Chapter 10 Biodiversity

species critical to the functioning of an ecosystem

application of biological science to create new products

activities such as camping in wilderness areas

different genes contained within a population

illegal hunting

number and variety of species within a given area

program that has helped return threatened species to the wild

variety of habitats and communities within ecosystems

species native to a particular area

threatened areas of high biodiversity

What groups of organisms are most in danger of extinction? a. those with small populations b. those that migrate or need special habitats c. those with large populations that breed quickly d. both (a) and (b)

What human activities have influenced recent extinction events? a. habitat destruction b. poaching c. introducing exotic species d. all of the above

Reasons for preserving biodiversity include all of the following except a. isolating unique genetic material so it can be incorporated into existing crops. b. increasing the chances of discovering organisms with medicinal value. c. preventing natural evolution. d. finding new plants that can supplement the world’s food supply.

How many species are estimated to be living on Earth? a. between 10,000 and 1,000,000 b. between 500,000 and 1 million c. between 1 and 5 million d. between 10 and 50 million

Why are there so many species still unknown to modern science? a. Many of these species are found in remote environments. b. Smaller species receive less attention than large organisms. c. Cataloging these species is a huge task. d. all of the above

Where are many critical biodiversity hotspots located? a. cities and developed areas of the world b. islands, tropical rain forests, and coastal areas c. desert and polar environments d. all of the above

It is often difficult to save individual species because a. small populations are more prone to disease. b. inbreeding may result in genetic disorders. c. captive species may not reproduce in the wild. d. All of the above

Preserving entire ecosystems rather than individual species is a good conservation strategy because a. only endangered species will be saved. b. developers will have greater access to land. c. more than one species can be saved. d. it will not be necessary for environmentalists to study the ecosystem.

Where are some of the unique ecosystems of the United States? a. in Pacific Northwest and California b. in the Florida Everglades and Hawaii c. both (a) and (b) d. none of the above

How did the CITES treaty reduce the slaughter of elephants? a. It offered a bounty to tribal leaders for identifying poachers. b. It banned imports and exports of all ivory worldwide. c. It limited sales of ivory to the antique market. d. both (a) and (c)