Explain why the construction of wildlife corridors can help maintain genetic diversity in a fragmented landscape.

With limited resources, conservation biologists need to prioritize their efforts. Of the following choices, which should receive the greatest attention for the goal of conserving biodiversity?a. a commercially important speciesb. all endangered vertebrate speciesc. a declining keystone species in a communityd. all endangered species

Some biologists prefer to focus efforts on preserving endangered species while others prefer to focus on preserving ecosystems. What is your advice to biologists, based on the evidence from this chapter?

Which of the following human activities generates the most carbon dioxide?a. driving;b. cooking;c. bathing;d. using aerosol sprays

Which of the following statements about protected areas is not correct?a. We now protect 25% of the land areas of the planet.b. National parks are only one type of protected area.c. Most reserves are smaller in size than the ranges of some of the species they are meant to protect.d. Management of protected areas must coordinate with the management of lands outside the protected zone.

What are the three levels of biological diversity? Explain how human activities threaten each of these levels.

What is rapid eutrophication? What steps might be taken to slow this process?

The population size of mountain pine beetles in the American Northwest has long been held in check by freezing temperatures during the winters. As winters warm, populations of pine beetles are increasing, killing whitebark pine forest. Grizzly bears rely on the nuts of whitebark pine trees. Do you think climate change is affecting the fitness of the grizzly bear population?a. No, because climate change is not a problem yet.b. No, because climate change is affecting the beetles, not the bears.c. Yes, because climate change is decreasing the food supply of the bears, which means they will be less strong.d. Yes, because climate change is decreasing the food supply of the bears, which is likely to reduce their ability to survive or reproduce.

Suppose that record snows blanket your campus this winter. Your friend says this is proof that global warming isn't really occurring. What is the flaw in your friend's logic?a. The average temperature of the Earth is not actually increasing.b. Global warming refers to temperatures, but snow is a type of precipitation.c. While the average global temperature is increasing, local temperatures and precipitation (weather) will vary.d. Your friend is confusing global warming and global climate change.