Environmental Science Chapter 4

Compounds found in the ____ of certain amphibians have been isolated and used in pharmaceutical products. a.skin secretions b.gut contents c.fatty tissue d.brain matter e.saliva

A

Research indicates that the largest cause of the rising rate of species extinctions is _____. a.habitat loss b.overhunting c.disease d.pollution e.geological events

A

Research performed by Edward O. Wilson on ____ has been applied to the study and understanding of other social organisms, including humans. a.ants b.worms c.bees d.chimpanzees e.elephants

A

The process in which individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce under a particular set of environmental conditions than are those without the trait is called ____. a.natural selection b.adaptability c.genetic drift d.mutation e.scientific theory

A

What is the variety of processes, including matter cycling and energy flow within ecosystems, which result from species interacting with one another in food webs? a.functional diversity b.genetic diversity c.intellectual diversity d.ecosystem diversity e.species diversity

A

Which of the following does not describe an element of an ecological niche? a.the place where the species lives b.how much water the species needs c.how much sunlight the species needs d.how much space the species needs e.temperatures the species can tolerate

A

. Fossil and geological evidence indicates that there have been _____ mass extinctions during the past 500 million years. a.2 b.5 c.8 d.12 e.20

B

Scientists are now able to produce desirable traits in some organisms by adding, deleting, or changing segments of its DNA. This process is known as ____. a.genetic modification b.genetic engineering c.genetic drift d.mutation e.speciation

B

Species that provide early warnings of damage to a community or an ecosystem are called ____ species. a.foundation b.indicator c.keystone d.endemic e.endangered

B

The drift of tectonic plates influences evolution by ____. a.increasing the level of carbon dioxide b.changing the earth's climate c.changing the spin of the earth d.decreasing soil nutrient richness e.changing magnetic fields and disrupting migration patterns

B

The earth's biodiversity is determined by the balance between ____. a.geographic isolation and reproductive isolation b.speciation and extinction c.mass extinction and background extinction d.speciation and genetic engineering e.reproductive isolation and extinction

B

The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth is called ____ diversity. a.species b.ecological c.functional d.geological e.genetic

B

What is another term for a nonnative species? a.native b.invasive c.keystone d.indicaton e.foundation

B

Which of the following would be the least likely cause for the decline of amphibians? a.habitat destruction b.prolonged rainy periods c.pollution d.increases in UV radiation e.parasites

B

Which type of diversity enables life on the earth to adapt and survive environmental changes? a.functional b.genetic c.cognitive d.ecosystem e.species

B

. The variety in the genetic makeup of individuals in a population is known as ____. a.heritability b.gene flow c.genetic variability d.genetic differences e.genetic drift

C

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), about ____% of all known amphibian species are threatened with extinction. a.15 b.24 c.33 d.49 e.67

C

Before conservation efforts facilitated their comeback, the American alligator population was nearly completely wiped out primarily because of ____. a.parasites b.diseases c.hunters d.land developers e.pollution

C

Changes in the DNA sequence of a gene in a cell that can be inherited by offspring are called ____. a.adaptations b.mutagens c.mutations d.variable traits e.selected traits

C

In the old practice of taking a pet canary into a coal mine to detect the presence of carbon monoxide, the canary represents a(n) ____ species. a.generalist b.native c.indicator d.specialist e.keystone

C

The role a species plays in its ecosystem is its ____. a.function b.habitat c.ecological niche d.geographical location e.ecological job

C

Which of the following is true of specialist species? a.They can live in many different places. b.They can eat a wide variety of foods. c.They can tolerate a narrow range of climatic conditions. d.They can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. e.They are less prone to extinction.

C

Which statement is least associated with biological evolution through natural selection? a.evolution by natural selection is not important because it is just a theory b.evolution explains the origin of life c.humans, apes, and monkeys evolved from a common ancestor d.evolution by natural selection is part of a grand plan e.survival of the fittest means survival of the strongest

C

Why do species such as humans take a much longer time (thousands to millions of years) to adapt through natural selection than species such as bacteria and insects? a.Species such as humans are limited geographically. b.Species such as humans are much larger in size. c.Species such as humans are limited by reproductive capacity. d.Species such as humans are limited by biological fitness. e.Species such as humans are limited by natural selection.

C

. From a scientific point of view, which of the following is true? a.Evolution leads to survival of the strongest. b.Evolution leads to survival of the most valuable. c.Organisms develop traits because they need them. d.Fitness is a matter of reproductive success. e.Evolution follows a plan of nature.

D

According to some scientists, the more diverse an ecosystem is, the ____ it will be. a.less productive b.less abundant c.less even d.more productive e.more even

D

Almost half of the world's identified species are _____. a.worms b.amphibians c.reptiles d.insects e.birds

D

For natural selection to occur, an adaptive trait ____. a.must be physical b.must be physiological c.must be psychological d.must be heritable e.cannot be heritable

D

Many of the earth's plant species depend on ____ to pollinate their flowers. a.small rodents b.large mammals c.amphibians d.insects e.humans

D

Nonnative species can spread rapidly if they find a new location with favorable conditions, often because they do not face the same ____ that they face in their native niches. a.temperatures b.precipitation ranges c.pollinators d.predators e.soil nutrients

D

The American crow is a large passerine bird of the family Corvidae and is a common bird found throughout much of North America. It is most likely to be a _____ species. a.nonnative b.keystone c.invasive d.generalist e.indicator

D

The earth has sustained life for ____ years. a.1.5 million b.3.8 million c.1.5 billion d.3.8 billion e.1.5 trillion

D

The four components of biodiversity increase the ____ of ecosystems and increase the resistance of ecosystems to harmful invasive species. a.evenness b.function c.strength d.stability e.fitness

D

The loss of a(n) ____ species can lead to population crashes and extinctions of other species in a community that depends on them for certain ecosystem services. a.foundation b.indicator c.native d.keystone e.specialist

D

The process whereby the earth's life changes over time through changes in genes of populations of organisms in succeeding generations is called ____. a.emigration b.mutation c.natural selection d.evolution e.genetic drift

D

Under certain circumstances, natural selection can lead to an entirely new species, a process called ____. a.genetic drift b.genetic isolation c.diversification d.speciation e.mutation

D

What adaptation has allowed humans to increase their chances of survival and reproduction through gripping and using tools? a.walking upright on two legs b.physical strength c.complex brain d.opposable thumbs e.five digits on each hand

D

What are amphibians? a.invertebrates that live part of their lives in water and part on land b.invertebrates that live on land, near water c.vertebrates with secretory skin glands that makes them slimy d.vertebrates that live part of their lives in water and part on land e.vertebrates that live on land, near water

D

What human adaptation may enable us to live more sustainably by understanding and copying the ways in which nature has sustained itself for billions of years, despite major changes in environmental conditions? a.our ability to use tools b.our genes can change over time c.our physical strength d.our complex brain e.our biological fitness is superior to other animals

D

What is the ability of one or more organisms in a population to tolerate a chemical designed to kill it, such as when bacteria tolerate antibiotics? a.genetic adaptation b.genetic strength c.genetic mutation d.genetic resistance e.genetic tolerance

D

What term describes the number of different species in a given area? a.speciation b.species evenness c.species niche d.species richness e.habitat

D

What term refers to a measure of the relative abundance, or the comparative numbers of individuals, of each species present? a.species richness b.species abundance c.species diversity d.species evenness e.species counts

D

Who was responsible for providing a convincing explanation of how organisms change over time and are descended from a single common ancestor through the mechanism of natural selection? a.Charles Darwin b.Alfred Russel Wallace c.Edward O. Wilson d.Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace e.Charles Darwin and Edward O. Wilson

D

A species with a broad niche is considered a(n) ____ species. a.endemic b.endangered c.specialist d.native e.generalist

E

Biological evolution by natural selection is when genes ____, individuals ____, and populations ____. a.evolve; mutate; are selected b.are selected; mutate; evolve c.mutate; evolve; are selected d.evolve; are selected; mutate e.mutate; are selected; evolve

E

In some habitats, the extinction of certain amphibian species could lead to the ____ of certain species of other amphibians, aquatic insects, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals. a.natural selection b.speciation c.coevolution d.proliferation e.extinction

E

Monarch butterflies are threatened by the loss of _____ that they need to feed on along their migration path. a.corn plants b.soybeans c.apple blossoms d.clover e.milkweed

E

One contributing factor of the declines in many frog species is that frog eggs have ____. a.shells that prevent frog embryos from hatching easily b.shells that are permeable to water pollutants c.no shells to protect from embryos from predation d.no shells to protect frog embryos from dehydration e.no shells to protect frog embryos from water pollutants

E

Speciation, especially among sexually reproducing species, happens in two phases: first geographic isolation, and then _____. a.mutation b.artificial selection c.interbreeding d.extinction e.reproductive isolation

E

Which of the following is true? a.the higher the species richness, the lower the productivity b.the higher the species richness, the lower the sustainability c.the lower the species richness, the greater the productivity d.the lower the species richness, the greater the sustainability e.the higher the species richness, the greater the sustainability

E

A species-rich ecosystem is most likely to be found at high latitudes. a.True b.False

False

In speciation, two species interbreed to form one new species. a.True b.False

False

Many of the world's amphibian species are adapting rapidly to the environmental changes that are taking place in their habitats, which have been caused by human activities during the past few decades. a.True b.False

False

Most mutations occur because of exposure to artificial external agents, such as radiation. a.True b.False

False

Nonnative species, also called exotic species, tend to have low survivability in new habitats. a.True b.False

False

Rain forests are likely to have high species richness. a.True b.False

False

The fossils found so far probably represent about 50% of the species that have ever lived. a.True b.False

False

Under rapidly changing environmental conditions, it is better to be a specialist species. a.True b.False

False

A change in environmental conditions leads to adaptation only for genetic traits already present in a population's gene pool, or if they arise from mutations that occur randomly. a.True b.False

True

Biodiversity is a vital part of the natural capital that sustains all life. a.True b.False

True

Birds are excellent examples of biological indicators. a.True b.False

True

Endemic species are particularly vulnerable to extinction. a.True b.False

True

Estimates indicate the average annual background extinction rate is one species lost for each million species on the earth per year. a.True b.False

True

Genetic engineering allows scientists to transfer genes between different species that would not interbreed in nature. a.True b.False

True

In geologic history, mass extinctions have been followed by an increase in species diversity. a.True b.False

True

Keystone species have a large effect on the types and abundances of other species in an ecosystem. a.True b.False

True

Long-term climate changes determine where plant and animal species can survive. a.True b.False

True

Most of what we know about the history of life on the earth comes from fossils. a.True b.False

True

Pandas are specialist species, occupy narrow niches, live in only one type of habitat, eat only one or a few types of food, and tolerate a narrow range of environmental conditions. a.True b.False

True

Survival of the fittest refers to those individuals that leave the most descendants. a.True b.False

True