Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between species richness and species evenness in measuring biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Species richness measures the total number of species in an area, while species evenness measures the relative abundance of each species.

Question 2

A conservation biologist is comparing two forest patches. Patch A has 10 species, each with roughly equal numbers of individuals. Patch B has 10 species, but one species makes up 90% of the individuals. Which patch has higher species evenness, and why?

Accepted Answer

Patch A, because the individuals are more evenly distributed among species.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an adaptive radiation?

Accepted Answer

A single ancestral bird species colonizes an island and diversifies into multiple species, each adapted to different food sources.

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why small populations are more vulnerable to extinction?

Accepted Answer

Small populations are more affected by random events and genetic drift, leading to inbreeding and reduced genetic variation.

Question 5

Which of the following events is most likely to create ecological opportunity for adaptive radiation?

Accepted Answer

A mass extinction that removes many competing species.

Question 6

Which of the following is the best definition of a fundamental niche?

Accepted Answer

The full set of environmental conditions and resources a species could theoretically use.

Question 7

A population of frogs is isolated in a small, fragmented wetland. Over time, the population shows increased homozygosity and decreased fitness. Which process is most likely responsible?

Accepted Answer

Inbreeding depression due to reduced genetic variation.

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and evolutionary history?

Accepted Answer

Phylogenetic diversity measures how much evolutionary history is represented in a community by summing the branch lengths on a phylogenetic tree.

Question 9

Which of the following conservation strategies is most likely to increase genetic variation in a small, isolated population?

Accepted Answer

Facilitating gene flow by connecting habitats to allow movement between populations.

Question 10

Which of the following is a real-world example of a coevolutionary relationship that increased biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

The evolution of flowering plants and their animal pollinators, leading to diversification of both groups.

Question 11

Which formula would you use to calculate the relative abundance of a species in a community?

Accepted Answer

$$ 	ext{Relative Abundance} = \frac{	ext{Number of individuals of species}}{	ext{Total number of individuals of all species}} $$

Question 12

Which of the following best explains why biodiversity is often higher in areas with more ecological niches?

Accepted Answer

More ecological niches allow more species to coexist by reducing direct competition.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a likely consequence of habitat fragmentation?

Accepted Answer

Increased gene flow between populations.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about mass extinctions is correct?

Accepted Answer

Mass extinctions remove many species in a short time, opening ecological niches for surviving species to diversify.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the realized niche of a species?

Accepted Answer

The actual set of conditions and resources a species uses, limited by competition and other biotic factors.

Question 16

Which of the following is a direct effect of inbreeding in small populations?

Accepted Answer

Increased homozygosity, which can lead to inbreeding depression.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a functional trait used to measure functional diversity?

Accepted Answer

The ability of a plant to fix nitrogen.

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why conservation efforts often focus on increasing population size?

Accepted Answer

Larger populations are less vulnerable to genetic drift and inbreeding, reducing extinction risk.

Question 19

Which of the following is a likely outcome if humans continue to reduce the fundamental niche of a species?

Accepted Answer

The species may experience population decline or extinction due to limited resources and habitat.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the concept of a 'biodiversity hotspot'?

Accepted Answer

An area with exceptionally high species richness and endemism that is under threat from human activities.

Biodiversity, Evolutionary Patterns, and Conservation Biology

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