Question 1

Define extinction and give the possible causes of mass extinction. What single human activity increases the susceptibility of a given species to extinction. Why?

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Discuss why endemic species living on islands are particularly vulnerable to extinction. Then discuss two additional characteristics that make a given species particularly susceptible to extinction. Provide a specific example for each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss why endemic species living on islands...

Question 3

One problem with protecting vulnerable habitat areas as a means of conserving species richness is:
A) that there are so few of these areas, less than 500 worldwide.
B) that multiple uses of the area sometimes conflict with the goal of preserving species.
C) that there is enough money, but not enough expertise to manage them effectively.
D) that too much of the protection is located in tropical rain forests and not enough is in remote mountain areas.
E) that too often the protected areas are in highly populated areas.

Accepted Answer

Protecting vulnerable habitat areas can sometimes conflict with other human activities like logging, agriculture, and tourism, making it difficult to fully preserve species richness.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a disadvantage associated with seed banks?
A) the seeds of some types of plants do not tolerate being dried out
B) embryo transfer is ineffective in plants because it has a very low success rate
C) stored seeds do not evolve in response to changes in their natural environment
D) seeds do not remain viable indefinitely and must be periodically germinated
E) accidents, such as fires and power failures, can destroy the seeds

Accepted Answer

Embryo transfer is a technique used in animals, not plants. Therefore, it is not a disadvantage associated with seed banks.

Question 5

Which of the following medicinal plants is correctly matched with its benefit to humans?
A) Horehound: AIDS treatment
B) Periwinkle: Cancer therapy
C) Quinoa: Antiviral drug
D) Winged beans: Diabetes treatment
E) Cherry: Birth-control potential

Accepted Answer

Periwinkle contains compounds that are used in cancer therapy, particularly in the treatment of leukemia. The alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine, derived from periwinkle, are very effective at blocking cell division, making them particularly useful in cancer treatment. The other options are incorrect as horehound is used to treat cold and cough, quinoa is used as a superfood and is not used to make antiviral drug, winged beans may help in diabetes management but not a treatment and cherries don't have birth-control potential.

Question 6

Discuss the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.) In your discussion identify those aspects of the law that have been effective and those that are controversial. Should the ESA be modified? If so, how and why, and if not, why not? Justify your position.

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Identify and explain the significance of the various components of biological diversity. Supply one specific example of each type of diversity in your explanation.

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?
A) Genetic variation increases a species' resistance to disease.
B) Pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and parasites have been implicated in the developmental abnormalities observed in amphibians.
C) The present extinction rate is 10,000 times the background rate.
D) Commercial extinction is permanent
E) Genetic diversity is important for agriculture

Accepted Answer

Commercial extinction refers to a situation where a species becomes so rare that it is no longer economically viable to harvest it, but it does not mean the species is biologically extinct. Therefore, it is not necessarily permanent, as populations can potentially recover if given appropriate protection and time to do so.

Question 9

A component of in situ conservation that uses the principles of ecology to help return a degraded environment to a more functional and sustainable one is:
A) establishment of seed banks
B) artificial insemination and embryo transfer
C) restoration ecology
D) habitat fragmentation
E) creation of wildlife corridors

Accepted Answer

Restoration ecology involves restoring degraded ecosystems back to a more functional and sustainable state through practices such as reforestation, wetland restoration, and prescribed burning. This approach involves understanding the ecology of the habitat and working towards ecosystem function by reintroducing native species and addressing the factors that led to the habitat degradation. Establishing seed banks, artificial insemination, and creation of wildlife corridors are all important conservation practices but do not necessarily involve ecological restoration of degraded environments. Habitat fragmentation may actually exacerbate habitat degradation and loss of biodiversity.

Question 10

All of the following are ecological benefits of habitat corridors EXCEPT:
A) facilitating exchange of genetic material among populations
B) increasing the probability that suitable habitat will be recolonized after a local population goes extinct
C) preventing the spread of disease among populations
D) providing access to more food resources
E) reducing encounters with humans

Accepted Answer

Habitat corridors primarily facilitate movement and genetic exchange among wildlife populations, increase recolonization chances, and expand access to resources. However, they can inadvertently facilitate the spread of diseases by connecting populations that were previously isolated.

Question 11

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?
A) Capture-release programs have been very successful in saving many endangered species from extinction.
B) We now have the ability to make genes.
C) The 20 best-selling prescription drugs are all synthetic.
D) There are less than 100 species that are endangered or threatened in the United States.
E) Very few species have been evaluated for their economic (i.e., medical, agricultural, industrial) potential.

Accepted Answer

Many species have not been evaluated for their potential economic benefits, leaving a vast number of species with unknown potential in various fields.

Question 12

Which of the following is a disadvantage of restoration ecology?
A) high cost
B) long time periods required for restoration to occur
C) lack of positive results in habitats such as Tallgrass Prairie
D) Both high cost and the long time periods required for restoration to occur are disadvantages
E) all of these choices are correct

Accepted Answer

Restoration ecology can be costly and can take many years for noticeable results to occur. Both of these factors can make restoration projects challenging and difficult to execute. While some restoration projects may not have positive results, this is not a universal disadvantage of restoration ecology.

Question 13

One of the controversies associated with the Endangered Species Act is that it:
A) has generated too many unresolved cases with developers, over 1000 to date.
B) allows for no compromises between species protection and development or livelihood concerns.
C) only enhances economic development in specific regions of the country.
D) provides too much consideration of individual property rights.
E) focuses on saving a few popular species rather than the larger number of less glamorous species.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the controversies associated with the...

Question 14

What is the goal of conservation biology? What are in situ and ex situ conservation practices, and how are they used to meet the goal of conservation biology? What gets in the way of each of these conservation practices being effective and highly successful?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the goal of conservation biology?...

Question 15

Which of the following represents an unsuccessful captive-breeding and reintroduction program?
A) Guam rails
B) black-footed ferrets
C) thick-billed parrots
D) golden toads
E) whooping cranes

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following represents an unsuccessful...

Question 16

Amphibians merit attention because of precipitous declines in their populations occurring around the world.
a) Discuss possible causes for the current status of current amphibian populations.
b) What characteristics of amphibians (frogs) make them particularly important bellwether species?
c) What environmental issues need to be addressed as signaled by the amphibians?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Amphibians merit attention because of precipitous declines...

Question 17

What is biotic pollution? Why is it a problem? Discuss one specific example of this type of pollution.

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

Compare and contrast the designations of threatened, endangered, and extinct species. Describe three human causes of species endangerment and/or extinction and explain which is the most threatening.

Accepted Answer

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Question 19

Which of the following is a shortcoming of many of the world's protected areas?
A) They are easily accessible to humans.
B) They encompass one large area, rather than several small areas
C) They are in lightly populated areas.
D) They are located too close to other protected areas.
E) They are often created to protect specific species

Accepted Answer

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Question 20

Compare and contrast at least three goals, strategies, or focus used in wildlife management as compared to conservation biology.

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 16: Biological Resources

Define extinction and give the possible causes of mass extinction. What single human activity increases the susceptibility of a given species to extinction. Why?

Discuss why endemic species living on islands are particularly vulnerable to extinction. Then discuss two additional characteristics that make a given species particularly susceptible to extinction. Provide a specific example for each.

One problem with protecting vulnerable habitat areas as a means of conserving species richness is:

Which of the following is not a disadvantage associated with seed banks?

Which of the following medicinal plants is correctly matched with its benefit to humans?

Discuss the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.) In your discussion identify those aspects of the law that have been effective and those that are controversial. Should the ESA be modified? If so, how and why, and if not, why not? Justify your position.

Identify and explain the significance of the various components of biological diversity. Supply one specific example of each type of diversity in your explanation.

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

A component of in situ conservation that uses the principles of ecology to help return a degraded environment to a more functional and sustainable one is:

All of the following are ecological benefits of habitat corridors EXCEPT:

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

Which of the following is a disadvantage of restoration ecology?

One of the controversies associated with the Endangered Species Act is that it:

What is the goal of conservation biology? What are in situ and ex situ conservation practices, and how are they used to meet the goal of conservation biology? What gets in the way of each of these conservation practices being effective and highly successful?

Which of the following represents an unsuccessful captive-breeding and reintroduction program?

What is biotic pollution? Why is it a problem? Discuss one specific example of this type of pollution.

Compare and contrast the designations of threatened, endangered, and extinct species. Describe three human causes of species endangerment and/or extinction and explain which is the most threatening.

Which of the following is a shortcoming of many of the world's protected areas?

Compare and contrast at least three goals, strategies, or focus used in wildlife management as compared to conservation biology.