PLSC 100 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
What are carotenoids? - Answer- pigments that are found in plants
How do carotenoids move through the food chain? - Answer- first in plants, then moves
to insects and birds
How do birds use carotenoids? - Answer- in feather color for mate attraction, for their
immune system, and antioxidants
What happens if birds are unable to get carotenoids? - Answer- birds loose access to
nutrients they need
Some plants can ______________ than other plants. - Answer- support far more life
What are keystone plants? - Answer- plants that can support many different life forms
Oaks support hundreds of _____________ - Answer- insect species
Non-native ornamentals support almost ____________ insect species. - Answer- no
What was the decline in monarchs caused by? - Answer- loss of milkweed and habitat
destruction
What does the monarch decline show a good example of? - Answer- how losing one
plant loses an entire species interaction
What do White-Eyed Vireos eat? - Answer- mostly insects during breeding season
(especially caterpillars), switch to fruits later in the year
When do non-native plants produce fruit? - Answer- in the fall
Why are birds not able to use non-native plants for food? - Answer- they need food in
the summer (breeding season) not in fall
What is the berry timing mismatch an example of? - Answer- a phenological mismatch
What is the result of having non-native plants? - Answer- birds don't get the food when
needed, then the population declines
, Why can natural areas alone not fix biodiversity issues? - Answer- natural habitats are
too fragmented and small and suburbs dominate the land area
Suburban landscapes must support ___________. - Answer- biodiversity
What can we do to support biodiversity? - Answer- reduce lawns, plant native species,
create habitat corridors, and increase plant biodiversity
Biodiversity isn't just nice, its necessary for _________________. - Answer- ecosystem
survival
What are plant foraging hubs? - Answer- areas with high concentrations of productive
native plants
What is the purpose of plant foraging hubs? - Answer- to provide abundant food for
wildlife and to support breeding success
What is a novel ecosystem? - Answer- human altered systems with new species
combinations and is often dominated by non-native species
What is the problem with most novel ecosystems? - Answer- they do not support
traditional food webs effectively
What does sustainable mean? - Answer- a system that can continue functioning
indefinitely (not just "eco-friendly")
How does a sustainable landscape function? - Answer- like a natural ecosystem
A sustainable landscape requires less _____________. - Answer- input (water, fertilizer,
labor)
A sustainable landscape provides what? - Answer- ecosystem services
How does the ecosystem provide clean water? - Answer- through plants and soil filter
pollutants and infiltration reduces flooding
How does the ecosystem provide habitats for wildlife? - Answer- it maintains food webs
and can support insects, birds, and animals
How does the ecosystem provide good air quality? - Answer- plants absorb CO2 and
product oxygen
How does the ecosystem provide human wellness? - Answer- reduces stress and
improves mental health
ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
What are carotenoids? - Answer- pigments that are found in plants
How do carotenoids move through the food chain? - Answer- first in plants, then moves
to insects and birds
How do birds use carotenoids? - Answer- in feather color for mate attraction, for their
immune system, and antioxidants
What happens if birds are unable to get carotenoids? - Answer- birds loose access to
nutrients they need
Some plants can ______________ than other plants. - Answer- support far more life
What are keystone plants? - Answer- plants that can support many different life forms
Oaks support hundreds of _____________ - Answer- insect species
Non-native ornamentals support almost ____________ insect species. - Answer- no
What was the decline in monarchs caused by? - Answer- loss of milkweed and habitat
destruction
What does the monarch decline show a good example of? - Answer- how losing one
plant loses an entire species interaction
What do White-Eyed Vireos eat? - Answer- mostly insects during breeding season
(especially caterpillars), switch to fruits later in the year
When do non-native plants produce fruit? - Answer- in the fall
Why are birds not able to use non-native plants for food? - Answer- they need food in
the summer (breeding season) not in fall
What is the berry timing mismatch an example of? - Answer- a phenological mismatch
What is the result of having non-native plants? - Answer- birds don't get the food when
needed, then the population declines
, Why can natural areas alone not fix biodiversity issues? - Answer- natural habitats are
too fragmented and small and suburbs dominate the land area
Suburban landscapes must support ___________. - Answer- biodiversity
What can we do to support biodiversity? - Answer- reduce lawns, plant native species,
create habitat corridors, and increase plant biodiversity
Biodiversity isn't just nice, its necessary for _________________. - Answer- ecosystem
survival
What are plant foraging hubs? - Answer- areas with high concentrations of productive
native plants
What is the purpose of plant foraging hubs? - Answer- to provide abundant food for
wildlife and to support breeding success
What is a novel ecosystem? - Answer- human altered systems with new species
combinations and is often dominated by non-native species
What is the problem with most novel ecosystems? - Answer- they do not support
traditional food webs effectively
What does sustainable mean? - Answer- a system that can continue functioning
indefinitely (not just "eco-friendly")
How does a sustainable landscape function? - Answer- like a natural ecosystem
A sustainable landscape requires less _____________. - Answer- input (water, fertilizer,
labor)
A sustainable landscape provides what? - Answer- ecosystem services
How does the ecosystem provide clean water? - Answer- through plants and soil filter
pollutants and infiltration reduces flooding
How does the ecosystem provide habitats for wildlife? - Answer- it maintains food webs
and can support insects, birds, and animals
How does the ecosystem provide good air quality? - Answer- plants absorb CO2 and
product oxygen
How does the ecosystem provide human wellness? - Answer- reduces stress and
improves mental health
