Resources, Natural Capital, Nutrient Cycles Quiz/Test

Natural Capital

Necessary and valuable resources and ecological processes that we rely on to produce our food, products, and services.

Examples:

1. Marketable commodities: Timber and grain (goods)

2. Ecological or life-support, services: Flood and erosion protection provided by forests

Renewable Resources

Resources that can be replenished rapidly (hours to several decades) through natural processes. Self-maintaining.

Uses solar energy:

1. Trees in forests

2. Grass in grasslands

3. Wild animals

4. Food crops

5. Timber

Non-renewable Resources

Any use of this resource implies liquidating part of the stock.

Examples:

1. Fossil fuels

2. Minerals

Replenishable resources

Abiotic resource that can be replenished and is dependent on the solar "engine" for renewal.

Ex.

1. Groundwater

2. Ozone

Standing Stock

Present accumulated quality of natural capital.

Sustainable Yield (SY) Formula

SY= (annual growth + recruitment) - (annual death + emigration)

Economic Value

Market price of goods and services

Aesthetic Value

Intrinsic value: an ethical, spiritual, or philosophical perspective, regardless of the potential use to humans

Ecological Value

Essentials for human existence, but no monetary value (take for granted).

Ex.

1. Waste assimilation

2. Flood and erosion control

3. Nitrogen fixation (bacteria on plants)

4. Photosynthesis

How do international/national development policies and cultural influence reduce population growth?

1. Provide universal access to family planning services and reproductive healthcare.

2. Encourage development/implementation of national population policies.

3. Improve healthcare for infants, children and pregnant women.

4. Improving status of women/expanding education and job opportunities

5. Increase access to education.

6. Increase involvement of men in child-rearing and family planning.

7. Take steps to eradicate poverty.

8. Reduce/eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption.

Factor increase of population economic growth

efficiency raised by a factor of 4 to 10

Which nutrient limits plant growth?

Phosphorus

What percentage of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide (CO2)?

0.038%

What percentage of the atmosphere is nitrogen (N2)?

78%

Some ocean organisms build their shells and skeletons by using dissolved CO2 molecules called....

Calcium carbonate (CaCO2)

Global warming can....

Disrupt global food production and wildlife habitats and raise the average sea level

Which is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

Nitrogen (78%)

Ammonification

Specialized bacteria return nitrogen-rich organic compounds into inorganic compounds such as ammonia (NH3)

Organic to inorganic

Nitrogen-fixing

in the roots of plants, complete the conversion to inorganic compound (NH3)

N2 -> NH3

Denitrification

Nitrogen leaves soil as specialized bacteria convert NH3 back into nitrogen gas (N2)

NH3 -> N2

Effects of human activity on the nitrogen cycle

1. When fuel is burned at high temperatures, this gas can convert to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or nitric acid (HNO3).

2. Inorganic fertilizers can leach through the soil and contaminate groundwater.

3. Nitrogen is released into the atmosphere through the destruction of forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

4. We remove nitrogen from the topsoil when we harvest nitrogen-rich crops.

5. We disrupt aquatic systems with nitrogen runoff- eutrophication: excess algae growth in bodies of water from fertilizers reduces dissolved oxygen.

Which nutrient cycle is the slowest to cycle?

Phosphorus

Large quantities of phosphorus rock is used to make what two products?

Fertilizers and detergents

Eutrophication

Excess algae growth in bodies of water from fertilizers reduces dissolved oxygen.

Nitrogen Fixation

Numerous natural processes convert or fix N2 into compounds useful as nutrients for organisms.

N2 -> NH3

Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

warms the planet

Lack of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

cools the planet