Skip to main content
Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology
Chapter 53, Problem 11

Scientists around the world are collaborating to understand how deforestation, climate change, and natural processes will interact to affect one of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. a. temperate forest b. tropical dry forest c. tropical grassland d. tropical wet forest

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the ecosystem described: The problem mentions high productivity and biodiversity, which are key characteristics of certain ecosystems.
Consider the impact of deforestation and climate change: These factors significantly affect ecosystems that have dense vegetation and diverse species.
Analyze the options: Temperate forests and tropical grasslands do not typically match the highest levels of biodiversity and productivity compared to tropical forests.
Focus on tropical forests: Both tropical dry forests and tropical wet forests are known for their biodiversity and productivity. However, tropical wet forests (rainforests) are particularly noted for being extremely biodiverse and productive.
Conclude with the best match: Given the emphasis on extreme biodiversity and productivity under the threat of deforestation and climate change, the most likely answer is d. tropical wet forest.

Verified Solution

Video duration:
1m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Deforestation

Deforestation refers to the large-scale removal of trees from forested areas, which can lead to habitat loss, decreased biodiversity, and altered ecosystems. It significantly impacts carbon storage, contributing to climate change by increasing atmospheric CO2 levels. Understanding deforestation is crucial for assessing its effects on various ecosystems, particularly in biodiverse regions.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:23
Habitat Destruction and Degradation

Climate Change

Climate change encompasses long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions, primarily driven by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion. It affects ecosystems by altering species distributions, disrupting food webs, and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. Recognizing the implications of climate change is essential for predicting its impact on forest ecosystems.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:36
Pollution and Climate Change

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms within a given ecosystem, including species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity. High biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience, productivity, and stability, making it vital for ecological health. Understanding biodiversity is key to evaluating how environmental changes, like deforestation and climate change, can affect ecosystem functionality.
Recommended video:
Guided course
05:06
Biodiversity and Sustainability
Related Practice
Textbook Question

The maps shown here chronicle the loss of old-growth forest (more than 200 years old) that occurred in the United States. In your opinion, under what conditions is it ethical for conservationists who live in the United States to lobby government officials in Brazil, Indonesia, and other tropical countries to slow the rate of loss of old-growth forest?

442
views
Textbook Question

During the Carboniferous period, plant growth was extensive but rates of decomposition slowed (probably due to the formation of vast, oxygen-poor swamp habitats). As a result, large amounts of biomass accumulated in terrestrial environments (much of this biomass is now coal). The fossil record indicates that atmospheric oxygen increased, atmospheric carbon dioxide decreased, and global temperatures dropped. Explain why.

842
views
Open Question

Human impacts such as habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution are causing a rapid decline in insect diversity. Pose an argument for why conservation efforts to preserve plant diversity, like Homegrown National Park, are essential for conserving insect diversity.

54
views
Textbook Question

Do you drink coffee? A lot of people do—coffee is a major tropical crop, valued at over $100 billion per year. The most popular species of coffee, Coffea arabica, originated in Africa and is now planted extensively in Central and South America. The pest called the coffee berry borer beetle (Hypothenemus hampeii) moved along with the coffee and is a major problem for coffee farmers, sometimes destroying half of the coffee crop in mature plantations. Based on what you have learned in this chapter about global trends in terrestrial ecosystems, what is currently the largest threat to the wet tropical forests in Central America? a. habitat destruction, such as the clearing of forests for coffee plantations b. exotic species, such as the introduction of coffee berry borers c. pollution, such as the use of pesticides in coffee plantations d. climate change, such as changes in precipitation patterns

357
views
Textbook Question

Do you drink coffee? A lot of people do—coffee is a major tropical crop, valued at over $100 billion per year. The most popular species of coffee, Coffea arabica, originated in Africa and is now planted extensively in Central and South America. The pest called the coffee berry borer beetle (Hypothenemus hampeii) moved along with the coffee and is a major problem for coffee farmers, sometimes destroying half of the coffee crop in mature plantations. Pesticides are generally ineffective in killing coffee berry borers. Ecologist Daniel Karp and colleagues conducted a study in Costa Rica to determine if natural predators like birds reduce the beetle population. The researchers selected 12 control plots and used nets to exclude birds from 12 similar treatment plots. What is the take-home message of the graph? (Remember, * means P 6 0.05)

324
views
Textbook Question

Scientists around the world are collaborating to understand how deforestation, climate change, and natural processes will interact to affect one of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Select True or False for each statement about the effects of clear-cutting on the Amazon rain forest, then explain your reasoning. T/F Nutrient export is likely to decline. T/F Atmospheric CO2 is likely to decline. T/F Soil moisture is likely to decline. T/F Species diversity is likely to decline.

298
views