WHY KENTUCKY SPECIES ARE ENDANGERED (AND WORLD BIODIVERSITY)
Name:
Pledge:
(23 total points)
IS EXTINCTION A NATURAL PROCESS?
Some people argue that extinction is a natural process, read a copy of a brochure from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, to determine whether or not this is true. The PDF is located under
Resources/Endangered Species/Why Save Endangered Species. You’ll use this to answer all the
questions on this page.
1. Compare the number of species that have become extinct in North America since the pilgrims
landed to those that have become extinct during the Pleistocene Ice Age (click on Pleistocene for
information about that time period). (1)
For the next six questions, list the reasons to preserve species (as given on the PDF) in the first box,
then choose the explanation that matches this reason best. (1 pt each)
a. Some organisms can be used to warn us of other problems, like excess ozone.
b. “At least a quarter of all prescriptions written annually in the United States contain
chemicals discovered in plants and animals.”
c. Many organisms have economic uses, like the shrub which can be used to produce
rubber.
d. The belief that some organisms should be preserved for their own sake (not necessarily
because of their usefulness to humans).
e. Instead of using pesticides, insects or other native species may be used as ‘biological
controls.’ Native crops that have a natural resistance to pests or are able to survive
droughts may also be used to engineer hardier food crops.
f. “The removal of a single species within an ecosystem can set off a chain reaction affecting
many other species.”
2.
Explanation: Choose one.
3.
Explanation: Choose one.
4.
Explanation: Choose one.
5.
Explanation: Choose one.
6.
Explanation: Choose one.
7.
Explanation: Choose one.
8. Go to Wikipedia and find an example of a biological control. Use YOUR OWN WORDS to
explain how it works (2):
FROM HIGH NOON: BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM LOSSES
Before you begin reading the assigned section in High Noon, try to answer these questions (it’s okay
to be wrong – credit will be given for the reasonable attempt!) (2)
1. What is a general estimate of the total number of living species?
2. What is the main reason organisms are endangered?
Turn to page 76 of High Noon (linked on our agenda page) and read the section titled “Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Losses.” Answer the questions below based on your reading.
3. What is a general estimate of the total number of living species? (1)
4. What is the main reason organisms are endangered? (1)
5. List the areas of the world where extinction rates are evidenced (be sure you can explain, if
asked, what’s happening in each area) (3):
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
6. On page 77 of that pdf, three bullets describe reasons for preserving biodiversity. Use a few
words to explain each and please DO NOT plagiarize. (3)
h.
i.
j.