with

A)latitude.
B)the structural diversity of plant communities.
C)elevation.
D)flatter terrain.

Question 24

By 2011, we had identified ________ species, while the speculated total number was closer to 9 - 10 million.

A)1)4 million
B)1)9 million
C)5 million
D)8)7 million

Question 25

Which of the following factors is most likely to shift the geographic ranges of many species, thus altering regional patterns of diversity?

A)glacial period
B)fires
C)earthquakes
D)hurricanes

Question 26

In marine environments,

A)both species richness and productivity increase with latitude.
B)species richness increases and productivity decreases with latitude.
C)species richness decreases and productivity increases with latitude.
D)both species richness and productivity decrease with latitude.

Question 27

Variation in species richness of terrestrial species in North America correlates most strongly with estimates of

A)actual, or potential, evapotranspiration.
B)annual temperature.
C)solar radiation.
D)precipitation.

Question 28

Species that still exist today are called ________ species.

A)extant
B)extinct
C)remnant
D)evolved

Question 29

Which of these organisms is the most vulnerable to extinction based on the number of threatened species as a percentage of the number of species described and evaluated?

A)mammals
B)insects
C)crustaceans
D)monocotyledonous plants

Question 30

An endemic species is best defined as a species that

A)is a habitat specialist with a large geographical distribution.
B)has so few individuals remaining that it ceases to perform its role within an ecosystem.
C)no longer occurs in a given area yet still survives elsewhere.
D)occurs in a single geographic area and nowhere else.

Question 31

The minimum viable population size is highest for this group of organisms.

A)large birds and mammals
B)small birds and mammals
C)perennial plants
D)annual plants

Question 32

As of 2011, COSEWIC has listed ________ endangered species and ________ extirpated species in Canada.

A)78; 12
B)105; 14
C)278; 23
D)450; 110

Question 33

The end of the Pleistocene epoch was marked by a mass extinction of

A)shallow-water marine invertebrates.
B)dinosaurs and other large reptiles.
C)small mammals.
D)large mammals.

Question 34

A species with which of these traits is vulnerable to extinction?

A)short life span
B)large home range
C)habitat generalist
D)non-migratory

Question 35

The end of the Permian period was characterized by a mass extinction of

A)shallow-water marine invertebrates.
B)dinosaurs and other large reptiles.
C)small mammals.
D)large mammals.

Question 36

The mass extinction of dinosaurs and other animals at the end of the Cretaceous period is believed by most scientists to have been caused by

A)a massive asteroid or comet impact.
B)a massive volcanic eruption.
C)gamma radiation released from a supernova explosion.
D)overhunting by expanding populations of Neolithic humans.

Question 37

The primary cause of modern extinctions is

A)overhunting.
B)introduction of non-native species.
C)pollution.
D)habitat destruction.

Question 38

In the past 100 million years, the number of species of which group of plants has been increasing?

A)arthrophytes (e.g., horsetails)
B)pteridophytes (ferns)
C)gymnosperms (e.g., ginkgos, cycads, conifers)
D)angiosperms (flowering plants)

Question 39

As seasonal fluctuations in temperature increase in marine environments

A)both species richness and species dominance increase.
B)species richness increases and species dominance decreases.
C)species richness decreases and species dominance increases.
D)both species richness and species dominance decrease.

Question 40

Species living on isolated islands are especially vulnerable to extinction by

A)overhunting.
B)pollution.
C)the introduction of exotic species.
D)habitat destruction.

Question 41

The primary cause of modern extinctions is habitat destruction.

Question 42

The area of suitable habitat necessary for maintaining the number of individuals and ensuring the long-term survival of a species should be highest for a

A)small herbivore.
B)large herbivore.
C)small carnivore.
D)large carnivore.

Question 43

All living species of organisms have now been described by scientists.

Question 44

Over the past 100 million years, species richness has declined for gymnosperms and has increased for angiosperms.

Question 45

Over the past 600 million years, overall species richness of invertebrates has been increasing.

Question 46

Seasonal variation in surface temperatures of the ocean functions to increase primary productivity.

Question 47

In Saskatchewan's Grassland National Park, native mixed-grass prairie was restored by

A)destroying Agropyron cristatum.
B)planting Agropyron cristatum.
C)seeding the soil with fungus.
D)keeping herbivores, such as bison, from grazing.

Question 48

In terrestrial habitats, species richness is negatively correlated with primary productivity.

Question 49

The diverse topography of mountainous regions generally supports more species of plants and animals than the consistent terrain of flatlands.

Question 50

About 90% of the shallow-water marine invertebrates became extinct at the end of the Permian period.

Question 51

Species richness in both terrestrial and marine environments generally declines with latitude.

Question 52

A mass extinction of large mammals occurred at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch.

Question 53

Which of the following would NOT be considered a goal of restoration ecology?

A)eliminating exotic or invasive species
B)replanting native species
C)suppressing lightning-strike fires
D)reintroducing individuals of a locally extinct animal species

Question 54

The species richness of terrestrial plants and animals generally increases with elevation.

Question 55

Open areas of water surrounded by ice are called

A)polynyas.
B)leads.
C)tarns.
D)ice flows.

Question 56

As the structural diversity of plant communities increases, the species richness of animals also increases.

Question 57

The mass extinction of dinosaurs and other animals at the end of the Cretaceous period is believed by most scientists to have been caused by massive volcanic activity causing an ice age.

Question 58

Primary productivity in the oceans is lower in tropical latitudes than in temperate latitudes, primarily due to a permanent thermocline in tropical latitudes.

Question 59

Which of the following is NOT an advantage for preserving a large reserve rather than a small reserve?

A)A large reserve has more species.
B)A large reserve supports larger populations.
C)A large reserve exposes organisms to proportionately more habitat edges.
D)A large reserve has a greater diversity of habitats.

Question 60

The dispersal of plants and animals from one reserve to another within a network of reserves is best accomplished by

A)establishing buffer zones around reserves.
B)linking reserves with habitat corridors.
C)reintroducing individuals born and raised in captivity.
D)relocating individuals captured within their natural habitat.

Question 61

Discuss three major causes of modern species extinctions. Which is the primary cause?

Question 62

Explain why the minimum viable population size and the minimum dynamic area varies greatly among species.

Question 63

Discuss the major geographical trends in diversity and productivity in marine environments. Give one possible explanation for these patterns.

Question 64

Most species of plants and animals have small, restricted geographic ranges.

Question 65

Conservations refer to the number of individuals necessary to ensure the long-term survival of a species as the effective population size.

Question 66

The establishment of habitat corridors between protected areas may have some negative consequences.

Question 67

Explain why exotic species represent a threat to native species. Give an example of an exotic species threatening the survival of one or more native species.

Question 68

Choose one of several mass extinction events of the past or present and discuss the potential cause(s)of the mass extinction.

Question 69

Discuss three mass extinction events in Earth's history, including the time when they occurred and the groups of organisms that were most affected.

Question 70

Genetic models suggest that the size of a population required to ensure the long-term survival of a species is higher for annual plants and invertebrates than for mammals.

Question 71

Aquatic environments are not affected by the introduction of exotic species.

Question 72

What single environmental factor is most likely to shift the geographic ranges of many species, thus altering regional patterns of diversity?

Question 73

The species most vulnerable to the introduction of exotic species are those living on isolated islands.

Question 74

A small area has proportionately more habitat edges than a large area.

Question 75

A species that migrates seasonally is more vulnerable to extinction than a sedentary species that does not migrate.

Question 76

Small species of mammals are more vulnerable to extinction than large species of mammals.

Question 77

Degraded habitats cannot be restored even close to their original condition.

Question 78

Endemic species are in imminent danger of becoming extinct.

Question 79

Species diversity declines from the equator toward either pole. Discuss the possible explanations for this observation.

Question 80

The home range of a carnivore is usually larger than that of a herbivore of the same size.