BIOL 1407 Ch. 43 Global Ecology & Conservation Biology Review Questions

Relatively small geographic areas with high concentrations of endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species are known as
A) nature reserves.
B) movement corridors.
C) biodiversity hot spots.
D) extinction vortices.

C) biodiversity hot spots.

Which of the following species was driven to extinction by overharvesting by hunters/fishermen?
A) African elephant
B) the great auk
C) North American bluefin tuna
D) flying foxes
E) American bison

B) the great auk

The wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is a small, long-lived turtle that is endangered through much of its range in North America. As their populations shrink in size, it becomes even more difficult for turtles to find mates, and small populations have steadily become smaller. What best describes what the wood turtles in small populations are experiencing?
A) overharvesting
B) an extinction vortex
C) habitat loss
D) climate change

B) an extinction vortex

Which of the following refers to the reflecting and absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric methane, carbon dioxide, and water?
A) acid precipitation
B) biological magnification
C) greenhouse effect
D) eutrophication

C) greenhouse effect

What is caused by excessive nutrient runoff into aquatic ecosystems?
A) acid precipitation
B) biological magnification
C) greenhouse effect
D) eutrophication

D) eutrophication

What causes extremely high levels of toxic chemicals in fish-eating birds?
A) acid precipitation
B) biological magnification
C) greenhouse effect
D) eutrophication

B) biological magnification

Which of the following nations has become a world leader in the establishment of zoned reserves?
A) Costa Rica
B) Canada
C) China
D) United States
E) Mexico

A) Costa Rica

Which of the following best explains the reduction in human population growth rates over the past four decades?
A) education on global famine
B) improved worldwide health care
C) voluntary reduction of family size
D) improved sanitary conditions in the world's hospitals
E) reduction of casualties of war

C) voluntary reduction of family size

Which statement is true with regard to current human population growth?
A) It is at a zero growth rate.
B) Its rate of increase continues to grow at an exponential rate.
C) Its rate of growth is slowing.
D) Its rate of growth is increasing.
E) There is no scientific prediction that can be made about human population growth.

C) Its rate of growth is slowing.

The concept of sustainable development emphasizes
A) the needs of future generations.
B) trade between all nations of the world.
C) the importance of developing the arts.
D) the fastest ways to economic prosperity.
E) the need for national government action.

A) the needs of future generations.

Which of the following is the most sustainable source of energy?
A) natural gas used to heat homes
B) gasoline used to run cars
C) solar panels on rooftops
D) a coal power plant

C) solar panels on rooftops

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?
A) People take them for granted because we generally do not pay for them.
B) They are not worth much and would not greatly change the cost-benefit analysis.
C) There are too many variables to include in ecosystem services, making their calculation impossible.
D) Ecosystem services only take into account abiotic factors that affect local environments.

A) People take them for granted because we generally do not pay for them.

Your friend is wary of environmentalists' claims that climate change could lead to major biological change on Earth. Which of the following statements should you use to support the biological predictions associated with climate change?
A) We know that atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased over the past 150 years.
B) Through measurements and observations, we know that CO2 levels and temperature fluctuations are directly correlated, even in prehistoric times.
C) Hundreds of organisms have already shifted in distribution as a result of warming that has occurred over the last 100 years.
D) Sea levels will likely fall, displacing as much as 50% of the world's human population.

C) Hundreds of organisms have already shifted in distribution as a result of warming that has occurred over the last 100 years.

The main cause of the increase in the amount of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere over the past 150 years is
A) increased worldwide primary production.
B) increased worldwide standing crop.
C) an increase in the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the atmosphere.
D) the burning of larger amounts of wood and fossil fuels.

D) the burning of larger amounts of wood and fossil fuels.

What is the single greatest threat to biodiversity?
A) overharvesting of commercially important species
B) habitat alteration, fragmentation, and destruction
C) introduced species that compete with native species
D) pollution of Earth's air, water, and soil

B) habitat alteration, fragmentation, and destruction

Which of the following is a consequence of biological magnification?
A) Toxic chemicals in the environment pose greater risk to top-level predators than to primary consumers.
B) Populations of top-level predators are generally smaller than populations of primary consumers.
C) The biomass of producers in an ecosystem is generally higher than the biomass of primary consumers.
D) Only a small portion of the energy captured by producers is transferred to consumers.

A) Toxic chemicals in the environment pose greater risk to top-level predators than to primary consumers.