CHAPTER 55—BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Biologists have recently been interested in Miss Waldron’s red colobus monkey (Procolobus badius)
because it is ____.
a.
increasing in numbers
b.
a pest to farmers
c.
thought to be extinct
d.
capable of carrying HIV
e.
capable of carrying the Ebola virus
2. Why have so few primates gone extinct compared to other groups, for example, mussels or birds?
a.
they have large brains
b.
they are not killed for food or other human uses
c.
they live in stable environments
d.
they are among the most closely monitored and protected species
e.
they are highly mobile
3. What is the significance of genetic variation?
a.
it influences population interactions
b.
it interacts within the biosphere
c.
it is the raw material for sexual reproduction.
d.
it is the most fundamental level of species classification
e.
it is the raw material for adaptation, speciation, and evolution; and it is the most
fundamental level of biological organization
4. When subtropical forest is cleared, what biome is most likely to replace it?
a.
grassland suitable for grazing
b.
cropland ideal for agriculture
c.
young forest with the same species
d.
desert with poor eroded soil
e.
chaparral with grass and low bushes
5. Atlantic cod have evolved to mature at a younger age and smaller size due to ____.
a.
DNA damage from radiation released accidentally from nuclear power plants
b.
unknown causes
c.
food competition from other predatory fish
d.
intraspecies competition
e.
overexploitation by fishermen
Use the graph above for the following two questions.
6. The logical conclusion that can be drawn from Wilcove‘s experimental data in the graph above is that
____.
a.
songbird nests in a variety of habitats are equally likely to be found by predators
b.
songbird nests in forest fragments are more likely to be found by predators than those in
intact tracts of forest
c.
songbird nests in forest fragments are less likely to be found by predators than those in
intact tracts of forest
d.
songbird nests in rural areas are more likely to be found by predators than those in
suburban areas
e.
songbirds that nest on the ground are more vulnerable to predators than those that nest in
trees or shrubs
7. Wilcove’s experimental design included
a.
three forest types.
b.
multiple nests per habitat type.
c.
height from ground.
d.
three forest types and multiple nests per forest type.
e.
three forest types, multiple nests per forest type and height from ground.
8. How does habitat fragmentation affect biodiversity?
a.
As long as the fragments are of good quality habitat, biodiversity will not be affected.
b.
Habitat fragmentation increases biodiversity because it reduces entry of exotic species.
c.
Habitat fragmentation is a threat to biodiversity because small habitat patches sustain only
small populations.
d.
Habitat fragmentation increases biodiversity because adaptation to local conditions
stimulates evolution.
e.
Habitat fragmentation connects terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
9. Disturbance and exposure at borders of habitat fragments are collectively termed ____.
a.
edge effects
b.
fragmentation effects
c.
anthropogenic disturbances
d.
reduced perimeter diversity
e.
boundary decline
10. What molecule from coal-burning power plants dissolves in water vapor in the air and falls as acid
precipitation?
a.
sulfuric acid
b.
ozone
c.
mercury
d.
sulfur dioxide
e.
carbonic acid
11. The administration of the drug diclofenac to livestock inadvertently poisoned ____ and led to an
increase in the disease ____.
a.
cattle; hoof and mouth
b.
vultures; rabies
c.
children; epilepsy
d.
coyotes; hemolytic E. coli
e.
cattle egrets; avian flu
12. Worldwide declines in the population size of frogs have recently been linked to ____.
a.
overharvesting
b.
a fungus
c.
dams
d.
decreases in global temperatures
e.
increases in precipitation
13. The greatest rate of extinction of all time is/was probably caused by ____.
a.
an ice age
b.
unknown reasons
c.
formation of Pangea
d.
human activity
e.
asteroid impact
14. Taxol, a drug treatment for breast and ovarian cancer was isolated from _______.
a.
frog skin
b.
vascular cambium of a tree
c.
roots of a tree
d.
insects
e.
primates
15. The genes of teosinte, a wild relative of corn, were used in crossbreeding with domestic corn in an
attempt to produce a ____ variety.
a.
herbicide resistant
b.
pest resistant
c.
high lysine
d.
perennial
e.
higher yielding
16. Which of the following benefits from biodiversity would be categorized as an ecosystem service?
a.
anticancer drug Taxol, derived from the yew tree
b.
plants and fruits that are edible by humans
c.
cotton and other useful plant-derived fibers
d.
decomposition of wastes
e.
wild organisms as a source of genes for genetic engineering
17. Photosynthetic organisms are essential for limiting the damage done by global warming because they
____.
a.
move carbon from the atmosphere to living organisms
b.
move carbon from the soil to the atmosphere
c.
move carbon from the atmosphere to the soil
d.
produce oxygen
e.
sequester carbon in geologic sediments
18. Biodiversity hotspots are defined as areas where biodiversity is both ____ and ____.
a.
concentrated; endangered
b.
researched; protected
c.
low; increasing
d.
overexploited; studied
e.
low; declining
19. Endemic species tend to have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ____.
a.
high specific habitat requirements
b.
low dispersal ability
c.
restricted geographic distributions
d.
high specific dietary requirements
e.
high charisma to motivate conservationists
20. Which of the following environments would be most likely to harbor a biodiversity hotspot?
a.
tropical island
b.
temperate grassland
c.
temperate deciduous forest
d.
desert
e.
savanna
21. A DNA barcode is being developed for use in conservation biology based on ______
a.
mitochondrial genes in plants
b.
chloroplast genes in plants
c.
nuclear genes in animals
d.
mitochondrial genes in animals
e.
bacterial genes
22. Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London estimate that more than ____ percent of living
species have not yet been discovered.
a.
11
b.
27
c.
32
d.
56
e.
98
23. Biologists believe that whooping cranes suffer from a high rate of developmental deformities of the
spine and trachea because of ____.
a.
biological magnification of DDT
b.
exposure to hormone-mimicking pollutants from plastics
c.
a population bottleneck and loss of genetic variability
d.
conservation biologists saving chicks that would have died at hatching
e.
exposure to PCBs used as insulators in electronics
24. Sea otter populations were reduced by overhunting, allowing an overgrowth of one of their prey
animals, the ____, which consumed populations of ____ and decimated them.
a.
crabs; shrimp
b.
abalone; algae
c.
sea urchin; kelp
d.
harbor seals; fish
e.
crab; kelp
25. Conservation biologists conduct a population viability analysis to determine ____.
a.
whether an environment is too badly degraded to support a species
b.
how large a population must be to ensure its long-term survival
c.
likely source populations
d.
likely sink populations
e.
the annual reproduction rate of a population
26. A group of neighboring populations that exchange individuals is defined as a ____.
a.
metapopulation
b.
megapopulation
c.
community
d.
source population
e.
sink population
27. Which of the following data were used in the population viability analysis conducted for the yellow-
bellied glider?
a.
age distributions and survival probabilities
b.
litter sizes and sex ratios
c.
home ranges and litter sizes
d.
sex ratios, age distributions, and litter sizes
e.
litter sizes, sex ratios, life span home ranges, survival probabilities, and age distributions
Use the graph above for the following two questions.
28. Which of the following choices best summarizes the results of the experiment by Damschen and her
colleagues in the graph above?
a.
Habitat patches with landscape corridors are at higher risk of encroachment by exotic
species than isolated habitat patches are.
b.
Over time, the number of native species harbored by habitat patches with landscape
corridors was increasingly greater than in isolated habitat patches.
c.
The number of both native and exotic species increased over time in habitat patches that
were connected by landscape corridors.
d.
The number of native species increased over time in isolated habitat patches but not in
those connected by corridors.
e.
The number of exotic species is greater than the number of native species.
29. In 2002, habitat patches that were connected by corridors had ____.
a.
six more species than isolated habitat patches had
b.
a total of six species
c.
six less species than isolated habitat patches had
d.
six more species than that patch had sustained the year before
e.
six less species than that patch had sustained the year before
30. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an example of ____.
a.
conservation through preservation, with people completely excluded
b.
conservation through preservation, with people allowed only as temporary visitors
c.
mixed use conservation, with some human residents and livestock grazing
d.
mixed use conservation, with no human residents and limited livestock grazing
e.
conservation through restoration, with efforts to remove contaminants underway
31. By one estimation, the gross global ecosystem valuation is approximately ____.
a.
equivalent to the total carbon dioxide processed by all ecosystems
b.
equivalent to the total amount of carbon fixed
c.
$18 billion per year
d.
$18 trillion per year
e.
$18 million per year
32. The success of Chitwan National Park in Nepal is attributed primarily to ____.
a.
ecotourism
b.
exclusion of local residents
c.
ecosystem valuation
d.
benefits provided to local residents
e.
income derived through hunting
33. Which of the following account for 20% of the greenhouse gases recorded annually?
a.
deforestation of dry tropical forests
b.
deforestation of moist tropical forests
c.
burning of fossil fuels
d.
burning of coal
e.
urbanization
34. Conservation biology is a ______.
a.
mature science
b.
young science
c.
science that addresses speciation rates
d.
science practiced by environmentalists
e.
declining science
Select the Exception
35. Biodiversity encompasses various levels of organization. Select the exception.
a.
genetic variation
b.
species richness
c.
interactions among ecosystems
d.
diversity of different ecosystems
e.
interactions between biomes
36. Hydrological alterations threaten freshwater biodiversity in many ways. Select the exception.
a.
changes in flow rates
b.
changes in life histories of aquatic species
c.
changes in connectivity
d.
changes in habitat that facilitate the introduction and success of non-native species
e.
changes in salinity
37. Most of the following species are invasive exotics. Select the exception.
a.
Atlantic cod
b.
kudzu
c.
starlings
d.
hemlock wooly adelgid
e.
Africanized honeybee
1096
38. Many factors are believed to reduce songbird breeding success in fragmented habitats. Select the
exception.
a.
brood parasitism by cowbirds
b.
nest predation by blue jays
c.
lack of necessary habitat types
d.
nest predation by domestic cats
e.
increased connections between habitats
39. Most of these problems are accepted by the vast majority of reputable scientists as being
anthropogenic, or human-caused. Select the exception.
a.
global warming
b.
decline in Atlantic cod size at maturity
c.
desertification of the Everglades
d.
background extinction rate
e.
deformities among whooping cranes
40. Most of the following geographic areas are biodiversity hotspots. Select the exception.
a.
New Zealand
b.
Mexico
c.
Caribbean
d.
South-Central China
e.
Norway
41. Four of the five animals listed below are threatened or endangered. Select the exception.
a.
whooping crane
b.
sea otter
c.
sea urchin
d.
yellow-bellied glider
e.
Karner blue butterfly
MATCHING
Match each of the following terms with its correct definition.
a.
ecosystem services
b.
ecosystem valuation
c.
desertification
d.
endemic species
e.
endangered species
f.
exotic species
g.
conservation biology
h.
population viability analysis
42. non-native organisms in an ecosystem
43. species found only within a limited area
44. in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range
45. inadvertent conversion of habitats to desert
46. indirect benefits from normal activity of ecological processes
47. assignment of a monetary value to the normal activity of ecological processes
48. used to determine how large a population must be to ensure its long-term survival
49. interdisciplinary science that focuses on the maintenance and preservation of biodiversity
Choice
For each of the following species, choose the most appropriate description from the list below.
a.
endemic
b.
exotic
c.
extinct
50. starling
51. kudzu
52. Miss Waldron’s red colobus
53. yellow-bellied glider
54. Karner Blue butterfly
Classification
Categorize each of the following conservation projects into one of the categories below. Some
categories may be used more than once.
a.
ecosystem valuation
b.
conservation through restoration
c.
conservation through preservation
d.
mixed-use conservation
55. The Nature Conservancy buys up ecologically important tracts of land.
56. An electric company building a hydroelectric dam pays people upstream not to deforest the watershed.
57. Replanting of trees in habitat corridors between forest fragments.
58. U.S. National Forest land may be leased by ranchers for grazing.
59. Maasai vacate the Serengeti in return for retaining the rights to live and herd livestock within a
conservation area.
60. Conservation of Pine Bush habitat near Albany, NY
Match each of the ecological problems labeled A-H with the immediate (most direct) cause from the
choices below.
a.
Disorientation among sea turtle hatchlings
b.
Increasing rate of asthma
c.
Decline in Atlantic cod population
d.
Acid precipitation
e.
Global spread of exotic species
f.
Death of vultures and increase in populations of feral dogs, rats, and flies
g.
Salinization of soil
h.
Salt water intrusion to the water table
i.
Development
j.
Global warming
k.
Deforestation
61. emissions from cars and coal-fired power plants
62. excessive tapping of groundwater for irrigation, landscaping, and household use
63. irrigation of agricultural lands, especially using ground water
64. artificial light at night
65. use of diclofenac in livestock
66. transport by humans
67. overexploitation
68. airborne pollutants from combustion of fossil fuels
69. desertification
70. habitat fragmentation
71. excess levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide
SHORT ANSWER
72. A developer putting tract housing in a previously pristine area plans numerous small open space areas
where the original habitat is to remain. As a conservationist, how would you suggest changing the
plan, if at all? (Canceling the development is not an option.)
73. What is a population viability analysis (PVA), and what predictions does it allow population biologists
to make?
74. Define conservation biology and distinguish it from the science of ecology.
75. Briefly describe some of the pros and cons of using ecotourism to generate income from a natural area.
MODIFIED TRUE/FALSE
If the statement is true, answer “T“. If the statement is false, answer “F” and make it correct by
changing the underlined word(s) and writing the correct word(s) in the answer blank(s).
76. More than 90% of deforestation occurs in tropical regions.
77. The yellow-bellied glider is a mammal whose continued survival depends on undisturbed eucalyptus
forests.
78. The introduction of Kudzu was inadvertent.
79. A DNA barcode system uses a nuclear gene that varies greatly between species.
80. Background extinction rates once eliminated 7−8 species per year.
81. Most deaths among endangered Florida panthers are caused by disease.
82. Beta-Diversity measures diversity across communities.
83. A 20 m wide edge disrupts a smaller fraction of a small habitat patch than of a large one.
84. The study of how large-scale ecological factors influence local populations and communities is
specifically defined as conservation biology.
85. Ecotourism measures ecosystem services such as carbon dioxide processing or water retention and
purification.
ESSAY
86. What are some arguments for conserving biodiversity?
87. Summarize the human social elements necessary to address when designing a conservation plan.