Question 1

Use the following figure to answer the questions below.
 
-Study the information above about quail habitats. Which of these represents the best quail habitat in terms of fragmentation and edge?

Accepted Answer

C represents the best quail habitat in terms of fragmentation and edge because it likely offers a balance of cover, food resources, and minimal fragmentation, which is ideal for quail.

Question 2

Use the graph and information provided in the paragraph below to answer the following questions.
Flycatcher birds that migrate from Africa to Europe feed their nestlings a diet that is almost exclusively moth caterpillars. The graph below shows the mean dates of arrival, bird hatching, and peak caterpillar season for the years 1980 and 2000.
 
-Why were ecologists concerned about the shift in the peak caterpillar season from June 3, 1980, to May 15, 2000?

Accepted Answer

The shift in the peak caterpillar season from June 3, 1980, to May 15, 2000, means that the 2000 flycatcher nestlings would miss the peak caterpillar season and might not be as well fed. This would likely have negative impacts on their growth and survival.

Question 3

Which of the following strategies would most rapidly increase the genetic diversity of a population in an extinction vortex?

Accepted Answer

Introducing new individuals from other populations of the same species would increase the genetic diversity of the population rapidly. Captive breeding (A) and reintroduction programs take time to establish and may not necessarily bring in genetically diverse individuals. Habitat protection (B) is important for maintaining populations but does not directly increase genetic diversity. Sterilizing individuals (D) would decrease genetic diversity and controlling predators/competitors (E) would not directly increase genetic diversity.

Question 4

Use the graph and information provided in the paragraph below to answer the following questions.
Flycatcher birds that migrate from Africa to Europe feed their nestlings a diet that is almost exclusively moth caterpillars. The graph below shows the mean dates of arrival, bird hatching, and peak caterpillar season for the years 1980 and 2000.
 
-The shift in the peak of caterpillar season is most likely due to

Accepted Answer

The graph shows that the peak caterpillar season has shifted earlier in both 1980 and 2000. This is likely due to global warming, which is causing earlier springs and shifts in the timing of seasonal events.

Question 5

Use the graph and information provided in the paragraph below to answer the following questions.
Flycatcher birds that migrate from Africa to Europe feed their nestlings a diet that is almost exclusively moth caterpillars. The graph below shows the mean dates of arrival, bird hatching, and peak caterpillar season for the years 1980 and 2000.
 
-If the nestlings of flycatchers are to benefit from the shift in peak caterpillar season from June 3, 1980 to May 15, 2000, in which direction should the May 25, 2000 peak bird hatching date move?

Accepted Answer

If the peak caterpillar season shifts to May 15, 2000, then the nestlings will benefit from this shift only if their hatching date coincides with the peak caterpillar season. Therefore, the May 25, 2000 peak bird hatching date should move to the left so that it corresponds with the new peak caterpillar season in 2000. Choice A is incorrect because the mean date of arrival in 2000 is not relevant to the question. Choice C is incorrect because it suggests moving the hatching date to the right, which would not coincide with the new peak caterpillar season. Choice D is incorrect because the caterpillars being slow-growing does not address the question of whether the nestlings would benefit from the new peak caterpillar season. Choice E is incorrect because it suggests a solution to a problem that is not related to the question being asked.

Question 6

Which of the following is a consequence of biological magnification?

Accepted Answer

Biological magnification is the process by which the concentration of toxins increases as it moves up the food chain. This means that top-level predators, who consume many lower-level organisms, can accumulate very high levels of toxins in their tissues. As a result, they are at greater risk of negative health effects compared to primary consumers that are lower in the food chain.

Question 7

The main cause of the increase in the amount of CO₂ in Earth's atmosphere over the past 150 years is

Accepted Answer

The burning of wood and fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which increases the amount of CO₂ in Earth's atmosphere.

Question 8

Suppose you attend a town meeting at which some experts tell the audience that they have performed a cost-benefit analysis of a proposed transit system that would probably reduce overall air pollution and fossil fuel consumption. The analysis, however, reveals that ticket prices will not cover the cost of operating the system when fuel, wages, and equipment are taken into account. As a biologist, you know that if ecosystem services had been included in the analysis the experts might have arrived at a different answer. Why are ecosystem services rarely included in economic analyses?

Accepted Answer

Ecosystem services are often taken for granted and their value is difficult to estimate, making them less likely to be included in economic analyses. Additionally, there are usually no legal requirements to include them in environmental planning.

Question 9

What is the single greatest threat to biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Habitat alteration, fragmentation, and destruction have a wide range of negative effects on biodiversity, including loss of species, reduced genetic diversity, and reduced ecosystem functioning. This is considered the single greatest threat to biodiversity because it affects all levels of biological organization and can lead to cascading effects throughout entire ecosystems. While the other options also pose significant threats to biodiversity, none have the same scale and magnitude of impact as habitat alteration and destruction.

Question 10

Of the following statements about protected areas that have been established to preserve biodiversity, which one is not correct?

Accepted Answer

The statement that about 25% of Earth's land area is now protected is not correct. As of my last update, approximately 15% of the Earth's land area and about 7% of the ocean area have been designated as protected areas, not 25%.

Question 11

Your friend is wary of environmentalists' claims that global warming could lead to major biological change on Earth. Which of the following statements can you use in response to your friend's suspicions?

Accepted Answer

All the statements listed provide evidence or potential consequences of global warming, supporting the claims of environmentalists.

Question 12

Use the following figure to answer the questions below.
 
-Study the information above about quail habitats. Assuming that only one quail can occupy a habitat where all cover requirements are met, what is the maximum number of quail that could inhabit any of the hypothetical plots shown?

Accepted Answer

Given that only one quail can occupy a habitat where all cover requirements are met, the maximum number of quail that could inhabit any of the hypothetical plots would depend on the size and characteristics of the plot. Without specific details about the hypothetical plots, such as size or the specific cover requirements for quail, it's challenging to provide a precise answer. However, the question seems to imply a scenario where the habitat is optimally arranged to meet the cover requirements for the maximum number of quail. Therefore, assuming an ideal situation where a plot is large enough and perfectly meets the cover requirements for quail, the answer would be the highest option provided, which is 9 (E), indicating an optimal arrangement allowing the maximum number of quail to inhabit.

Question 13

You are trying to determine if a particular species will become invasive in your province. You know there are common attributes of invasive species; which attribute would be least applicable to invasive species?

Accepted Answer

Low ecological tolerance is least applicable to invasive species. Invasive species are known for their adaptability and ability to thrive in different environments, which means they have a higher ecological tolerance than many other species. Therefore, low ecological tolerance would not be a common attribute of invasive species.

Question 14

Some populations of sea turtles and Galapagos tortoises are maintained by people who collect their eggs and hatch/rear the young in captivity. Why is this practice supported by conservationists?

Accepted Answer

The practice of collecting and hatching turtle and tortoise eggs in captivity is supported by conservationists because introduced species can be effective predators and consume all or most of the eggs that are laid. This practice helps ensure the survival of these endangered species.

Question 15

One characteristic that distinguishes a population in an extinction vortex from most other populations is that

Accepted Answer

The answer of One characteristic that distinguishes a population in...

Quiz 56: Conservation Biology and Global Change

Use the following figure to answer the questions below. -Study the information above about quail habitats. Which of these represents the best quail habitat in terms of fragmentation and edge?