Deck 60: Conservation Biology

Question 1

As we study the past 50,000 years worth of information about species' decline and extinctions around the world

A)we see rapid extinctions,especially of the larger animals,not long after humans arrive in an areA.
B)we can make a rough estimate of a population's risk of a local extinction.
C)we see a steady-state rate of extinctions on all continents,only islands show a difference due to climate change.
D)we see huge extinctions,especially of the larger animals,with ice ages and global warming.
E)we see local extinctions that appear random,and then recolonizations from other areas.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following groups is most studied regarding the increasing extinctions today?

A)amphibians
B)mammals
C)fish
D)insects
E)bacteria

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Scientists speculate that extinctions did not occur in Africa as they did on other continents because animals coevolved with _______ in Africa.

A)plants
B)diseases
C)parasites
D)humans

Answer 3

D

Question 4

An organism whose decline or removal from a habitat causes many other species numbers to change dramatically is called __________ species.

A)a keystone
B)a synergistic
C)a nominal
D)an introduced

Question 5

Extinctions have occurred since life originated.However,since humans have been on Earth,many extinctions have occurred as a result of human activities.Biologists are concerned about this trend in extinctions and human presence.Which of the following choices is correct about how biologists estimate rates of extinctions?

A)Biologists estimate the number of extinctions by conducting annual counts of the most critical flora and fauna and by using past extinctions as models.
B)Biologists estimate the number of extinctions by analyzing habitat loss and studying recorded extinction events.
C)Biologists estimate the number of extinctions by monitoring all populations for births and deaths.
D)Biologists estimate the number of extinctions by constant examination of the fossil record,especially deep marine sediments.

Question 6

Match the correct case study in conservation biology with its animal.

A)fruit bats-introduction of new species
B)prairie chickens-loss of genetic diversity
C)songbirds-introduction of new species
D)prairie chickens-loss of habitat
E)Lake Victoria cichlids-loss of habitat

Question 7

Regarding megafaunal extinctions,it is

A)assumed that climate change is the driving factor.
B)assumed that,in the North American continent,the Ice Age was the driving factor.
C)assumed that the dramatic differences between the ancient megafauna in North America and those found in Africa were the reason that the North American megafauna could not adapt and survive.
D)assumed that the coevolution of African megafauna with humans is the reason they did not go extinct.
E)assumed that the island megafauna mostly drowned in flooding as the icepack melted at the end of the Ice AgE.

Question 8

Edge effects are the result of which of the following?

A)Populations of flora and fauna have emigrated from the core of their population center to the edge of their habitat.
B)Metapopulations of some of the larger fauna have become more dominant on the landscape and as a result have increased the edge of their habitat.
C)Habitat fragmentations or habitat shrinkage have occurred,and thus the edge of the habitats have increased in size.
D)Habitat fragmentations or habitat shrinkage have occurred,and thus the edge of the habitats have decreased in size.
E)Populations of particular species have decreased and are on the edge of extinction.

Question 9

Areas with high levels of endemism are called species _________.

A)islands
B)fragments
C)hotspots
D)reserves

Question 10

Which of the following choices states a correct interpretation of this graph showing the relationship between extinction rate and island size?

A)Larger islands have greater extinction rates than do smaller islands.
B)Smaller islands have greater extinction rates than do larger islands.
C)Larger islands and smaller islands have similar if not the same extinction rates because island size is not related to extinction rates.
D)Smaller islands have fewer species and thus lower extinction rates than larger islands.
E)Larger islands have more species and are at greater risks for extinctions than smaller islands.

Question 11

Which of the following is a correct interpretation of this graph?

A)Habitat loss and overexploitation are the major reasons for species extinctions.
B)Habitat loss and introduced species are the major reasons for species extinctions.
C)Habitat loss and altered sex ratios are the major reasons for species extinctions.
D)Overexploitation and introduction of exotic species have had a greater combined effect on species than habitat loss.

Question 12

As habitats are fragmented,shrinking in size,a major problem is ______.

A)the edge effect
B)lack of corridors
C)overexploitation
D)introduced species

Question 13

Sea otters have been used as an example of the "Keystone Species" concept.This means that sea otters

A)provide the carnivorous component of the food chain in which they live.
B)promote the edge effect in the kelp forests off the northern coastline of California.
C)exert a particular strong influence on the structure and functioning of an ecosystem.
D)offer an opportunity for scientists to study the long-term effects as the sea otter populations are harvesteD.
E)interactions with the kelp forests and the sea urchins have not really had any consequences that need to be currently studied.

Question 14

Animals that weigh more than 100 pounds are considered as

A)extinct.
B)endangered species.
C)safe from extinction.
D)sensitive species.
E)megafauna.

Question 15

A friend asks you for a definition of endemic because she is writing a history paper and this word keeps occurring in the literature in reference to bison on the Great Plains of the United States.Your response is that the word endemic means

A)a species that has gone extinct since humans have evolved on Earth.
B)a species that exists in many habitats on Earth.
C)a species that has coevolved with humans on Earth.
D)a species that lives in only one area of Earth.

Question 16

Species found in only one geographic area and nowhere else are _________ to that area.

A)introduced
B)convergent
C)rare
D)endemic

Question 17

__________ is the process of examining the genomes of animals and plants for useful genes.

A)Gene prospecting
B)Genetic engineering
C)Phenotypic labeling
D)Cloning

Question 18

A scientist studied peregrine falcons to determine why the numbers of birds was declining.She determined that

A)global warming (too much carbon dioxide)had increased the death rates in the newly hatched chicks.
B)the genetic diversity of the falcons was too low to sustain their population level.
C)the falcons had lost much of their habitat due to human developments.
D)the falcon's habitat had been fragmented and the subsequent edge effect affected their ability to hunt for prey items.
E)the levels of DDT in the environment were having a detrimental effect on eggs (causing the eggshells to be too thin)that were being laid by the female falcons.

Question 19

Scientists estimate that about _____ of the world eukaryotic organisms have been discovered and given scientific names.

A)1%
B)5%
C)15%
D)40%
E)90%

Question 20

The majority of mammal and bird extinctions have occurred on ______.

A)habitat fragments
B)mountain tops
C)islands
D)desert ecosystems

Question 21

Island species are particularly vulnerable to extinction for all of the following reasons except

A)humans have altered habitats.
B)island species have lost the ability to escape predators.
C)humans have introduced competitors.
D)humans have introduced diseases.
E)fewer endemic species are found on islands.

Question 22

In the last 20 years one concern of scientists who study amphibians is that

A)genetic diversity is being increased too rapidly for proper maintenance.
B)the edge effects are causing declines in species numbers.
C)DDT is affecting reproduction by thinning the egg membranes.
D)populations are diversifying rapidly and speciation is occurring.
E)many species are declining or have gone extinct in recent years.

Question 23

Natural colonization can happen in all of the following ways except

A)a flock of birds gets blown off course.
B)a bird eats a fruit on the mainland and defecates the seed on an island.
C)people plant new species on an island.
D)lowered sea levels connect two areas previously isolateD.
E)birds pick up seeds on their feed wading in mud,drop them elsewherE.

Question 24

A small island has stable populations of plants and animals,including one species of hawk as the only predator.The removal of the hawks could cause ____________ for at least a year or two.

A)an increase in the plants
B)an increase in the insects
C)an increase in the small rodents
D)a decrease in the fish
E)a decrease in the plants

Question 25

As habitats become more fragmented and become smaller,the relative proportions of the habitat that remain have an increase

A)in size leading to defragmentation.
B)in connectivity to other habitats.
C)in patch size of the habitat.
D)in the edges of the habitat,leading to edge effects.
E)in species richness,leading to biodiversity.

Question 26

When New York City was given a choice to make regarding its drinking water

A)they opted for more bottled water.
B)they chose ecosystem maintenance over development.
C)they had to construct expensive filtration plants to protect against disease.
D)they chose ecosystem conversion to higher density housing for efficiency.
E)they dug new and deeper wells rather than pay for desalinization.

Question 27

The various endemic cichlid species of Lake Victoria have suffered losses in their population numbers and species due to the introduction of

A)the Nile crocodile.
B)the Nile perch.
C)a new algae species.
D)a new ectoparasite that lives on the gills.
E)a fish hawk.

Question 28

A major problem with hotspots is humans moving in and causing

A)habitat destruction.
B)increased genetic diversity.
C)increased immigration among species.
D)decreased introductions.
E)decreased biomagnification.

Question 29

Conservationists have identified 25 areas,worldwide,as hotspots.This means these areas

A)can now be preserved.
B)have serious pollution problems and are being targeted for cleanup.
C)have high numbers of endemic species and are increasing with introductions.
D)have high numbers of endemic species and are decreasing.
E)have high numbers of invasive species and are struggling to survivE.

Question 30

Economists have been comparing the monetary value of intact habitats with the value of using (destroying)those habitats (such as for logging or farming).They find

A)the immediate economic gain is worth it,such as in the shrimp farms in Thailand.
B)the long-term problems are minimal,and usually economically minor,it is more of an aesthetic problem than a monetary one.
C)in every case studied the intact habitat is more valuable than the destroyed one.
D)clearing the forest for agriculture,as in Cameroon,provides jobs,housing,and long-term economic benefits.
E)increased invasion in intact habitats renders it worthless within a few years.

Question 31

A small island has stable populations of plants and animals,including one species of hawk as the only predator.A resort is built on one end of the island.This causes

A)a rapid increase in biodiversity of the island.
B)a rapid increase in biodiversity of the shallow waters around the island.
C)an increase in rainfall.
D)an increased edge effect.
E)an increase in pollock and a decrease in sea urchins.

Question 32

A species found naturally in only one specific geographical area and no other place on Earth is referred to as

A)endangered.
B)sensitive.
C)native.
D)endemic.
E)cosmopolitan.

Question 33

Ecologists are concerned about amphibian populations because

A)their loss would be an aesthetic loss to the planet.
B)of the possibility of numerous medicinal uses.
C)they are keystone species in many areas-their loss will cause other populations to crash.
D)amphibians are very sensitive to environmental change-they may be indicating serious problems.
E)they are increasing to the point of competing with indigenous species.

Question 34

A small island has stable populations of plants and animals,including one species of hawk as the only predator.A ship docks at the island,and the ship's cat has recently had a litter of kittens.One of the young cats accidentally goes ashore in a small boat,jumps to land and runs into the brush.No one notices,and they leave the cat on the island.

A)It's only one cat and will make no difference to the island.
B)The increase in nitrogenous waste from the cat will increase the size of many plants.
C)The fish in the lagoon will decrease due to predation.
D)Some species of ground-nesting birds may go extinct within a few years.
E)The insect populations will declinE.

Question 35

Why might the different species of whales fail to recover even though hunting has been banned?

A)loss of genetic diversity
B)loss of habitat
C)introduction of invasive species
D)increasing predation
E)increased disease spread due to edge effects

Question 36

One of the important reasons for maintaining biodiversity is to

A)prevent loss of habitats that can be logged or farmed at some future date.
B)prevent loss of habitat leading to edge effects.
C)prevent introduction of invasive species.
D)maintain the genetic diversity of wild relatives of common crops.
E)prevent increased disease spread due to edge effects.

Question 37

Historical extinction rates are best known for

A)reptiles and amphibians.
B)reptiles and birds.
C)amphibians and fish.
D)amphibians and birds.
E)birds and mammals.

Question 38

As many as one-half of Earth's plants

A)may already have gone extinct in the last 100 years.
B)may be threatened with extinction at present.
C)may be considered invasive species.
D)are known to be medicinally useful.
E)have been shown to be keystone species.

Question 39

Which of the following whale species are recovering their population numbers as a result of whale harvesting regulations?
I-right whales
II-Pacific gray whales
III-sperm whales
IV-fin whales
V-humpback whales

A)I and II
B)I,II,and III
C)II and V
D)I,II,III,and IV
E)I,II,and V

Question 40

Habitat loss for a species can be the result of all of the following except

A)habitat destruction.
B)pollution of the habitat.
C)human disruption of a habitat.
D)agriculture.
E)ecosystem services.

Question 41

Which one of the following biology topics would be least useful to a conservation biologist?

A)Cladistics
B)Bottleneck effect
C)Endemism
D)Island biogeography
E)Evolutionary theory

Question 42

Which one of the following was not an observation made in studies of the decline in populations of the American redstart,a migratory songbird?

A)Breeding bird studies show that the American redstart has declined by 50% in the decade of the 1970s.
B)American redstarts overwintering in mangrove and wetland forests of Central and South America accumulate little ¹³C in their tissues.
C)Dry scrub forest is substandard overwintering habitat for the American redstart in Central and South America.
D)American redstarts overwintering in mangrove and wetland forests are heavier as they begin their return migration north in the spring.
E)American redstarts with high levels of ¹³C in their tissues arrive earlier at their summer breeding grounds.

Question 43

Which one of the following statements about preservation of flying foxes in the Old World tropics is false?

A)Because flying foxes are largely endemic,their decline has had a large,community-wide impact.
B)Flying foxes serve as both plant pollinators and seed dispersers.
C)Many plants have co-evolved with species of flying fox in their communities.
D)Decline in flying fox populations have affected the reproductive success of many plants.
E)The social system of many flying fox species has made them susceptible to the effects of hunting.

Question 44

Which one of the following pairings of conservation concern and an organism illustrating the consequences of that concern is incorrect?

A)Zebra mussel-non-native species
B)Cod-overexploitation
C)American redstart-deterioration of habitat
D)Hawaiian birds-edge effect
E)Flying foxes-keystone species

Question 45

In deciding where in the world to focus conservation efforts,select the least important factor.

A)regions with unique habitats
B)regions with low human population growth
C)regions with many endemics
D)species rich regions
E)hotspot regions

Question 46

Which one of the following is not a problem that results from a population being small?

A)allee effect
B)genetic drift
C)reduce genetic diversity
D)increased edge effects
E)extinction vortex

Question 47

Human caused introductions can occur by all of the following except

A)plants and animals accidentally escaping from ships.
B)automobile or truck tires.
C)being in the soil or on a plant sold at a nursery.
D)seeds or organisms on clothing or shoes.
E)captive breeding.

Question 48

Choose the letter of the best match from the following:
A.hotspot
B.habitat loss
C.edge effects
D.megafaunal extinction
E.extinction vortex
An area with many endemic species,some of which are disappearing.

Question 49

Which one of the following statements about preservation of the Illinois prairie chicken is false?

A)Co-option of habitat for agriculture was the major reason for the disappearance of the prairie chicken in Illinois.
B)By allowing a different species (the lesser prairie chicken)to interbreed with the Illinois prairie chicken,its genetic variability was enhanced and its reproductive rates returned to normal.
C)The sanctuaries set up to preserve the Illinois prairie chickens were not successful because of low population sizes and the bird's mating system.
D)Egg hatching rates in the Illinois sanctuaries continued to fall.
E)Greater prairie chicken populations in other states were more genetically diversE.

Question 50

Which one of the following is not a correct pairing of an important issue from conservation biology and an example or concept that relates to that issue?

A)ecosystem service-NYC water supply
B)habitat destruction-clear-cutting in the Pacific NW
C)species-area relationship-habitat fragmentation
D)pristine restoration-rain forests of Madagascar
E)restoration of ecosystems-Yellowstone wolves

Question 51

Which one of the following is not an ecosystem service?

A)maintaining the quality of water supplies
B)habitat restoration
C)preventing soil erosion
D)absorbing pollutants
E)moderating climate

Question 52

Which one of the following statements about the causes of extinction is false?

A)Probability of extinction varies inversely with population size.
B)Ten 10-hectare habitat patches is not the same as one 100-hectare patch.
C)Habitat loss is currently the major cause of extinction.
D)Prehistoric humans in North America lived in harmony with their megafauna.
E)Probability of extinction is greatest for an endemic species.

Question 53

Starting with the overharvesting of plankton-eating whales by humans and ending with the thinning of the kelp forests in the Alaska near-shore community,which one of the following intervening events would have occurred fourth?

A)sea otter populations decline
B)killer whales switch to a new prey
C)pollock populations increase
D)sea urchin populations explode
E)sea lion and harbor seal populations drastically decline

Question 54

Which one of the following statements about overexploitation of whales is false?

A)Commercial whaling has been suspended for the last 20 years.
B)Whale oil is now entirely replaceable with oils derived from petroleum.
C)Since the worldwide moratorium on all commercial killing of whales,most species have returned to pre-hunting levels.
D)The right whale was the first to decline due to commercial hunting.
E)Initially,the International Whaling Commission (IWC)was not very effectivE.

Question 55

Choose the letter of the best match from the following:
A.hotspot
B.habitat loss
C.edge effects
D.megafaunal extinction
E.extinction vortex
Almost all the large mammals disappeared from North America by about 10,000 years ago.

Question 56

Which one of the following statements about habitat restoration is false?

A)Pristine restoration requires the most complete knowledge of the ecosystem being restored.
B)Habitat restoration without removal of introduced species can be counter-productive.
C)Habitat restoration without removal of persistent pollutants can be counter-productive.
D)Economically,preservation of existing ecosystems is always less expensive than restoration of "environmental train wrecks."
E)Because removing non-native species as quickly as possible is important,quickly introducing parasites and predators of the non-native species is often warranted.

Question 57

The extinction vortex

A)is what happens as a population decreases and becomes more vulnerable to extinction from a variety of causes.
B)is what happens in certain areas,similar to the Bermuda Triangle situation.
C)is what happens when competing species fight over a single niche,often driving both species to extinction.
D)is a spiral of events that occur once a species has become overcrowded through excess reproduction.
E)is a spiral of events that includes introduction of competing species,overexploitation,and disease,in that order.

Question 58

Which one of the following statements about captive breeding is false?

A)Biomagnification of the pollutant DDT in peregrine falcons and a decline in their populations lead to the first successful,large-scale captive breeding program.
B)Captive breeding is sometimes a part of efforts to restore ecosystems to a balanced,functional state.
C)Inbreeding can be a major problem facing captive breeding programs.
D)Despite major efforts to restore California condor populations in the western U.S. ,the program has had limited success because of reduced genetic heterogeneity.
E)Captive breeding is a viable strategy whenever very few individuals of a species remain in the wild.

Question 59

Choose the letter of the best match from the following:
A.hotspot
B.habitat loss
C.edge effects
D.megafaunal extinction
E.extinction vortex
A species goes extinct without any clear,single cause.

Question 60

Which one of the following pairings of conservation concern and an organism illustrating the consequences of that concern is incorrect?

A)Lake Victoria cichlids-keystone species
B)Heath hen-demographic problems
C)Prairie chickens-lack of genetic heterogeneity
D)Peregrine falcon-pollution
E)Dusky seaside sparrow-Allee effect

Question 61

Choose the letter of the best match from the following:
A.hotspot
B.habitat loss
C.edge effects
D.megafaunal extinction
E.extinction vortex
Primarily due to habitat destruction,pollution,human disruption,fragmentation.

Question 62

Choose the letter of the best match from the following:
A.hotspot
B.habitat loss
C.edge effects
D.megafaunal extinction
E.extinction vortex
Become an increasing problem as habitat size shrinks.