Question 1

Prairies that have high biodiversity are

Accepted Answer

Prairies with high biodiversity are better able to recover from natural disturbances like drought and fire because of the variety of species present. The different species contribute to the overall resilience and health of the ecosystem, allowing it to bounce back more quickly after a disturbance.

Question 2

Studies have shown that when an ecosystem's biodiversity is high,

Accepted Answer

The statement "Studies have shown that when an ecosystem's biodiversity is high," is followed by three different advantages that high biodiversity provides to an ecosystem: the ability to recover from environmental disturbances, reduced likelihood of disease outbreaks, and reduced likelihood of invasive species becoming established. Therefore, the correct answer is D, all of the above.

Question 3

Where would you expect to find the largest number of different species?

Accepted Answer

Tropical rainforests are known for their high biodiversity and are home to a large number of different species, including a variety of plants, animals, and insects. The canopy layer of a tropical rainforest, where a large tree would be located, is especially rich in biodiversity.

Question 4

For many, stinging insects such as honeybees are a nuisance. Why might it not be a good idea simply to poison all the honeybees and save people from the temporary pain of a sting or even an allergic reaction to such insects?

Accepted Answer

Removing honeybees from an ecosystem could have unforeseeable and negative consequences. Honeybees play an important role in pollinating many of the world's crops, and their absence could lead to a decline in food production. Additionally, other species that depend on honeybees for food or as pollinators could be impacted, leading to a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem. It's important to consider the potential consequences of any action before taking it.

Question 5

Abandoned woodpecker cavities are used by many songbirds unable to create their own. The starling, an invasive species in N. America, aggressively competes for these cavities. Either a(n) _______ in woodpecker populations or a(n) _______ in the starling population has the potential to further reduce songbird populations.

Accepted Answer

If there is a decrease in woodpecker populations, there will be fewer available cavities for songbirds to use, which could reduce their populations. On the other hand, an increase in the starling population would mean more competition for the already limited number of cavities, which could also reduce songbird populations. Therefore, a decrease in woodpecker populations or increase in starling populations both have the potential to harm songbirds.

Question 6

Examine the figure below, which shows a housing development. 
In what way(s) does this use of the land differ from the forest present prior to the construction of the development?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Examine the figure below, which shows a...

Question 7

Although maintaining biodiversity faces many challenges, at this present time the most serious threat comes from

Accepted Answer

The loss of habitat is currently the most serious threat to maintaining biodiversity. As human population growth and development continue to encroach on natural habitats, many species are losing their homes and struggling to survive. This loss of habitat can lead to a domino effect on entire ecosystems, as different species rely on each other for food, shelter, and other resources. Without healthy habitats, biodiversity will continue to decline. While competition from invasive species, air and water pollution, and commercial overharvesting are also serious threats, the loss of habitat is the most pressing concern at present.

Question 8

Abandoned turtle nest cavities are often used as nesting sites for species unable to dig their own cavities. If turtles are driven to extinction, which of the following is the most likely effect on these other species?

Accepted Answer

Species that depend on abandoned turtle nest cavities for nesting would have fewer available nesting sites, which would likely lead to a decline in their populations and less successful reproduction. While some species may adapt over time, the immediate impact of turtle extinction would likely have negative consequences for these dependent species. Option A is unlikely as different species have different ecological and physiological requirements, so it is not necessarily feasible for other species to simply adopt the turtle lifestyle. Option B is possible over the long term but is unlikely to occur immediately. Option D is also possible over the long term, but it is important to note that evolution is a slow process and not all species are capable of evolving new adaptations quickly enough to deal with the loss of a critical resource like nesting sites.

Question 9

The earth's average temperature appears to be slowly increasing, and heralds a new era in environmental challenges for numerous species. Most evidence supports the hypothesis that climatic change is the result of

Accepted Answer

Most evidence supports the hypothesis that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, are modifying the atmosphere and resulting in climatic change, including an increase in the average global temperature.

Question 10

The canopy of the rainforest is the habitat located at the tops of the trees. One of the most amazing discoveries about canopy biodiversity was that

Accepted Answer

The discovery that each tree has numerous species that appear to be unique to that tree only is the most amazing and significant discovery about canopy biodiversity. This indicates that the canopy is incredibly diverse and full of unique microhabitats, which makes it even more important to protect and conserve this critical ecosystem. The other options are either not entirely accurate (A) or not as significant as the discovery of unique tree-specific species (B and C).

Question 11

In the photo below, the person is crushing aluminum cans. 
What best explains the benefit of the action depicted?

Accepted Answer

Crushing aluminum cans is a step in the process of aluminum recycling. By recycling aluminum, the need for mining aluminum ore is reduced, which can prevent environmental damage. Additionally, recycling saves energy that would be needed to ship and process the ore, further reducing environmental impact.

Question 12

The figure below shows various groups drawn in sizes proportional to their contribution to known biodiversity. 
If the current extinction crisis continues, in future versions of the diagram, _______ will most likely be _______.

Accepted Answer

Terrestrial vertebrates are currently a large group in terms of biodiversity, but they are also one of the most threatened by extinction due to human activities such as habitat destruction and climate change. Therefore, if the extinction crisis continues, it is likely that their contribution to biodiversity will decrease, and they will be drawn to smaller scales in future versions of the diagram.

Question 13

Although humans appear to be responsible for the current extinction crisis, scientists are confident that human did not contribute to any previous extinction event because

Accepted Answer

Humans did not exist during previous extinction events, so it is not possible for them to have contributed to those events.

Question 14

Nonnative organisms can be serious threats to native species when they

Accepted Answer

Nonnative organisms can outcompete native species for critical resources like nesting sites, food, and habitat. This can lead to the displacement or even extinction of native species. Nonnative organisms often lack natural predators or parasites in their new environment, allowing them to thrive and disrupt the ecological balance of the ecosystem. The other choices do not accurately reflect the potential threats posed by nonnative organisms to native species.

Question 15

Past extinctions often removed the most dominant species, so the eventual extinction of humans is not inconceivable. What action would have the highest probability of forestalling our own extinction?

Accepted Answer

Encouraging responsible and sustainable lifestyles is the best choice to forestall human extinction because it addresses the root cause of many environmental issues that threaten our survival. By maintaining the earth's natural biodiversity, we can prevent the loss of key species that are necessary for our own survival. While the other options may also be important, they are less practical or applicable in the short term.

Question 16

As humans, our primary concern(s) with the present mass extinction should be that

Accepted Answer

All of the given choices are valid concerns regarding the present mass extinction. Option A highlights the fact that human activities are primarily responsible for the elevated rates of extinction, and some measures can be taken to reduce our impact on the environment. Option B is concerned with the potential loss of biodiversity and the impacts it may have on scientific discoveries or the development of new technologies. Option C highlights the fact that many environmental ecosystems we depend upon for our survival (e.g., pollination, water purification, etc.) may disappear if biodiversity continues to decline.

Question 17

How can the significance of human involvement be assessed in this current mass extinction event?

Accepted Answer

By examining extinction patterns in areas with varying levels of human impact, scientists can assess the significance of human involvement in the current mass extinction event. This allows for an objective analysis of the impact human activities have had on biodiversity.

Question 18

Anthropologists note that the arrival of humans almost always corresponds to the disappearance of large carnivorous animal species. What type of problem would the loss of these animals cause?

Accepted Answer

The disappearance of large carnivorous animal species can cause overpopulation of herbivorous prey species, which can lead to overgrazing, deforestation, and other environmental impacts. This can create a domino effect on the entire ecosystem.

Question 19

Maintaining biodiversity is critically important because when biodiversity declines,

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity is directly related to ecosystem productivity. As biodiversity declines, the productivity of the ecosystem also declines. This can have serious consequences for the species relying on the ecosystem.

Answer: B
 Invasive species are able to thrive in ecosystems that have low biodiversity. As a result, maintaining biodiversity can help prevent invasive species from establishing populations and potentially disrupting the balance of an ecosystem.

Answer: C
 There is evidence to suggest that loss of biodiversity can lead to the collapse of human civilizations. This is because biodiversity loss can lead to an erosion of ecosystem services that are critical to human health and well-being, such as clean water, food, and air.

Answer: D
 This statement is not accurate. Naturally occurring nutrients do not accumulate to the point that they become polluting because ecosystems have mechanisms to recycle and regulate nutrients. However, a decline in biodiversity can disrupt these mechanisms and lead to nutrient imbalances that can negatively impact ecosystem health.

Question 20

The colonization of new areas by humans, both past and present, has several distinctive features; one of the most common is the

Accepted Answer

The disappearance of large animal species is a common feature of human colonization, as humans have historically hunted and/or competed with these animals for resources. This has been observed in many different areas where humans have colonized, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Quiz 39: Biodiversity and People

Prairies that have high biodiversity are

Studies have shown that when an ecosystem's biodiversity is high,

Where would you expect to find the largest number of different species?

For many, stinging insects such as honeybees are a nuisance. Why might it not be a good idea simply to poison all the honeybees and save people from the temporary pain of a sting or even an allergic reaction to such insects?

Examine the figure below, which shows a housing development. In what way(s) does this use of the land differ from the forest present prior to the construction of the development?

Although maintaining biodiversity faces many challenges, at this present time the most serious threat comes from

Abandoned turtle nest cavities are often used as nesting sites for species unable to dig their own cavities. If turtles are driven to extinction, which of the following is the most likely effect on these other species?

The earth's average temperature appears to be slowly increasing, and heralds a new era in environmental challenges for numerous species. Most evidence supports the hypothesis that climatic change is the result of

The canopy of the rainforest is the habitat located at the tops of the trees. One of the most amazing discoveries about canopy biodiversity was that

In the photo below, the person is crushing aluminum cans. What best explains the benefit of the action depicted?

The figure below shows various groups drawn in sizes proportional to their contribution to known biodiversity. If the current extinction crisis continues, in future versions of the diagram, _ will most likely be _.

Although humans appear to be responsible for the current extinction crisis, scientists are confident that human did not contribute to any previous extinction event because

Nonnative organisms can be serious threats to native species when they

Past extinctions often removed the most dominant species, so the eventual extinction of humans is not inconceivable. What action would have the highest probability of forestalling our own extinction?

As humans, our primary concern(s) with the present mass extinction should be that

How can the significance of human involvement be assessed in this current mass extinction event?

Anthropologists note that the arrival of humans almost always corresponds to the disappearance of large carnivorous animal species. What type of problem would the loss of these animals cause?

Maintaining biodiversity is critically important because when biodiversity declines,

The colonization of new areas by humans, both past and present, has several distinctive features; one of the most common is the

Quiz 39: Biodiversity and People

Prairies that have high biodiversity are

Studies have shown that when an ecosystem's biodiversity is high,

Where would you expect to find the largest number of different species?

For many, stinging insects such as honeybees are a nuisance. Why might it not be a good idea simply to poison all the honeybees and save people from the temporary pain of a sting or even an allergic reaction to such insects?

Examine the figure below, which shows a housing development. In what way(s) does this use of the land differ from the forest present prior to the construction of the development?

Although maintaining biodiversity faces many challenges, at this present time the most serious threat comes from

Abandoned turtle nest cavities are often used as nesting sites for species unable to dig their own cavities. If turtles are driven to extinction, which of the following is the most likely effect on these other species?

The earth's average temperature appears to be slowly increasing, and heralds a new era in environmental challenges for numerous species. Most evidence supports the hypothesis that climatic change is the result of

The canopy of the rainforest is the habitat located at the tops of the trees. One of the most amazing discoveries about canopy biodiversity was that

In the photo below, the person is crushing aluminum cans. What best explains the benefit of the action depicted?

The figure below shows various groups drawn in sizes proportional to their contribution to known biodiversity. If the current extinction crisis continues, in future versions of the diagram, _______ will most likely be _______.

Although humans appear to be responsible for the current extinction crisis, scientists are confident that human did not contribute to any previous extinction event because

Nonnative organisms can be serious threats to native species when they

Past extinctions often removed the most dominant species, so the eventual extinction of humans is not inconceivable. What action would have the highest probability of forestalling our own extinction?

As humans, our primary concern(s) with the present mass extinction should be that

How can the significance of human involvement be assessed in this current mass extinction event?

Anthropologists note that the arrival of humans almost always corresponds to the disappearance of large carnivorous animal species. What type of problem would the loss of these animals cause?

Maintaining biodiversity is critically important because when biodiversity declines,

The colonization of new areas by humans, both past and present, has several distinctive features; one of the most common is the

The figure below shows various groups drawn in sizes proportional to their contribution to known biodiversity. If the current extinction crisis continues, in future versions of the diagram, _ will most likely be _.