Quiz

As a result of acid rain, some lakes in the northeastern United States have pH values as low as 4.0, which is ________________ more acidic than pure water.

1,000 times

The loss of tropical rain forest is associated with which one of the following?

an increase in greenhouse gases

The most recent mass extinction event occurred:

approximately 65 million years ago.

Conservation biology is an interdisciplinary science that addresses how to preserve earth's natural resources and protect:

biodiversity

An important conservation strategy is to connect isolated habitat patches with ______________, thus ensuring migration routes for plants and animals.

corridors

Introduced species frequently cause more damage to island ecosystems than to mainland ecosystems. All of these are reasonable explanations for this except:

introduced species have better dispersal capabilities than endemic species.

Overexploitation:

is a major factor responsible for species extinction.

An umbrella species:

is a species whose protection results in the protection of many other species as well.

One reason that more species diversity exists in the tropics is that more:

solar energy is available in the tropics than in the temperate zones.

Which of the following ecosystem disturbances cannot be reversed?

species extinction

Which of these is not an example of a human activity that directly threatens the biodiversity of species?

the harvesting of honey

Which of the following situations is irreversible?

the loss of an entire species

The most effective nature preserves:

incorporate areas of high species diversity.

When preserving areas to act as reservoirs for biodiversity, corridors are important because they:

increase gene flow between the areas they connect.

Which of the following is true of invasive species?

All invasive species are harmful in some way.

Examining the graph, what conclusion can you draw about the relationship between biodiversity and latitude?

Biodiversity increases as one moves from the poles toward the equator.

An urban planner wants to build some new homes in a woodland area but wants to do so in a manner that is the least disruptive to its natural biodiversity levels. Which of the following is his best mode of action?

Build all the homes on one side of the forest, leaving the majority of the forest intact.

The total economic value of an ecosystem:

includes all of the ecosystem services, future uses, and non-use values (such as cultural, intrinsic, and aesthetic values) of an ecosystem.

Which statement about habitat loss is true?

Fragmented habitats can only support small populations of the species living in them.

__________ is currently the leading cause of extinction.

Habitat loss

Which statement about conservation biology is false?

It is primarily concerned with protecting biodiversity but not natural resources.

Which statement about exotic species is true?

Native species may not be able to compete with introduced species.

What does it mean in conservative biology to say a habitat is fragmented?

The habitat exists in patches that are physically isolated from each other.

Which statement about exotic species is false?

They often protect native species from their natural predators.

A species that has a disproportionate effect on the biodiversity of a community is called:

a keystone species.

Species richness tends to increase toward the:

equator

Which description represents an irreversible disturbance?

extinction of the Chinese river dolphin

Biodiversity _________________ have been identified based on high biodiversity and imminent threats caused by human activities.

hotspots

The current mass extinction is likely the result of:

human activities

Which of these is not a major threat to biodiversity?

human population control

An ecosystem disturbance is irreversible if it:

includes the complete extinction of any species.

The loss of tropical rain forests causes a decrease in biodiversity because:

tropical rain forests offer very diverse terrestrial habitats.

When is an ecosystem disturbance reversible?

when it does not include the complete extinction of any species

Ozone depletion is a cause for concern because:

without the protection against solar radiation provided by ozone, rates of skin cancer are likely to increase.