Buffer zones are designed to:
- allow housing for people in protected core reserves.
- prevent wildlife and humans from interacting with, or being exposed to one another.
- support low-impact human activities that are compatible with wildlife.
- encourage large-scale agriculture just outside core reserves.
- provide vehicle access to core reserves.
c
The ability to change phenotype in response to local environmental conditions is called
- mutation.
- phenotypic plasticity.
- alteration of generations.
- genetic drift.
b
The regeneration of a forest improves the return of water to the hydrologic cycle by:
- increasing transpiration into the atmosphere.
- acting as a sponge, absorbing and holding onto storm water for long periods.
- increased levels of runoff.
- leakage of water from plant roots into the surrounding soil.
- water loss from decomposing leaves, branches, and biomass.
a
The severe flooding in New Orleans that followed Hurricane Katrina was due, in large part, to the prior destruction of 1000 square miles of critical ________ habitat.
- sand dune
- rain forest
- wetland
- pine forest
- grassland
c
All of the following are examples of unsustainable agriculture EXCEPT:
- large scale use of synthetic fertilizer.
- growing a small number of high-profit crops.
- plowing the crop remains under soil after harvest.
- alternating between a wide variety of crops.
- using groundwater for irrigation.
d
In order to better understand how the bushmeat trade is utilized and perpetuated by different African cultural groups, conservation biologists are best aided by:
- educators.
- environmental lawyers.
- social scientists.
- law-enforcement officials.
- politicians.
c
The United Nations has established a series of ________ to maintain biodiversity in those areas.
- bushmeat corridors
- habitat emulators
- habitat fragments
- expendable ecosystems
- biosphere reserves
e
The greatest challenge facing the zoned reserve systems of Costa Rica is
- the growing human population.
- soil erosion.
- high predation by jaguars.
- forest fires.
a
Which of the following is NOT a synthetic chemical that can act as a major pollutant?
- flame retardants
- mercury
- plasticizers
- a broad-spectrum pesticide
- DDT, a pesticide used to kill insects
b
If wolves were now removed from Yellowstone National Park, we would expect that
- the vegetation would remain unchanged.
- deer populations would decrease.
- elk populations would increase.
- vegetation would increase, providing shelter for smaller animals.
c
Which of the following is a likely consequence of the thinning of the ozone layer?
- decreases in flying insect populations
- increases in skin cancer
- increases in escape of heat from Earth
- global warming
b
CO2 in the atmosphere is absorbed by ________ and converted into biomass.
- other atmosphere gases
- large land masses
- the ozone layer
- photosynthetic organisms
d
The field of study that assesses the monetary value of ecosystem services is called:
- biosphere economics.
- ecofriendly economics.
- eco-nomics.
- ecological economics.
- bioeconomics.
d
The Yukon to Yellowstone Initiative is a plan to
- create a giant, fenced, private land area between the national parks in the United States to create a protected zone for wildlife.
- connect parks in the United States and Canada with protected corridors where wildlife can travel safely.
- connect all of the national parks in the western United States.
- connect all of the national parks in the United States.
b
The reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park has resulted in an increase in ________, because of the wolves' competition with coyotes.
- willow trees
- elk
- rodents
- eagles
- wolverines
c
An example of a small-scale wildlife corridor that was designed and implemented in San Diego is:
- a logging road that allows wolves to hunt within a forested "tunnel."
- a highway underpass that allows cougars to pass safely.
- a mountaintop path that encourages bears to travel at high elevation.
- the series of sidewalks in the suburbs that are frequented by common squirrels.
- the local hiking trail, which encourages coyotes to enter and leave the city.
b
Mass extinctions occur when:
- all species are eradicated in a given geographic region.
- human activities affect ecosystems.
- many species are eradicated in a short period of time.
- biodiversity increases to a point that the habitat cannot support all species.
- many species are eradicated over a lengthy period of time.
c
Most biodiversity hot spots are found in ________ regions.
- temperate
- western
- tropical
- tundra
c
Second only to habitat destruction, which of the following factors poses the greatest risk to all species on Earth?
- overexploitation
- infectious disease
- rapid climate change
- pollution
- invasive species
c
Threatened species are:
- endangered only.
- endangered, critically endangered, or vulnerable.
- critically endangered only.
- endangered, critically endangered, vulnerable, or extinct.
- endangered or critically endangered.
b
Biodiversity includes all of the following EXCEPT ________ diversity.
- ecological
- species
- multicultural
- genetic
- biological
c
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a healthy ecosystem?
- renewable sources of energy
- simple communities made of a few species
- recycling of nutrients and raw materials
- complex community interactions
- relatively stable populations
b
Sand dunes lie behind the beach and protect the inland areas from erosion, flooding, and severe weather events. In order to prevent natural environmental disruption from damaging inland areas:
- only viable (live) sea turtle eggs should be harvested by humans.
- carnivorous fish populations need to decrease.
- pinfish populations need to be protected.
- more predators that eat sea turtle eggs should be introduced.
- seagrass beds need to be preserved.
e
Which of the following is NOT linked to the rapid decline of frog populations worldwide?
- pollution
- invasive species
- overexploitation
- habitat destruction
- fungal infection
c
When a predatory species has major influence on many of the other populations in its habitat, it is called a ________ predator.
- supreme
- peaceful
- low-impact
- keystone
- maximal
d
The term invasive species refers only to:
- wild animals that can travel over land or through water very quickly.
- plant species that compete with animal species for available space in an ecosystem.
- nonendangered species that compete with endangered species.
- species that are the first to occupy island habitats and then dominate.
- non-native species that cause great harm to ecosystems.
e
Which of the following is a TRUE statement about Bengal tigers?
- Invasive species of big cats have presented a major threat to Bengal tigers in the wild.
- Bengal tigers are now safely protected from habitat destruction.
- The global population of Bengal tigers has been decimated by infectious feline viruses.
- The estimated MVP of Bengal tigers does not actually exist in most of India's tiger reserves.
- There are more Bengal tigers living in zoos today than ever existed in the wild.
d
Greenhouse gases include
- carbon dioxide and methane.
- nitrous oxide and oxygen.
- carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
- nitrogen and oxygen.
a
The three greatest current threats to biodiversity, in order starting with the greatest, are
- invasive species, habitat loss, and overharvesting.
- habitat loss, overharvesting, and invasive species.
- habitat loss, invasive species, and overharvesting.
- invasive species, overharvesting, and habitat loss.
c
Why did certain areas along the Missouri River flood so severely in 1993?
- The natural hilly barriers that protected the region from incoming storms were reduced in elevation by mining operations.
- In response to climate change, the amount of water transpired by Amazonian rain-forest trees increased and then precipitated suddenly in north central North America.
- Subsurface springs leaked into the river at an unprecedented rate following a localized earthquake.
- The conversion of local forests, wetlands, and grasslands into farmland increased runoff and soil erosion.
- Huge levees that previously provided protection from flooding were breached.
d
Scientists worry that global warming will result in the oceans
- containing less dissolved carbon dioxide.
- becoming more acidic.
- containing less dissolved oxygen.
- becoming more basic.
b
How much of the water that rains down in the Amazon rain forest originated in evaporation from leaves?
- 9/10
- 1/3 to 1/2
- none
- all
- 1/100
b
Currently there are ________ biosphere reserves worldwide.
- more than 10,000
- fewer than 10
- 480
- 125
- no existing
c
DDT and mercury
- contribute to acid precipitation.
- accumulate in the tissues of organisms.
- deplete the ozone layer.
- were once used as an energy source.
b
The current rate of extinction may be as much as ________ times higher than at any other time in the past 100,000 years.
- 100
- 10,000
- 10
- 1,000
d
In the most general sense, conservation biologists are interested in preserving:
- tropical rain forests.
- all mammalian species.
- endangered birds.
- the highest quality of life for all human beings.
- biodiversity.
e
As biodiversity ________, ecosystem services ________.
- declines; increase
- declines; decline
- increases; become less important
- declines; are eliminated entirely
- increases; decline
b
If humans overexploit green sea turtles, then:
- pinfish populations will likely increase.
- feral hog populations will decrease.
- brown pelican populations will likely decline.
- carnivorous fish populations will likely decrease.
- seagrass will not be eaten.
a
Habitat fragmentation occurs when an ecosystem is:
- converted into core reserves.
- irreversibly destroyed by human activities.
- polluted so severely that species go extinct, locally.
- split into smaller areas.
- sold to several different investors for the purpose of conservation.
d
The introduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park in 1991 resulted in
- ecological changes involving at least 25 species.
- a general decline in overall habitat as death spread like wildfire.
- the death of all of the wolves, likely due to an insufficient amount of available prey.
- the migration of most of these wolves out of the park and back to Canada.
a
Coral reefs, which provide habitat for about ________ of all marine fish species, are suffering severe damage from a combination of human activities.
- 1/3
- 1/2
- 3/4
- 1/100
- 9/10
a
Sustainable development
- will require making difficult decisions regarding travel to other planets.
- will speed up evolution.
- will require global, multinational cooperation.
- will require many people to contribute financially.
c