Question 1

Biodiversity enhances human food security because it ________________

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity can lead to the discovery and utilization of new food sources or the development of new genetic varieties of existing foods, leading to increased food security. Genetic uniformity, decreasing pollinators, decreasing predators, and increasing pathogens are all factors that could potentially decrease food security.

Question 2

A species of lizard has gone extinct.All of the following may have contributed to this extinction EXCEPT ________________.

Accepted Answer

Increased genetic diversity would not contribute to extinction, as it would increase the species' ability to adapt to changing environments and improve their overall health and survival. The other options (habitat destruction, introduction of a competing species, climate change, and inbreeding) can all directly or indirectly contribute to the extinction of a species.

Question 3

Both ________________ and ________________ can change local species diversity but not global species diversity.

Accepted Answer

Immigration and extirpation both refer to the movement of species within a local area, but do not affect global species diversity as they do not involve the creation or disappearance of species on a global scale. Speciation and extinction, on the other hand, can affect global species diversity as they involve the creation or loss of species across different regions. Emigration refers to the movement of species out of a local area, but also does not affect global species diversity.

Question 4

What is the greatest contributing factor in the loss of polar bears in arctic areas?

Accepted Answer

The decline in sea ice is the greatest contributing factor in the loss of polar bears in arctic areas as the bears rely on ice for hunting, traveling, and resting. With the increase in global temperatures, sea ice is decreasing rapidly, significantly affecting the polar bear populations.

Question 5

Species richness is affected by many variables.As one travels to higher latitudes,one would generally find ________________.

Accepted Answer

As one travels closer to the poles, the environment becomes colder and less diverse, leading to a decrease in the number of species. This is known as the latitudinal diversity gradient. Therefore, the best choice is E.

Question 6

The greatest species diversity is found in which of the following groups?

Accepted Answer

Insects make up the largest group of animals, with an estimated 5 to 10 million species. This is more than all other animal species combined. Therefore, the greatest species diversity is found in insects.

Question 7

The country of Belize depends on lobster for a major portion of its income,along with fishing and tourism.Over the past 30 years the average size of an individual lobster has dropped,even as increasing numbers of Belizeans buy boats,build lobster traps,and enter the industry.This is an example of ________________.

Accepted Answer

The decrease in average size of individual lobster despite an increase in fishing activity is a clear indication of overharvesting, which has resulted in the depletion of lobster populations.

Question 8

The IUCN's Red List is ________________.

Accepted Answer

The IUCN's Red List is an updated list of species facing unusually high risk of extinction.

Question 9

The Convention on Biological Diversity has goals that ________________.

Accepted Answer

The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to promote the sustainable use of biodiversity, among other goals, as stated in its text: "The objectives of this Convention...are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources." Therefore, option D, "include using biodiversity in a sustainable manner," is the correct answer.

Question 10

Both ________________ and ________________ can change global species diversity.

Accepted Answer

Speciation and extinction are the two main mechanisms that change global species diversity. Speciation increases diversity by generating new species, while extinction decreases diversity by eliminating existing species. Emigration, immigration, and extirpation are all processes that involve movement of individuals between populations, but they do not necessarily affect global species diversity in the same way as speciation and extinction.

Question 11

What is the greatest known cause of global amphibian declines?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the greatest known cause of...

Question 12

Animals that are harmed by human modification of the environment tend to have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ________________

Accepted Answer

Animals that are harmed by human modification of the environment tend to have all of the following characteristics: they are species covering a small geographic range, they are high on the food chain, they are habitat specialists, and they are K-selected. They are not dietary generalists, as they have specific dietary requirements that may be disrupted by changes in their habitat.

Question 13

The loss of a particular population from a given area (but not the entire species globally)is called ________________.

Accepted Answer

Extirpation refers specifically to the local extinction of a population within a certain area, while extinction refers to the global loss of a species. Exposition and extinguishment are not related to population loss or extinction. Emigration refers to the movement of individuals out of a population, but does not necessarily result in population loss.

Question 14

Removal of which of the following species will result in the greatest changes in an ecological system?

Accepted Answer

Keystone species have a large impact on the structure and function of an ecological system. Removal of a keystone species can lead to cascading effects, impacting multiple trophic levels and altering the entire ecosystem. Removal of other species may also have significant impacts, but the removal of a keystone species will result in the greatest changes.

Question 15

The greatest cause of the worldwide loss of species is ________________.

Accepted Answer

Habitat destruction, such as deforestation, urbanization, and conversion of natural areas to agricultural land, is the primary cause of species loss worldwide. It reduces the area available for species to live and breed, as well as fragmenting habitats, making it difficult for species to move and find mates. This leads to a decrease in population size, genetic diversity, and ultimately, the extinction of species.

Question 16

The field of conservation biology ________________

Accepted Answer

Conservation biology focuses on understanding the mechanisms of evolution and extinction and seeks to apply this understanding to the preservation of biodiversity.

Question 17

The species that are generally most vulnerable to human impact are ________________.

Accepted Answer

K-selected species have low reproductive rates, longer lifespans, and greater investment in parental care. These traits make them more vulnerable to human impact, particularly habitat destruction and fragmentation. Keystone species, producers, and decomposers may also be vulnerable, but it depends on the specific species and the nature of the human impact. Competitive species may actually benefit from human disturbances that remove competing species or create new resources.

Question 18

Ecotourism ________________

Accepted Answer

Ecotourism can provide income to areas that might otherwise be destroyed due to unsustainable activities such as logging or mining. This income can incentivize local communities to protect and preserve their surrounding environment and biodiversity.

Question 19

European rabbits were introduced into Australia and quickly spread,reproduced,and became a terrible pest.They eat up to $600 million worth of food and pasture crops annually,and have damaged the populations of many native plants and the populations of animals that eat the plants.Twice in the past 50 years,rabbit diseases have been introduced to try to control the population, with some success.This is a case where ________________ .

Accepted Answer

The introduction of European rabbits has reduced the genetic diversity of indigenous species by outcompeting them for resources and potentially interbreeding with them.

Question 20

Changes in habitat have tremendous effects on the organisms that depend on them.These effects are ________________.

Accepted Answer

Organisms have adapted to their current habitats over long periods of time and any sudden changes can have negative effects on their survival and ability to thrive. These changes may cause the habitat to become less suitable, leading to population declines, migration, or extinction. While some species may be able to adapt to new conditions, others may not be able to do so quickly enough, resulting in population loss or disappearance.

Quiz 11: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology