Biol57_Exam1_Exam2_Ordered_56Flashcards

Question 1

Q7. An endemic species is one that:
a. has been cultivated by humans
b. requires a very large territory
c. is found in only one particular place or region
d. is used to determine when pollution is too high
e. has a disproportionate effect on its ecosystem

Answer 1

c. is found in only one particular place or region

Question 2

Q9. Which island likely has the most species according to the Island Biogeography Model?
a. Maui
b. Niʻihau
c. Oʻahu
d. Kauaʻi
e. Kahoʻolawe

Answer 2

a. Maui

Question 3

Q13. Aquatic dead zones are caused by:
a. Too little limiting nutrients
b. Too many limiting nutrients
c. A lack of water
d. Chemicals building up in tissues

Answer 3

b. Too many limiting nutrients

Question 4

Q15. Which are density-independent factors?
a. mortality due to resource competition
b. mortality from fires/floods
c. mortality from pathogens
d. mortality due to group defense failure

Answer 4

b. and c. (fires/floods and pathogens)

Question 5

Q17. Why are deserts often found at 30° latitude?
a. Mountains create rain shadows
b. Ocean currents are stronger
c. Colder dry air descends
d. Warm air descends

Answer 5

c. Colder dry air descends

Question 6

Q18. Match these plant terms:
i. bud
ii. ovule
iii. pollen
iv. cone
v. petal
vi. root

Answer 6

i → b (new flower/branch), ii → d (becomes seed), iii → h (produces pollen), iv → g (gymnosperm structure), v → f (flower corolla), vi → a (anchors/absorbs nutrients)

Question 7

Q24. Why did American chestnuts decline so rapidly?
a. Low genetic diversity
b. Slow reproduction
c. K-selected
d. Fungal disease with no resistance
e. Hybrid sterility

Answer 7

d. Fungal disease with no resistance

Question 8

Q27. What are some objections to the 30x30 conservation project?
a. It costs too much
b. It limits recreational access
c. It impacts Indigenous communities
d. It restricts land use options

Answer 8

c. It impacts Indigenous communities

Question 9

Biological diversity is composed of what three levels?
a. trophic; ecosystem; and species diversity
b. genetic; species; and ecosystem diversity
c. ecosystem; species; and process diversity
d. genetic; function; and process diversity

Answer 9

b. genetic; species; and ecosystem diversity

Question 10

Light availability is a major limiting factor affecting organisms in:
a. temperate grasslands and island ecosystems
b. tundra & cold deserts
c. Mediterranean scrub and hot deserts
d. aquatic ecosystems & tropical rain forests

Answer 10

d. aquatic ecosystems & tropical rain forests

Question 11

Habitat fragmentation increases the probability of extinction by:
a. Decreasing the number of edges and therefore edge effects
b. Increasing the carrying capacity of populations in each habitat fragment
c. Isolating individuals in fragments from those in other fragments, decreasing gene flow
d. Decreasing the probability of inbreeding in smaller habitat fragments

Answer 11

c. Isolating individuals in fragments from those in other fragments, decreasing gene flow

Question 12

What are biodiversity hotspots?
a. Biomes especially threatened by global warming
b. Countries with the highest species richness
c. Places with over 1,500 endemic plants species where most of the original habitat has been lost
d. Largely undisturbed ecosystems with high numbers of species

Answer 12

c. Places with over 1,500 endemic plants species where most of the original habitat has been lost

Question 13

DDT is:
a. an effective insecticide that was used to reduce the spread of Malaria
b. absorbed in lipids (fatty tissues) and persistent in the environment
c. toxic at high trophic levels due to bioaccumulation
d. a source of environmental/health problems, even in areas where it has long been banned
e. all of the above

Answer 13

e. all of the above

Question 14

What is an example of accidental introduction of invasive species?
a. Rats establishing populations on remote oceanic islands
b. Foxes and rabbits brought Australia for hunting
c. Goats and other livestock on St. Helena in the South Atlantic
d. Using water hyacinth to decorate ponds around the world, including near Lake Victoria

Answer 14

a. Rats establishing populations on remote oceanic islands

Question 15

An endemic species is one that:
a. has been cultivated by humans
b. requires a very large territory
c. is found in only one particular place or region
d. is used to determine when the level of pollution is too high
e. has a disproportionate effect on its ecosystem

Answer 15

c. is found in only one particular place or region

Question 16

What is an edge effect? Can you provide an example?

Answer 16

An edge effect is a change in microclimate at the edge of a habitat. Example: the edge of a rainforest may have altered conditions like increased light availability.

Question 17

Which biome are we in now?
a. Tundra
b. Hot Desert
c. Mediterranean

Answer 17

c. Mediterranean

Question 18

Why is it difficult to engineer genetic resistance into a population with no resistance to disease?

Answer 18

Small populations often have reduced genetic diversity, making it harder to engineer resistance.

Question 19

What are two examples of native California plants?

Answer 19

1. White Sage
2. Yucca (with pale green leaves, fibrous) – seen in the Pitzer outback.

Question 20

Why are deserts often found at 30 degrees latitude?
a. Mountains are most often found at this latitude, creating rain shadows
b. Ocean currents are strongest here, due to plate tectonics
c. Colder dry air descends from the upper atmosphere here
d. Warm wet air descends from the upper atmosphere here

Answer 20

c. Colder dry air descends from the upper atmosphere here

Question 21

What is true about human populations?
a. After a period of very rapid population growth, the total fertility rate has decreased over the last 50 years
b. Modern humans evolved directly from Chimpanzees
c. Worldwide, the human population is currently decreasing
d. The number of humans is growing exponentially and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future

Answer 21

a. After a period of very rapid population growth, the total fertility rate has decreased

Question 22

For majority of their life cycle, mosses are:
a. In possession of a single circular chromosome, like most bacteria
b. Diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes
c. Polyploid, meaning they have multiple sets of chromosomes
d. Haploid, meaning they have single set of chromosomes like sperm or egg cells

Answer 22

d. Haploid, meaning they have single set of chromosomes like sperm or egg cells

Question 23

What is an Abiotic Factor? Can you list three examples?

Answer 23

A non-living factor that interacts with living organisms. Examples: temperature, precipitation, light availability.

Question 24

Which island in Hawaii likely has the most species according to the Island Model of Biogeography?
a. Maui
b. Ni’ihau
c. O’ahu
d. Kaua’i
e. Hawai’i Island

Answer 24

e. Hawai’i Island

Question 25

What group of plants has pollen but lacks true fruits? a. Gymnosperms/Conifers b. Green Algae c. Ferns & Fern allies d. Angiosperms

Answer 25

a. Gymnosperms/Conifers

Question 26

What explains the relationship between lichen diversity and lung cancer mortality? a. Lichens are very sensitive to certain air pollutants, especially Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), that are also bad for lung health

Answer 26

a. Lichens are very sensitive to certain air pollutants, especially SO2, that are also bad for lung health

Question 27

Which period was dominated by lycophytes and ferns, the source of most coal deposits? a. Carboniferous b. Permian c. Triassic d. Jurassic e. Tertiary

Answer 27

a. Carboniferous

Question 28

What is a unique feature of Angiosperms, mosses, and ferns? a. They have flowers that can have specialized relationships with animal pollinators

Answer 28

a. They have flowers that can have specialized relationships with animal pollinators

Question 29

Which are examples of density independent factors? a. mortality due to competition over resources b. mortality due to fires and floods c. mortality due to pathogen spread d. mortality due to inability to cooperate

Answer 29

b. mortality due to fires and floods c. mortality due to pathogen spread

Question 30

Q1. What kind of plant is especially endangered by poaching or overharvesting? a. Culinary herbs b. Aquatic ornamentals c. Zucchinis d. Tropical ornamentals like orchids e. Poisonous shrubs

Answer 30

d. Tropical ornamentals like orchids

Question 31

Q2. Define and provide an example of: r-selected species: ______ K-selected species: ______

Answer 31

r-selected: high reproduction, short lifespan (e.g., insects) K-selected: low reproduction, long care (e.g., elephants)

Question 32

Q5. Define and give examples of: i. Flagship species ii. Keystone species iii. Umbrella species iv. Sentinel species

Answer 32

i. Charismatic, draws support (e.g., panda) ii. Critical ecosystem role (e.g., sea otter) iii. Protects many others (e.g., tiger) iv. Sensitive indicators of environmental change (e.g., lichens)

Question 33

Q6. Can a single plant or animal fit more than one conservation category? Explain.

Answer 33

Yes. Some species like elephants are flagship, keystone, and umbrella species simultaneously.

Question 34

Q15. What is effective population size (Ne)? a. At least 100 individuals b. Between 10 and 15 c. Capable of contributing to gene pools d. Minimum individuals needed for persistence

Answer 34

c. Capable of contributing to gene pools

Question 35

Q25. California Condors and Black-footed ferrets were both: a. Restricted to small patches b. Threatened by lead poisoning c. Made extinct in the wild before rebounding d. Successfully removed from endangered list

Answer 35

d. Successfully removed from endangered list

Question 36

What kind of plant is especially endangered by poaching or overharvesting? a. Culinary herbs b. Attractive aquatic ornamentals c. Zucchinis, because they only produce two seeds at a time d. Attractive tropical ornamentals, like orchids e. Poisonous shrubs, like oleander

Answer 36

d. Attractive tropical ornamentals, like orchids

Question 37

Define one r-selected species AND one K-selected species. Give an example of each.

Answer 37

r-selected: high reproductive rate, early maturity (e.g., insects) K-selected: low reproductive rate, high parental care (e.g., elephants)

Question 38

Which one of these two (r or K) is more likely to be threatened by overexploitation?

Answer 38

K

Question 39

Overexploitation of what kind of species is most likely to generate negative publicity/outrage? a. flagship species b. umbrella species c. sentinel species d. keystone species

Answer 39

a. flagship species

Question 40

Human overexploitation of what shared abiotic resource endangers species and ecosystems? a. Carbon dioxide b. Nitrogen c. Fresh water d. Salt water

Answer 40

c. Fresh water

Question 41

What is the single biggest threat currently facing most aquatic species? a. Habitat destruction b. Invasive species c. Pollution d. Overexploitation e. Climate change

Answer 41

d. Overexploitation

Question 42

What index indicates large-scale wildlife population declines globally? a. Living Planet Index b. 30x30 Index c. Air Quality Index

Answer 42

a. Living Planet Index

Question 43

Why does the taxonomic status of a plant or animal matter in conservation?

Answer 43

It informs identification and classification for conservation, breeding, and legal protections. Example: red wolf case where taxonomic status affected recovery efforts.

Question 44

Unlike other examples of ex situ conservation, __________ is hugely expensive and impractical as of now. a. Captive breeding b. Cloning/gene editing c. Translocating individuals d. Seed banking

Answer 44

b. Cloning/gene editing

Question 45

Which statement is accurate about extinction rates? a. 73% of species have gone extinct in 50 years b. 95% of species have elevated extinction rates c. No evidence of elevated extinction rates d. Current extinction rate is very high across groups e. It’s impossible to measure biodiversity loss

Answer 45

d. Current extinction rate is very high across groups

Question 46

Which statement is true about eating fish? a. Eating farmed fish is more sustainable b. Eating wild-caught fish is more sustainable c. US regulations make fish sustainable d. Aquaria guide helps sustainability

Answer 46

a. Eating farmed fish is more sustainable

Question 47

Which statement about aquaculture is FALSE? a. Difficult to consume large predators sustainably b. Overfishing reduced fish sizes c. r-selected species unlikely to be overfished d. Aquaculture helps reduce pressure on wild stocks e. Aquaculture creates high densities where disease is a concern

Answer 47

b. Overfishing reduced fish sizes

Question 48

Which statement about population structure is INCORRECT? a. Loss of one population hurts the gene pool b. Little gene flow between populations c. Loss of one population doesn’t affect gene pool much d. Some populations are low in size e. Probability of extinction is low

Answer 48

c. Loss of one population doesn’t affect gene pool much

Question 49

Which of these is NOT a parameter that determines rarity? a. Minimum viable population b. Geographical range c. Population size d. Habitat specificity

Answer 49

a. Minimum viable population

Question 50

The Red Wolf, Canis Rufus, is similar to Catalina Mahogany because they: a. Are hunted b. Are shot as pests c. Hybridize d. Were eastern US species e. Are vulnerable island endemics

Answer 50

c. Hybridize

Question 51

What is effective population size (Ne)?

Answer 51

It is the number of individuals capable of contributing to future generations.

Question 52

What is an example of species adapted to human practices and requiring management? a. Northern right whale b. African elephant c. Elephant seal d. Woodsman’s butterfly e. Red wolf

Answer 52

c. Elephant seal

Question 53

What are the four phenological stages for angiosperms?

Answer 53

Seedling to pre-flowering, flowering, fruiting, post-flowering/fruiting dormancy.

Question 54

Which species is a legacy of captive breeding (high total numbers, low genetic diversity)? a. Northern right whale b. African elephant c. Elephant seal d. Red wolf

Answer 54

c. Elephant seal

Question 55

How did conservation biologists overcome challenges with captive breeding?

Answer 55

Examples: California Condors and Black-footed ferrets—genetic monitoring and habitat restoration were key strategies.

Question 56

Why have species reintroductions had a mixed track record? What’s important going forward?

Answer 56

Low survival, poor adaptation, failure to breed. Going forward: acclimatization, habitat suitability, and climate matching are key.