Ch-13: Biodiversity and its Conservation12 Questions
Before You Practice
Try each question on your own first. Use the Show Answer button only after you have selected your option, then read the explanation and revise the related concept from your chapter notes.
A. Variety and variability of life forms found within a given region
B. Total number of distinct ecosystems present, without regard to species
C. Total population size of a single species
D. Genetic makeup of a single, individual organism
Answer: A. Variety and variability of life forms found within a given region
Explanation: Biodiversity encompasses the full range of variation among living organisms, spanning genes, species, and ecosystems.
2. The three main levels at which biodiversity is generally studied and classified are:
A. Genetic, species and ecosystem diversity
B. Species diversity alone
C. Genetic diversity alone
D. Ecosystem diversity alone
Answer: A. Genetic, species and ecosystem diversity
Explanation: A comprehensive understanding of biodiversity requires examining variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels together.
3. According to the species-area relationship, species richness generally:
A. Increases with increasing area, following a roughly logarithmic relationship
B. Decreases as the area under consideration increases
C. Remains essentially constant regardless of the area studied
D. Shows no meaningful relationship with area at all
Answer: A. Increases with increasing area, following a roughly logarithmic relationship
Explanation: Ecologists have observed that, within a region, larger areas tend to support a greater number of species, following a predictable logarithmic curve.
4. Regions characterized by exceptionally high species richness along with a high degree of endemism are called:
A. Biodiversity hotspots
B. Sacred groves
C. Protected forests
D. Wetlands
Answer: A. Biodiversity hotspots
Explanation: Biodiversity hotspots are prioritized for conservation due to their remarkable concentration of unique and threatened species.
5. The single most significant cause of the ongoing loss of global biodiversity is generally considered to be:
A. Habitat loss and fragmentation
B. The natural, ongoing process of evolution
C. An excessive overall abundance of biodiversity
D. Overproduction of natural resources
Answer: A. Habitat loss and fragmentation
Explanation: The widespread destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats, largely due to human activity, remains the leading driver of species extinction today.
6. Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity refers to conservation efforts undertaken:
A. Outside an organism's natural habitat, such as in zoos, botanical gardens, or seed banks
B. Strictly within the organism's own natural habitat
C. Solely through the enactment of legal protection measures
D. Solely through general public awareness campaigns
Answer: A. Outside an organism's natural habitat, such as in zoos, botanical gardens, or seed banks
Explanation: Ex-situ methods involve removing threatened organisms (or their genetic material) from their natural habitat for protection and propagation elsewhere.
7. In-situ conservation of biodiversity refers to conservation efforts undertaken:
A. Within an organism's own natural habitat, such as in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
B. Entirely outside of an organism's natural habitat
C. Solely within a controlled laboratory setting
D. Solely through captive breeding programs
Answer: A. Within an organism's own natural habitat, such as in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
Explanation: In-situ conservation protects species by preserving and maintaining their natural habitat and ecosystem in its original setting.
8. The IUCN Red List is primarily used to:
A. Classify and formally document species according to their relative risk of extinction
B. List all officially protected areas found around the world
C. Record global biodiversity hotspots exclusively
D. Record only species that have been newly discovered
Answer: A. Classify and formally document species according to their relative risk of extinction
Explanation: The IUCN Red List assigns species to categories ranging from 'least concern' to 'extinct', based on a rigorous assessment of extinction risk.
9. Sacred groves, which have traditionally been protected by local communities for religious or cultural reasons, are examples of:
A. In-situ conservation
B. Ex-situ conservation
C. Zoo-based conservation
D. Seed bank conservation
Answer: A. In-situ conservation
Explanation: Since sacred groves preserve biodiversity within its natural setting, largely due to traditional beliefs, they represent a form of in-situ conservation.
10. The overall rate of species extinction has significantly accelerated in recent times, largely due to:
A. Human activities such as widespread deforestation and pollution
B. Purely natural, long-term climatic cycles acting alone
C. An unusually stable and unchanging global environment
D. A general reduction in the size of the human population
Answer: A. Human activities such as widespread deforestation and pollution
Explanation: Human-driven pressures, including habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation, have dramatically increased the rate of species loss well beyond natural background levels.
11. Species that are found exclusively within a particular geographic region, and nowhere else in the world, are referred to as:
A. Endemic species
B. Invasive species
C. Migratory species
D. Extinct species
Answer: A. Endemic species
Explanation: Endemic species have a highly restricted natural range, often making them especially vulnerable to habitat disturbance or loss.
12. The Convention on Biological Diversity (also known as the Rio Convention) primarily aims at promoting:
A. The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
B. Industrial development, without regard to environmental impact
C. Urban planning initiatives exclusively
D. Ocean exploration activities exclusively
Answer: A. The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
Explanation: This international treaty, established at the 1992 Earth Summit, seeks to conserve biodiversity, ensure its sustainable use, and promote fair benefit-sharing.