BIO 375 Conservation Biology                                                           Fall 2009

Quiz 1 (25 points)                                                                               Name:

 

Based on the following diagram

 

_3_1. Which region has the highest beta diversity? (2 pts)

differences between mountain tops – Region 3 has no overlap

_2_2. Which region has the highest gamma diversity? (2 pts)

number of species across all mountain tops – Region 2 has species A to J (=10)

_1_3. Which region has the highest alpha diversity? (2 pts)

average diversity per mountain – Region 1 has more letters/species on each mountaintop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


__B_4. Which of the following is NOT one of Conservation BiologyÕs Ethical Principles? (2 pts)

            a. Biological diversity has intrinsic value.

b. Human population growth should be limited in order to curb our use of natural resources.

            c. Ecological complexity should be maintained.

            d. The untimely extinction of populations and species should be prevented.

            e. The diversity of species and biological communities should be preserved.

 

__A_5. Dr. Kimberly RussellÕs research, as discussed in lecture, involves the potential conservation value of unmowed powerline strips for ___________. (2 pts)

            a. native bees

            b. honey bees

            c. spiders

            d. birds

            e. all of the above.

 

__E_6. Which of the following scientists wrote the book Silent Spring, which expressed concern about environmental contaminants, particularly DDT? (2 pts)

            a. Henry David Thoreau

            b. John Muir

            c. Aldo Leopold

            d. Ellen Swallow Richards

            e. Rachel Carson

 

Name the three components of Biodiversity.

 

___Species____7.

 

___Genetic______8.

 

___Community/Ecosystem__9.

 

_*E_10. Which of the following contributes to the variation of a population of organisms (2points)

            a. Gene flow from a neighboring population

            b. Mutation

            c. The number of polymorphic genes

            d. Sexual reproduction

            e. Only a & c

*Actually, there should have been an Ôall of the aboveÕ option. But give that, e is the best answer!

11. Lions and Tigers are distinct species, and yet a hybrid called a ÔLigerÕ exists. Explain why this does not violate the Biological Species Concept. (5 points)

 

Lions are Tigers can still be considered true biological species, despite the fact that they can physically produce a hybrid because the BSC states that a species is a population or group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed with one another in nature and to produce viable, fertile offspring. As discussed in lecture, Lions and Tigers do not interbreed in nature because their natural ranges do not overlap.

Partial credit was give to students who mentioned that Ligers are possibly infertile if they adequately related it back to the definition (the questions is about the species status of Lions and Tigers, not the Liger itself).