Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Cascading Effects

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What impact can the decline or extinction of one species have on an ecosystem?

It can trigger an avalanche, leading to the decline of many species in the ecosystem. (correct)

It only affects the species directly linked to the declining or extinct species.

It causes temporary disruption but does not lead to cascading effects.

It has no significant impact on other species in the ecosystem.

What is the consequence of biodiversity losses causing cascading effects within a region?

It only affects the immediate ecosystem and does not have wider consequences.

It does not have any impact on rare or hard-to-detect species.

It can lead to the elimination of many data-deficient species. (correct)

There are no significant consequences to biodiversity losses.

What did the study on the snake community near El Copé, Panama reveal?

The snake community plummeted after an invasive fungal pathogen wiped out most of the area's frogs, a primary food source. (correct)

The snake community remained unaffected by the loss of frogs in the area.

The snake population increased due to the decline of frogs in the area.

The snake community improved its survival rate despite a decline in frog population.

What made it difficult to analyze many snake species despite having an extensive dataset?

Many snake species were detected so infrequently that traditional analysis methods were impossible. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Elise Zipkin state, 'Some species that are rare or hard to detect may be declining so quickly that we might not ever know that we're losing them'?

To highlight the difficulty in detecting rare or elusive species that may be declining rapidly. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the study mentioned in the text?

The general loss of biodiversity and its consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What approach did the team take in estimating the impact of the loss of amphibians on snake diversity?

Building statistical models to estimate the probability of change in snake diversity metrics Signup and view all the answers

What did the study estimate about the probability of the number of snake species after the decline of amphibians?

85% probability of fewer snake species than before Signup and view all the answers

What did Doug Levey, a program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Environmental Biology, conclude about the die-off of frogs?

It has had cascading effects in tropical food chains Signup and view all the answers

How did the team deal with the challenge of data-deficient species in their study?

They reframed the question and focused on estimating the probability that snake diversity metrics changed Signup and view all the answers

What is the main consequence of a disturbance event that indirectly produces both 'losers' and 'winners'?

Worldwide biotic homogenization Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the challenges faced by researchers when dealing with a massive die-off of a particular species?

Pinpointing the exact cause of decline for each species Signup and view all the answers

What did Zipkin suggest about assessing population changes with rare and data-deficient species?

It is inherently difficult due to rareness. Signup and view all the answers

What did Zipkin suggest happens when a disturbance event indirectly produces both 'losers' and 'winners'?

It leads to worldwide biotic homogenization. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus when animals die off en masse?

Focusing on other species that rely on those animals. Signup and view all the answers

What did Doug Levey, a program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Environmental Biology, highlight about frogs' disappearance?

It has had cascading effects in tropical food chains. Signup and view all the answers

Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Cascading Effects

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