Chapter 56 practice quiz – Flashcards
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The integration of several sciences such as ecology and genetics to sustain biological diversity at all levels is known as _____.
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conservation biology
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Extinction is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has occurred on Earth since life began. Why are scientists so concerned about extinction now?
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One of the greatest periods of mass extinction is occurring now. Human activities are directly responsible for today's mass extinctions. Extinction is occurring faster than ever before and faster than rates at which new species form. Large numbers of plant species, which form the base of terrestrial food webs, are becoming extinct.
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What are the three levels of biodiversity?
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genetic, species, ecosystem
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Crop pollination, water purification, and moderation of weather extremes are just a few examples of _____.
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ecosystem services
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The major cause of extinction of species today is _____
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habitat destruction
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Which of the following threaten biodiversity?
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habitat destruction, overexploitation, introduced species
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The natural human connection to nature and other forms of life is called _____.
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biophilia
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Which of the following groups is most severely threatened with extinction?
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amphibians
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Which major threat to biodiversity has contributed to about 40% of the extinctions recorded since 1750, and is brought on by humans deliberately and accidentally?
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introduced species
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Clearing a forest to create a region for grazing cattle is an example of what type of threat to biodiversity?
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habitat loss
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What is the key factor driving an extinction vortex?
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loss of genetic variation
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What is the effective population size of a population containing 1,200 individuals of whom 500 females breed with 500 males?
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Ne = 4Nf Nm/Nf + Nm 1,000 or 83.3%
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The declining-population approach _____
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emphasizes the environmental factors that caused a population's decline
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What is one viable solution to help increase the effective size and genetic variation in the grizzly bear population in Yellowstone National Park?
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Conservation biologists could introduce just two new bears each decade from another population.
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Which statement below describes a finding of researchers who studied the decline of red-cockaded woodpeckers?
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Individuals generally have a better chance of reproducing by remaining behind than by dispersing and excavating homes in new territories.
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Which of the following is a step in the declining-population approach to species conservation?
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confirm that the species is in decline determine the species' environmental requirements develop hypotheses for all possible causes of the decline test the most likely hypothesis first
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The MVP of a population _____.
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requires that researchers calculate the effective population size
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Which of the following is most closely associated with the declining-population approach?
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the evaluation of population declines on a case-by-case basis
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What did the researchers do that caused red-cockaded woodpeckers to form new breeding groups at new sites?
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constructed nesting cavities at new sites
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Which of the following statements about edge effects is correct?
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They are defining features of landscapes. Edges have their own set of physical conditions, which differ from those on either side. As a habitat patch becomes progressively smaller, the percentage of the patch influenced by the edge effect increases. As habitats are fragmented, edge-adapted species benefit at the expense of other species that are not edge-adapted.
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Which statement below about movement corridors is correct?
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Artificial corridors such as bridges and tunnels have saved many animals from being killed crossing highways
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The "zoned reserve" system of landscape management calls for _____.
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protected areas to be surrounded by buffer zones
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What country is a world leader in zoned reserves?
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Costa Rica
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Connections between habitat fragments are referred to as _____.
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movement corridors
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Biodiversity hot spots are _____
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regions with the potential for high levels of extinction
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_____ is the science of facilitating the return of a degraded ecosystem to a more natural condition
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restoration ecology
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The use of organisms to add essential materials to degraded systems defines _____.
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biological augmentation
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What does E. O. Wilson propose regarding the concept of biophilia?
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Biophilia is an evolutionary product of natural selection acting on a brainy species whose survival depended on a close connection to the environment.
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One of the most impressive models of sustainable development can be seen in the _____.
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Costa Rican zoned reserves
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Which of the following factors can decrease biodiversity?
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introduced species
