Conservation Biology / Biodiversity & Nonrenewable Resources

Question 1

Which kind of biodiversity would be concerned with the number and variety of communities, habitats, or regions in a geographic area?

Species diversity

Genetic diversity

Correct answer: Ecosystem diversity

Question 2

Species richness only tells you the total number of species, not how they are weighted in the ecosystem.

Correct answer: True

False

Question 3

Which of the following is a benefit of biodiversity?

Correct answer: All of the above

Having more areas and individuals in nature for us humans to observe and enjoy

Having more diverse crops to resist diseases

Having more potential to discover new medicines

Having more species to support community interactions in the wild

Question 4

An issue with a loss of genetic diversity is that a population is more likely to succumb to disorders and diseases, and will be less likely to be able to adapt to a changing environment.

Correct answer: True

False

Question 5

Habitat degradation is the worst kind of habitat loss.

True

Correct answer: False

Question 6

Pollution is the largest driver of biodivesity loss across all groups of life.

True

Correct answer: False

Question 7

Rachel Carson's the Silent Spring tells the story about how she observed which kinds of animals were no longer abundant in nature due to pesticides?

Correct answer: Large predatory birds / raptors

Amphibians like frogs and salamanders

Common household pets such as dogs and cats

Large carnivores such as bears and cougars

Question 8

If a species was nearly extinct in the wild, which conservation tactic would be most effective?

Cloning

Conservation genetics

Establishing a portion of their habitat as a protected area

Correct answer: Captive breeding

Question 9

Ecological restoration is preferable to ecological conservation.

True

Correct answer: False

Question 10

When multiple individuals share a resource, they are likely to follow an unspoken rule of cooperation and be cautious to avoid overusing that resource so it doesn't collapse.

True

Correct answer: False

Question 11

Which of the following is a nonrenewable resource?

hydropower

geothermal

Correct answer: coal

wind

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?

coal

Correct answer: nuclear

gas

oil

Question 13

Which of the following briefly describes how we often generate electricity from nonrenewable energy sources?

break down molecules, extract chemical energy from molecular bonds

burn fuel source, power generator with heat as thermal energy

use fuel to light fire, bright light enters oxidative receivers as radiant energy

Correct answer: combustion of water, steam moves turbine

Question 14

Oil and gas are often found together and harvested with similar mechanisms.

Correct answer: True

False

Question 15

Gas and coal are used for a wider number of end/byproducts compared to oil.

True

Correct answer: False

Question 16

Which of the following is not a key component of a power grid?

Generation

Distribution

Correct answer: Resistance

Transmission

Question 17

Why is load following an important concept in power grids?

Because of load following, we can predict the exact amount of electricity needed on any given day and have the proper fuel needed

Correct answer: It implies the immediate use of electricity to address power needs, that what we burn isn't just stored for later

Load following is exactly why the Texas grid is superior to the western or eastern grids

It shows the importance of transmission in an electrical system to downstep electricity to the proper voltage

Question 18

The power grid is a highly efficient, closed-system with very little loss of electricity.

True

Correct answer: False

Question 19

The biggest power draw on a system is the number of homes in an area (residential).

True

Correct answer: False

Question 20

The amount of nonrenewable resources left is a simple question of how much is left in the earth, which gives us extremely reliable, unchanging estimates of when we are likely to run out.

True

Correct answer: False

Question 21

What is the next most likely advancement of nonrenewable energy

New heat & pressure resistant drills for deep oil fields

Chemical conversion of common air molecules into natural gas hydrocarbons

Mountaintop removal for more coal mining

Correct answer: Arctic extraction for oil & gas

Question 22

Which of the following is a false statement about EROI

EROI stands for energy returned on investment

EROI indicates how efficient a given fuel source is

Correct answer: EROI is usually lower for nonrenewable fuel sources compared to renewable

Energy storage is an important facet in a resource's overall EROI

Question 23

What are concerns with fossil fuels?

Contributions to global warming via CO2 emissions

Toxic byproducts like sulfides and heavy metals

Accumulation of waste

Correct answer: All of the above