Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between species richness and species evenness in a community?

Accepted Answer

Species richness refers to the number of different species present, while species evenness refers to how similar the abundances of each species are.

Question 2

A researcher is comparing two communities: Community A has 10 species with similar abundances, and Community B has 10 species but one species is much more abundant than the others. Which community has higher species evenness?

Accepted Answer

Community A

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a provisioning ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Harvesting timber from a forest

Question 4

Refer to the image of the terrestrial nutrient cycle. Which process returns nutrients from dead organisms back to the soil?

Accepted Answer

Decomposition

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why plant biodiversity increases ecosystem productivity?

Accepted Answer

Different plant species use different resources and occupy different niches, leading to more efficient resource use.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a direct effect of current climate change on ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Increased speciation rates due to habitat loss

Question 7

A community with high phylogenetic diversity is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Containing species that are distantly related to each other

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of a regulating ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Wetlands filtering pollutants from water

Question 9

Which of the following equations correctly represents Net Primary Productivity (NPP)?

Accepted Answer

$$\mathrm{NPP} = \mathrm{GPP} - \mathrm{R}$$

Question 10

Which of the following best describes a mass extinction event?

Accepted Answer

A rapid extinction of at least 60% of species within 1 million years

Question 11

Which of the following is a supporting ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Nutrient cycling by soil microbes

Question 12

Which of the following is a likely consequence of low functional diversity in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Reduced ecosystem resilience to disturbances

Question 13

Which of the following best explains the concept of ecosystem resistance?

Accepted Answer

The ability of an ecosystem to remain unchanged during a disturbance

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a cultural ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Hiking in a national park

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the current extinction rate is correct?

Accepted Answer

It is at least 100 times higher than the background extinction rate

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a way that biodiversity supports ecosystem functioning?

Accepted Answer

Decreasing ecosystem stability

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the process of speciation?

Accepted Answer

The emergence of a reproductive barrier that leads to the divergence of one species into two groups of lineages

Question 18

Which of the following is a direct effect of current climate change on species?

Accepted Answer

Shifts in geographic range toward higher latitudes or elevations

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why high biodiversity can increase ecosystem stability?

Accepted Answer

A greater variety of species and functions allows ecosystems to better resist and recover from disturbances

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of an indirect benefit (ecosystem service) that humans receive from ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Pollination of crops by wild bees

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Structure, Function, and Conservation

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