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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The Song of the Indri.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What were Frank Preston's findings in plotting the distribution of species in island habitats?
(a) A random relationship between size of island and commonness of species.
(b) A direct proportion to represent commonness of species.
(c) A bell curve to represent commonness of species.
(d) An indirect proportion to represent commonness of species.

2. What rule governs the relationship between the size of an island and the number of species it can support?
(a) The greater the fertility of the soil, the greater the number of species.
(b) The large the island, the greater the number of species.
(c) The taller the highest point on the island, the greater the number of species.
(d) The longer the coastline the greater the number of species.

3. Who is Bedo?
(a) An indri researcher.
(b) A local hunter.
(c) Quammen's guide.
(d) Someone Quammen met in the hotel.

4. What does Quammen say the indri's future looks like?
(a) Quammen says it is uncertain.
(b) Likely extinction.
(c) Probable recovery.
(d) Expansion of territory and population.

5. What traits did sailors notice in animals on remote islands?
(a) They were smaller and harder to observe than their counterparts on land.
(b) They adapted more quickly to environmental changes than animals on larger land masses.
(c) They were unafraid of humans, and thus easy prey.
(d) They were more varied than species on land.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is a minimum viable population?

2. What is an indri?

3. How does Quammen say lizards probably arrived at Krakatau?

4. When does a species' dispersal ability become important, according to Quammen?

5. Why is Krakatau scientifically important?

(see the answer key)

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