Biology

Eldra P. Solomon, Charles E. Martin, Diana W. Martin,

Chapter 56

Ecology and the Geography of Life - all with Video Answers

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Chapter Questions

Problem 1

Which of the following statements about extinction is not correct? (a) extinction is the permanent loss of a species (b) extinction is a natural biological process (c) once a species is extinct, it never reappears (d) human activities have little impact on extinctions (e) thousands of plant and animal species are currently threatened with extinction

Noah Boudrie

Noah Boudrie

Numerade Educator

Problem 2

An endangered species (a) is severely reduced in number (b) is in imminent danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant part of its range (c) usually does not have reduced genetic variability (d) is not in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future $(\mathrm{e})$ a and $\mathrm{b}$

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 3

The most important reason for declining biological diversity is
(a) air pollution (b) introduction of foreign (invasive) species
(c) habitat destruction and fragmentation
(d) illegal commercial hunting (e) commercial harvesting

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 4

Habitat corridors (a) surround a given habitat (b) cut through a continuous habitat, producing an edge effect (c) vary in width depending on the species they are designed to protect (d) are an important strategy of ex situ conservation (e) have been widely adopted by restoration ecologists

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 5

In situ conservation (a) includes breeding captive species in zoos (b) includes seed storage of genetically diverse crops (c) concentrates on preserving biological diversity in the wild (d) focuses exclusively on large, charismatic animals (e) a and b

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 6

Restoration ecology (a) is the study of how humans impact organisms (b) returns a degraded environment as close as possible to its former state $(\mathrm{c})$ is an example of ex situ conservation (d) has been used to successfully reverse the decline in amphibian populations (e) is an important provision of the Endangered Species Act

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 7

About $60 \%$ of tropical rainforest deforestation is the result of (a) commercial logging (b) cattle ranching (c) hydroelectric dams (d) mining (e) subsistence agriculture

Mary Richards

Numerade Educator

Problem 8

Climate change occurs because (a) carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases react chemically to produce excess heat
(b) Earth has too many greenhouses and other glassed build. ings (c) volcanic eruptions produce large quantities of sulfur and other greenhouse gases (d) carbon dioxide and other green. house gases trap infrared radiation in the atmosphere (e) carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases allow excess heat to pass out of the atmosphere

Mary Richards

Numerade Educator

Problem 9

CON N ECT What gas is a human-made pollutant in the lower (surface) atmosphere but a natural and beneficial gas in the stratosphere?
(a) $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$
(b) $\mathrm{CH}_{4}(\mathrm{c}) \mathrm{O}_{3}$
(d) $\mathrm{CFCs}$
(e) $\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}$

KP

Karenza Pearson

Numerade Educator

Problem 10

Where is stratospheric ozone depletion most pronounced? (a) over Antarctica (b) over the equator (c) over South America (d) over North America and Europe (e) over Alaska and Siberia

KP

Karenza Pearson

Numerade Educator

Problem 11

Why might captive-breeding programs that reintroduce species into natural environments fail?

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 12

CON N ECT Conservation biologists often say that their discipline is less about biology than it is about economics and human decision making. What do you think that they mean?

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 13

A more descriptive name for Homo sapiens is Homo dangerous. Explain this specific epithet, given what you have learned in this chapter.

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 14

EVOLUTION LIN K Because new species will eventually evolve to replace those that humans are driving to extinction, why is declining biological diversity such a threat?

Danielle Ashley

Danielle Ashley

Numerade Educator

Problem 15

Biologists have wondered how introduced species that would probably have limited genetic variation (due to the founder effect) survive and adapt so successfully that they become invasive. Part of the answer may be that invasive species are the result of multiple introductions instead of a single one. Explain how multiple introductions from a species' native area to an introduced area could increase that species" invasion
success.

Josee Pacheco

Numerade Educator

Problem 16

Conservation biologists have altered the evolution of salmon populations in captive-breeding programs. Wild female salmon tend to produce fewer but larger eggs because the large eggs contain more nutrients for the offspring than smaller eggs, giving each individual a greater chance to Survive. After just a few generations, however, captive-bred females now lay greater numbers of small eggs. Suggest a possible adaptive advantage for many small eggs in the captive-bred environment. What would you predict regarding the reproductive success of captive-bred females released in the wild?

Wyatt Villetard

Wyatt Villetard

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Problem 17

INTERPRET DATA Study the graph, which shows the combined effects of various factors on biological diversity in 12 different terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Which factor is most important overall? Why do you think that climate change and increasing atmospheric $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ are represented as separate factors? What is nitrogen pollution? (Adapted from Sala, O. E., et al. Science, Vol. $287,2000 .$

Sana Riaz

Numerade Educator

Problem 18

If you were given the task of developing a policy for the United States to deal with global climate change during the next 50 years, what would you propose? Explain your answer by describing how science, technology, and society would play a role in your policy

Wyatt Villetard

Wyatt Villetard

Other Schools