Chapter 10

What groups of organisms are most in danger of extinction?

• those with small populations
• those that migrate or need special habitats
• those with large populations that breed quickly
• Both (a) and (b)

Where are many critical biodiversity hotspots located?

• cities and developed areas of the world
• islands, tropical rain forests, and coastal areas
• desert and polar environments
• All of the above

Which of the following would be most effective in slowing the loss of biodiversity?

• freezing fertilized eggs of endangered animals in case the species become extinct in the wild
• setting aside small plots of land in a variety of ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, and marshes
• creating large parks/preserves in biodiversity hotspots
• requiring every country to maintain a seed bank

Germ plasm is

• an infection caused by germs.
• the genetic material of a species.
• a conservation strategy.
• an endemic plant of California.

In what part of the world are the greatest number of extinctions occurring?

• in tropical rain forests
• in deserts
• in the Arctic
• in Europe and the United States

An endangered species is

• a species in danger of extinction.
• a species growing on public land.
• an organism brought to a place where it has not lived before.
• a species that has disappeared entirely.

Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?

• It allows animals to feed permanently from one type of plant.
• It increases at each level of the food chain.
• It helps populations adapt to ecological changes.
• It reduces the number of insects in a given ecosystem.

Which of the following would not be illegal under the Endangered Species Act?

• capturing a wild animal listed as a threatened species for exhibition in a zoo, provided the animal is well cared for
• digging up an endangered plant in a public park and selling it
• destroying the habitat of an endangered plant during the building of a federal highway
• having a permit to capture and conduct research with endangered species

The current rate of species extinction is

• slower than at any other time in this century.
• attributable to the actions of humans.
• the result of natural environmental processes.
• of little consequence to Earth’s long-term survival.

Which areas of the United States represent ecosystems with high levels of biodiversity?

• coastal California
• Hawaiian Islands
• Florida Everglades
• All of the above