Chapter 11 (Wolves)

Question 1

Parallel levels of energy assimilation & transfer within ecological food webs; in terrestrial ecosystems, photosynthetic plants form the base trophic level, followed “up” the web by herbivores & successive levels of carnivores

Answer 1

Trophic levels

Question 2

Also known as “top carnivores,” the animals in any ecosystem occupying the top trophic level; apex predators do not have any natural predators

Answer 2

Apex predators

Question 3

The total variability & variety of life forms in a region, ecosystem, or around the world; typically used as a measure of the health of an environmental system

Answer 3

Biodiversity

Question 4

The effects on subsequent (higher or lower) trophic levels after the elimination or reduction in numbers of individuals in one tropic level

Answer 4

Trophic Cascades

Question 5

Branch of philosophy dealing with morality, or, questions of right & wrong human action in the world

Answer 5

Ethics/ethical

Question 6

Conservation of land & resources as to secure their availability to future generations

Answer 6

Sustainable/Sustainability

Question 7

Branch of scientific biology dedicated to exploring & maintaining biodiversity & plant & animal species

Answer 7

Conservation Biology

Question 8

Current era of anthropogenically induced plants & animal extinction, estimated to be between one thousand & 10 thousand times the historical average, or background extinction rate

Answer 8

Extinction Crisis

Question 9

Usually given in numbers of plant & animal species per year, the estimated average rate of extinction over long-term, geologic time, not counting mass extinction rates

Answer 9

Background Extinction Rate

Question 10

Individuals or groups with a vested interest in the outcome of disputed actions

Answer 10

Stateholders

Question 11

Both the academic discipline & professional field dedicated to the management of environmental conditions, goods, or services for social goals, which may range between instrumental human utility to ecological sustainability

Answer 11

Natural Resource Management

Question 12

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 commits the US government to protecting & improving the natural environment; after this, the federal government is required to write environmental impact statements (EIS) for government actions that have significant environmental impact

Answer 12

NEPA

Question 13

The socially agree-upon characteristics of behavior associated with men in any society; these may vary significantly between cultures, locations, & periods of time

Answer 13

Masculinity

Question 14

In ecology, the location of an organism or species within a larger ecosystem, typically fulfilling an ecological function

Answer 14

Niche