Question 1

The world's wild species provide natural resources and natural services that keep us alive and support human economies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The world's wild species provide natural resources...

Question 2

Alien species thrive in new ecosystems because they have long generation times.

Accepted Answer

The statement is false. Alien species can thrive in new ecosystems for various reasons, including lack of predators, availability of new resources, and advantageous adaptations. Generation time may play a role in some cases, but it is not the sole determining factor.

Question 3

Because of the lucrative ecotourism trade, both mature male lions and elephants bring in more money as tourist attractions than if they are poached for their hide or ivory.

Accepted Answer

Ecotourism is a sustainable form of tourism that values the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats. Tourists pay to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat, and the local economies benefit from the revenue generated by tourism. Therefore, it is more profitable to protect these animals as tourist attractions than to poach them for their parts.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a threat to endangered sea turtles?

Accepted Answer

Sea turtles are not used for fin soup; this is a threat associated with sharks, not sea turtles.

Question 5

One of the causes of depletion of the environment is human population growth.

Accepted Answer

As human population grows, the demand for resources and land increases, leading to deforestation, pollution, and depletion of natural resources. Therefore, human population growth is one of the causes of depletion of the environment.

Question 6

Ecosystems that do not undergo periodic fires are much more vulnerable to invader species.

Accepted Answer

Periodic fires play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem by clearing out dead plant matter, promoting new growth, and preventing the buildup of invasive species. Ecosystems that do not experience periodic fires are more vulnerable to invader species because there is less competition and fewer natural controls on their population growth.

Question 7

The primary reason polar bear population are declining is the lack of food, since their prey species (seals) habitat is declining.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The primary reason polar bear population are...

Question 8

Japan contends that current scientific estimates of _________________whales does not support a ban on commercial whaling.

Accepted Answer

Japan argues that the populations of sperm, pilot, and minke whales are sufficient to allow for commercial whaling, as opposed to other species like blue or grey whales, which are more endangered.

Question 9

There has been some success in the war against Argentine fire ants by using parasitic flies that make the heads of the ants fall off.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The parasitic fly (Phorid fly) lays its eggs in the bodies of the Argentine fire ants, and when the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the ant's brains causing the ant's head to fall off. This method has been used as a biological control to reduce the population of Argentine fire ants in some areas.

Question 10

The primary threat to polar bears is pollution from oil spills in Arctic waters.

Accepted Answer

While pollution can have an impact on polar bears, the primary threats to their population include climate change and loss of sea ice habitat, hunting and trapping by humans, and competition with other species for limited resources. Oil spills can have devastating consequences for wildlife in the Arctic, but they are not the primary threat to polar bears.

Question 11

Gene banks, zoos, and aquariums are sanctuaries being used to protect wild species.

Accepted Answer

Gene banks store genetic material of different species in order to preserve their genetic diversity. Zoos and aquariums, on the other hand, serve as places where endangered or threatened animal species can be protected and bred in artificial environments. These institutions aim to preserve species and prevent their extinction.

Question 12

The invasive kudzu vine has no useful properties.

Accepted Answer

While kudzu is considered an invasive species, it has several useful properties such as being used in traditional Chinese medicine, as a forage crop for livestock, and for erosion control.

Question 13

Pollution from human activities primarily affects human health; its effect on the environment is small.

Accepted Answer

Pollution from human activities can have a significant impact on the environment, including air and water quality, soil contamination, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. These environmental impacts can have far-reaching consequences for human health, as well as for the long-term sustainability of our planet. Therefore, both human health and the environment are equally affected by pollution.

Question 14

It is estimated that from one-fourth to one-half of the world's plant and animal species will suffer premature extinction during this century.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true according to various studies and research on the current state of biodiversity loss and species extinction rates.

Question 15

When a species has disappeared from the Earth, it is biologically extinct.

Accepted Answer

Biologically extinct means that a species no longer exists, either because all individuals have died or because there are so few that they cannot reproduce and maintain a viable population.

Question 16

The African honeybee, or killer bee, is a deliberately introduced invasive species

Accepted Answer

The African honeybee was intentionally introduced into South America in the 1950s as part of an effort to increase honey production. However, the bees escaped and have since spread throughout the Americas, earning the nickname "killer bee" due to their aggressive behavior.

Question 17

A slow reproduction rate makes a species especially vulnerable to biological extinction.

Accepted Answer

A slow reproduction rate means that a species produces offspring at a slower rate and may take longer to recover from a decline in population, making it vulnerable to extinction.

Question 18

Living just off the coast of California, a rare dolphin is listed as an endangered species. What agency or group was responsible for studying the status of this animal, and subsequently listing it as endangered?

Accepted Answer

The National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for studying and listing marine species as endangered or threatened. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has jurisdiction over species that occur on land or in freshwater habitats. CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity are international agreements focused on biodiversity conservation, but they do not have the authority to list species as endangered or threatened.

Question 19

The International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling was imposed in 1986. Following this:

Accepted Answer

Whale killing declined significantly after the imposition of the moratorium on commercial whaling, and only 1,400 whales were killed in 2008, compared to over 42,000 in 1970.

Answer: A, D 
 Worldwide commercial whaling was not completely eliminated, but Japan did stop commercial whaling following the imposition of the moratorium.

Question 20

Extinction can be the result of habitat fragmentation.

Accepted Answer

Habitat fragmentation can lead to the isolation of populations, reducing genetic diversity and the availability of resources, which can increase the likelihood of extinction.

Quiz 8: Sustaining Biodiversity: the Species Approach