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Total Categories: 4
Functional extinction implies that a species has completely vanished from the planet, with no living individuals remaining.
Answer: False
Functional extinction signifies that a species' population is too diminished to perform its ecological role or sustain itself, even if some individuals persist, which distinguishes it from absolute extinction where no individuals remain.
One of the key criteria for functional extinction is when a species' reduced population can no longer perform its vital ecological duties.
Answer: True
A defining characteristic of functional extinction is the inability of a species' diminished population to fulfill its essential ecological functions within its habitat.
The disappearance of a species from the fossil record is one indicator that it may be functionally extinct.
Answer: True
One of the primary criteria for identifying functional extinction is the disappearance of a species from the fossil record or the cessation of its historical existence reports, indicating its population is too small to be detectable or ecologically significant.
The concept of functional extinction is important because it highlights that a species can be ecologically irrelevant even if some individuals still exist.
Answer: True
Functional extinction emphasizes that a species' ecological and evolutionary significance can be lost when its population is too small to perform its vital roles, even if individuals are still physically present.
Which of the following is NOT one of the three primary criteria defining functional extinction for a species or taxon?
Answer: The species has been successfully bred in captivity for at least two generations.
The three primary criteria for functional extinction involve the species disappearing from the fossil record, its reduced population no longer performing a significant ecological role, or its population no longer being viable for sustained reproduction. Successful captive breeding does not align with these criteria.
How does functional extinction differ from absolute extinction?
Answer: Functional extinction means a species' population is too small to play its ecological role or sustain itself, even if individuals exist, while absolute extinction means complete disappearance.
Functional extinction describes a state where a species, though still physically present, has lost its ecological or reproductive viability, whereas absolute extinction signifies the complete absence of all individuals of that species.
What is the significance of a species disappearing from the fossil record or historical reports ceasing, in relation to functional extinction?
Answer: It is one way functional extinction can be identified, suggesting the population is too small to leave a trace or fulfill its ecological role.
The cessation of historical reports or the absence from the fossil record serves as an indicator of functional extinction, suggesting that a species' population has become so diminished that it no longer leaves a detectable trace or performs its ecological functions.
Inbreeding depression and genetic drift are factors that can contribute to a population no longer being viable, leading to functional extinction.
Answer: True
Inbreeding depression and genetic drift are critical genetic factors that reduce a population's viability, making it unable to sustain itself and thus contributing to functional extinction.
Self-incompatibility mechanisms in plant populations primarily affect larger, genetically diverse populations, making reproduction difficult.
Answer: False
Self-incompatibility mechanisms in plants are particularly problematic for small, genetically uniform populations, as they prevent related individuals from reproducing, a challenge not typically faced by larger, more diverse populations.
Polygynous animal populations are less susceptible to genetic bottlenecks because many males contribute to the offspring, ensuring genetic diversity.
Answer: False
Polygynous animal populations are, in fact, more susceptible to genetic bottlenecks because only a few males contribute to the gene pool, severely restricting genetic diversity in subsequent generations.
Conservation genetics focuses on applying genetic principles to improve agricultural yields, not biodiversity.
Answer: False
Conservation genetics is a specialized field dedicated to applying genetic principles and techniques specifically for the preservation of biodiversity, addressing factors that contribute to species decline and functional extinction.
Mutational meltdown describes a process where a large, healthy population rapidly accumulates beneficial mutations.
Answer: False
Mutational meltdown describes the accumulation of harmful mutations in small populations, which occurs faster than natural selection can remove them, leading to a decline in fitness, not beneficial mutations in large populations.
Small population size is a minor factor in functional extinction, as species can easily recover from low numbers.
Answer: False
Small population size is a critical factor in functional extinction, making species highly susceptible to genetic issues like inbreeding depression and genetic drift, which hinder recovery and lead to a loss of viability.
An extinction vortex describes a stable state where small populations maintain their numbers through various interacting factors.
Answer: False
An extinction vortex describes a perilous downward spiral where interacting factors accelerate a small population's decline towards extinction, rather than maintaining stability.
What genetic issue is specifically accelerated in polygynous animal populations, leading to a more rapid loss of genetic fitness?
Answer: Genetic drift
In polygynous populations, where few males reproduce, the genetic bottleneck effect accelerates genetic drift, leading to a more rapid loss of genetic diversity and overall fitness.
What is the primary focus of conservation genetics?
Answer: Applying genetic principles to conserve biodiversity.
Conservation genetics is a field dedicated to utilizing genetic principles and techniques to understand and mitigate genetic factors that threaten biodiversity, thereby aiding in conservation efforts.
What phenomenon describes a small population accumulating harmful mutations faster than natural selection can remove them, leading to a decline in fitness?
Answer: Mutational meltdown
Mutational meltdown is the process in small populations where deleterious mutations accumulate more rapidly than they can be purged by natural selection, resulting in a progressive decline in population fitness.
Which concept describes a downward spiral where various factors interact to accelerate a small population's decline towards extinction?
Answer: Extinction vortex
An extinction vortex characterizes a positive feedback loop where multiple interacting factors, such as genetic issues and demographic stochasticity, drive a small population into an accelerating decline towards extinction.
What is a 'genetic bottleneck' in the context of polygynous populations?
Answer: A severe restriction of genetic diversity in the next generation due to few reproducing males.
In polygynous populations, a genetic bottleneck occurs when the reproductive success of only a few males severely limits the genetic diversity passed on to the next generation, making the population more vulnerable.
What is the primary reason small population size is a critical factor leading to functional extinction?
Answer: It makes species more susceptible to genetic problems like inbreeding depression and genetic drift.
Small population size is a critical determinant of functional extinction because it significantly increases a species' vulnerability to genetic issues such as inbreeding depression and genetic drift, which compromise its long-term viability.
Which of the following is a consequence of inbreeding depression in a small population?
Answer: Reduced fertility and increased susceptibility to diseases.
Inbreeding depression in small populations leads to a reduction in fitness, manifesting as lower survival rates, decreased fertility, and heightened vulnerability to diseases, thereby hindering population recovery.
The Baiji, or Chinese river dolphin, was declared functionally extinct in 2006, marking the first time an entire dolphin species was considered wiped out due to human activity.
Answer: True
The Baiji's functional extinction in 2006 is a significant case, as it represents the first documented instance of an entire dolphin species being driven to this status primarily by human-induced factors.
The Northern white rhinoceros is considered functionally extinct because all remaining individuals are too old to reproduce.
Answer: False
The Northern white rhinoceros is considered functionally extinct because, as of March 2018, only two females remained, with no breeding males, rendering the population non-viable for natural reproduction.
Conservationists have largely abandoned hope for the Ivory-billed woodpecker after extensive searches failed to find any individuals.
Answer: True
Extensive and unsuccessful searches for the Ivory-billed woodpecker have led conservationists to classify it as functionally extinct and largely abandon hope for its rediscovery.
The South China tiger population in the wild was estimated at 4,000 individuals in the early 2000s, making it not functionally extinct.
Answer: False
The South China tiger population was estimated at 4,000 in the early 1950s, not the 2000s. It has not been sighted in the wild for over 25 years and is considered functionally extinct.
The Australian Koala Foundation's claim in 2019 that koalas might be functionally extinct was widely accepted by the scientific community.
Answer: False
The Australian Koala Foundation's 2019 claim of koala functional extinction was not widely accepted by the scientific community, with the IUCN Red List maintaining their status as 'Vulnerable'.
A 2011 survey concluded that local populations of cheetahs and African wild dogs in North Cameroon were functionally extinct.
Answer: True
A three-year survey in 2011 specifically identified the local populations of cheetahs and African wild dogs within the Bénoué Ecosystem in North Cameroon as functionally extinct due to critically low numbers.
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle's functional extinction status was primarily due to a lack of suitable habitat.
Answer: False
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle's functional extinction is primarily attributed to its critically low population numbers, exacerbated by the death of the last known female, rather than solely a lack of suitable habitat.
The Barbary lion is an example of a species that is listed as functionally extinct.
Answer: True
The Barbary lion is indeed listed as functionally extinct, signifying that its wild population is no longer viable or ecologically significant, even if some individuals exist.
The political context of the Australian Koala Foundation's 2019 press release included the 2019 Australian federal elections, where climate change was a significant issue.
Answer: True
The Australian Koala Foundation's press release was strategically timed with the 2019 Australian federal elections, where climate change and environmental issues were prominent, suggesting an intent to influence public discourse.
The Vaquita, the largest member of the porpoise family, is listed as functionally extinct.
Answer: False
While the Vaquita is indeed listed as functionally extinct, it is the *smallest* member of the porpoise family, not the largest.
Non-Northern Cameroonian cheetahs are globally classified as 'Functionally Extinct' by the IUCN Red List.
Answer: False
While local populations of cheetahs in North Cameroon were deemed functionally extinct, cheetahs from other regions are globally classified as 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN Red List, not functionally extinct.
When was the Baiji, or Chinese river dolphin, declared functionally extinct by biologists?
Answer: December 12, 2006
Biologists officially declared the Baiji, or Chinese river dolphin, functionally extinct on December 12, 2006, after extensive surveys failed to find any individuals.
Why is the Northern white rhinoceros considered functionally extinct as of March 2018?
Answer: Only two individuals remained, both of which were females.
As of March 2018, the Northern white rhinoceros was deemed functionally extinct because only two females survived, rendering natural reproduction impossible without breeding males.
Which of the following species is listed as functionally extinct according to the source?
Answer: Imperial woodpecker
According to the provided information, the Imperial woodpecker is explicitly listed as a species considered functionally extinct.
What was the IUCN Red List classification for koalas at the time of the Australian Koala Foundation's 2019 press release?
Answer: Vulnerable
At the time of the Australian Koala Foundation's 2019 press release, the IUCN Red List classified koalas as 'Vulnerable,' not functionally extinct.
A three-year survey in 2011 concluded that local populations of which two species were functionally extinct in the Bénoué Ecosystem in North Cameroon?
Answer: Cheetahs and African wild dogs
A 2011 survey in North Cameroon's Bénoué Ecosystem specifically identified local populations of cheetahs and African wild dogs as functionally extinct.
Which of the following is an example of a species listed as functionally extinct due to its critically low population numbers, specifically highlighted by the death of the last known female in China during fertility treatment in 2019?
Answer: Yangtze giant softshell turtle
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle is a poignant example of functional extinction, with its critically low population numbers further jeopardized by the death of the last known female in China in 2019 during fertility treatment.
The Christmas Island shrew's status as functionally extinct is complicated by what factor?
Answer: Its continued existence is uncertain, with unconfirmed captures and accidental findings after being believed extinct.
The functional extinction status of the Christmas Island shrew is complicated by the uncertainty surrounding its continued existence, with reports of unconfirmed captures and accidental findings after it was initially believed extinct.
The South China tiger is considered functionally extinct because:
Answer: It has not been sighted in the wild for over 25 years.
The South China tiger is classified as functionally extinct primarily because there have been no confirmed sightings of the species in the wild for more than 25 years, indicating a non-viable wild population.
Which of these species is listed as functionally extinct?
Answer: North Atlantic right whale
Among the given options, the North Atlantic right whale is explicitly listed as a species considered functionally extinct.
The timing of the Australian Koala Foundation's 2019 press release about koala functional extinction was significant because it was issued:
Answer: On the eve of the 2019 Australian federal elections.
The Australian Koala Foundation's 2019 press release was strategically released on the eve of the Australian federal elections, a period when environmental issues, including climate change, were highly prominent in public discourse.
Extinction debt refers to the immediate extinction of species due to current environmental changes.
Answer: False
Extinction debt refers to the future extinction of species that is already inevitable due to past environmental changes, even if the species still exists in the present.
The IUCN Red List category 'Extinct (EX)' means individuals only survive in captivity or outside their historic range.
Answer: False
The IUCN Red List category 'Extinct (EX)' means there are no known living individuals of a species anywhere. The description provided corresponds to 'Extinct in the Wild (EW)'.
'Critically Endangered (CR)' is the highest risk category for threatened species on the IUCN Red List.
Answer: True
The 'Critically Endangered (CR)' category on the IUCN Red List denotes the most severe level of threat for species, indicating an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
The 'Data Deficient (DD)' category in the IUCN Red List implies that a species is not currently at risk of extinction.
Answer: False
The 'Data Deficient (DD)' category indicates that there is insufficient information to assess a species' extinction risk, not that it is free from risk. A species classified as 'Least Concern (LC)' is considered not currently at risk.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is responsible for compiling the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Answer: True
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) serves as the global authority responsible for compiling and maintaining the comprehensive IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The IUCN Red List classifies 'Vulnerable (VU)' species as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.
Answer: False
The 'Vulnerable (VU)' category indicates a high risk of extinction in the wild, but 'Critically Endangered (CR)' is the category for species facing an *extremely* high risk in the immediate future.
'Not Evaluated (NE)' category on the IUCN Red List means a species has been assessed and found to be at no risk.
Answer: False
The 'Not Evaluated (NE)' category signifies that a species has not yet undergone assessment against the IUCN Red List criteria, and therefore, its risk status is unknown, not that it is at no risk.
The IUCN Red List includes 'Conservation Dependent (CD)' as a category under 'Lower Risk' for species that rely on ongoing conservation efforts.
Answer: True
The 'Conservation Dependent (CD)' category within the IUCN Red List's 'Lower Risk' classification is specifically for species whose survival relies on continued, active conservation programs.
What does 'Extinction debt' refer to in the context of conservation?
Answer: The future extinction of species due to past events.
Extinction debt describes the phenomenon where species are committed to future extinction due to environmental changes or habitat loss that have already occurred, even if the species has not yet vanished.
According to the IUCN Red List, which category means there are no known living individuals of a species?
Answer: Extinct (EX)
The IUCN Red List category 'Extinct (EX)' is assigned when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual of a species has died.
Which IUCN Red List category indicates the highest risk of extinction in the wild for threatened species?
Answer: Critically Endangered (CR)
Among the threatened categories, 'Critically Endangered (CR)' represents the highest risk, signifying that a species faces an extremely high probability of extinction in the wild.
What does the 'Data Deficient (DD)' category in the IUCN Red List signify?
Answer: There is insufficient information to assess the species' extinction risk.
The 'Data Deficient (DD)' category is applied when available information is inadequate to properly assess a species' risk of extinction, highlighting the need for further research.
What is the role of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?
Answer: To compile the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The IUCN's primary role, as a global authority, is to compile and disseminate the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which serves as a crucial inventory for global conservation efforts.
What does 'Extinct in the Wild (EW)' mean according to the IUCN Red List?
Answer: The species only survives in captivity or outside its historic range.
The IUCN Red List category 'Extinct in the Wild (EW)' denotes that a species no longer exists in its natural habitat but persists solely in captive populations or as naturalized populations beyond its historical range.
Which of the following is NOT a category under 'Threatened' in the IUCN Red List?
Answer: Near Threatened (NT)
The 'Threatened' categories on the IUCN Red List are Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), and Vulnerable (VU). 'Near Threatened (NT)' is a 'Lower Risk' category, indicating a species is close to qualifying for a threatened status but not yet there.
What does 'Vulnerable (VU)' indicate about a species' conservation status on the IUCN Red List?
Answer: It is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, but less severe than Endangered.
The 'Vulnerable (VU)' category on the IUCN Red List signifies that a species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild, a level of threat that is serious but less immediate than 'Endangered' or 'Critically Endangered'.
What does 'Not Evaluated (NE)' mean for a species in the context of the IUCN Red List?
Answer: The species has not yet been assessed against the criteria.
The 'Not Evaluated (NE)' designation indicates that a species has not undergone a formal assessment against the IUCN Red List criteria, meaning its conservation status remains undetermined.
Which organization is listed in the sidebar as related to conservation status, alongside the IUCN Red List?
Answer: NatureServe status
The sidebar explicitly mentions NatureServe status as an organization related to conservation status, providing a comparative framework alongside the IUCN Red List.