Conservation Biology Exam Solutions
Course Introduction
Conservation Biology is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on understanding and preserving the Earth's biodiversity. This course explores the scientific principles underlying the protection and management of ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. Topics include threats to biodiversity such as habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and overexploitation, as well as conservation strategies like protected areas, restoration ecology, captive breeding, and legal frameworks. Through case studies and discussions, students will evaluate the effectiveness of various approaches and learn to apply ecological and evolutionary principles to real-world conservation challenges.
Recommended Textbook
Ecology Concepts and Applications 5th Edition by Manuel Molles
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
23 Chapters
692 Verified Questions
692 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/3146
Page 2
Chapter 1: Introduction to Ecology Historical Foundations and Developing Frontiers
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
23 Verified Questions
23 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62315
Sample Questions
Q1) Field studies and laboratory studies are mutually exclusive.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) What is ecology?
A) the study of relationships between organisms and the environment
B) the study of animal and plant population interactions
C) the study of the abiotic portion of the environment
D) the study of the biosphere
E) the study of environmental change
Answer: A
Q3) Norris and colleagues found that warblers using different habitats did not have different carbon isotopes in the tissues.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q4) Populations changing genetically over time in response to variation in its environment is termed ____________.
Answer: Evolution
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: Life on Land
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
35 Verified Questions
35 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62314
Sample Questions
Q1) Which soil horizon is most influenced by climate?
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) O
E) All are equally influenced.
Answer: D
Q2) Warm air over the equator
A) rises and moves toward the poles.
B) cools and sinks over the equator.
C) rises and absorbs moisture.
D) absorbs moisture and moves toward the poles.
Answer: A
Q3) A biome is characterized primarily by
A) flora and fauna.
B) temperature and moisture.
C) climate and predominate plant types.
D) global weather patterns.
E) None of the choices are correct.
Answer: C
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: Life in Water
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
35 Verified Questions
35 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62313
Sample Questions
Q1) Aquatic organisms located off the ocean floor are
A) benthic.
B) pelagic.
C) neritic.
D) littoral.
E) None of the choices are correct.
Answer: B
Q2) The benthic portion of eutrophic lakes can become _______________.
Answer: anaerobic
Q3) Estuaries are junctions between rivers and lakes.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q4) Which of the following river dimension definitions is/are incorrect?
A) active channel: riparian zone with seasonal flooding
B) wetted channel: water-laden year around
C) riffle: current of water
D) phreatic zone: transition from riparian to water column
E) hyporheic zone: transition between surface water and ground water
Answer: D
Page 5
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 4: Population Genetics and Natural Selection
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
31 Verified Questions
31 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62312
Sample Questions
Q1) The transplant experiment conducted on Potentilla glandulosa determined that morphological changes occurred,but no genetic changes occurred within the various experimental populations.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that
A) genotypic changes will result in phenotypic changes.
B) phenotypic changes will result in genotypic changes.
C) allelic frequencies within a population will not change unless certain conditions are met.
D) allelic frequencies within a population will change unless certain conditions are met.
E) None of the choices are correct.
Q3) A recent study of the finch
G. fortis on Santa Cruz Island showed that directional selection has resulted in larger beak size.
A)True
B)False
Q4) ______________________ can change population gene frequencies through random processes.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Temperature Relations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
35 Verified Questions
35 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62311
Sample Questions
Q1) According to Kidron,Barzilay,and Sachs' research on the dune slopes of the Negev Desert,moss would most likely be found on _________ facing slopes due to
A) south; decreased evaporation rates
B) south; increased evaporation rates
C) north; increased evaporation rates
D) north; decreased evaporation rates
E) Moss does not grow in the Negev Desert.
Q2) Research suggests that the localized extinction of several species of land snails near Basal,Switzerland was due to:
A) genetic mutation.
B) toxic water source.
C) climatic warming.
D) exotic predator.
E) loss of habitat.
Q3) Homeothermic organisms use a significant portion of their metabolic energy for endothermy.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 7
Chapter 6: Water Relations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
35 Verified Questions
35 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62310
Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following contribute to the movement of water in a terrestrial plant except:
A) transpiration.
B) drying power of the sun.
C) hydrogen bonding.
D) water potential.
E) None of the choices are correct.
Q2) Which of the following may be used to study the uptake of water by plants in a natural ecosystem?
A) non-stable isotope analysis
B) radioactive isotope analysis
C) <sup>14</sup>C isotope analysis
D) stable isotope analysis
E) water isotope analysis
Q3) Metabolic water is the water that is released by the process of ___________________.
Q4) Windy days will decrease a plant's evaporative water loss.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
8
Chapter 7: Energy and Nutrient Relations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
29 Verified Questions
29 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62309
Sample Questions
Q1) The group of organisms that contains the most trophic diversity:
3-7-2013
A) Plants
B) Animals
C) Prokaryotes
D) Fungi
E) Protists
Q2) Generally,as predator size decreases prey size _______________.
Q3) Several studies indicate that environmental conditions dictate plant biomass allocation; plants grown in infertile soils will allocate more energy into _________________ biomass.
A) leaf
B) stem
C) root
D) flower
E) seed
Q4) Dead leaves contain half as much nitrogen compared to live leaves.
A)True
B)False
Q5) PAR is an acronym for photosynthetically active ________________________.
Page 9
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 8: Socail Relations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62308
Sample Questions
Q1) How is the organization of a leaf cutter ant colony and a colony of naked mole rats similar?
A) individuals are divided among castes
B) one female and a few males breed
C) large workers specialize in defense
D) individuals share a high degree of relatedness
E) All of the choices are correct.
Q2) The difference between a male and a female rests largely on A) anatomical differences.
B) secondary sexual characteristics.
C) size and energetic cost of gametes.
D) presence or absence of a Y chromosome.
E) All of the choices are correct.
Q3) Which of the following statements concerning lion cooperative living is false?
A) Larger coalitions are composed of unrelated males.
B) Prides are composed of closely related females.
C) First and second ranked males sire the majority of cubs.
D) Males taking over a pride will practice infanticide.
E) Female lions nurse each other's cubs.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 10
Chapter 9: Population Distribution and Abundance
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
29 Verified Questions
29 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62307
Sample Questions
Q1) Whittaker's research on North American tree distribution examined ____________ gradients and concluded that the tree distribution was __________________.
A) temperature; random
B) temperature; clumped
C) moisture; clumped
D) moisture; random
E) soil; random
Q2) Which of the following word pairs are mismatched?
A) random distribution; aggressive interaction
B) clumped distribution; attraction to a common source
C) regular distribution; antagonistic behaviors
D) large scale distribution; substantial environmental changes
E) small scale distribution; insignificant environmental changes
Q3) Often an organism with a broad habitat tolerance is called a generalist.
A)True
B)False
Q4) An organism with a narrow habitat tolerance is called a
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
11
Chapter 10: Population Dynamics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62306
Sample Questions
Q1) The per capita rate of increase cannot be a negative number.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Type III survivorship curve indicates
A) low juvenile mortality and high mortality in older adults.
B) high juvenile mortality and low mortality in older adults.
C) low juvenile mortality and low mortality in older adults.
D) high juvenile mortality and high mortality in older adults.
E) equal chance of dying at any age.
Q3) Which of the following indicates a population in decline?
A) R<sub>0</sub> = 6.01
B) R<sub>0</sub> = 0.601
C) R<sub>0</sub> = 0
D) R<sub>0</sub> = - 0.601
E) R<sub>0</sub> = - 6.01
Q4) The geometric rate of increase cannot be a negative number.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Individuals born during a specified time period are grouped as a
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter 11: Population Growth
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
29 Verified Questions
29 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62305
Sample Questions
Q1) Density dependent factors include all of the following except:
A) competition.
B) disease.
C) predation.
D) temperature.
E) None of the choices are correct.
Q2) The biotic potential of an organism produces the leveling off at carrying capacity in the logistic growth curve.
A)True
B)False
Q3) dN/dt = r<sub>max</sub>N [(K - N)/K] represents
A) annual growth rate.
B) geometric population growth.
C) exponential growth rate.
D) logistic growth.
E) None of the choices are correct.
Q4) In a logistic model,when N = K the population stops growing and r = 0.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 13
Chapter 12: Life Histories
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
29 Verified Questions
29 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62304
Sample Questions
Q1) A fish maturing late with large body size and producing many small offspring would be said to have a(n)
A) periodic life history.
B) opportunistic life history.
C) equilibrium life history.
D) precocial life history.
E) stress-tolerant life history.
Q2) Life histories typical of r-selection are most likely to evolve where species populations are near carrying capacity much of the time.
A)True
B)False
Q3) As a fraction of adult mass,the mass of offspring at independence tends to be largest in
A) mammals.
B) altricial birds.
C) lizards.
D) both mammals and lizards.
E) All three groups have similar values.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 14
Chapter 13: Competition
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62303
Sample Questions
Q1) Competition between members of a single species is called
A) cohort specific competition.
B) species specific competition.
C) interspecific competition.
D) intraspecific competition.
E) interference competition.
Q2) In mature white pine forests of New Hampshire
A) belowground interspecific competition suppresses the growth of herbaceous plants and hemlocks.
B) belowground interspecific competition suppresses the growth of white pine seedlings.
C) aboveground intraspecific competition suppresses the growth of white pine seedlings.
D) aboveground interspecific competition suppresses the growth of herbaceous plants and hemlocks.
E) belowground intraspecific competition suppresses the growth of herbaceous plants and hemlocks.
Q3) Evolution of distinct niches in the presence of competition is called _____________.
Q4) Rodents that feed primarily on seeds are called ____________.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 14: Exploitative Interactions Predation, herbivory, parasitism, and Disease
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
28 Verified Questions
28 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62302
Sample Questions
Q1) In the Lotka-Volterra predation model,the predator death rate is represented by A) c.
B) p.
C) cp.
D) d<sub>p</sub>N<sub>p.</sub>
E) d<sub>p.</sub>
Q2) _______________________ is the idea that predators can have non-lethal effects on prey's behavior in which they avoid high-risk locations.
Q3) In most laboratory experiments,predators and prey held together in simple habitats exhibit repeated cycles in population sizes.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Bats affect the cost of agriculture because
A) they consume crops and must be controlled.
B) they eat crop pests and reduce the amount of pesticides used.
C) they eat crop pests and reduce the amount of crop loss.
D) they eat crop pests and reduce both the amount of crop loss and the amount of pesticides used.
E) their flight patterns interfere with agricultural machinery.
Page 16
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 15: Mutualism
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62301
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following statements is true regarding the control of coral over zooxanthellae?
A) Coral induces zooxanthellae to release organic compounds.
B) Coral controls the rate of zooxanthellae population growth.
C) Coral controls the population density of zooxanthellae.
D) Coral promotes unbalanced growth in zooxanthellae.
E) All of the choices are true.
Q2) Which of the following results,from research conducted by Nancy Johnson on big blue stem grass,suggested that mycorrhizal plants had greater access to nutrients?
A) root:shoot ratios were significantly lower in plants with mycorrhizae
B) root:shoot ratios were significantly higher in plants with mycorrhizae
C) root:shoot ratios were equal in plants with and without mycorrhizae
D) root:shoot ratios were highest in treatments without nitrogen supplements
E) root:shoot ratios were lowest in the treatment with nitrogen supplements
Q3) A mutualistic relationship in which either species can survive without its partner is called a ______________ mutualism.
Q4) The photosynthetic zooxanthellae associated with reef-building corals are members of the Phylum ___________.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 17
Chapter 16: Species Abundance and Diversity
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
25 Verified Questions
25 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62300
Sample Questions
Q1) The most serious human-caused threat to endangered species worldwide is A) pollution.
B) the introduction of invasive species.
C) habitat destruction.
D) the pet trade.
E) None of the choices are correct.
Q2) Given two habitats,Habitat 1 and Habitat 2,which habitat would have greater species diversity? Habitat 1: Species A,10; Species B,10; Species C,10
Habitat 2: Species A,10; Species B,10; Species C,10; Species D,10; Species E,10
A) Habitat 1
B) Habitat 2
C) neither; Habitat 1 and Habitat 2 have equal diversity
D) neither; Habitat 1 and Habitat 2 have equal species richness
E) neither; Habitat 1 and Habitat 2 have equal species evenness
Q3) Robert MacArthur's study of forest warblers suggested that
A) fewer warbler species can survive in more complex habitats.
B) warbler species diversity increases with habitat complexity.
C) warbler species diversity decreases with habitat complexity.
D) most warblers have rather similar foraging niches.
E) None of the choices are correct.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 18
Chapter 17: Species Interactions and Community Structure
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
24 Verified Questions
24 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62299
Sample Questions
Q1) Human hunters in the Amazon rain forests kill
A) large numbers of almost every mammal and bird species, for food and for skins.
B) large numbers of the smallest mammal and bird species, which are easiest to catch.
C) large numbers primarily of the largest mammal and bird species.
D) large numbers of mammals and birds, but do not greatly affect population densities.
E) only a few mammals and birds, but because humans are keystone species, these few kills greatly reduce population densities.
Q2) Removal of Pisaster starfish in the Washington intertidal leads to a decline in diversity of other invertebrate species.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Ecologists summarize feeding interactions among species in a community when they compile a _________.
Q4) The presence of cleaner wrasse enhances diversity of fishes on coral reefs.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
19
Chapter 18: Primary Production and Energy Flow
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62298
Sample Questions
Q1) The terrestrial ecosystems with highest primary production are usually those that are
A) warm and wet.
B) warm and dry.
C) cool and wet.
D) cool and dry.
E) intermediate in both temperature and moisture.
Q2) In Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest,the fraction of available solar energy fixed by primary producers is
A) approximately 2%.
B) approximately 15%.
C) approximately 50%.
D) nearly all of it.
E) Primary producers do not fix solar energy.
Q3) Carnivores that feed on herbivores (or on detritivores)are referred to as
A) primary producers.
B) primary consumers.
C) secondary consumers.
D) parasitoids.
E) keystone species.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 20
Chapter 19: Nutrient Cycling and Retention
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
36 Verified Questions
36 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62297
Sample Questions
Q1) In stream ecosystems,nutrient retentiveness is
A) not related to spiraling length.
B) positively related to spiraling length.
C) inversely related to spiraling length.
D) a logarithmic function of spiraling length.
E) a power function of spiraling length.
Q2) In a normal distribution,_____ of the observations fall within one standard deviation of the mean.
A) 31.7%
B) 68.3%
C) 95.5%
D) 98.3%
E) 99.7%
Q3) The release of ammonium (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>)from decaying organic material is called ____________.
Q4) Streams with higher densities of stream invertebrates would be expected to have shorter spiraling lengths.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 21
Chapter 20: Succession and Stability
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62296
Sample Questions
Q1) Wayne Sousa's studies of succession on intertidal boulders demonstrated which elements of the inhibition hypothesis?
A) inhibition of mid- and late-successional species by pioneers
B) inhibition of late-successional species by mid-successional ones
C) higher mortality of pioneer species
D) All of the choices are correct.
E) None of the choices are correct.
Q2) As Hawaiian lava flows age over 4 million years,
A) total soil phosphorous levels decrease.
B) total soil phosphorous levels increase.
C) total soil phosphorous stays about the same, but more phosphorous becomes refractory.
D) total soil phosphorous stays about the same, but more phosphorous becomes weatherable.
E) phosphorous limitation of primary production becomes less important.
Q3) On intertidal boulders in California,the climax community is dominated by perennial red algae.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The first plants in a successional sequence are called the ______________.
Page 22
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 21: Landscape Ecology
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62295
Sample Questions
Q1) For Glanville fritillary butterflies in Finland,larger habitat patches (compared to smaller ones)support
A) higher population sizes and higher population densities.
B) higher population sizes but equal population densities.
C) higher population sizes but lower population densities.
D) equal population sizes, due to higher population densities.
E) equal population sizes and equal population densities.
Q2) Flood control on the Kissimmee River of Florida
A) was achieved primarily by regulating water input to Lake Kissimmee.
B) greatly decreased wetland area in the river basin.
C) allowed increased populations of game fish, including largemouth bass.
D) All of the choices are correct.
E) both greatly decreased wetland area in the river basin and allowed increased populations of game fish, including largemouth bass.
Q3) There is experimental evidence to support the theory that the negative impact of fragmentation and isolation on populations can be reduced by connecting habitat fragments with corridors of similar habitat.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 23
Chapter 22: Geographic Ecology
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62294
Sample Questions
Q1) For most groups,species diversity most often
A) increases from the tropics to the poles.
B) increases from the poles to the tropics.
C) is low at the equator and the poles, and peaks at temperate latitudes.
D) is high at the equator and the poles, and lowest at temperate latitudes.
E) shows no clear relationship with latitude.
Q2) For aquatic organisms,
A) drainage lakes are more isolated than seepage lakes.
B) seepage lakes are more isolated than drainage lakes.
C) seepage and drainage lakes are equally isolated.
D) seepage lakes include more habitat area than drainage lakes.
E) because they have stream inlets and outlets, seepage lakes include more habitat types than drainage lakes.
Q3) A positive relationship between area and species diversity is commonly observed for A) oceanic islands.
B) lakes.
C) wooded mountaintops in the American Southwest.
D) All of the choices are correct.
E) None of the choices are correct.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 24
Chapter 23: Global Ecology
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
29 Verified Questions
29 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62293
Sample Questions
Q1) The __________ is the layer of atmosphere which extends from the earth's surface to an altitude of 9 to 16 km.
A) stratosphere
B) mesosphere
C) thermosphere
D) troposphere
E) ozonosphere
Q2) By measuring the CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in the Vostok ice core,scientists were able to show that atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations fluctuated substantially over the last 160,000 years and periods of low atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration correspond with
A) warmer interglacial periods.
B) colder ice age periods.
C) years of above average precipitation.
D) years of below average precipitation.
E) both warmer interglacial periods and years of below average precipitation.
Q3) The reduction in atmospheric <sup>14</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C ratio associated with fossil fuel combustion is known as the ____________.
Q4) In the "U.S.LTER Network",LTER stands for ________.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 25