BIO 182 FINAL EXAM ASU QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
What is extinction? - ANSWERThe loss or death of a species
What is mass extinction? - ANSWERA decline in biodiversity greater than the
background extinction rate
What is water depth? - ANSWER-The amount and types of wavelengths available to
organisms change dramatically as the water depth increases
-As the water gets deeper, the light intensity decreases
What physical factors effect the distribution and abundance of organisms in aquatic
biomes? - ANSWER-Water depth
-Nutrient availability
-Water movement
-Temperature
What are the types of aquatic biomes and how are they classified? - ANSWER-They
are classified by salinity
-Fresh water ( less than 0.1% salt), marine (salt water)
What is background extinction? - ANSWERBackground extinction occurs when
certain populations are reduced to zero because of normal environment change,
emerging disease, predation pressure, or competition with another species
What are phenology shifts? - ANSWER*Related to global climate change*
-Timing of seasonal events
-Concern mismatch between organisms
What are geographic range shifts? - ANSWER*Related to global climate change*
-Organisms move into climates to which they're adapted
-Concern for organisms in arctic and alpine regions (running out of habitat)
What are consequences of extinction? - ANSWER-Impacts productivity and stability,
and biological communities
-Ecosystem services
-Could disrupt mutualisms
How are mass extinctions detected and how many have been detected? -
ANSWERThey're detected geologically, and there have been 5 detected
, What organisms became extinct during the Pleistocene and Cretaceous and what
are possible causes for these extinctions? - ANSWERPleistocene: Wooly Mammoth,
Giant Short-Faced Bear, Dire Wolf, Giant Beaver, Shasta Ground Sloth, American
Lion
-Could be extinct because of climate change (warmer temps), human overkill
(predation), pathogens
Cretaceous: Dinosaurs
-Could be extinct because of asteroid (impact hypothesis)
What is the evidence to support that there will be a 6th mass extinction? -
ANSWERModern rates of extinction are 100 to 1000 time greater than the
background rate
What is overexploitation? - ANSWER-Any unsustainable removal of wildlife from the
natural environment by use of humans
-Harvesting of organisms at rates exceeding the species ability to replace itself
-The dominant threat to marine species
-Overhunting
What is habitat destruction? - ANSWERTerrestrial Ecosystems: Conversion
agriculture, logging, development and urbanization
Aquatic Ecosystems: Draining and developing wetlands, damming rivers
Species area curve - As the land area decreases, the number of species decreases
What is habitat fragmentation? - ANSWER-The breakup of large pieces of natural
habitat into small, isolated pieces
-Can reduce a habitat to where it's too small to support a species
-Reduces the ability of individuals to disperse from one habitat to another (could be
more vulnerable to catastrophes)
-Creates a large amount of "edge" habitat (Edge effects light levels, pollution,
poachers, and competition)
-The species most impacted by this are those that require large territories to find
food
How can an exotic species contribute to extinction? - ANSWER-An introduction of a
new species, that could possibly become an invasive species
-An exotic species could carry pathogens
What is resource use efficiency? - ANSWER-When species diversity is high, more
overall water is used and more photosynthesis can occur
What is facilitation? - ANSWER-Certain species facilitate the growth of another
species by providing them with nutrients, partial shade, etc.
What is a food chain? - ANSWER-Connects the trophic levels in a particular
ecosystem
-Describes how energy moves from one trophic level to another
What is the decomposer food chain? - ANSWER-Made up of species that eat the
dead remains of organisms
AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
What is extinction? - ANSWERThe loss or death of a species
What is mass extinction? - ANSWERA decline in biodiversity greater than the
background extinction rate
What is water depth? - ANSWER-The amount and types of wavelengths available to
organisms change dramatically as the water depth increases
-As the water gets deeper, the light intensity decreases
What physical factors effect the distribution and abundance of organisms in aquatic
biomes? - ANSWER-Water depth
-Nutrient availability
-Water movement
-Temperature
What are the types of aquatic biomes and how are they classified? - ANSWER-They
are classified by salinity
-Fresh water ( less than 0.1% salt), marine (salt water)
What is background extinction? - ANSWERBackground extinction occurs when
certain populations are reduced to zero because of normal environment change,
emerging disease, predation pressure, or competition with another species
What are phenology shifts? - ANSWER*Related to global climate change*
-Timing of seasonal events
-Concern mismatch between organisms
What are geographic range shifts? - ANSWER*Related to global climate change*
-Organisms move into climates to which they're adapted
-Concern for organisms in arctic and alpine regions (running out of habitat)
What are consequences of extinction? - ANSWER-Impacts productivity and stability,
and biological communities
-Ecosystem services
-Could disrupt mutualisms
How are mass extinctions detected and how many have been detected? -
ANSWERThey're detected geologically, and there have been 5 detected
, What organisms became extinct during the Pleistocene and Cretaceous and what
are possible causes for these extinctions? - ANSWERPleistocene: Wooly Mammoth,
Giant Short-Faced Bear, Dire Wolf, Giant Beaver, Shasta Ground Sloth, American
Lion
-Could be extinct because of climate change (warmer temps), human overkill
(predation), pathogens
Cretaceous: Dinosaurs
-Could be extinct because of asteroid (impact hypothesis)
What is the evidence to support that there will be a 6th mass extinction? -
ANSWERModern rates of extinction are 100 to 1000 time greater than the
background rate
What is overexploitation? - ANSWER-Any unsustainable removal of wildlife from the
natural environment by use of humans
-Harvesting of organisms at rates exceeding the species ability to replace itself
-The dominant threat to marine species
-Overhunting
What is habitat destruction? - ANSWERTerrestrial Ecosystems: Conversion
agriculture, logging, development and urbanization
Aquatic Ecosystems: Draining and developing wetlands, damming rivers
Species area curve - As the land area decreases, the number of species decreases
What is habitat fragmentation? - ANSWER-The breakup of large pieces of natural
habitat into small, isolated pieces
-Can reduce a habitat to where it's too small to support a species
-Reduces the ability of individuals to disperse from one habitat to another (could be
more vulnerable to catastrophes)
-Creates a large amount of "edge" habitat (Edge effects light levels, pollution,
poachers, and competition)
-The species most impacted by this are those that require large territories to find
food
How can an exotic species contribute to extinction? - ANSWER-An introduction of a
new species, that could possibly become an invasive species
-An exotic species could carry pathogens
What is resource use efficiency? - ANSWER-When species diversity is high, more
overall water is used and more photosynthesis can occur
What is facilitation? - ANSWER-Certain species facilitate the growth of another
species by providing them with nutrients, partial shade, etc.
What is a food chain? - ANSWER-Connects the trophic levels in a particular
ecosystem
-Describes how energy moves from one trophic level to another
What is the decomposer food chain? - ANSWER-Made up of species that eat the
dead remains of organisms
