Question 1

The main goal of sustainable development is to ________.

Accepted Answer

The main goal of sustainable development is to use natural resources such that they do not decline over time. This means that we need to use them in a way that allows them to regenerate and replenish themselves, rather than exploiting them to the point of depletion. Sustainable development also involves considering social and economic factors, not just environmental ones, in order to ensure that development is truly sustainable and benefits present and future generations.

Question 2

The main cause of the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere over the past 150 years is ________.

Accepted Answer

The burning of larger amounts of wood and fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is the main cause of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 150 years.

Question 3

Which of the following nations has become a world leader in the establishment of zoned reserves?

Accepted Answer

Costa Rica has become a world leader in the establishment of zoned reserves, prioritizing the conservation of biodiversity and protected areas within its national territory.

Question 4

Agricultural lands frequently require nutrient augmentation because ________.

Accepted Answer

When plants are harvested, the nutrients that were once in their biomass are removed from the soil. This can lead to nutrient depletion and the need for nutrient augmentation. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria can also be affected by pesticide use, but this is not the main reason for nutrient augmentation in agricultural lands. Not all agricultural land is nutrient-poor, and cultivation can actually stimulate decomposition of organic matter.

Question 5

What is the biggest problem with selecting a site for a reserve?

Accepted Answer

The biggest problem with selecting a site for a reserve is making a proper selection, which is difficult because currently the environmental conditions of almost any site can change quickly. This means that a site that may seem ideal for a reserve now may not be suitable in the future due to changes in climate, habitat loss, or other factors.

Question 6

Which of the following is a consequence of biological magnification?

Accepted Answer

Biological magnification occurs when toxic substances become more concentrated as they move up the food chain, resulting in higher levels of toxicity in top-level predators. This means that these predators are at a greater risk of harm from environmental toxins than organisms lower in the food chain.

Question 7

Brown-headed cowbirds utilize fragmented forests effectively by ________.

Accepted Answer

Brown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, allowing them to use fragmented forests without needing to build their own nests or care for their offspring. They also feed on insects in open fields, allowing them to utilize both forest and open areas effectively.

Question 8

Use the following figure to answer the question.

Examine the figure and consider this hypothesis: Plant biomass increases with species richness. Functional groups are categories of plants each containing numerous species, such as grasses and wildflowers, or trees and shrubs. In looking at the data in the figure, how would you relate it to this hypothesis? The hypothesis is ________.

Accepted Answer

The figure shows that biodiversity (species richness) has a positive relationship with plant biomass, which partially supports the hypothesis. However, the figure also shows that the relationship between biomass and functional group richness is not significant, suggesting that the hypothesis may be more specific to species richness rather than functional group richness.

Question 9

Movement corridors can be harmful to certain species because they ________.

Accepted Answer

Movement corridors can facilitate the spread of diseases and parasites among populations of certain species by providing a continuous habitat or pathway that these organisms can use to move from one population to another.

Question 10

Which of the following outcomes is caused by excessive nutrient runoff into aquatic ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Excessive nutrient runoff causes eutrophication, which is a process where an excessive amount of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, in the water promotes the growth of algae and other aquatic plants. This excessive growth of organisms can lead to a reduction in dissolved oxygen levels due to increased decomposition of dead organisms, leading to fish kills and other negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Depletion of the ozone layer is caused by human-made pollutants, acid precipitation is caused by emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and biological magnification is the process where toxins become concentrated as they move up the food chain.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about protected areas that have been established to preserve biodiversity is correct?

Accepted Answer

Coordination with management of surrounding land is important to ensure the protected area is effective in preserving biodiversity. Options A and B are incorrect as the actual percentage of protected land varies depending on the source and criteria used, and protected areas should be established based on biodiversity value rather than country classification. Option D is incorrect as biodiversity hot spots are important but not the only areas that require protection.

Question 12

Use the following graph and information to answer the question.
Flycatcher birds that migrate from Africa to Europe feed their chicks a diet that is almost exclusively moth caterpillars. The graph shows the peak dates of flycatcher arrival in Europe, bird hatching, and peak caterpillar season for the years 1980 and 2000. The y-axis is a measure of the abundance of birds, hatching chicks, and caterpillars.

The shift in the peak of caterpillar season is most likely due to ________.

Accepted Answer

The graph shows a shift in the peak of caterpillar season towards earlier dates for both 1980 and 2000. This is likely due to global warming, as warmer temperatures can lead to earlier emergence and development of insects such as moths, which in turn affects the peak caterpillar season.

Question 13

Use the graphs to answer the question.

Archeological, fossil, and geological data provide information on the Mayan populations and their environment in Mexico, in the Caribbean state of Yucatán. The graphs depict population size, percentage of the land that was forested, and the amount of soil erosion. Based on the figure, what can you conclude about the history of land use in the southern Yucatán?

Accepted Answer

The graphs show that as the Mayan population increased, the percentage of forested land decreased and the amount of soil erosion increased. This suggests that the Mayan population contributed to deforestation and soil erosion, likely through agricultural practices, which may have ultimately led to their population decline. The graph does not provide evidence for choices A, B, or D.

Question 14

Use the following figure to answer the question.

Examine the figure, which notes the average barrels of oil used per person per year in different countries. What can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

The data suggests that residents of more affluent, industrialized countries use more energy per person. This is evident from the high usage rates of the United States, Canada, and Australia, as compared to countries with lower energy usage rates like India, China, and Indonesia. The figure does not provide enough information to support options A, C, or D.

Question 15

What is a critical load?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a critical load?
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Question 16

Why are changes in the global carbon cycle important?

Accepted Answer

Increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have been linked to changes in Earth's climate, including global warming and ocean acidification, making it an important issue to tackle. Choices A, B, and D do not accurately reflect the negative impacts of changes in the global carbon cycle.

Question 17

Your friend is wary of environmentalists' claims that global warming could lead to major biological change on Earth. Which of the following statements can you use in response to your friend's suspicions?

Accepted Answer

Option D provides evidence that global warming already has had an effect on primary production, which is a major biological change. This evidence can be used to support claims made by environmentalists that further global warming could lead to even more significant biological changes on Earth. Options A, B, and C do not provide evidence that contradicts your friend's suspicions.

Question 18

Establishing new nature reserves in biodiversity hot spots may not necessarily the best choice because ________.

Accepted Answer

Establishing new nature reserves in biodiversity hot spots may not be the best choice because changing environmental conditions may shift the location of the hot spot. Instead, it may be more effective to focus on protecting and connecting existing habitats and ecosystems to ensure the long-term survival and diversity of species. Additionally, conservation efforts should also consider promoting sustainable land use practices and reducing human impact on natural environments.

Question 19

Use the following figure to answer the question.

Looking at the figure, what can you conclude about the data?

Accepted Answer

The graph shows that as species richness increases, plant biomass also increases up to a certain point and then levels off. Therefore, option C is the best choice. Option A is incorrect because plant biomass does not remain consistent as species richness changes. Option B is incorrect because although plant biomass generally increases with species richness, it eventually reaches a plateau. Option D is incorrect because as species richness decreases, plant biomass also decreases, not increases.

Question 20

Which of the following factors causes extremely high levels of toxic chemicals in fish-eating birds?

Accepted Answer

Biological magnification, also known as biomagnification, is the process by which toxic substances become increasingly concentrated in higher trophic levels of a food chain. This means that as smaller organisms are consumed by larger ones, the toxic substances they have accumulated in their bodies are also consumed and concentrated, leading to extremely high levels in top predators like fish-eating birds. The other options listed do not directly cause high levels of toxic chemicals in fish-eating birds.

Quiz 56: Conservation Biology and Global Change

The main goal of sustainable development is to ________.

The main cause of the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere over the past 150 years is ________.

Which of the following nations has become a world leader in the establishment of zoned reserves?

Agricultural lands frequently require nutrient augmentation because ________.

What is the biggest problem with selecting a site for a reserve?

Which of the following is a consequence of biological magnification?

Brown-headed cowbirds utilize fragmented forests effectively by ________.

Movement corridors can be harmful to certain species because they ________.

Which of the following outcomes is caused by excessive nutrient runoff into aquatic ecosystems?

Which of the following statements about protected areas that have been established to preserve biodiversity is correct?

Use the following figure to answer the question. Examine the figure, which notes the average barrels of oil used per person per year in different countries. What can be concluded?

What is a critical load?

Why are changes in the global carbon cycle important?

Your friend is wary of environmentalists' claims that global warming could lead to major biological change on Earth. Which of the following statements can you use in response to your friend's suspicions?

Establishing new nature reserves in biodiversity hot spots may not necessarily the best choice because ________.

Use the following figure to answer the question. Looking at the figure, what can you conclude about the data?

Which of the following factors causes extremely high levels of toxic chemicals in fish-eating birds?