Quiz on Busy Beavers and Arctic Permafrost

What is the main topic of the article?

• The impact of beavers on Arctic permafrost

• The migration patterns of beavers

• The diet of beavers in the Arctic

• The history of beaver hunting in Alaska

What is permafrost?

• A type of rock formation in cold regions

• Soil that has stayed frozen for more than two years

• A type of ice found only in the Arctic

• A layer of snow that never melts

How do beavers contribute to the thawing of permafrost?

• By building dams that increase surface water

• By migrating to warmer areas

• By digging into the permafrost

• By eating the shrubs that protect permafrost

What is a thermokarst?

• A type of Arctic shrub

• A frozen lake in the Arctic

• A type of beaver dam

• Arctic land with pits and valleys due to melting permafrost

Why have beaver populations increased in the Arctic?

• Warmer winters and more shrubs

• Increased hunting regulations

• More predators in the area

• Less competition from other species

What is a keystone species?

• A species that plays a large role in maintaining its ecosystem

• A species that is the most numerous in an ecosystem

• A species that migrates seasonally

• A species that is endangered

What is the potential impact of thawing permafrost on climate change?

• Release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases

• Decrease in global temperatures

• Increase in Arctic wildlife populations

• Formation of new ice layers

What role do beaver dams play in the Arctic environment?

• They decrease the amount of snowfall

• They increase surface water, which can thaw permafrost

• They provide shelter for Arctic foxes

• They prevent the growth of shrubs

What is the significance of the Baldwin Peninsula in the study?

• It has many high-resolution aerial and satellite photographs

• It has the largest population of beavers

• It is the only place where beavers are found in the Arctic

• It is the coldest region in Alaska

What is the main reason for the increase in beaver dams from 2000 to 2019?

• Climate change allowing beavers to expand their range

• Decrease in predator populations

• Government conservation efforts

• Introduction of new beaver species