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Biology: The Essentials

Marielle Hoefnagels, Matthew S. Taylor

Chapter 20

Preserving Blodiversity - all with Video Answers

Educators


Chapter Questions

10:14

Problem 1

List the main threats to biodiversity worldwide.

Breanna Kloczkowski
Breanna Kloczkowski
Numerade Educator
10:10

Problem 2

Considering the many types of community and ecosystem interactions (see sections 19.4 and 19.6 ), explain why the loss of one species is likely to lead to declines in other populations.

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
04:27

Problem 3

As part of an effort to combat habitat loss, some conservationists suggest "assisted migration," in which scientists move endangered or threatened organisms to new habitats. Discuss the possible advantages, disadvantages, and challenges of this strategy.

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
05:40

Problem 4

When trees are removed from an area, patches or strips of untouched trees often intersperse the deforested land. How is the abiotic environment on the edge of these strips or patches different from before the area was disturbed? What changes in vegetation would you expect to see in the next few years? How might animals be affected by forest fragmentation?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
03:50

Problem 5

Nanoparticles are tiny bits of metal that are used in sunscreens, as a wastewater treatment, and for many other purposes. Recent evidence suggests that nanoparticles are toxic to phytoplankton, the primary producers at the base of many aquatic food chains. Phytoplankton use the energy in sunlight to produce organic matter, and they consume $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ and release $\mathrm{O}_{2} .$ Predict some possible consequences to biodiversity if nanoparticles become a more common pollutant.

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
04:12

Problem 6

How does the Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone" demonstrate the connections among land and water ecosystems? How would you expect bird populations in the dead zone to be affected?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
05:04

Problem 7

Suppose you throw a small piece of plastic in the garbage. List three places where the plastic might be found months later.

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
04:06

Problem 8

Use the Internet to learn how pharmaceutical drugs end up in the water supply. What is the proper way to dispose of pharmaceuticals in your area?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
03:49

Problem 9

Use the Internet to research ways to make homes more energy-efficient. How does reducing your monthly energy bill relate to the conservation of biodiversity?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
03:06

Problem 10

How does the combustion of fossil fuels influence such different phenomena as acid deposition and global climate change?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
05:30

Problem 11

In what ways is the greenhouse effect both beneficial and harmful?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
05:17

Problem 12

Explain the logic behind planting trees to reduce global climate change.

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
08:57

Problem 13

One way to combat invasive species is to kill the invaders. In Hawaii officials shoot feral cats, goats, and pigs. In Australia, the government fought zebra mussels by adding chlorine and copper to a bay, killing everything living in the water. Do you think that these approaches are reasonable? Suggest alternative strategies.

Breanna Kloczkowski
Breanna Kloczkowski
Numerade Educator
02:33

Problem 14

List three ways you can alter your lifestyle to promote conservation.

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
02:24

Problem 15

Search the Internet for information on the Convention on Biological Diversity and on the international agreement called CITES. How does each approach tackle the biodiversity crisis on a global scale?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
02:15

Problem 16

Refer back to section $12.7,$ which describes the bottleneck effect. With this information in mind, why might recovery be difficult for species, such as cheetahs, that are nearly extinct?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
02:30

Problem 17

Phytoremediation is the use of plants to treat environmental problems. Search the Internet for applications of phytoremediation. What are the benefits of phytoremediation? If you were trying to discover plants suitable for use in phytoremediation, what qualities would you look for? Can you foresee any problems with phytoremediation?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator
03:20

Problem 18

Use the Internet to learn how aluminum is mined. How can recycling aluminum help save rain forests?

Dustin Findley
Dustin Findley
Numerade Educator