Thomas Lovejoy and Colleagues Conducted a Long-Term Field Experiment on the Effects

question 216

Multiple Choice

Thomas Lovejoy and colleagues conducted a long-term field experiment on the effects of habitat fragmentation in the Amazon rainforest, studying changes in bird populations over 30 years.Do the results of these experiments suggest that high species diversity can continue in the presence of deforestation?

• A) Yes; even though many bird species were lost, other species were likely unaffected.
• B) Yes; when distances between fragments were small enough, species moved between fragments.
• C) No; edge effects increase hazards so much that species will decline, even though they do not decline due to small areas.
• D) No; even the largest fragments lost more than half of their bird species, and edge effects reduced both immigration and fragment size.
• E) Uncertain; some results indicated no effect on species diversity, whereas other results indicated a strong negative effect.

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Definitions:

Homeobox

A DNA sequence found within genes that are involved in the regulation of patterns of anatomical development.

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Positioning of cells during development that determines the final shape of an organism.

Fetus

The stage of development in mammals following the embryonic stage, characterized by rapid growth and maturation of organs and systems.

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The process through which living organisms grow and become more complex, involving physical, biological, and sometimes psychological changes.