Question 1

The Endangered Species Act was designed to ____.

Accepted Answer

The Endangered Species Act was designed to identify and protect endangered species in the United States and abroad. It goes beyond just cataloging and protecting threatened species within the US and emphasizes the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Additionally, the act requires the development of recovery plans for listed species, but there is no emphasis on speed in the act's language.

Question 2

Establishing international treaties that ban the transfer of potentially harmful species from one country to another is a good way to control ____.

Accepted Answer

The transfer of potentially harmful species from one country to another contributes to the spread of invasive species, which can harm native ecosystems, disrupt food webs, and cause economic damage. Creating international treaties to ban the transfer of such species can help control their spread and prevent their introduction into new areas.

Question 3

HIPPCO is ____.

Accepted Answer

HIPPCO stands for Habitat Destruction, Invasive species, Pollution, Population, Climate Change, and Overexploitation. It summarizes the direct causes of extinction resulting from human activities.

Question 4

According to federal data, almost ____ of the ESA-protected species are recovering at the rate projected in their recovery plans.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to federal data, almost ____ of...

Question 5

Captive breeding programs in zoos ____.

Accepted Answer

Captive breeding programs require a sufficient population size, typically between 100 and 500 individuals, to maintain genetic diversity and reduce the risk of inbreeding.

Question 6

The Convention on Biological Diversity was ratified or accepted by 193 countries. Which country was NOT among those who ratified this treaty?

Accepted Answer

The United States is the only country among the options given that has not ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Question 7

Kudzu was deliberately introduced to the U.S. to help ____.

Accepted Answer

Kudzu was intentionally brought to the United States in the late 19th century to control soil erosion due to its ability to grow rapidly and cover large areas.

Question 8

The greatest threat to species habitat is ____.

Accepted Answer

Tropical deforestation is the greatest threat to species habitat as it leads to the destruction of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and displacement of animal populations. Climate change, pollution, desertification, and invasive species also pose significant threats, but deforestation has the largest impact on habitat loss.

Question 9

To help save kiwi, a type of flightless bird found only in New Zealand, scientists use a technique called egg pulling. This means that they ____.

Accepted Answer

Egg pulling involves collecting eggs from kiwi nests in the wild and hatching them in captivity to increase the chance that the baby kiwis will survive. This allows scientists to closely monitor and protect the eggs and chicks from predators and other threats. Once the chicks have matured, they can be released back into the wild to help boost the kiwi population.

Question 10

The "extinction capital" of the United States is ____.

Accepted Answer

Hawaii has been dubbed the "extinction capital" of the US, with 63% of its native species at risk of extinction. This is due to a combination of factors, including habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change. Other states and regions mentioned in the options also have high percentages of species at risk, but none as high as Hawaii's.

Question 11

With the absence of emergency action to curtail ____ and preserve tiger habitats, few if any tigers, including the Sumatran tiger, will be left in the wild by 2022.

Accepted Answer

The sentence mentions the need for emergency action to curtail and preserve tiger habitats, which indicates that the main threat to the tigers is human intervention. Poaching is the most direct and pressing danger to the survival of tigers, as their body parts are valued in some cultures for their supposed medicinal properties.

Question 12

What is the best way to reduce threats from invasive species?

Accepted Answer

Prevention is the best way to reduce threats from invasive species. Once an invasive species becomes established, it can be difficult, expensive, and ecologically damaging to eradicate. Therefore, preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species through measures such as quarantine, education, and regulation is the most effective approach to managing them. Pesticides and genetic engineering can have unintended environmental consequences and are not always effective in controlling invasive species. Technology and science can provide tools to aid in prevention and control, but they should be used in conjunction with other management strategies.

Question 13

The term "biomagnification" means that a chemical ____ at each trophic level in a food chain or web.

Accepted Answer

Biomagnification refers to the process by which certain chemicals (such as pesticides or heavy metals) become increasingly concentrated as they move up the trophic levels in a food chain or web. This is because each level consumes a larger amount of the chemical, and it becomes progressively more difficult to break down or excrete. Therefore, the correct answer is that the chemical becomes more concentrated.

Question 14

The decline in approximately 70% of the world's bird species is particularly alarming to scientists because ____ .

Accepted Answer

Birds are excellent environmental indicators because they are sensitive to changes in their habitat and food chain. The decline in their numbers can give scientists insight into overall environmental health and potential threats to human health as well.

Question 15

The greatest threat to most species is ____.

Accepted Answer

Loss of habitat is the biggest threat to most species as it disrupts their ecosystem and makes it impossible for them to survive. The destruction of habitats due to human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and land-use changes are major contributors to the decline of many species. Water pollution, parasites, sport hunting, and global drought conditions are also threats to some species, but loss of habitat affects a larger number of species.

Question 16

All of the statements below explain ways that scientists can learn about invasive species to better understand them, prevent their arrival in new areas, and control them once they have been established. Of the approaches listed, which is the most effective way that people attempt to prevent invasive species from being introduced and potentially becoming established?

Accepted Answer

Educating people about the risks of introducing invasive species is the most effective way to prevent their arrival and establishment in new areas. This can be accomplished through public outreach and educational campaigns, as well as regulations and enforcement of laws related to importing and releasing non-native species. Releasing natural predators, tracking existing populations, and using mathematical models can all be useful tools in controlling and managing invasive species, but prevention is the key to successful management.

Question 17

What is a threat to 60% of the U.S. wildlife refuges?

Accepted Answer

Mining, oil drilling, and use of off-road vehicles pose a significant threat to 60% of the U.S. wildlife refuges due to the degradation of habitat and disturbance caused by these activities. Invasive species, habitat fragmentation, ecotourism, hunting, and human population growth can also impact wildlife refuges, but they are not the primary threat to 60% of them.

Question 18

The zebra mussel was introduced into the Great Lakes, where it has outcompeted other species and done economic damage. What is the most important reason that the introduced zebra mussels were so successful?

Accepted Answer

Zebra mussels were able to exploit an ecological niche without their natural predators to control their numbers, giving them a competitive advantage over native species.

Question 19

Why has the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity been slow?

Accepted Answer

The United States, being one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases and having significant influence on global conservation efforts, is yet to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity. The lack of support from a key country like the US has slowed down implementation of the convention.

Question 20

The red fire ant is ____.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "accidentally introduced species" suggests that the red fire ant was not intentionally brought into a certain area, but rather arrived there by accident (such as through the transportation of goods or materials).

Quiz 8: Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Species