Deck 7: The Use and Restoration of Ecosystems

Question 1

In general,most ecosystems in the world have

A)remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.
B)been impacted by human activities.
C)experienced increased ecosystem capital because of human activities.
D)already been significantly harmed by global climate change.

Answer 1

been impacted by human activities.

Question 2

The concept of ecosystem capital is most likely appreciated by

A)a shrimp farmer in Thailand.
B)a lumber company in Canada.
C)a marine biologist in Florida.
D)owners of a banana farm in Brazil.

Answer 2

a marine biologist in Florida.

Question 3

The phrase "ecosystem capital" is better than the phrase "natural resources" because ecosystem capital

A)includes both the ecological and economic value of natural ecosystems.
B)includes only the economic value of an ecosystem's goods and services.
C)includes only the ecological value of natural ecosystems.
D)includes neither the economic nor the ecological value of an ecosystem's goods and services.

Answer 3

includes both the ecological and economic value of natural ecosystems.

Question 4

Humans often manipulate the environment in ways that decrease the overall ecosystem capital because

A)short-term gains are often local,while long-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced regionally.
B)short-term gains are often regional,while long-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced locally.
C)long-term gains are often local,while short-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced regionally.
D)long-term gains are often regional,while short-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced locally.

Question 5

Many ecosystems are damaged by attempts to make a quick profit because

A)natural services are valued more than natural goods.
B)ecosystem services require sustained human development.
C)the value of ecosystem services is underappreciated.
D)the prices of most natural goods continue to fall.

Question 6

Sustainable exploitation of natural ecosystems will most likely

A)increase the ecosystem capital of the ecosystem.
B)decrease the ecosystem capital of the ecosystem.
C)maintain the ecosystem capital of the ecosystem.
D)convert the natural resources into ecosystem capital.

Question 7

The value of programs such as the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)lies in

A)their ability to raise funds for coral reef research.
B)their involvement of citizens in the collection of data and the removal of invasive species from coral reefs.
C)their use of untrained volunteers to replace qualified scientists in marine biology.
D)the increase in commercial fishing yields in the Caribbean.

Question 8

The Thailand shrimp farm in this photo was built in a mangrove wetland.Overall,the ecosystem capital in this particular region has

A)increased because of the investment in this shrimp industry.
B)increased because the shrimp farm decreases the need to harvest wild populations of shrimp.
C)decreased because the value of the shrimp farm is less than 10% of the value of services provided by the intact mangrove wetland.
D)decreased because on average,the shrimp farm only provides more valuable services than the original wetland for 50 years.

Question 9

In general,humans can harvest renewable resources of plants and animals at sustainable levels because

A)ecosystems continue to change with new species replacing those that have been harvested.
B)new species are always evolving to take the place of those that are harvested.
C)organisms naturally produce many more offspring than are needed to maintain their populations.
D)people naturally harvest organisms only after they have had a chance to reproduce.

Question 10

The pervasive alteration of global ecosystems is mainly the result of

A)global climate change.
B)increased frequency of wildfires in the past 500 years.
C)human activities.
D)the movement of continents by plate tectonics.

Question 11

The lionfish is

A)an introduced invasive species that is causing declines in native Caribbean reef fish.
B)an invasive species in the Caribbean but is controlled by local predators.
C)threatened in many parts of its range but is recovering thanks to the REEF program.
D)valued by local Caribbean communities because of its value as food.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of natural goods from an ecosystem?

A)pollination
B)ocean fish netted for food
C)control of pest populations
D)carbon sequestration

Question 13

A shrimp farm in Thailand results in

A)the short-term loss of natural services.
B)the local loss of natural services.
C)long term gains by a regional shrimp farmer.
D)specific gains to the shrimp farmer.

Question 14

In general,coral reef ecosystems globally

A)provide very little ecosystem capital.
B)are in critical condition in the Caribbean,but healthy elsewhere.
C)are recovering quickly from human-caused damage because corals grow quickly.
D)are sensitive to pollution,physical breakage and invasive species.

Question 15

Which of the following human activities have resulted in the conversion of nearly 50% of the Earth's land surface?

A)construction of roads and bridges
B)construction of all homes and buildings
C)production of crop and animal products
D)construction and operation of mines

Question 16

Maintaining sustainable human exploitation of ecosystem capital will be increasingly difficult because of

A)overreliance on grains and other plants as a significant portion of the human diet.
B)expanding number of viral and bacterial human diseases.
C)growing pressure from human population on Earth.
D)changing temperature and rainfall patterns

Question 17

The ability of an ecosystem to replenish itself leads to

A)sustainability.
B)decreasing consumptive use.
C)the conversion of ecosystem capital from one form to another.
D)increasing natural resources but declining ecosystem capital.

Question 18

Regulating and cultural services provided by natural ecosystems

A)typically have the highest economic value of any components of ecosystems.
B)are public goods usually provided by markets.
C)include goods such as fresh water,wild foods,and livestock.
D)are essential but difficult to value in monetary terms.

Question 19

At the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana,the loss of coastal wetlands due to human activities contributed to the extent of storm damage caused by recent severe hurricanes.This loss of coastal wetlands therefore represents a

A)loss of natural goods.
B)loss of natural services.
C)long-term regional benefit to humans.
D)long-term economic benefit to humans.

Question 20

The main categories of biomes are based on differences in

A)climatic conditions.
B)the ratio of plants to animals in the biome.
C)the particular continent on which they are found.
D)the density of the plants in the biome.

Question 21

In general,the optimal population for harvesting

A)the maximum sustainable yield is at about half of the carrying capacity of the population.
B)the maximum sustainable yield is at about 90% of the carrying capacity of the population.
C)a plant population is quite different from the optimal population for harvesting animals.
D)any organism is independent of the carrying capacity of the environment.

Question 22

This photograph illustrates

A)the consumptive use of a natural resource.
B)the productive use of a natural resource.
C)the maximum sustainable yield of a resource.
D)the carrying capacity of a population.

Question 23

The maximum sustainable yield for most populations must be recalculated every year because

A)commercial demand for the product is variable.
B)the cost of producing products depends upon varying costs of labor.
C)changing environmental conditions produce variations in carrying capacity.
D)carrying capacities show large fluctuations even in stable environments of the environment is stable.

Question 24

The total allowable catch of a marine fish used for human food would be determined by calculating the

A)maximum sustainable yield.
B)minimum sustainable yield.
C)maximum consumptive use.
D)carrying capacity of all species in the environment.

Question 25

In general,as income levels rise,dependence on wild income

A)increases and consumptive use increases.
B)increases but consumptive use decreases.
C)deceases but consumptive use increases.
D)deceases and consumptive use decreases.

Question 26

Because of a growing population of people and increased interests in fishing,a lake in Florida is experiencing increased harvests of the bass population.To better manage the bass population,ensure sustainability,and continue to draw tourists to this popular lake,the state government determines that all fishing in the lake should be stopped for 5 years.Using lessons from the study of the Santa Cruz River in Arizona ,the approach to this Florida lake problem would be better if the

A)local people were involved in determining how best to manage the fishing in this lake.
B)federal government banned fishing every other year for the next 20 years.
C)decisions about the management of this ecosystem were left up to the tourist industry.
D)population of fish was instead managed to keep the bass population near carrying capacity.

Question 27

In the state of Arizona,the use of groundwater has been aggressively managed since about 1980.Before that time,agricultural,commercial,and private demands for water were growing at levels that were not sustainable.Before water regulation of any sort,demand for water in all its forms in the state of Arizona illustrated the

A)tragedy of the commons.
B)use of a nonrenewable resource.
C)need for the preservation but not conservation of a resource.
D)need for agreements such as CITES.

Question 28

The Santa Cruz River in Arizona has suffered from depletion from irrigation withdrawal for decades,and now natural and social scientists are asking stakeholders to

A)observe a ten year moratorium on irrigation.
B)help develop a user policy by identifying the river's services of major economic importance.
C)bid at auction for the right to use the river for irrigation.
D)take as much water as they can before the river runs completely dry.

Question 29

Which type of tenure is most likely associated with fishing in the open ocean?

A)private ownership
B)open access
C)communal ownership
D)state ownership

Question 30

This photograph illustrates

A)the consumptive use of a natural resource.
B)the productive use of a natural resource.
C)the maximum sustainable yield of a resource.
D)the carrying capacity of a population.

Question 31

Which one of the following best illustrates consumptive use of a resource?

A)A farmer raises 1,000 acres of soybeans in Illinois.
B)A fishing vessel hauls in 100 tons of tuna for sale on the open market.
C)A farmer in Indiana shoots a wild turkey for his Thanksgiving dinner.
D)A shrimp farm in Thailand raises shrimp to sell in China.

Question 32

The application of the precautionary principle to a commercial fishery whose primary catch species is in decline would result in

A)many years in which no fish are harvested at all.
B)an optimal population size that is just about the maximum sustainable yield.
C)a total allowable catch above the best estimate of the maximum sustainable yield.
D)a total allowable catch below the best estimate of the maximum sustainable yield.

Question 33

The Nature Conservancy is a private organization devoted to worldwide conservation efforts.About 10 years ago,the Nature Conservancy purchased about 7,000 acres of land along the Illinois River in central Illinois known as Emiquon.Since then,the Nature Conservancy has worked to convert the corn and soybean fields in Emiquon to their historical condition as prairies,wetlands,and bottomland forests.
Compared to Emiquon,the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

A)suffers from a lack of funding.
B)is a much smaller region to manage.
C)was a much faster project,completed in just over 4 years.
D)does not involve the management of wetlands.

Question 34

Individual restraints when using common-pool resources are necessary to prevent

A)increases in the maximum sustainable yield.
B)the tragedy of the commons.
C)a shift from productive to consumptive use of resources.
D)shifts in the carrying capacity of natural populations.

Question 35

Considerable efforts have been underway to save the California condor from extinction.This effort is an example of

A)asset management.
B)a renewable resource.
C)preservation.
D)conservation.

Question 36

The harvest of organisms is more likely to be sustainable if organisms are captured

A)before they have had a chance to reproduce.
B)while they are still in the egg or seed stages.
C)after they have had a chance to reproduce.
D)during the first year of their life.

Question 37

The discovery that the threatened Brazilian mariqui monkey requires secondary rather than primary rainforest for habitat has

A)shown that preservation (monkeys)and conservation (forest)strategies can work together.
B)given farmers the green light to convert all local primary forests for agricultural use.
C)given rise to a policy of prohibiting human intrusion into both primary and secondary forest.
D)resulted in the withdrawal of protective policies for both monkeys and primary forests.

Question 38

Which one of the following best represents the productive use of a natural resource?

A)A man in Colorado burns wood from his property as a source of heat for his home.
B)A family on vacation catches trout,which they will enjoy for dinner that evening.
C)A woman gathers mushrooms from a forest to sell in the local produce market.
D)Deep in the Congo,a man kills a bush pig to feed his family for the next week.

Question 39

When completed,the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan will

A)restore much of the region to sugar cane production.
B)redirect much of the water flow southward.
C)increase the amount of water available for crop irrigation.
D)increase the flow of water through the Everglades in the summer.

Question 40

The Nature Conservancy is a private organization devoted to worldwide conservation efforts.About 10 years ago,the Nature Conservancy purchased about 7,000 acres of land along the Illinois River in central Illinois known as Emiquon.Since then,the Nature Conservancy has worked to convert the corn and soybean fields in Emiquon to their historical condition as prairies,wetlands,and bottomland forests.
The Emiquon and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan have both relied heavily on the principles of

A)productive use management.
B)maximum sustainable yield.
C)restoration ecology.
D)optimal population management.

Question 41

Which of the following types of forest management is closest to sustainable forestry principles?

A)shelter-wood cutting and selective cutting
B)selective cutting and clear-cutting
C)clear-cutting and shelter-wood cutting
D)clear-cutting followed by burning the cut areas

Question 42

The greatest human impacts on ocean ecosystems are concentrated

A)in the northern hemisphere.
B)around Australia.
C)around South America.
D)in the eastern Pacific.

Question 43

In preparation for the construction of a new,large subdivision,over 500 acres of hilly forest are cleared.In this cleared region,we will expect that

A)more species of birds and insects will inhabit the region.
B)a drainage system will be built to limit erosion.
C)the overall productivity of the region will increase.
D)the levels of carbon dioxide in the air will decline.

Question 44

The greatest potential for sustainable growth in fisheries is in

A)the major rivers of the world.
B)aquaculture.
C)freshwater capture fisheries.
D)saltwater capture fisheries.

Question 45

The most promising solution to the global problem of depleted cod populations is to

A)raise baby cod in commercial hatcheries and release them into the ocean.
B)encourage people across the world to eat other fish species.
C)apply the principles used in the management of Pacific halibut.
D)encourage better methods for catching cod that are otherwise not harvested.

Question 46

The map in this figure represents the location of the world's major

A)prairie/grassland biomes.
B)forest biomes.
C)biomes severely impacted by drought.
D)desert biomes.

Question 47

Which one of the following statements is true?

A)Forest ecosystems contain about half as much carbon as is contained in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
B)Most deforestation occurs in North America and Europe.
C)Forests cover about 10% of the total land area of Earth.
D)Globally,the amount of forests protected as reserves or parks is on the increase.

Question 48

The most productive systems on land are

A)natural prairies.
B)grasslands.
C)forests.
D)tundra.

Question 49

Which of the following industries is most responsible for deforestation in the world?

A)farming
B)housing construction
C)the lumber mills and wood pulp manufacturing
D)hydroelectric plants

Question 50

The most sustainable worldwide expansion of aquaculture is the production of

A)herbivorous species in the open-ocean.
B)carnivorous species in mangrove swamps.
C)herbivorous species in estuarine waters.
D)carnivorous species in lakes and rivers.

Question 51

Even-aged and uneven-aged management are used in

A)the lobster industry.
B)silviculture.
C)fishing industries.
D)habitat restoration.

Question 52

The growth of the global fish harvest in the last 20 years has mostly been due to increases in

A)aquaculture.
B)the major rivers of the world.
C)freshwater capture fisheries.
D)saltwater capture fisheries.

Question 53

Efforts to limit global deforestation should be concentrated

A)in the northern hemisphere.
B)in the developing regions of the world.
C)wherever there is the greatest concentration of people.
D)in regions with the highest production of agricultural crops.

Question 54

Cod landings from the Georges Bank of North America

A)have now bounced back to levels higher than 40 years ago.
B)are about 50% of what they were 40 years ago.
C)reveal the healthy sustainability of a well-managed fishery.
D)are seriously depleted and need sustainable management practices.

Question 55

What global event happened about 35 years ago that helped some fishing areas recover?

A)All commercial fishing was limited to hand lines instead of nets.
B)Nations extended their jurisdiction from 12 to 200 miles offshore.
C)The size of the vessels used for commercial fishing was restricted to 200 tons.
D)International agreements limited the size of fish that could be kept and sold.

Question 56

Compared to forests using sustainable forest management,commercial forests managed for maximum sustainable yield of commercially valuable species will

A)support more biological diversity.
B)be more resistant to pests.
C)produce a greater variety of wood.
D)have greater erosion problems.

Question 57

Feeling a strong sense of environmental responsibility,you decide to do your part to decrease the global loss of rain forests.Which of the following activities helps you contribute to rain forest conservation?

A)eating more beef from Brazil
B)purchasing village-managed shade-grown cacao from South America
C)promoting the purchase of wood products from South America
D)avoiding the purchase of all nuts and fruits harvested from forests in Brazil

Question 58

Which of the following lumber harvesting strategies will most likely produce erosion problems?

A)clear-cutting
B)selective cutting
C)shelter-wood cutting
D)sustainable forest management

Question 59

Compared to near-shore aquaculture,open ocean aquaculture

A)is more polluted.
B)has higher concentrations of pathogens.
C)is restricted to carnivorous species.
D)has less competition from other activities.

Question 60

The last 50 years of declining productivity of the commercial fish populations off the northeast coast of North America reveal the impact of

A)air pollution on fish populations.
B)water pollution on fish populations.
C)global climate change on fish populations.
D)overfishing.

Question 61

In addition to global climate change,humans are negatively impacting coral reefs by

A)destructive harvesting of fish for food or pets.
B)using large amounts of coral rock to pave roads.
C)destroying large regions of coral reefs for commercial aquaculture.
D)introducing alien species that are thought to be more productive.

Question 62

A growing cooperative approach to manage larger ecosystems is building on the combined efforts of

A)national,state,and local government agencies.
B)government agencies,environmental groups,and private individuals.
C)men,women,and children.
D)governments and private businesses.

Question 63

The reauthorization of the Magnuson Act now

A)requires an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.
B)limits catches of all commercial species to below maximum sustainable yield.
C)decreases the role of the Scientific and Statistical Committee,shifting data collection to the local fisherman.
D)encourages the collection of bycatch as a new source of revenue.

Question 64

You want to have the best outdoor experience possible,experiencing life in the least disturbed ecosystems in the United States.The best place to visit would be a

A)state park.
B)wilderness area.
C)military property.
D)wildlife refuge.

Question 65

Over the last 90 years in the United States,

A)the total area of forests has been reduced by about 90%.
B)the total area of forests has increased in size.
C)most national forests have been clear-cut and converted to agriculture
D)most national forests have been replaced by commercial development.

Question 66

The light color of the dying coral in this photo is most likely the result of

A)increased levels of sunlight.
B)increased ocean temperatures.
C)increased pH of the ocean.
D)shifts in ocean currents.

Question 67

The National Park Service struggles to maintain a balance between

A)hunting in national parks and ecotourism.
B)mining and logging in national parks and protection of the unique ecosystems.
C)protecting unique ecosystems and permitting public access.
D)hunting and the development of resorts in national parks.

Question 68

The International Whaling Commission moratorium on whale hunting has been in effect since 1986 primarily because

A)enforcing and monitoring hunting in open oceans is very difficult.
B)virtually all species of whales are classified as endangered species.
C)of a worldwide recognition of the tourism value of whales.
D)of viral infections that make all whale meat unsuitable for human consumption.

Question 69

The diversity and productivity or coral reefs is most similar to that of

A)desert environments.
B)a natural prairie.
C)tropical rain forests.
D)a river system.

Question 70

The fishing method in this figure

A)is an effective way to prevent overharvesting of commercial species.
B)reveals a design that is intended to limit bycatch.
C)results in environmental degradation similar to clear-cutting a forest.
D)assures below TAC levels in compliance with the Magnuson Act.

Question 71

Despite a worldwide moratorium on whale hunting by the International Whaling Commission,

A)Norway,Japan,and Iceland have continued to hunt whales.
B)most nations of the world now permit the hunting of whales.
C)whale meat is now more popular than ever in Japan and China.
D)the impact of whales on commercial wild fish populations requires whale hunting worldwide.

Question 72

We can expect that as mangroves continue to be destroyed worldwide,

A)coastal erosion will increase.
B)fish populations around the world will increase.
C)the pH of the oceans will increase.
D)the aquaculture of prawns will decrease.

Question 73

The value of many natural ecosystem services is most apparent as

A)we appreciate the damages and economic loss that result from the disruption of these ecosystems.
B)new technologies allow us to more fully exploit the natural capital of these ecosystems.
C)research into alternate energy resources continues.
D)new species are discovered and described by scientists.

Question 74

Marine protected areas are

A)the primary regions of commercial aquaculture.
B)successful and have proven vital to the recovery of many overfished regions.
C)primarily breeding regions where whales and dolphins rear their young.
D)temporary zones that shelter feeding activities of marine organisms for part of a year.

Question 75

The most ecologically sustainable meat with the lowest environmental impact would be

A)open ocean aquaculture of salmon or shrimp.
B)harvesting wild populations of predatory species such as sharks.
C)open ocean aquaculture of fish or mollusks that feed on phytoplankton.
D)converting mangroves to aquaculture of fish or mollusks that feed on phytoplankton.

Question 76

Most coral reefs are located in shallow water that is no more than 75 meters deep because below this depth,

A)water temperatures are too cold.
B)water currents are too fast.
C)sunlight levels are too low.
D)there is not enough oxygen.

Question 77

Global climate change threatens coral reefs by

A)decreasing the temperature and increasing the pH of the oceans.
B)decreasing both the temperature and the pH of the oceans.
C)increasing the temperature and decreasing the pH of the oceans.
D)increasing both the temperature and the pH of the oceans.

Question 78

Which of the following human activities is most negatively impacting biodiversity around the world?

A)the production of food: agriculture and fisheries
B)the harvesting of fossil fuels
C)the construction of roads in wilderness areas
D)recreational activities

Question 79

In general,whale watching

A)has provided scientific and conservation value for whales.
B)encourages the sale of whale meat and other whale-derived products.
C)has disrupted the natural social interactions of whales and contributed to their population decline.
D)has had little impact on our scientific understanding of the species because whales do not behave naturally when humans are around.

Question 80

Increases in ocean temperatures often result in coral bleaching,in which

A)the symbiotic relationship between corals and their algae is disrupted.
B)the calcium carbonate of corals is dissolved away,leaving just the soft animals behind.
C)the water becomes so cloudy that no light can reach the symbiotic algae in corals.
D)high levels of chlorine are released from the corals,killing the fish that swim by.