Life: The Science of Biology

David Sadava, David M. Hills, H. Craig Heller

Chapter 59

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology - all with Video Answers

Educators

Chapter Questions

Problem 1

Which of the following is not currently a major cause of species extinctions?
a. Habitat destruction
b. Meteorite impacts
c. Overexploitation
d. Introductions of non-native predators
e. Introductions of non-native pathogens

Aditya Sood

Aditya Sood

Numerade Educator

Problem 2

Species extinctions matter to human society because
a. many important medications contain or are based on a plant product.
b. people derive aesthetic pleasure from interacting with other organisms.
c. causing species extinctions raises serious ethical issues.
d. biodiversity helps maintain valuable ecosystem services.
e. All of the above

Aditya Sood

Numerade Educator

Problem 3

As a habitat patch gets smaller, it
a. cannot support populations of species that require large areas.
b. supports only small populations of many species.
c. is influenced to an increasing degree by edge effects.
d. is invaded by species from surrounding habitats.
e. All of the above

Scott Rhodes

Numerade Educator

Problem 4

Global warming is a concern because
a. the rate of change in climate is projected to be faster than the rate at which many species can shift their ranges.
b. it is already too hot in the tropics.
c. climates have been so stable for thousands of years that many species lack the ability to tolerate variable temperatures.
d. climate change will be especially harmful to rare species.
e. None of the above

Scott Rhodes

Numerade Educator

Problem 5

Scientists can determine the historical frequency of fires in an area by
a. examining charcoal in sites of ancient villages.
b. measuring carbon in soils.
c. radioactively dating fallen tree trunks.
d. examining fire scars in growth rings of trees.
e. determining the age structure of forests.

Aditya Sood

Numerade Educator

Problem 6

Captive propagation is a useful conservation tool provided that
a. there is space in zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens to preserve the species indefinitely.
b. genetic uniformity of captive populations can be maintained.
c. the threats that endangered the species are being alleviated so that captive-reared individuals can later be released back into the wild.
d. there are sufficient caretakers.
e. None of the above; captive propagation should never be used because it directs attention away from the need to protect species in their natural habitats.

Scott Rhodes

Numerade Educator

Problem 7

A plant species is most likely to become invasive when introduced to a new area if it
a. grows tall.
b. has become invasive in other places where it has been introduced.
c. is closely related to species living in the area where it has been introduced.
d. has specialized dispersers of its seeds.
e. has a long life span.

Aditya Sood

Numerade Educator

Problem 8

Conservation biologists have debated extensively which is better: many small protected areas (which may contain more species ) or a few large protected areas (which may be the only ones that can support populations of species that require large areas). What ecological processes should be evaluated in making judgments about the sizes and locations of protected areas? How can principles of island biogeography be applied in this context?

Leah Lampen

Numerade Educator

Problem 9

The desert bighorn sheep of the southwestern United States is endangered. Its major predator, the puma, is also of conservation concern in the region. Under what conditions, if any, would it be appropriate to suppress the population of one rare species to assist another rare species?

Leah Lampen

Numerade Educator

Problem 10

During World War I, doctors adopted a "triage" system for dealing with wounded soldiers. The wounded were divided into three categories: those almost certain to die no matter what was done to help them, those likely to recover even if not assisted, immediately, and those whose probability of survival would be greatly increased if they were given immediate medical attention. Limited medical resources were directed primarily at the third category. What are some implications of adopting a similar approach toward species preservation?

Leah Lampen

Numerade Educator

Problem 11

Utilitarian arguments dominate discussions about the importance of preserving biological richness. In your opinion, what role should ethical and moral arguments play?

Leah Lampen

Numerade Educator