Conservation Biology
Chapter Exam Questions
Course Introduction
Conservation Biology is an interdisciplinary course focused on the scientific study and preservation of Earth's biodiversity. It explores the principles and applications of ecology, genetics, and management strategies to protect endangered species, habitats, and ecosystems. The course examines causes and consequences of biodiversity loss due to human activity, climate change, and habitat fragmentation, while also addressing conservation policies, restoration techniques, and ethical considerations. Students will gain insight into real-world case studies, learn problem-solving approaches, and develop skills to contribute to global efforts in sustaining the natural environment for future generations.
Recommended Textbook
Essentials of Ecology 4th Edition by Michael Begon
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
14 Chapters
702 Verified Questions
702 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/425
Page 2
Chapter 1: Ecology and How to Do It
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7505
Sample Questions
Q1) The process of ______ is due to an excess of nutrient input.
A) Succession
B) Evolution
C) Eutrophication
D) None of the above
Answer: C
Q2) It is important to remember when collecting data to:
A) Estimate accurately and without bias
B) Be as precise as possible
C) Fabricate data if necessary
D) Effectively use the time, money and human effort that has been invested
Answer: A,B,D
Q3) The biological control of pests,conservation of rare and threatened plants,and wildlife management are all examples of ______ .
A) Pure ecology
B) Applied ecology
C) Pure and applied ecology
D) None of the above
Answer: B
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 3
Chapter 2: Ecologys Evolutionary Backdrop
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7506
Sample Questions
Q1) A structure that is derived from an equivalent structure in a common ancestor is called _________.
A) Homologous
B) Synonymous
C) Analogous
D) Divergent
Answer: A
Q2) The term _______ refers to the success of individuals in the population to leave descendants in an environment relative to others.
A) Fitness
B) Speciation
C) Evolution
D) Natural selection
Answer: A
Q3) Island endemics evolve because they:
A) Can exchange genetic material with mainland species
B) Are isolated from individuals of the mainland species
C) Do not have gene flow with mainland species
D) They do not hybridize with other species
Answer: B,C
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: Physical Conditions and the Availability of Resources
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7507
Sample Questions
Q1) You learn that an organism is using abiotic environmental resources to assemble carbohydrates and proteins,and then forming them into tissues and organs.This organism is likely a:
A) Heterotroph
B) Autotroph
C) Mammal
D) All of the above
Answer: B
Q2) If you wanted to eat something with a high C:N ratio,which of the following would you select?
A) A vegetarian salad
B) A piece of steak
C) A piece of fish
D) A stick of butter
Answer: A
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 5
Chapter 4: Climate and the Worlds Biomes
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7508
Sample Questions
Q1) With regard to community composition,which of the following statements is most accurate?
A) One or a few species ALWAYS dominates in a tropical rain forest biome.
B) One or a few species NEVER dominates in a tropical rain forest biome.
C) Biodiversity is always high in northern coniferous forests.
D) One or a few species ALWAYS dominates in a northern coniferous forest.
Q2) Charles Darwin visited much of South America during his voyage on the Beagle.When Darwin was in South America,did surface winds of the Polar,Hadley,and Ferrel cells flow in the same direction as his homeland?
A) Yes, because these cells all flow in the same direction regardless of global position
B) No, because these cells do not flow in the same direction
C) These cells flow in different directions due to the Coriolis effect
D) The Coriolis effect has no significance on these cells
Q3) Heated air at the equator:
A) Rises and cools
B) Rises and warms
C) Moves towards the equator
D) Moves away from the equator
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
6
Chapter 5: Birth, Death and Movement
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7509
Sample Questions
Q1) You have studied a population of garter snakes to understand how recruitment changes over time.When the density of snakes was at an average of 5 per 50 square meters recruitment was low.When that density increased to 20 per 50 square meters recruitment was also low.However,when densities were near 12 garter snakes per 50 square meters recruitment was at its highest.This is an example of a ___________ curve.
A) Calibration
B) Dome-shaped net-recruitment
C) Type I
D) Sigmoidal
Q2) __________ denotes a populations intrinsic rate of natural increase.
A) r
B) K
C) N
D) t
Q3) Which choice accurately defines what a genet is?
A) A genet is a single-celled zygote that has died
B) A genet is a term used to describe a module
C) A genet is a genetic individual that started as a single-celled zygote
D) A genet is a multicellular outgrowth from a module
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 7
Chapter 6: Interspecific Competition
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7510
Sample Questions
Q1) Niche complementarity requires
A) There be a community of species in several niche dimensions, and that a species occupying a similar position along one dimension will not tend to differ along another dimension.
B) There be a community of species in several niche dimensions, and that a species occupying a similar position along one dimension will tend to differ along another dimension.
C) That a species occupying a similar position along one dimension will not tend to differ along another dimension.
D) There to be an isolated species that occupies a position along one niche dimension, but never differs along another dimension.
Q2) Fires in the Mojave Dessert are occurring more frequently because of the introduction of nonnative grasses that have become invasive.How are these grasses able to persist?
A) The grasses are able to outcompete native plants for space.
B) The grasses are able to grow back faster than native plants.
C) The grasses do not persist, and instead die after a fire.
D) The grasses have evolved fire resistance and they don't burn.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 8
Chapter 7: Predation, Grazing and Disease
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7511
Sample Questions
Q1) Select which of the following choices are correct.
A) Predator populations can be impacted by other predators
B) When predator numbers increase there is often a density dependent negative impact on the predator species
C) The lynx and hare population cycles are easily explained by Lotka Volterra models
D) Parasites rarely interfere with one another
Q2) Which terms relate to a process whereby the outcome of ecological interactions between conspecifics shows the consumption rate per individual predator declines with increasing predator density?
A) Mutual interference
B) Transmission
C) Crowding
D) Predator-mediated coexistence
Q3) Optimal foraging theory is based on the following:
A) Handling times of prey items
B) Search time for prey items
C) Energy available in prey items
D) All of the above
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
9
Chapter 8: Molecular and Evolutionary Ecology
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7512
Sample Questions
Q1) What reasons explain why Myxomatosis virulence declined in European rabbits outside of their native range?
A) Myxoma evolved toward becoming benign
B) Myxoma virulence was selected against
C) Intermediate virulence was selected for
D) There was selection for increased transmissibility
Q2) You are working on a research project in a garden and notice that many different insect species visit the same species of plant in the garden.All of the insects appear to be collecting nectar and pollen.This is likely because ________.
A) The plant is visited by a specialized pollinator.
B) The plant is visited by generalist pollinators.
C) The plant has many nectaries, which provide exclusive resources to specialists.
D) The plant relies on ultraspecialists for pollination.
Q3) Regions of DNA that do not vary between individuals are referred to as what?
A) Microsatellites
B) Allele
C) Locus
D) Conserved
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: From Populations to Communities
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7513
Sample Questions
Q1) Species richness refers to:
A) How evenly distributed species are within a habitat.
B) How productive species are within a community.
C) The number of primary producers within a community.
D) The total number of species within a community
Q2) If one were to plot species numbers in a community after a disturbance over a long time period
A) Species numbers would be lowest right after a significant disturbance.
B) Species numbers would be highest midway through the time toward climax community.
C) Species numbers would decrease as better competitors colonized.
D) Species numbers would theoretically be hump shaped with time.
Q3) Key factor analysis has been renamed because?
A) Killing power became a new term
B) It was not really a "factor" analysis as much as a life phase analysis
C) The concept was not all that useful to help understand populations
D) None of the above
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
11
Chapter 10: Patterns in Species Richness
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7514
Sample Questions
Q1) When there is high diversity within a community it is referred to as _______ diversity.
A) Beta
B) Alpha
C) Productivity based
D) Gamma
Q2) You are assigned the task of determining species richness in a given area.The lead researcher has told you that the number of samples you have to take is not limited.As you collect data,what pattern should you expect to see?
A) All the species in this space will be identified by a time period that is related to the number of search hours divided by the area
B) As you collect data, species richness will decrease
C) The most common species in this space will likely be identified first, followed by more rare species.
D) All the species in this space will be identified by a time period that is related to the product of the square root of number of search and total area.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 11: The Flux of Energy and Matter Through Ecosystems
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7515
Sample Questions
Q1) There are a range of mutualistic interactions between detritivores and bacteria,fungi,or protozoa.These include _______?
A) Obligate and facultative mutualisms
B) Facultative and commensurate mutualisms
C) Obligate and facultative mutualisms, plus external rumens
D) External rumens and obligate mutualism
Q2) Which of the following statements are correct regarding nitrogen fixation in subtropical ocean gyres?
A) Nitrogen fixation does occur in subtropical ocean gyres
B) Nitrogen fixation does NOT occur in subtropical ocean gyres
C) Sulfate reduces the rate of nitrogen fixation in subtropical ocean gyres
D) Phytoplankton in subtropical ocean gyres are small but highly abundant
Q3) Consumption efficiency of an organism is 0.25,assimilation efficiency 0.25,production efficiency 0.45,and Rauto equaled 0.01.Which of these terms would you use to calculate the trophic transfer efficiency of this organism?
A) Consumption efficiency
B) Rauto
C) Assimilation efficiency
D) Production efficiency
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 13
Chapter 12: Global Biogeochemical Cycles and Their Alteration by Humans
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7516
Sample Questions
Q1) Which researcher(s)proposed the idea that there are ten planetary life-sustaining biophysical systems that are essential for life on Earth?
A) The IPCC
B) Svante Arrhenius
C) Charles Keeling
D) Rockstrom et al.
Q2) Methane produced in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is distinguishable from ancient sources of methane by using _________.
A) Molecular markers to detect SNPs from ancient microorganisms
B) An Isotope that is associated with radiation that has a half life of more than 5,000 years
C) Testing remains of decaying animals
D) None of the above
Q3) Anthropogenic sources of methane include which of the following?
A) Decomposition of organic matter in landfills
B) Bacterial methanogenesis
C) Deforestation
D) Animal agriculture
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 14
Chapter 13: Conservation Ecology
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
51 Verified Questions
51 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7517
Sample Questions
Q1) It is documented that some introduced species can assimilate into communities without an obvious effect.However,many have caused significant alterations to native communities.Which of the following is an example of an accidentally introduced species that has reduced biodiversity?
A) Finches on to the Galapagos Islands
B) Tasmanian devils on to Australia
C) Brown tree snakes on to Guam
D) All of the above
Q2) Which geographic region is currently seeing the greatest threats to amphibian diversity?
A) Africa
B) North America
C) South Africa
D) Europe
Q3) Why might it be important to preserve rare alleles in a population?
A) Because these alleles may be selected for in the future if environmental conditions change
B) Because these alleles are mutations that increase fitness
C) Because these alleles will confer immediate advantages
D) These alleles are not important to populations
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 14: The Ecology of Human Population Growth, Disease,
and Food Supply
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
51 Verified Questions
51 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7518
Sample Questions
Q1) The projected increased spread of human diseases can be
A) Related to global climate change
B) Related to increased mutation rates in humans
C) Related to a decrease in vertebrate hosts
D) Unrelated to disease vectors
Q2) In Europe which statement is correct?
A) Both the death rate and the birth rate have been increasing since 1890.
B) Both the death rate and birth rate have been declining since 1890.
C) The death rate has been increasing while the birth rate has been decreasing since 1890.
D) The death rate has been decreasing while the birth rate has been steady since 1890.
Q3) Growing organic crops _________ the environment because _________.
A) Benefits; it produces better food
B) Destroys; it produces more nitrogen in agricultural runoff
C) Benefits; it reduces the amount of nitrogen in agricultural runoff
D) Destroys; it reduces the amount of nitrogen in agricultural runoff
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 16