Measuring Biological Diversity

Which of the following statements is true about biological diversity on Earth?

Biological diversity has decreased over time
Biological diversity is not important for the environment
Biological diversity has remained constant since life appeared on Earth
Biological diversity has increased over time (correct)

What is the estimated number of different plants, animals, and micro-organisms on Earth?

100 million
Unknown
3.5 billion
15 million (correct)

What would be the unforgivable act in terms of Earth's biological diversity?

Destroying the economy
Contributing to the loss of Earth's biological diversity (correct)
Using up Earth's stored energy supplies
Causing natural disasters

Which term is commonly used to refer to the number and variety of organisms in a given area?

Biodiversity (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a word formed by merging the meaning of two different words?

Portmanteau word (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential positive effect of eliminating mosquitoes from an ecosystem?

Decreased disease transmission (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential negative effect of losing plant or animal species on Earth?

Loss of important medicines (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the information provided, interpretive naturalists primarily work in which types of environments?

Woodlands (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of interpretive naturalists during nature walks?

Explaining the natural environment (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the diversity index indicate about an ecosystem?

The level of diversity within the ecosystem (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what is the purpose of burning trees that cannot be used for building materials or other products?

To maintain biological diversity (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the belief of many scientists regarding biological diversity?

It is important for the health and survival of natural communities (B) Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the system of naming species that we use today?

Carolus Linnaeus (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic used to group organisms together as a species?

Their ability to interbreed in nature (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what is the purpose of measuring and recording the height and hand span of each student?

To classify the students into different groups (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between the graphs of the right wrist measurements and the left wrist measurements?

The graphs are different (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to know whether or not two types of organisms belong to the same species?

To classify them accurately (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the major anatomical difference between the woodpecker finch and the cactus finch?

Their beak size (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which measurement is used to determine the biological diversity of an area?

The diversity index (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why does a river with many different kinds of organisms have a high diversity index?

Because it prevents the population of any one type of organism from becoming too great (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why would a polluted river have a low diversity index?

Because it supports only the few species that are able to live in polluted conditions (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why did the influenza outbreak of 1918–1919 disappear after 18 months?

Because the virus ran out of susceptible people (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a structural adaptation mentioned in the text?

The pitcher plant trapping insects in its pitcher-shaped leaf (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the distance traveled by a rufous hummingbird if it travels 1800 km?

$2 \times 10^7$ times the length of its body (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for burning areas with older lodgepole pine trees to control the mountain pine beetle infestation?

To reduce the number of infected trees (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of having a forest with high biological diversity?

Greater resistance to disease (D) Signup and view all the answers