Conservation Biology Flashcards
7 cards from real Biology Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Conservation Biology flashcards as text
Which human activity is considered the single largest driver of tropical deforestation globally?
Answer: Agricultural conversion for livestock and crops
Agricultural conversion—especially for cattle ranching, palm oil, and soy—accounts for the majority of tropical forest loss worldwide.
What does the term 'rewilding' specifically emphasize in modern conservation practice?
Answer: Restoring natural processes and reintroducing keystone species to allow ecosystems to self-regulate
Rewilding focuses on restoring ecological processes and apex predators or keystone species so that ecosystems can recover and function with minimal ongoing management.
Which principle explains why a larger reserve will typically support more species than a smaller one?
Answer: Island biogeography theory
Island biogeography theory predicts that species richness increases with area because larger areas support larger populations and more diverse habitats.
Ex situ conservation differs from in situ conservation in that ex situ:
Answer: Protects species outside their natural habitat in facilities like zoos or seed banks
Ex situ conservation preserves species away from their natural environment, serving as a safety net while in situ efforts protect habitat.
A population viability analysis (PVA) is used by conservation biologists primarily to:
Answer: Estimate the probability that a population will persist for a defined period
PVA uses demographic and environmental data to model extinction probability and minimum viable population size over time.
Which of the following best describes 'edge effects' in fragmented habitats?
Answer: Changes in species composition and microclimate conditions near the boundary of two habitat types
Edge effects include altered temperature, humidity, and light penetration near habitat boundaries, often favoring generalist and invasive species over interior specialists.
Which treaty provides the primary international framework for regulating trade in endangered wild plants and animals?
Answer: CITES
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulates and in some cases bans international trade in threatened species.