Unit 3: Biodiversity and conservation - Practice Quiz

CHE110 — Environmental Studies 60 Questions
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1 What does biodiversity mean?

Definition of biodiversity Easy
A. The variety of living organisms
B. The formation of clouds
C. The movement of ocean water
D. The study of rocks and minerals

2 Which of the following is a level of biological diversity?

Levels of biological diversity Easy
A. Atmospheric diversity
B. Solar diversity
C. Mineral diversity
D. Genetic diversity

3 Genetic diversity refers to differences in genes among:

Genetic diversity Easy
A. Types of soil only
B. Members of the same species
C. Separate weather systems
D. Different planets

4 Species diversity includes the variety of species and their:

Species diversity Easy
A. Relative abundance
B. Wind direction
C. Cloud height
D. Rock hardness

5 Which example shows ecosystem diversity?

Ecosystem diversity Easy
A. Forests, deserts, and wetlands
B. Different breeds of dogs
C. Different sizes of seeds
D. Different colors of flowers

6 Why is biodiversity important for ecosystems?

Importance of biodiversity Easy
A. It supports ecosystem stability
B. It removes every predator
C. It prevents plant growth
D. It stops all natural changes

7 Which is an example of an ecosystem service?

Ecosystem services Easy
A. Manufacture of computers
B. Production of plastic toys
C. Pollination of crops
D. Construction of highways

8 The ecological value of biodiversity is related to its role in:

Ecological value Easy
A. Changing national borders
B. Increasing traffic speed
C. Maintaining ecosystem functions
D. Producing artificial materials

9 Which is an example of the economic value of biodiversity?

Economic value Easy
A. Medicinal plants used by people
B. A mountain view at sunset
C. A rainbow after rainfall
D. A change in ocean tides

10 The beauty of forests, flowers, and wildlife represents the _____ value of biodiversity.

Aesthetic value Easy
A. Aesthetic
B. Industrial
C. Mechanical
D. Geological

11 Biodiversity has informational value because organisms can provide knowledge for:

Informational value Easy
A. Increasing gravity
B. Changing the seasons
C. Scientific research
D. Road construction only

12 A biodiversity hotspot is an area with many unique species and:

Hot spots of biodiversity Easy
A. No living organisms
B. Very little human activity
C. Severe habitat loss
D. Only one common species

13 What is habitat loss?

Habitat loss Easy
A. Seasonal change in animal color
B. Increase in the number of habitats
C. Destruction of an organism's natural home
D. Movement of animals within a habitat

14 Poaching means:

Poaching of wildlife Easy
A. Illegal hunting of wildlife
B. Careful study of insects
C. Legal planting of trees
D. Natural migration of birds

15 An invasive species is one that:

Biological invasions Easy
A. Harms native species in a new area
B. Lives only in its native area
C. Always improves local ecosystems
D. Cannot reproduce in a habitat

16 Which situation is an example of human-wildlife conflict?

Human-wildlife conflicts Easy
A. Butterflies visiting garden flowers
B. Birds nesting in a forest
C. Fish living in a clean river
D. Elephants damaging village crops

17 A species is called extinct when:

Extinct species Easy
A. No individuals remain alive
B. It is common in a forest
C. Its population is increasing
D. It lives in many habitats

18 An endangered species is one that has:

Endangered species Easy
A. A rapidly growing population
B. A wide and stable population
C. A very high risk of extinction
D. No threats in its habitat

19 In-situ conservation protects species:

In-situ conservation Easy
A. Only in seed markets
B. In their natural habitats
C. Outside all protected areas
D. Only in laboratories

20 Which is an example of ex-situ conservation?

Ex-situ conservation Easy
A. Keeping animals in a zoo
B. Protecting a forest reserve
C. Guarding a coral reef
D. Preserving a natural wetland

21 A forest contains many species, several varieties within each species, and different habitat types. Which term best describes this overall variation?

Definition of biodiversity Medium
A. Population density
B. Biological diversity
C. Ecological succession
D. Natural selection

22 Two rice fields contain the same number of species, but one field has many genetically distinct rice varieties. Which level of diversity mainly differs?

Levels of biological diversity Medium
A. Genetic diversity
B. Species diversity
C. Landscape diversity
D. Ecosystem diversity

23 Why can genetically diverse populations be more resilient to a new disease?

Genetic diversity Medium
A. All individuals become immune immediately
B. The disease cannot reproduce in any host
C. Some individuals may resist the disease
D. Genetic diversity prevents environmental change

24 Forest A and Forest B each contain 20 species. Forest A has individuals distributed more evenly among its species. Which forest has greater species diversity?

Species diversity Medium
A. Both, because species richness is identical
B. Forest B, because abundance is higher
C. Neither, because diversity excludes abundance
D. Forest A, because evenness is higher

25 A conservation plan protects a mangrove, grassland, desert, and mountain lake within one region. Which level of biodiversity is mainly being represented?

Ecosystem diversity Medium
A. Ecosystem diversity
B. Individual diversity
C. Genetic diversity
D. Species diversity

26 A wetland reduces flooding by storing excess rainwater. This function is best classified as which ecosystem service?

Ecosystem services Medium
A. Provisioning service
B. Cultural service
C. Regulating service
D. Genetic service

27 Removing a predator causes herbivore numbers to rise and vegetation to decline. This example demonstrates biodiversity's:

Ecological value Medium
A. Ecological value
B. Informational value
C. Aesthetic value
D. Commercial value

28 A wild plant is investigated because it may contain a compound useful for developing a medicine. Which value of biodiversity is most directly involved?

Economic value Medium
A. Aesthetic value
B. Economic value
C. Recreational value
D. Social value

29 A community protects a forest because it is linked to traditional ceremonies and cultural identity. This reflects biodiversity's:

Social value Medium
A. Social value
B. Informational value
C. Industrial value
D. Replacement value

30 Visitors support the protection of a landscape mainly because of its scenic beauty and wildlife-viewing opportunities. Which value is emphasized?

Aesthetic value Medium
A. Aesthetic value
B. Genetic value
C. Subsistence value
D. Industrial value

31 Scientists study how desert plants conserve water to design more efficient crops. This use of biodiversity illustrates:

Informational value Medium
A. Informational value
B. Aesthetic value
C. Habitat value
D. Social value

32 A region is prioritized as a biodiversity hotspot because it has many endemic species and faces severe habitat loss. Which feature is essential to hotspot identification?

Hot spots of biodiversity Medium
A. Many farms with high productivity
B. High endemism with major threat
C. Large area with few species
D. High rainfall with low population

33 A highway divides a continuous forest into small isolated patches. Besides reducing area, this change most directly increases:

Habitat loss Medium
A. Genetic mutation
B. Habitat fragmentation
C. Nutrient fixation
D. Species domestication

34 If illegal hunting selectively removes the largest male elephants, which long-term effect is most likely?

Poaching of wildlife Medium
A. Immediate increase in genetic diversity
B. Reduced breeding success and altered population structure
C. Permanent elimination of all predators
D. Improved survival of every elephant

35 An introduced plant spreads rapidly, reduces native plant abundance, and changes soil conditions. It is best described as:

Biological invasions Medium
A. A keystone native species
B. A domesticated crop variety
C. An invasive alien species
D. A threatened endemic species

36 After natural prey declines, leopards begin killing livestock near villages. Which measure addresses the underlying cause most directly?

Human-wildlife conflicts Medium
A. Expand settlements into forest edges
B. Restore prey populations and secure livestock
C. Stop monitoring wildlife movement
D. Remove every predator from the landscape

37 A species has a rapidly declining population and faces a high risk of extinction in the near future. It should be treated as a:

Species of conservation concern Medium
A. Common generalist species
B. Pioneer species
C. Species of conservation concern
D. Domesticated species

38 A species has suffered a major population decline and faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Which category best applies?

Endangered species Medium
A. Endangered
B. Least concerned
C. Rare
D. Data deficient

39 Which species would receive the highest priority under an EDGE approach?

EDGE species Medium
A. A common species with many close relatives
B. A highly threatened species with few close relatives
C. A recently domesticated species with high abundance
D. A widespread species with a stable population

40 A wildlife sanctuary protects a tiger population within its natural forest habitat. This is an example of:

In-situ conservation Medium
A. Ex-situ conservation
B. In-situ conservation
C. Artificial selection
D. Gene banking

41 A landscape contains several closely related tree populations, many species, and multiple habitat types. Which statement most accurately applies the concept of biodiversity to this landscape?

Definition of biodiversity Hard
A. It measures only the abundance of threatened organisms
B. It refers only to the number of tree species present
C. It is equivalent to the total biomass of all organisms
D. It includes variation within populations, among species, and among ecosystems

42 Two wetlands contain the same number of species and identical species abundances, but one wetland has genetically distinct populations of a dominant fish. Which conclusion is best supported?

Levels of biological diversity Hard
A. They may differ in genetic diversity despite equal species diversity
B. The wetlands differ in ecosystem diversity only
C. The wetland with fewer fish necessarily has greater biodiversity
D. Both wetlands have identical biodiversity at every level

43 A disease affects a crop variety cultivated from a single clonal ancestor, while a genetically diverse traditional landrace survives. Which mechanism best explains the difference?

Genetic diversity Hard
A. Clonal crops always have lower productivity than landraces
B. Higher ecosystem diversity eliminates all crop pathogens
C. Genetic variation increases the chance of resistant individuals
D. Species richness directly prevents mutations in pathogens

44 Community X and Community Y each contain ten species. In X, one species represents 90% of individuals; in Y, all species are similarly abundant. Which interpretation is most appropriate?

Species diversity Hard
A. Y generally has greater species diversity because evenness is higher
B. Both have identical species diversity because richness is equal
C. X has greater genetic diversity by definition
D. X has greater species evenness than Y

45 A conservation plan protects many species in a botanical garden but replaces a mosaic of wetlands, grasslands, and forest with one managed habitat. Which level remains most inadequately conserved?

Ecosystem diversity Hard
A. Genetic diversity
B. Ecosystem diversity
C. Species diversity
D. Individual diversity

46 A mangrove is cleared for a shrimp farm, producing market income but increasing storm damage, salinity intrusion, and nursery-fish losses. Which assessment best captures the decision?

Ecosystem services Hard
A. Cultural services automatically compensate for all economic losses
B. The conversion trades provisioning benefits against regulating and supporting services
C. The loss is irrelevant if the mangrove species survive elsewhere
D. Only direct market revenue is an ecosystem service

47 Why can the disappearance of a seemingly rare and economically unused predator still reduce ecological value?

Ecological value Hard
A. Ecological value exists only when a species is harvested
B. Its removal may disrupt food-web regulation and ecosystem stability
C. Predators always have the highest population size
D. Predator loss necessarily increases genetic diversity

48 A wild plant has no current commercial use, but its genes later help develop drought-tolerant crops. Which biodiversity value was initially overlooked?

Informational value Hard
A. Aesthetic value
B. Informational value
C. Exclusive recreational value
D. Replacement value

49 Which combination best characterizes a biodiversity hotspot in the conservation-priority sense?

Hot spots of biodiversity Hard
A. Low species richness, high rainfall, and extensive intact habitat
B. High endemism, substantial habitat loss, and exceptional threat
C. Large area, high biomass, and no documented species loss
D. High latitude, low endemism, and minimal human disturbance

50 A road divides a continuous forest into small patches while the total forest area declines only slightly. Which additional effect most directly increases extinction risk?

Habitat loss Hard
A. Improved gene flow among isolated populations
B. Reduced edge effects in the remaining patches
C. Lower connectivity and smaller effective population sizes
D. Automatic conversion of all edge habitat into core habitat

51 A poached species remains locally common because of high reproduction, but its largest adults are selectively removed. Why can conservation concern still be justified?

Poaching of wildlife Hard
A. Poaching affects only species already classified as extinct
B. Selective removal can alter age structure, behavior, and reproductive potential
C. Population size alone proves that harvesting is sustainable
D. Large adults have no effect on population genetics

52 An introduced plant spreads rapidly after native herbivores fail to consume it and local plants decline. Which inference is most defensible?

Biological invasions Hard
A. The plant is invasive only if it has no ecological effects
B. Introduction alone proves that the species is harmful everywhere
C. Native herbivores must always increase after invasion
D. Enemy release may contribute to its competitive advantage

53 A corridor restoration increases elephant movement between fragmented forests but also increases crop damage in nearby villages. Which response best reflects conflict-sensitive conservation?

Human-wildlife conflicts Hard
A. Ignore local losses because connectivity has ecological benefits
B. Remove all elephants entering agricultural landscapes
C. Close the corridor permanently to protect crops
D. Combine land-use planning, prevention, compensation, and community participation

54 A species has undergone a major population decline and its remaining populations are small, fragmented, and exposed to continuing threats. Which classification is most consistent with this evidence?

Endangered species Hard
A. Least concerning by default
B. Endangered
C. Domesticated
D. Extinct

55 A widespread species has experienced a substantial decline and is projected to become threatened if current pressures continue, but it does not yet meet the higher-risk thresholds. Which category fits best?

Vulnerable species Hard
A. Endemic by definition
B. Data-free and therefore secure
C. Extinct
D. Vulnerable

56 Why might an evolutionarily distinct amphibian with no close living relatives receive high conservation priority even if another species has a larger population decline?

EDGE species Hard
A. EDGE status means the species has no ecological function
B. Evolutionary distinctiveness represents irreplaceable branches of evolutionary history
C. A large decline is irrelevant to conservation prioritization
D. Evolutionarily distinct species are always numerically the rarest

57 Which proposal is most clearly an in-situ conservation strategy for a threatened wild orchid?

In-situ conservation Hard
A. Storing its seeds in a national seed bank
B. Maintaining living plants in a botanical garden
C. Protecting and managing its natural forest habitat
D. Preserving extracted DNA in a laboratory freezer

58 A species has only one surviving wild population and is vulnerable to a catastrophic disease outbreak. Which action is most directly ex situ?

Ex-situ conservation Hard
A. Maintaining a genetically managed captive-breeding population
B. Restoring a wildlife corridor between wild populations
C. Creating a protected area around its remaining habitat
D. Restricting access to the species’ natural nesting site

59 A conservation survey compares the Himalaya, Western Ghats, and Deccan Peninsula as distinct large-scale ecological regions. What is the principal rationale for such zonation?

Biogeographic zones of India Hard
A. It ranks regions only by their annual rainfall
B. It groups areas by political boundaries alone
C. It reflects broad patterns of ecology, geography, and biological distribution
D. It identifies zones containing exactly the same species

60 India’s recognition as a megadiversity nation is best explained by which combination?

India as a mega-diversity nation Hard
A. The absence of habitat loss and invasive species
B. A completely continuous natural forest covering the country
C. Large geographic area alone and uniform climate
D. High species richness, endemism, varied ecosystems, and substantial genetic resources