While it is tempting to try to create legislation to directly protect

Question

While it is tempting to try to create legislation to directly protect all threatened species within an ecosystem, identifying exactly which organisms to protect and how best to protect each one can be a time-consuming process that can easily stall. As a result, the legislation will fail to protect any of the animals it meant to target. To counteract this problem, some managers and legislators base land management decisions on the environmental needs of so-called “umbrella” species, defined as a species with a range of environmental requirements broad enough that protecting an individual species also protects other species within its habitat. An often cited example is that of the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). Protecting S. caurina’s breeding areas has created a refuge for various anurans and mollusks that were also in danger of population depletion.

It might seem that certain characteristics would define successful umbrella species; the northern spotted owl is an apex predator found in a threatened environment – old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest. Similarly, amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), another umbrella species, are also apex predators within a remote, threatened environment. However, these are often used as examples not because they exemplify perfect umbrella species but because they are charismatic megafauna. In fact, many effective choices for umbrella species are invertebrates low on the food chain. The spillover effect seems to work because the invertebrates inhabit an older, unique ecosystem home to other threatened organisms. Whether a species qualifies as an umbrella species depends on habitat overlap (whether the species shares its environment with other threatened species) and niche breadth (whether protecting the umbrella species requires the protection of a broad range of resources with an ecosystem).   1 
 1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. S. caurina's breeding areas are the only areas of its habitat protected by law
 B. Invertebrates tend to be better umbrella species than are charismatic megafauna.
 C. Charismatic megafauna may not always be the best choice for umbrella species.
 D. Apex predators are generally poor candidates for umbrella species.
 E. Older ecosystems are more ecologically complex than are younger ecosystems.

C 
 2 
 2. Which of the following can be reasonably inferred about S. caurina ?

A. Protecting S. caurina is the most efficient way to protect its unique ecosystem.
 B. S. caurina does not eat anurans or mollusks.
 C. It is the only species in its forest region that can be described as an umbrella species.
 D. Its range likely overlaps with those of other threatened species.
 E. It is considered an effective choice of umbrella species because it is an apex predator.

D

Jeeva1989 · Answer

I could not understand how the answer for the first question was arrived at. Could someone please explain.

CounterSniper · Answer

1.Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

a. S. caurina's breeding areas are the only areas of its habitat protected by law
According to the passage protecting the breeding area has created a refuge for other animals.
cannot be inferred

b. Invertebrates tend to be better umbrella species than are charismatic megafauna.
no where it is mentioned in the passage.
 
c. Charismatic megafauna may not always be the best choice for umbrella species.
correct- Whether a species qualifies as an umbrella species depends on habitat overlap
as we are given examples of both the cases (megafauna and invertebrates) .
Also the following is mentioned in the second para
" In fact, many effective choices for umbrella species are invertebrates low on the food chain "

d. Apex predators are generally poor candidates for umbrella species.
incorrect-
examples of S. caurina and amur tiger say otherwise

e. Older ecosystems are more ecologically complex than are younger ecosystems.
incorrect

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Which of the following can be reasonably inferred about S. caurina ?

a. Protecting S. caurina is the most efficient way to protect its unique ecosystem.
b. S. caurina does not eat anurans or mollusks.
c. It is the only species in its forest region that can be described as an umbrella species.
d. Its range likely overlaps with those of other threatened species.
e. It is considered an effective choice of umbrella species because it is an apex predator.

S. Caurina is an “umbrella” species.
as per the para 
 Whether a species qualifies as an umbrella species depends on habitat overlap 
option d it should be .

redskull1 · Answer

A-nothing about this is mentioned in the passage
B-Close.Reading the information carefully in the 2nd para which says "MANY CHOICES ARE INVERTEBRATES".This definitely does not imply that invertebrates are better umbrella species.
C-Correct
D-The para says APEX PREDATORS ARE NOT ALWAYS UMBRELLA SPECIES.This does not imply they are poor candidates.
E-Nothing about this is mentioned in the passage.

Cheerio...

globaldesi · Answer

for question 1:
Since there is no information as to where to look back in the question stem for this inference question, you should use your answer choices as assets as you attack this problem, remembering that the correct answer is going to be something that is guaranteed by the text even though it isn't directly stated.

Choice (A) can be eliminated because even though you do know that the owl's breeding grounds were protected based on the information given in the last sentence of paragraph 1, there is nothing in the paragraph to support the claim that this was the only part of the owl's range protected.

Choice (B) similarly overgeneralizes from a piece of information. While many effective umbrella species are invertebrates, the passage doesn't state whether invertebrates are a better choice than charismatic megafauna on the whole.

While choice (C) may seem very similar to choice (B) on the surface, its wording ensures that it is true. The claim that charismatic megafauna "MAY NOT" always be the best choice lines up with the fact that many good choices for umbrella species aren't charismatic megafauna. If non-megafauna are chosen, then megafauna may not always be the best choice. Choice (C) is correct.

Choice (D) can be eliminated because while the passage states that not all good umbrella species are apex predators, it doesn't imply that apex predators necessarily make for bad umbrella species.

Choice (E) can be eliminated for lack of evidence. The passage does state that good umbrella species generally come from "old" and "unique" ecosystems, but it doesn't give any indication as to why this is the case. Perhaps older ecosystems are better categorized or have a greater concentration of threatened species. The passage doesn't imply that these ecosystems are necessarily more diverse.

globaldesi · Answer

Question2 :
As with any inference question on the GMAT, it is important to make sure that your answer is guaranteed by the text - not just that it is "likely to be true". And while here you are asked specifically about S. caurina's role as an umbrella species, remember that since the second paragraph also gives information about what makes a good umbrella species, you may need to look beyond the first paragraph for the evidence for the correct inference.

Choice (A) may seem tempting at first. If legislators chose to designate S. caurina as an umbrella species, they are likely the best choice for that designation. However, just because the legislators chose the owl doesn't mean that it was the most effective choice. Perhaps the legislators chose multiple species and the owl is just the only one discussed here. Because the choice is likely but not guaranteed, it must be eliminated.

Choice (B) can be eliminated since just because protecting the owl's breeding grounds protects anurans and mollusks doesn't mean that the owl doesn't eat them - just that the other creatures get some sort of benefit from the protection of that area.

Choice (C) can be eliminated for similar reasons as choice (A). While the owl is the only umbrella species mentioned, that doesn't mean that there aren't other umbrella species in the region.

Choice (D) is correct. The definition of an umbrella species in paragraph two is that the organism inhabit an "unique ecosystem home to other threatened organisms". Since S. caurina has been designated as an umbrella species, it likely possesses both of these traits. (And even if it doesn't, the answer choice uses the word "likely" rather than "does.")

Choice (E) can be eliminated based on information given in the second paragraph, which states that even though S. caurina is an apex predator, that doesn't mean that umbrella species in general are apex predators.

deep31993 · Answer

Why there are only 2 qs just curious?

globaldesi · Answer

Because i could get only 2 questions . Questions were randomly comming.

VerbalBot · Answer

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While it is tempting to try to create legislation to directly protect

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While it is tempting to try to create legislation to directly protect

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