Ecology and Conservation Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is primarily true about biomes?

Biomes contain few species due to harsh conditions.

Biomes consist of areas with similar climates, plants, animals, and landscapes. (correct)

Biomes are characterized by their similar climates, but not necessarily by their landscapes.

Biomes are large areas defined by their weather patterns and human population.

What is a characteristic of K-strategists?

They typically produce many offspring in a short lifespan.

They provide extensive prenatal care and have low juvenile death rates. (correct)

They thrive in unstable environments.

They are usually found in polar regions.

Which statement accurately describes biodiversity patterns relative to the equator?

Biodiversity is lower near the equator due to extreme heat.

Biodiversity is uniform across all latitudes.

As one approaches the equator, biodiversity decreases sharply.

Equatorial regions have higher biodiversity due to a stable climate. (correct)

What do ecosystem services encompass?

The direct provision of natural resources and those that regulate the environment. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Pleistocene overkill theory explain the extinction of large mammals?

Human hunting practices led to the rapid decrease in large animal populations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common trait of R-strategists?

They produce many offspring and often experience high juvenile mortality. Signup and view all the answers

What are crucial components of an animal’s habitat?

Food and shelter are the most important components. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary goal of species reintroduction programs?

To establish a viable, free-ranging population Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following acts specifically mandates the prevention of adverse environmental effects from surface mining?

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Signup and view all the answers

What major challenge has contributed to the near extinction of the red wolf?

Coyote hybridization Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about restoration under the Clean Water Act is correct?

There should be no net loss of areas and/or functions of water, including wetlands. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the Reintroduction Specialist Group (IUCN) play in conservation?

It combats biodiversity loss through reintroductions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary pollutant released by power plants that contributes to acid rain?

Sulfur dioxide Signup and view all the answers

What effect does climate change have on the phenology of an animal?

It results in a mismatch in seasonal timing between species. Signup and view all the answers

How did carbon get sequestered into fossil fuels?

By plant growth, followed by burial and transformation over millions of years. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key climactic characteristic of the Cretaceous period?

Very warm and wet Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the IUCN Red List?

To classify species based on their conservation status. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a biological vector in the context of disease transmission?

An organism that has the pathogen living inside its body. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does the shutdown of timber harvesting have on wildlife conservation considerations?

It may result in economic loss but benefits certain species like the spotted owl. Signup and view all the answers

What are instrumental values in the context of wildlife conservation?

Values that pertain to the usefulness of wildlife to humans. Signup and view all the answers

What type of conservation value is highlighted through the prism analogy?

The blending of economic, ethical, and sustainability considerations. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason a species may be listed as endangered?

Commercial overutilization Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is included in Appendix I of CITES?

Species threatened with extinction Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'take' mean in the context of endangered species protection?

To engage in unlawful hunting or killing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding currently proposed U.S. listed species?

There are 16 species that are candidates for listing. Signup and view all the answers

What does habitat rehabilitation involve in the context of recovering endangered species?

Restoring and improving habitats for wildlife Signup and view all the answers

In terms of limiting factors for endangered species recovery, which of the following is a significant concern?

Nesting issues alongside environmental threats Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is responsible for listing organisms into different appendices for international trade control?

Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) Signup and view all the answers

What impact does habitat destruction have on endangered species?

Directly contributes to species becoming endangered Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the international conservation of endangered species?

Cooperation is encouraged to protect endangered species worldwide. Signup and view all the answers

What type of animal recovery does a reintroduction plan typically involve?

Restoring animals to areas where they have disappeared Signup and view all the answers

What is a mandatory consideration in the goal-setting phase of ecological restoration?

Stakeholder interest Signup and view all the answers

In what way does ecological restoration differ from mere re-creation of a habitat?

It may restore a historic condition without ensuring native status. Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated cost of ecological restoration at an ecologically meaningful scale?

$3.00 per square foot Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a step in the ecological restoration process?

Community Engagement Signup and view all the answers

Which act was mentioned as supporting the need for ecological restoration?

The Clean Water Act of 1972 Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception regarding ecological restoration?

It can fully replace protection of intact ecosystems. Signup and view all the answers

Why is involving volunteers in the implementation phase of ecological restoration important?

It fosters a long-term sense of connection. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'As-built conditions' in the context of ecological restoration?

The final state of the project after completion. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect is NOT typically assessed during the site assessment step?

Current economic benefits of the site. Signup and view all the answers

Why might some argue funds for ecological restoration could be better spent elsewhere?

They are often perceived as expensive and inefficient. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

General Wildlife Ecology

A niche is an organism's functional role, also known as its "job"
Niches are multidimensional, encompassing conditions like the time of hunting, the size of prey, and location of prey.
Animals cannot occupy the same niche at the same time in the same place (competitive exclusion theory).
Specialists thrive in specific conditions, feeding on specific species.
Generalists can thrive in a wider range of conditions and feed on various types of things.
Natural selection favors individuals with favorable variations, increasing their genetic representation in the next generation. Unfavorable variations will decrease.
Logistic growth occurs when a population reaches its carrying capacity and stabilizes.
Limiting factors such as starvation, disease, or lack of resources dictate carrying capacity. Density-dependent factors impact larger populations more, while density-independent factors affect populations equally.
Drought, cold, and natural disasters are density-independent factors.

Energy Pyramid

The energy pyramid shows the flow of energy between trophic levels.
Producers (plants) are at the bottom with the greatest amount of energy.
Tertiary consumers (cats, hawks, owls) are at the top with the least energy.
The most biomass is at the bottom (producers), and least is at the top (Tertiary consumers).
The highest number of individuals is at the bottom (producers), and lowest is at the top (Tertiary Consumers).

Ecosystem Services

Provisioning: resources people obtain (food, timber, water).
Regulating: benefits provided by the ecosystem (climate regulation, water purification).
Supporting: services to keep provisioning and regulating services going (photosynthesis, nutrient cycling).
Cultural: recreational activities (hiking, camping).

K-strategists and R-strategists

K-strategists are large organisms with long lifespans, low reproduction rates, and extensive parental care.
R-strategists are small organisms that reproduce rapidly with little parental care.

Threats to Wildlife

Overexploitation, driven also by climate change, is a major threat to megafauna.
Habitat loss and destruction is the largest threat to terrestrial biodiversity.
DDT is an insecticide that caused harm to wildlife and humans through harming birds’ eggs and linkage to Parkinson’s in humans.

Pathways of Invasion

Pathways of invasion are the intentional or unintentional routes animals take to travel beyond their native range.
Propagule pressure is determined by quantity, quality, and frequency of arriving organisms.

Acid Rain

Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide mix in the atmosphere.
Power plants are a primary source of these pollutants.

Climate Change and Phenology

Climate change affects the timing of biological events (phenology) of animals, which can disrupt natural processes if timing is mismatched.

Carbon Sequestration

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is sequestered into fossil fuels when plants die and are buried over millions of years.

IUCN Red List

The IUCN Red List is a global list of threatened species.

Vectors

Vectors are organisms that transmit diseases from one host to another, or from a source to a host.

Conservation Ethics

Ethics constrain self-serving behavior and define right and wrong actions.
Leopold's land ethic expanded the boundaries of community to consider other organisms, and the use of land.

Wildlife Conservation Issues

Biodiversity is decreasing, especially closer to the poles.
Areas closer to the equator have more biodiversity.
Many species have been lost due to overexploitation and habitat loss.

Conservation Laws

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) - provides protection to endangered and threatened species.
Numerous other conservation acts exist to govern wildlife and protect species from extinction or endangerment.
Laws are an instrument to achieve the ethics of conservation.

Protected Areas

Protected areas preserve important natural resources for wildlife, and are critical in conserving biodiversity.
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) categories of protected areas to illustrate how varied the management and purpose of protected areas can be.

Community-Based Conservation

CAMPFIRE (Communal Areas Management Program for Indigenous Resources) helps communities manage and benefit from their natural resources.

Ecological Restoration

Ecological restoration intentionally alters a site to establish an indigenous, historical ecosystem.
Methods include habitat replacement, restoration, and enhancement.

Adaptive Management

Adaptive management involves making decisions based on current knowledge and adjusting those decisions based on new data and feedback.

Reintroduction

Reintroduction is used to restore populations of species that have been driven to near extinction to increase biodiversity.
Case studies like the reintroduction of the red wolf can help monitor the effectiveness of reintroduction programs.

Human Dimensions

Human dimensions considers how humans value wildlife, how humans and wildlife interact, and the factors that influence decision-making about wildlife and wildlife management.
Collaboration among stakeholders, levels of government, NGOs and experts is important for successful wildlife management.

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Description

Test your knowledge on biomes, species strategies, and biodiversity patterns with this quiz on ecology and conservation. Explore critical concepts like ecosystem services and species reintroduction while understanding the challenges faced by endangered species.