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Q:
Biodiversity enhances food security because it ________.
A) provides genetic stability
B) reduces the number of pollinators
C) can protect some crops through genetic resources against losses caused by disease
D) decreases the number of predators
E) increases the number of available pathogens
Q:
Bullfrog tadpoles are often sold as fish bait, even in areas where they do not occur naturally. When people buy 10 of them and don't use them all, they often dump the remainder into the lake or river. This is an example of ________.
A) habitat destruction
B) overharvesting of species from the wild
C) introduced species
D) inbreeding
E) extirpation
Q:
In general, successful introduced species experience ________.
A) increased environmental resistance
B) decreased environmental resistance
C) increases in limiting factors
D) increased competition from other organisms
E) decreased biotic potential
Q:
A species of lizard has gone extinct. This could have occurred because of any of the following reasons EXCEPT________.
A) inbreeding
B) habitat destruction by humans
C) introduction of a species that competed for food resources
D) increased genetic diversity within the species
E) climate change
Q:
Changes in habitat have tremendous effects on the local organisms that depend on them. These effects are generally ________.
A) negative; organisms are already adapted to the habitats in which they occur and any change is likely to render the habitat less suitable
B) positive; organisms are already adapted to the habitats in which they occur and any change is likely to render the habitat more suitable
C) positive; the changes increase the habitat that is available for species to colonize
D) negative; the changes usually cause rapid extinction of most species
E) neutral; the variations within each species allow them to adapt very quickly
Q:
The IUCN's Red List is a(n) ________.
A) updated list of species facing unusually high risk of extinction
B) list of unidentified species
C) list of ecologically damaged ecosystems
D) identification list of known species
E) scorecard of international failures at conservation
Q:
The extinction of a particular population from a given area (but not the entire species globally) is called ________.
A) extinction
B) extirpation
C) emigration
D) evolution
E) adaptation
Q:
The greatest diversity (numbers of different species) of organisms can be found in ________.
A) flowering plants
B) fish
C) insects
D) birds
E) mammals
Q:
Which scientists classify species by using an organism's physical appearance and genetic makeup?
A) ecologists
B) taxonomists
C) geneticists
D) environmentalists
E) agronomists
Q:
A population of birds is found on a remote island. Which of the following information is most important in deciding if the birds all belong to a single species or two separate species?
A) They share many physical characteristics.
B) They can breed with one another.
C) The males all sing very similar songs.
D) The offspring of some matings are sterile.
E) All the birds appear to eat the same range of food.
Q:
According to E. O. Wilson, biodiversity occurs on all levelsEXCEPT ________.
A) genetic variants of a single species
B) individual species
C) communities of organisms
D) ecosystems
E) net biomass
Q:
Explain how the physical appearance of polar bears distinguishes their species from other bears and how it makes them well adapted to their specific habitat.
Q:
When you want to protect enormous, beautiful, and unusual natural features such as the spectacular mountains in Banff, Alberta, you are likely motivated by ________.
Q:
How can clearing plots within a forest affect the biodiversity of this forest?
Q:
The extinction of a particular population from a given area (but not the entire species globally) is called ________.
Q:
Briefly explain wildlife corridors.
Q:
All of the valuable processes that intact ecosystems provide for us free of charge are known as ________.
Q:
Most extinctions preceding the appearance of humans have occurred one by one, at a rate that paleontologists refer to as the ________.
Q:
Species diversity increases through the process of ________ and decreases through the process of ________.
Q:
What is the main cause of the sixth mass extinction event, and why is it of particular concern?
Q:
What is habitat fragmentation and why is it a serious threat to bird species?
Q:
What is inbreeding, and why is it a problem?
Q:
What is the definition of biodiversity?
Q:
Polar bears are appearing more frequently in human settlements in the Canadian Arctic. Explain the two very different interpretations of this fact and how they are used to argue for a) increase and b) decrease in the number of permits for polar bears hunting.
Q:
Match the following.A) genetic eccentricityB) Canada Environmental Protection AgencyC) extinctionD) genetic diversityE) extirpatedF) biophiliaG) hotspotH) speciationI) Wise-use advocatesJ) Parks CanadaK) Canada Wildlife ServiceL) communityM) endemicN) UNESCOO) umbrella speciesP) extirpationQ) major speciesR) alleles1.The loss of species from the planet2.Differences in DNA composition among individuals within a given species3.A population differentiating, over time into a new species 1 - Remembering4.Protected animals, such as tigers, that need large amounts of land5.The connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life6.An area that supports an especially great diversity of endemic species7.Species occurring in only one area8.Manages national wildlife refuges that serve as wildlife havens; encourages hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education9.Manages world heritage sites, which include sites of cultural and natural importance10.Promotes the transfer of federal lands to provincial, municipal, or private hands so that it can be used for motorized recreation as well as extracting minerals, timber, and fossil fuels
Q:
Refer to Figure 9.2. a) and Figure 9.2 b). Looking at these two figures together ,we can conclude that the anthropogenic extinction during the last 500 years has ________ magnitude ________ rate compared to the "Big Five" mass extinctions of the past.A) higher; and a higherB) higher; but a lowerC) lower; but a higherD) lower; and a lowerE) lower; and a similar
Q:
Refer to Fig. 9.2.a). According to this figure, at the family level, the extinction rate was ________.
A) the lowest in the Permo-Triasic extinction
B) the highest in the Permo-Triasic extinction
C) roughly similar in all five major extinctions
D) the highest in the Cretacious-Tertiary extinction
E) the lowest in the Cretacious-Tertiary extinction
Q:
Refer to Fig. 9.2.a). This graph suggests that the mass extinctions ________.
A) occur at roughly the same speed as the recovery
B) are slower than the recovery
C) are faster than the recovery
D) became less pronounced with time
E) have no clear pattern
Q:
Figure 9.2 a) Source: Data from Raup, D. M., and J. J. Sepkoski (1982), Mass extinctions in the marine fossil record. Science 215: 1501-1503.Figure 9.2 b) Percentages of each group that have become extinct or endangered during the past 500 years(left side) compared to the species-loss marking "Big Five" mass extinctions (bottom right). The white icons show species that are Extinct or Extinct in the Wild. The black icons add groups that are Threatened. The arrows indicate cases where the assessments may be either inflated or underestimated.Source: From Barnosky et al. (2001), Has the Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived? Nature, 471: 51.Use Figure 9.2 a) and 9.2 b) to answer the following questions.Refer to Figure 9.2. a). Which of the five major extinctions was the largest?A) OrdovicianB) DevonianC) Permo-TriasicD) End-TriasicE) Cretaceous-Tertiary
Q:
Refer to Figure 9.1. Which of the following statements is TRUE?A) The extinction rate is highest on C.B) The immigration rate is highest on A.C) The extinction rate is highest on A.D) There is greater emigration on C.E) There is greater emigration on A.
Q:
Refer to Figure 9.1. It is TRUE that because of size, the rate of ________.
A) immigration is highest on A
B) extinction is highest on C
C) emigration is highest on A
D) immigration is highest on C
E) extinction is lowest on A
Q:
Figure 9.1There are three islands in Figure 9.1: A, B,and C. A and B are shown off the coast of the mainland; A is closest to the mainland; B is the same size as A but farther away. C is larger than both A and B but it is the same distance from the shore as B.Use Figure 9.1 to answer the following questions.Refer to Figure 9.1. Which statement is TRUE with respect to the distance effect?A) B will have more species because it is farther away.B) C will have more species because it is farther away.C) The islands will all have the same number of species because distance is not a factor.D) A will have more species because it is closest to the mainland.E) B and C will have more species than A.
Q:
Which of the following is something brought about by the beginning of agriculture?A) a nomadic lifestyle, moving frequently from one place to anotherB) a low density of people over large areas, which means that diseases do not spread in settlementsC) a need to protect and defend the group's land and crops, which means that people become more peaceful, resulting in the disbanding of military groupsD) the ability of the few to feed the many means that everyone is expected to concentrate on increased food productionE) the ability to rely on crops every year, no matter what, allows even farmers to have much more free time, resulting in the development of crafts, architecture, and other "urban" professions
Q:
Two thousand years after our story began, it is likely that ________.A) the group has returned to a simpler hunter-gatherer society; farming was too much work for such a small returnB) the group is still farming, but there are very few people nowC) the group has begun domesticating animals for food and as companions and to work the fieldsD) primitive versions of weed killers and fertilizers are now in common useE) a few very wealthy farmers control the village economy
Q:
Twenty years have passed since the young woman first noticed seeds growing in the midden and began to plant. Which of the following could now be true?A) The group had been sedentary but are now nomadic, looking for good places to settle for a season and grow crops.B) The group had been traders in stone tools and are now traders in simple agricultural implements and seeds.C) The group had been quite large and ate a great deal of meat, but there are now fewer of them since their diet consists mostly of vegetables.D) The group had been nomadic, moving frequently to gather wild foods and hunt, but are now more sedentary, growing crops.E) The group had been very warlike and are now more peaceful, tending their lands.
Q:
The next step in this story is that this woman and her sister began ________.A) to deliberately plant seeds near their village to make food gathering easier in the futureB) to seek out old middens (trash piles) to find and eat the things growing thereC) to trade seeds with people from other villagesD) to save, sort, and name different types of seedsE) a full-scale garden, digging the soil and enriching it with food wastes
Q:
These people likely lived ________.A) about 100 to 300 years agoB) about 1000 to 2000 years agoC) at least 5000 to 10 000 years agoD) at least 100 000 to 200, 00 years agoE) at least 500 000 years ago
Q:
It is probably true that ________.A) until now, this group had not considered huntingB) until now, this group had not considered deliberately planting seedsC) this group already has a good agricultural systemD) this group was living in a village they had established many years earlierE) this group was quite large
Q:
Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.Early People and Agricultural BeginningsTwo sisters were talking as they returned from their morning trip to collect mushrooms, seeds, berries and green leaves for the day's meals. The younger woman was watching the progress of a small rabbit as it hopped across the path and toward the clan's trash midden (refuse heap), where broken tools (made of bone, stone, or shell) were tossed, and where discarded food was thrown. She noticed the rabbit stop and begin nibbling at the many new, green shoots sprouting across one side of the midden. She walked over to look, and she saw that some of last year's dried fruits, which her neighbour had thrown away, were growing. Surprised and interested, she called her sister over to discuss this find.This is the story of a group whose food is ________.A) supplied by subsistence gardeningB) raised in a form of primitive agricultureC) traded between tribes for varietyD) supplied by huntersE) supplied by hunters and gatherers
Q:
Presently, ________ have not supported the widespread marketing of GM crops.A) South American countriesB) American corporationsC) American regulatory agenciesD) European countriesE) Asian countries
Q:
If GM crops can decrease pesticide use, why are environmentalists still concerned about them?A) The CFIA does not regulate them.B) They can affect nontarget species.C) The government funds most GM crop research.D) Trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have increased dramatically in recent years.E) There is no public opposition to GM crops.
Q:
Why have most bioengineered crops been modified for "resistance" traits?A) These traits have the economic potential to save on production costs.B) No technology exists to engineer other traits successfully.C) These are the only traits proven safe for the environment.D) These are the only traits proven safe for the human health.E) Crops with these traits taste better.
Q:
Why do soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola dominate the GM crop market?A) They are inexpensive to produce.B) They are exempt from U.S. regulations.C) They are the only GMO crops approved since the Flavr Savr tomato.D) These crops help to feed and clothe the poor.E) They are ingredients in processed foods, so they are more easily accepted (out of sight, out of mind).
Q:
The Flavr Savr tomato is no longer marketed because ________.A) Calgene failed to attain government approval to market itB) people were nervous about eating genetically modified tomatoesC) genetically modified crops presently are not approved for sale in the United StatesD) Monarch butterfly larvae exposed to the pollen from the tomato plants were poisonedE) they require too much water to grow
Q:
Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM) crops, Canadian and U.S. companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns. Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, the Monsanto company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in Canada, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States (only GM feed corn is available in Canada), GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future.Which of the following was a positive environmental aspect of the Flavr Savr tomato?A) could be shipped furtherB) better tasteC) better appearanceD) lower cost to the consumerE) grown using fewer chemicals because it is less likely to rot
Q:
What is industrial agriculture and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Q:
Discuss the pros and cons of biological control as an alternative to chemical pesticides.
Q:
What are the dangers associated with pesticide use? How can biocontrol and use of crops with high genetic diversity be used to decrease the amount of pesticides used?
Q:
What was the Green Revolution, and what impact did it have on developing countries? Discuss the impact of the Green Revolution on the environment.
Q:
Why is variety in crop plants important for "food security"? How is this threatened by GM food crops? What is Canada's position on GM products? How does this differ from the position of other countries?
Q:
Explain the statement "the closer our food sources are to the Sun as a direct source of energy, the more people the planet can support" in terms of the laws of thermodynamics and the energy pyramid.
Q:
What are the arguments for and against genetically modified (GM) crops? Discuss both the scientific and political debates.
Q:
Colony Collapse Disorder is a sociopolitical term describing India's change from a grain exporter to a grain importer after it ceased to be a British colony.
Q:
GM crops are planted on more agricultural land than organic crops.
Q:
Canada is one of the top five GM crop-producing nations.
Q:
Canada has more land devoted to GM crops than China.
Q:
Since 1985, world grain production per person has increased by 10%.
Q:
Successful hunting and gathering allowed our ancestors to develop larger and more permanent settlements.
Q:
Malnutrition can be associated with obesity.
Q:
Almost half of Canadian adults are overweight and 14% are obese.
Q:
Today over 200 million people are chronically hungry.
Q:
Worldwide per capita consumption of meat from farm animals has more than doubled since 1950.
Q:
During the past four decades, global agricultural food production has grown at a faster rate than world population.
Q:
Since 1960 India had gone from a net importer to a net exporter of grain.
Q:
Because Canada is one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, hunger here has been virtually eliminated.
Q:
Agriculture in the Middle Ages could be best described as ________.A) organicB) industrialC) mechanizedD) no-tillE) Green Revolution
Q:
Two neighbour farmers, Jack and Jill, have problems with insects eating their crops. For many years they controlled the pests by using a natural toxin, Bt, produced by bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, They sprayed it only on the most affected plants and only over a short time. One year Jack decided to try a GM crop that produces large amounts of Bt toxin inside its leaves all the time. After a few years, Jack notices that the insects are no longer killed by his GM plants. Which of the following is likely NOT TRUE?A) The high, long-term, doses of Bt present in GM crops caused selection favouring pests that are resistant to Bt.B) Farmer Jack can return to his previous natural method of protecting crops.C) Farmer Jack will have no choice but to buy the next generation of GM crops to which the pests do not have resistance yetD) By rendering the natural pest control alternative ineffective, the GM company became "the only game in town" and can raise prices on its products.E) Insects from Jack's field spread to Jill 's farm as well. With her natural Bt spray now ineffective, Jill has no choice but to start buying the products of the GM company too.
Q:
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about cherry-tree flowers?A) They attract pollinators with a sweet smell.B) They are less effective in transferring pollen than flowers of grain.C) They are as effective in transferring pollen as flowers of grain.D) They reward pollinators with protein rich pollen.E) They are an example of commensalism between plants and bees.
Q:
Aquaculture ________.A) uses more fossil fuels than conventional fisheryB) has lower fish productivity than the continental shelfC) may spread diseases to the wild populationsD) harms wild fish populations by spreading antibiotic resistanceE) does not affect wild populations in a significant way
Q:
Aquaculture ________.A) results in a bycatchB) is primarily vulnerable to density-independent mortalityC) may cause genetic "pollution" of wild stocksD) does not use GM organismsE) relies on natural selection
Q:
Agriculture ________.A) was made possible by monoculturesB) paved the way for the age of modern gatherersC) made civilization possible by producing surplus foodD) spread to other continents from Africa (the African Eve hypothesis)E) relies on natural selection
Q:
Industrialization ________.A) had no impact on agricultureB) is necessary today for all culturesC) increased the ability to obtain more food from the same areaD) improved soils permanently, providing more food from less spaceE) rapidly deteriorated soils, requiring continuous movement to new croplands
Q:
Agricultural practices, where the members of a farming family produce only enough food for themselves and do not make use of large-scale irrigation, chemical fertilizer, or machinery and technology, is called ________.A) intensive traditional farmingB) subsidence agricultureC) subsistence agricultureD) advanced organic farmingE) reduced tillage agriculture
Q:
During most of our species' 100 000-year existence, and until about 10 000 years ago, we depended on ________.A) cropsB) huntingC) cattleD) crops and cattleE) hunting and gathering
Q:
In order for livestock to be considered organic ________.A) hormones and antibiotics are permitted, but not vaccinesB) animals must be fed 100% organic agricultural feedC) animals cannot be transferred from regular treatment to organic standardsD) no vitamins and mineral supplements can be usedE) animals must be reared under natural conditions in intact ecosystems
Q:
When governments support IPM, it is usually because ________.A) pesticides are expensive, cause pollution, and decrease yields in the long termB) their people are dying of starvationC) they want to encourage transition to genetically modified crops.D) they are in a recession and IPM costs less than pesticidesE) they are lobbied by large agricultural companies
Q:
It is more energetically efficient for us to eat more ________.A) plant-based foodsB) herbivorous animals such as cattle and chickenC) carnivorous animals such as fish and alligatorD) GM foodsE) foods grown using IPM methods
Q:
Seed banks are important for ________.A) cash deposits for developing countriesB) protecting monoculture productivityC) protecting genetic diversityD) loans to developing countriesE) providing farmers with the current year's GM crops
Q:
In conventional (non-organic) agriculture, it takes ________ kg of pesticides and fertilizers to grow cotton required to manufacture one T-shirt.A) 0.1B) 0.5C) 0.01D) 0.05E) 1
Q:
Organic farming succeeds because it ________.A) provides cheaper food because of savings on not buying fertilizers and pesticidesB) usually produces higher crop yieldsC) requires less workD) alleviates many problems of conventional agricultureE) practically eliminates pest infestations