Question 1

There are many actions an individual can do take to help protect endangered and threatened species.Which of the following is least likely to be effective?

Accepted Answer

Spreading the word about the importance of protecting endangered and threatened species is important, but it is not as directly effective as the other actions listed, which involve taking specific actions to reduce demand for products made from endangered species and to protect their habitats.

Question 2

In the state of Hawaii,95% of endangered species are endangered because of invasive species.

Accepted Answer

According to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, 95% of Hawaii's endangered species are threatened by invasive species.

Question 3

After a mass extinction,the earth's overall biodiversity eventually returns to equal or higher levels.

Accepted Answer

This is true. While it may take millions of years for biodiversity to fully recover after a mass extinction, it has been shown that over time, the number and diversity of species on Earth can rebound and even surpass pre-extinction levels. This is known as the "re-diversification hypothesis."

Question 4

Biologists believe the Endangered Species Act has been successful,but critics say it is a failure.Which argument below supports the critics?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Biologists believe the Endangered Species Act has...

Question 5

The Convention on Biological Diversity,ratified by 191 countries,seeks to reverse the global decline of biodiversity and share the benefits from the use of genetic resources.What has slowed this progress?

Accepted Answer

The lack of ratification by the U.S. is a significant factor that has slowed the progress of the Convention on Biological Diversity, as the U.S. is a major economic and political power with significant influence on global environmental policy. Without the participation of the U.S., it is difficult to achieve the goals of the convention on a global scale. The other options, such as penalties, enforcement, and ecosystem vs. individual focus, are not major factors that have slowed progress. The consideration of indigenous peoples' traditions is actually a key element of the convention, as it promotes equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

Question 6

Captive breeding programs in zoos ____.

Accepted Answer

Captive breeding programs often aim to maintain a genetically viable population, which typically requires a population size between 100 and 500 individuals to ensure genetic diversity and reduce inbreeding.

Question 7

Many biologists consider the rapid loss of the earth's biodiversity to be the most serious and long-lasting environmental problem the world faces.

Accepted Answer

Many biologists indeed consider the rapid loss of biodiversity to be the most serious and long-lasting environmental problem facing the world. This loss of biodiversity is caused by various factors, such as habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overexploitation of natural resources, and introduction of invasive species. The loss of biodiversity can have severe ecological, social, and economic consequences, including the disruption of ecosystem functioning, the reduction of ecosystem services, and the decrease in human well-being. Therefore, the conservation and restoration of biodiversity are crucial for the sustainability of life on Earth.

Question 8

Worldwide,approximately 2,500 species are listed as endangered or threatened.

Accepted Answer

There are over 40,000 species listed as endangered or threatened worldwide according to the IUCN Red List, which is far more than 2,500.

Question 9

What group of animals receives the most protection by the use of wildlife refuges?

Accepted Answer

Migratory waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, receive the most protection through the use of wildlife refuges, as many of these birds are hunted for sport and need protected areas to breed and rest during their long migrations.

Question 10

The active ingredients in nine of the ten leading prescription drugs originally came from wild organisms.

Accepted Answer

Many of the most commonly prescribed drugs, such as aspirin and penicillin, were originally derived from natural sources like willow trees and mold.

Question 11

Efforts to control the Argentinean fire ant in the U.S.during the 1960s by spraying pesticides resulted in genetic resistance to pesticides in the fire ants.

Accepted Answer

The Argentinean fire ant developed genetic resistance to pesticides due to the efforts to control them in the U.S. during the 1960s.

Question 12

Island species - often found nowhere else - are especially vulnerable to extinctions when their habitat is destroyed.

Accepted Answer

Island species are often geographically isolated and have adapted to specific local conditions, which makes them particularly sensitive to environmental changes caused by human activities, such as deforestation, climate change, and invasive species. As a result, many island species are endangered or have already gone extinct.

Question 13

Four of the following are ways that the pressure can be taken off of some endangered species;one is not.Choose the one that is not.

Accepted Answer

Harvesting endangered species to preserve their skins and bones is not a way to take pressure off of endangered species. It goes against conservation efforts and can lead to further endangerment. The other options listed all involve preserving or growing endangered species in a controlled and sustainable manner.

Question 14

Egg pulling refers to ____.

Accepted Answer

Egg pulling refers to collecting eggs from the wild and incubating them in captivity to increase the number of individuals in captive breeding programs or to reintroduce them to the wild.

Question 15

According to biological and fossil evidence,all species eventually become extinct.

Accepted Answer

Extinction is a natural part of the process of evolution and all species eventually become extinct over time, including some of our closest evolutionary relatives. Fossil records show that over 99% of all species that have ever existed on Earth are now extinct.

Question 16

All mass extinctions thus far have been caused by natural phenomena that drastically changed environmental conditions.

Accepted Answer

It is widely accepted by the scientific community that all mass extinctions in Earth's history were caused by natural phenomena, such as volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, and climate change.

Question 17

We know that the introduction of nonnative species often results in unforeseen consequences.This indicates that when introducing nonnative species,we would be well advised to apply the

Accepted Answer

The precautionary principle advises that when an action could potentially result in harm to the public or the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus, the burden of proof falls on those who advocate the action. In the case of introducing nonnative species, there is often limited information about how they will interact with the existing ecosystem, and the consequences of their introduction may not become apparent for years. Therefore, applying the precautionary principle would suggest that we proceed with caution and avoid introducing nonnative species unless there is clear evidence that they will not cause harm.

Question 18

CITES is a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international treaty that aims to regulate and control the trade of threatened and endangered species of plants and animals. Its objective is to ensure that the trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Question 19

The greatest eliminator of species is over-hunting and over-fishing.

Accepted Answer

The greatest eliminator of species is habitat destruction, which includes deforestation, pollution, urban expansion, and agricultural development, leading to loss of biodiversity.

Question 20

What idea proposes that we take measures to prevent harm to the environment and human health even if the science has not been fully established?

Accepted Answer

The precautionary principle states that we should take precautionary measures to prevent harm to the environment and human health even if the science has not been fully established. It is a concept widely used in environmental policy-making.

Quiz 9: Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach