Biodiversity
Which of the following best describes biodiversity?
a. The number of animals in a specific region
b. The variety of life on Earth, including species, genes, and ecosystems
c. The amount of sunlight an ecosystem receives
d. The number of plants in a tropical rainforest
B) The variety of life on earth, including species, genes and ecosystems.
What is an ecological niche?
a. The place where a species lives
b. The role a species plays in its ecosystem
c. The type of food a species eats
d. The size of a species' population
B) The role a species plays in its ecosystem
What effect do nonnative species often have on ecosystems?
a. They always benefit the ecosystem
b. They often cause unintended consequences
c. They never affect native species
d. They always become keystone species
b. They often cause unintended consequences
What does natural selection favor in a population?
a. Individuals that are less suited to environmental conditions
b. Increased survival and reproduction of well-adapted individuals
c. Decreased genetic diversity
d. Random mutations regardless of environment
b. Increased survival and reproduction of well-adapted individuals
What is meant by "artificial selection"?
a. Natural evolution of species
b. Human-directed breeding to enhance desired traits
c. The extinction of species due to environmental changes
d. The natural selection process
b. Human-directed breeding to enhance desired traits
What is species diversity?
a. The genetic variation within a single species
b. The variety of processes such as energy flow in an ecosystem
c. The variety and abundance of species in a specific ecosystem
d. The number of ecosystems within a biome
C) the variety and abundance of species in a specific ecosystem
How does a generalist species differ from a specialist species?
a. Generalists have narrow niches, while specialists have broad niches
b. Generalists can only survive in one type of habitat
c. Generalists have broad niches, while specialists have narrow niches
d. Specialists eat a variety of foods
c. Generalists have broad niches, while specialists have narrow niches
Why are indicator species important to ecologists?
a. They can survive in a wide range of environments
b. They provide early warnings of environmental changes
c. They are always nonnative species
d. They never change population size
b. They provide early warnings of environmental changes
What does "speciation" refer to?
a. The extinction of species
b. The evolution of one species into two or more distinct species
c. The artificial selection process
d. The geographic isolation of species
b. The evolution of one species into two or more distinct species
Explain the term "genetic engineering."
a. The random mutation of genes in a population
b. Direct manipulation of an organism's DNA
c. The natural selection of traits
d. The extinction of species
b. Direct manipulation of an organism's DNA
How does genetic diversity contribute to the survival of a species?
a. It allows species to migrate to new habitats
b. It provides instructions for specific traits, increasing adaptability
c. It ensures all species have similar traits
d. It reduces the need for reproduction
B) It provides instructions for specific traits, increasing adaptability
Which of the following is an example of a specialist species?
a. Raccoon
b. American crow
c. Giant panda
d. House sparrow
C) Giant Panda
What is the main advantage of a generalist species?
a. They have fewer competitors in stable environments
b. They are more adaptable to changing environments
c. They rely on a single type of food
d. They can only live in one type of habitat
b. They are more adaptable to changing environments
What is "geographic isolation"?
a. The mixing of different populations
b. When populations are separated by physical barriers
c. The process of natural selection
d. The extinction of a species
b. When populations are separated by physical barriers
What is "synthetic biology"?
a. The extinction of species due to chemical exposure
b. The natural evolution of species
c. The creation of new biological systems using genetic information
d. The preservation of extinct species
c. The creation of new biological systems using genetic information
Which component of biodiversity refers to Earth's diversity of biological communities?
a. Genetic diversity
b. Species diversity
c. Functional diversity
d. Ecosystem diversity
D) Ecosystem diversity
What can happen to specialist species when environmental conditions change?
a. They thrive and expand their range
b. They become less competitive
c. They are more prone to becoming endangered or extinct
d. They become more adaptable
c. They are more prone to becoming endangered or extinct
What is the process by which species genetically change over time?
a. Fossilization
b. Evolution
c. Sedimentation
d. Adaptation
b. Evolution
Define "reproductive isolation."
a. The merging of two species into one
b. The inability of two populations to interbreed
c. The evolution of new traits
d. The geographic isolation of populations
b. The inability of two populations to interbreed
What does the term "endemic species" refer to?
a. Species that are found worldwide
b. Species that are found in only one specific area
c. Species that have recently evolved
d. Species that are genetically modified
b. Species that are found in only one specific area
What is a biome?
a. A single species in an ecosystem
b. A large region characterized by a specific climate and certain species
c. An individual organism's role in a food web
d. A genetic trait passed to offspring
B) A large region characterized by a specific climate and certain species
What is a keystone species?
a. A nonnative species that disrupts ecosystems
b. An organism that plays a unique role in ecosystem function
c. A species that indicates environmental pollution levels
d. A species that competes with native species
b. An organism that plays a unique role in ecosystem function
What is the fossil record?
a. A complete collection of all living species
b. The preserved remains or traces of prehistoric organisms
c. The list of all species alive today
d. Evidence of life only found in ice cores
b. The preserved remains or traces of prehistoric organisms
What does "biological extinction" mean?
a. The process of speciation
b. The complete disappearance of a species
c. The creation of a new species
d. The geographic isolation of species
b. The complete disappearance of a species
Define "mass extinction."
a. The slow decline of a single species
b. A significant increase in species diversity
c. A rapid increase in extinction rates above the background level
d. The process of genetic engineering
c. A rapid increase in extinction rates above the background level