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Quiz 5: Endangered Species Basics

This quiz will test your knowledge of the basics on endangered species of the Edwards Aquifer system.

1.

Over 40 species of highly adapted, aquatic, subterranean creatures are known to live in the Edwards Aquifer.

a) true
b) false
2.

An endangered species is one having so few individual survivors that the species could soon become extinct in all or part of its region. There are _____that depend on the Edwards Aquifer.

a) seven
b) none
c) 46
d) two
3.

Which is an endangered species that depends on the Edwards?

a) Texas Blind Salamander
b) Fountain Darter
c) Texas Wild Rice
d) Peck's Cave amphipod
e) all of the above
4.

Which is the threatened species that depends on the Edwards?

a) Comal Spring Dryopid Beetle
b) Comal Springs Riffle Beetle
c) San Marcos Gambusia
d) San Marcos Salamander
5.

The San Marcos Gambusia was last seen in 1982 and may already be extinct.

a) true
b) false
6.

The main problems for all the endangered species of the Edwards are:

a) reduced springflows caused by increased pumping
b) elimination of habitat
c) degradation of water quality caused by urban expansion
d) lack of strong region-wide rules to protect water quality
e) all of the above
7.

During the drought of the 1950s, the Fountain Darter was completely eliminated from Comal Springs and was reintroduced by moving some from San Marcos Springs.

a) true
b) false
8.

The Texas Wild Rice was the first Texas plant to be placed on the endangered species list.

a) true
b) false
9.

In addition to the aquatic species that depend on Aquifer water itself, nine cave-dwelling invertebrates that live in the Aquifer's cave formations were listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered in December 2000.

a) true
b) false
10.

The cave-dwelling invertebrates:

a) include three beetles, one daddy long-legs, and five spiders
b) resemble creatures from Tim Burton's animation
c) are known to exist only in caves in northwest San Antonio
d) are threatened by the rapid pace of development
e) all of the above