What

1
Whats Your Biodiversity IQ?

• Your chance to find out what you know about the
  worlds diverse plants, animals and natural
  places.

2
1. Which of the following could the fastest
human outrun in a 100 yard race?
Answer

1. Cheetah
2. Wart hog
3. Three-toed sloth
4. Domestic cat
5. Wild turkey

Wart Hog
Wild Turkey
http//www.foxandstephens.com/africa/2001AfricaEcl
ipse05_files5CWart_Hog.jpg
http//www.gotpetsonline.com/pictures-gallery/bird
-pictures-breeders-chicks/wild-turkey-pictures-bre
eders-chicks/pictures/wild-turkey-0001.jpg

• Lots of animals are quick on their feet (or
  wings, or scales, or fins), but speed doesnt
  necessarily count much these days in the race for
  survival.
• Cheetahs, for example, are the fastest land
  animals in the world but theyre also among the
  most endangered.

Domestic Cat
Cheetah
http//animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/
NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/800/domestic
-cat.jpg
Three-Toed Sloth
http//newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42438000/jpg
/_42438108_09cheetah300.jpg
http//www.utmb.edu/ctd/archives/1998/three-toed-s
loth.jpg
3
2. Which of the following actually exist?
Answer

• Some slime molds have 2 phases in life cycle
• In reproductive stage, they are stationary with
  a stalk that produces spores.
• Also exist as amoeba-like organism that feed by
  engulfing material and moving up to several feet
  per day.

1. Ants that herd aphids for food
2. Slime molds that creep across the ground
3. Flowers that trick insects into mating with
   them
4. None of the above

http//www.kentfieldclub.org.uk/htdocs/images/Agog
orytes20mystaceus2_lg.jpg
http//www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/gepts/PB143/l
ec13/Ants_aphids1.jpg

• Ants eat the sugary substances excreted by
  aphids (insects that suck plant juices).
• Ants herd colonies of aphids by moving them from
  place to place protecting them from enemies.

• The bee-like flowers of the orchid Ophrys
  speculum attract male bees that are so deceived
  by the resemblance to female bees that they
  attempt to mate with the flowers.
• In the process, the males bring pollen from
  other females (flowers).

http//pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/images/B99
9images/B999-1.jpg
4
3. What does a large adult bluefin tuna have in
common with a Porsche 911?
Answer

1. Ability to go from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.7 seconds
2. Big fins
3. A sticker price of about 60,000

http//images.automobilemag.com/multimedia/photo_g
allery/0606_2007_porsche_911_gt3_07_445.jpg
http//animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/
NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/blue
fin-tuna.jpg

• Both can cost at least 60,000.
• Overfishing has made this tuna extremely rare.
• And, you could say that both the car and the fish
  have big fins

5
4. Which of the following best describes the
word biodiversity?
Answer

1. Endangered species
2. Different kinds of planets in the solar system
3. The variety of life on Earth
4. A bunch of biographies about famous biologists

• The variety of life on Earth includes plants,
  animals, microorganisms, ecosystems, genes,
  cultural diversity and more.

6
5. U.S. Fish Wildlife Service agents and U.S.
Custom officials in Los Angeles, CA, once found
which of the following strapped to a mans arms
legs?

• If this illegal trade did not exist, the future
  of African elephants, rhinos, Asiatic bears, and
  many more species would be much brighter.

Answer

1. 18 California king snakes
2. 45 pounds of elephant ivory
3. 16 sea turtle eggs
4. 16 vampire bats

http//www.safariweb.com/safarimate/trial2/ivory.j
pg

• The man planned to sell the snakes in Taiwan
  instead, he was prosecuted sentenced to 6
  months in jail.
• Although this is an unusual story of illegal
  trade, annual trade in wildlife is estimated at
  10 billion up to 25 is illegal.

http//www.nova.edu/ocean/seaturtles/eggs2.jpg
Sea Turtle Eggs
Elephant Ivory
http//news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/
images/070820-vampire-bats_big.jpg
California King Snake
Vampire Bat
http//www.reptilesncritters.com/images/regular/ch
oc-cal-king-snake.jpg
7
6. Scientists studying bug zappers have learned
some interesting facts. Which of the following
are among them?
Answer

• Many species of mosquitoes are not attracted to
  bug zappers at all.
• Instead the zappers blue light attracts
  harmless insects, many of which are food for
  birds, bats fish.
• Some of these insects are important to plants,
  which need them for pollination.

• Insects are attracted to bug zappers because of
  the zappers smoky smell.
• Bug zappers are great for ridding summer nights
  of mosquitoes.
• Bug zappers could be bad news
• for certain birds, fish, bats, and
• flowers.
• d. There are more than 4 million
• bug zappers being used in the U.S.

http//www.jaygaulard.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/
2007/05/bug-zapper.jpg
8
7. Blackpoll warblers are tiny birds that
migrate between North America South America
each year. Which of the following statements
about them are true?
Answer

1. They use the stars for navigation.
2. They make frequent pit stops at fast-food
   restaurants.
3. They dont need to migrate.
4. If they burned gasoline instead of body fat for
   fuel, theyd get 720,000 miles to the gallon.

• Migrating animals often use sun, stars, land
  patterns to reach their destinations.
• Many migrators are able to get where theyre
  going with little fuel.

• Migrating animals are threatened by habitat
  destruction.
• International efforts to conserve habitat are
  very important.

http//sdakotabirds.com/species/photos/blackpoll_w
arbler_male.jpg
9
8. Which of the following can be considered an
enemy of coral reefs?
Answer

1. Starfish
2. Jewelry
3. Sunken treasure
4. Divers

http//animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/
NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/800/starfish
.jpg
http//www.naturephoto-cz.com/photos/sevcik/crown-
of-thorns-starfish--trnova-koruna.jpg

• Coral reefs are very diverse supporting more
  than 3000 species of fish and other life.
• Outbreaks of predatory crown-of-thorns starfish
  are natural, but
• Human activity reduces corals ability to recover
  from damage.

http//www.coralcoe.org.au/news_stories/earthquake
death/images/0420Reef20killed20by20crown20of
20thorns20starfish20in20the20Pulau20Banyaks2
020IMG_1651.jpg
http//www.exoticindiaart.com/jewelry_bar/coral03.
jpg
http//newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44617000/jpg
/_44617052_laurentic512av.jpg
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9. Whats the most serious threat to
biodiversity?
Answer

1. Sharks
2. Habitat loss
3. Tourists
4. Pollution

• Worldwide, habitats are lost to agricultural
  land, harvested for wood fuel, destroyed or
  changed for roads, schools, malls, housing, etc.
• Human population is growing so quickly
  consuming so many natural resources that habitat
  loss is occurring at a rapid rate.

http//static.howstuffworks.com/gif/great-white-sh
ark-1.jpg
http//www.danheller.com/images/LatinAmerica/Cuba/
Photogs/photo-tourist-big.jpg
http//kassandraproject.files.wordpress.com/2007/1
2/air-pollution-systems.jpg
http//www.tarleton.edu/range/Ram20Pictures/0466
20classic20comp20clearcut.jpg
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10. The items on the left have been (or are
being) developed into important medicines for
humans. Match each item with the medicine it
inspired.
Answers

• ___ bread mold
• ___ white willow tree
• ___ vampire bat saliva
• ___ wild yams
• ___ Caribbean coral

1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Antibiotic
3. Pain reliever
4. Medicine to unclog arteries
5. First-aid ointment

b

• More than ¼ of the drugs commonly used today
  were originally derived from plants.
• Animals are a potential source too.
• Medical research looks to areas with high
  biodiversity to find treatments cures for human
  diseases.

c
d
a
e
12
11. Which of the following are true statements
about camels?
Answer

1. They store water in their humps.
2. During cooler weather, they can go up to two
   months without drinking.
3. They played a key role in opening up trade across
   the deserts of Asia and Africa.
4. They provide people with milk, meat, cooking fuel
   (in the form of dried dung), wool and leather.

• Camels store fat not water in their humps.
• In cooler months, they can actually go for up to
  three months without drinking.
• Camels have been important to desert peoples for
  thousands of years.
• Camels are a good example of the many creatures
  around the world that have helped shape human
  culture.

http//fohn.net/camel-pictures-facts/the-pictures/
Arabian-Camel-800x600.jpg
13
12. Without fungi, which of the following would
you not be able to do?
Answer

1. Eat pizza topped with pepperoni and mushrooms
2. Bake bread
3. Live in a world free of dead things lying all
   over the place
4. Put blue cheese dressing on your salad.

http//farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2959706361_054
a112c0e.jpg
http//3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ldah__-frBM/R1JzxFFCgQI/
AAAAAAAAAEI/4DCx1Z6RDuc/s1600-R/Anadama2BBread2B
1.jpg

• While some forms of fungi may seem less than
  noble (like Athletes foot fungus), the world
  could not function long without fungi.
• Fungi play a key role in breaking down organic
  matter recycling it back into useable nutrients.

http//akinbudi.info/v2/images/lorne2004/fallen_tr
ee.jpg
http//fatjackswings.com/gallery/slides/fj20grill
ed20chicken20salad20with20homemade20blue20ch
eese20dressing.jpg
14
13. Which of the following statements are true?
Answer

1. Potatoes originated in Ireland.
2. The U.S. grows most of its baking potatoes in
   Washington.
3. More than 5,000 different kinds of potatoes have
   been identified in South Americas Andes
   Mountains.
4. The French fry, invented by Madame Bonaparte
   during the French revolution became one of
   Napoleons favorite snacks.

http//www.potatoperspective.org/about_files/DSCN7
746.jpg

• The potato originated in South America.
• In Peru, some families grow dozens of varieties
  of potatoes.
• Most U.S. potatoes are grown in Idaho.
  Washington is the 2nd largest producer of
  potatoes in the U.S.

15
14. Which of the following are real species of
animals?
Answer

• As far as we know, werewolves are just fiction!
• Vampire moths pierce the skin of mammals to
  drink their blood.
• Tasmanian devils are the largest carnivorous
  marsupials.
• Komodo dragons grow up to 10 feet long and weigh
  up to 300 pounds.

1. Vampire moths
2. Tasmanian devils
3. Komodo dragons
4. Werewolves

http//news.nationalgeographic.com/news/images/thu
mbs/081027-vampire-moth-evolution-halloween-missio
ns_170.jpg
http//animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/
NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/tasm
anian-devil-jogging-ga.jpg
http//www.komododragonlearningzone.com/komodo_dra
gon_main.jpg
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15. If you decided to throw a party to celebrate
the diversity of life on Earth and wanted to send
an invitation to each species, how many
invitations would you need?
Answer

1. 150
2. About 3,000
3. 652,983
4. More than 1.5 million

• Scientists have estimated more than 100 million
  species may actually exist on Earth.

http//mauimoeparty.com/catalog/images/invitation.
jpg
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16. Which of the following statements about
ostriches are true?
Answer

1. They hide their heads in the sand.
2. Their meat is so tasty that some people are
   choosing it over beef for burgers.
3. They fly when no one is looking.
4. They can outrun a lion or hyena.

• Its a myth that ostriches hide their heads in
  the sand.
• Actually, theyre lying with their necks flat
  against the ground to hide from predators.

http//animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/
NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/ostr
ich.jpg
18
17. If the number of species on Earth was
represented by physical size, which of the
following would most accurately illustrate the
proportion of insects to mammals?
Answer

• a.
• b.
• c.

• Bugs rule!
• There are 250 insect species to every one mammal
  species and thats only the insects we know
  about.
• Scientists think there are millions more insects
  yet to be discovered.

http//www.lucylearns.com/images/bunny-coloring-pi
cture-rabbit-coloring-sheet-3.gif
http//www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/tablero
ck/images/anthro/grasshopper_lg.jpg
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18. Biodiversity includes
Answer

• Biodiversity describes the incredible variety of
  life on Earth.
• Genetic diversity could include inherited
  traits.
• Species diversity could include the variety of
  organisms surrounding us.
• Ecosystem diversity could include the range of
  habitats found worldwide.

1. The color of your eyes
2. The creatures in your neighborhood soil
3. Antarctica
4. Your classmates

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squirrel-5.jpg
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lained/eyes-400.jpg
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08/02/carolina-chickadee.jpg
http//lh3.ggpht.com/Raford2/RZLXuCiM1mI/AAAAAAAAA
I4/Tz-8mU8NvkU/antarctica639.jpg
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19. If there were a prize for the strongest
creature for its size, which of the following
would win?
Answer

1. Gorillas
2. Chickens
3. Ants
4. Turtles

http//congo.visit-new-york-city.com/Gorilla.jpg
http//blog.makezine.com/800px-Meat_eater_ant_feed
ing_on_honey02.jpg

• An ant can carry a load up to 50 times its body
  weight.

http//img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/MarieAlice/c
hickens02.jpg
http//z.about.com/d/gonyc/1/0/8/R/turtles.jpg
21
20. Which of the following would people have to
do without if there were no bees?
Answer

1. Almonds
2. Honey
3. Cucumbers
4. Apples
5. Celery

• Bees are worth billions of dollars to the
  agriculture industry.
• Bees pollinate millions of acres of many of our
  fruits vegetables.

http//www.justorganic.co.nz/images/honey.jpg
http//www.bbeaucherstudios.com/gallery/albums/use
rpics/10001/normal_cucumbers.jpg
http//en.wikivisual.com/images/e/ee/Apples.jpg
http//www.goldenwoodsoap.com/fpdb/images/almond.j
pg
http//img.alibaba.com/photo/11137272/Organic_Cele
ry.jpg
22
21. Which of the following is an example of an
ecosystem service?

• Ecosystem services are the free services
  provided by ecosystems.

Answer

• Ladybugs eat aphids, which are common garden
  pests.

1. A ladybug that protects your garden by eating
   aphid pests
2. A company that rakes peoples yards
3. A wetland that filters dirty water
4. An ocean that controls the Earths climate

• Wetlands control floods, filter pollutants
  provide habitat for many organisms.

http//i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee206/MDatTheG/
ladybugAphid.jpg
http//www.seenobjects.org/images/mediumlarge/2004
-12-10-wetland-3.jpg

• Oceans atmosphere interact to control climate.

http//www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/fed/i
mages/ocean_river.jpg
23
22. Some of the worlds most fascinating
creatures live in really unusual places. Which
of the following is sometimes a home for another
living thing?
Answer

1. A lobsters mouth
2. A termites gut
3. A rhinos gut
4. A humans forehead

Lobsters mouth
http//content.answers.com/main/content/img/McGraw
Hill/Encyclopedia/images/CE757536FG0010.gif
Termites gut
Many (if not most) organisms have symbiotic
relationships with other organisms. Often the
microscopic protozoans, bacteria mites help the
host creature.
http//www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/imagsmall/hype
rmastigo.jpg
http//www.marietta.edu/biol/biomes/images/grassl
and/white_rhino_4482.jpg
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23. If you had a job that put you in charge of
saving all the species on the edge of extinction
in the U.S., about how many endangered species
would you need to save (based on what we know
today)?
Answer

1. 12
2. 250
3. 517
4. 1,082

• Some scientists estimate that up to 27,000
  species go extinct each year.
• And, we never even knew that most of them
  existed.

• This is the number of plants animals listed as
  threatened and endangered in the U.S. by the U.S.
  Fish Wildlife Service.

25
24. A small population of beluga whales lives in
Canadas St. Lawrence River. Which of the
following explains why they are threatened?
Answer

1. In winter the river freezes, making it nearly
   impossible for the whales to surface for air.
2. Beluga steaks are considered a delicacy in many
   parts of the world.
3. The areas of the river where the whales feed are
   heavily polluted, and as a result the whales are
   contaminated with toxins.
4. The rivers water is really too shallow for such
   large mammals.

• Belugas have died from eating too many
  contaminated fish.
• Belugas that die and wash up on the river banks
  are actually classified as toxic waste.

http//aura0.gaia.com/photos/20/197066/large/Belug
a.jpg
26
25. Which of the following environments on our
planet are too harsh to support life?
Answer

1. Boiling sulfur springs
2. Deep-sea hydrothermal vents called smokers,
   where the temperature can reach 662 degrees.
3. The frigid ice of the Arctic Antarctic
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Life has been discovered in all of these harsh
locations.