Enviorment science exam 2

1. What is genetic diversity?

The variety of genes within a species or population.

2. What is species diversity?

The variety of species in an ecosystem.

3. What is ecological diversity?

The variety of ecosystems and habitats in an area.

4. What is species richness?

The number of different species in an area.

5. What is species evenness?

How evenly individuals are distributed among different species.

6. What are the four major benefits of biodiversity?

Food, medicine, ecological services, and aesthetic and cultural benefits.

7. What is natural extinction?

The natural disappearance of a species over time.

8. What does HIPPO stand for?

Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Pollution, Population growth, and Overharvesting.

9. What is an invasive species?

A non-native species that spreads and causes environmental or economic harm.

10. What is habitat destruction?

The removal or alteration of natural habitats.

11. What does endangered mean?

A species at serious risk of extinction.

12. What does threatened mean?

A species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.

13. What does vulnerable mean?

A species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

14. When was the Endangered Species Act established?

1973.

15. What is the purpose of the Endangered Species Act?

To protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats.

16. What does USFWS stand for?

United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

17. What is a keystone species?

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem.

18. What does CITES stand for?

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

19. What is the purpose of CITES?

To regulate international trade in wild plants and animals to prevent species from becoming threatened.

20. What is captive breeding?

Breeding endangered species in controlled environments to increase their populations.

21. What are disadvantages of captive breeding?

It is expensive, can reduce genetic diversity, and animals may struggle to survive in the wild.

22. What is an HCP?

Habitat Conservation Plan; allows certain development while requiring measures to protect threatened species.

23. What is soil?

A mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms that supports plant growth.

24. What are the six components of soil?

Mineral particles, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms, including microorganisms.

25. What is soil texture?

The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in soil.

26. What is loam?

A balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay that is good for plant growth.

27. What is a soil profile?

A vertical section of soil showing its different layers or horizons.

28. What are the soil horizons in order?

O, A, E, B, C, and R.

29. What is the O horizon?

Organic surface material, such as decomposing leaves.

30. What is the A horizon?

Topsoil containing minerals, organic matter, and organisms.

31. What is the B horizon?

Subsoil where clay and minerals accumulate.

32. What is the C horizon?

Partially weathered parent material.

33. What is the R horizon?

Unweathered bedrock.

34. What is reduced tillage?

Farming that minimizes plowing and soil disturbance.

35. How does reduced tillage help soil?

Reduces erosion, preserves soil structure, and retains moisture.

36. What is desertification?

The degradation of productive land into increasingly dry, desert-like conditions.

37. What is salinization?

The buildup of salts in soil, often caused by irrigation and evaporation.

38. How can fertilizer harm the environment?

Excess nutrients run into waterways, causing eutrophication and algal blooms.

39. What are advantages of modern pesticides?

Control pests, increase crop yields, and reduce crop losses.

40. What are disadvantages of modern pesticides?

Can harm humans, contaminate the environment, kill beneficial organisms, and cause pesticide resistance.

41. What are organophosphate pesticides?

Chemicals that interfere with the nervous system by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

42. What are chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides?

Chlorine-containing pesticides, such as DDT, that can persist in the environment and accumulate in organisms.

43. What are fumigants?

Chemicals released as gases to kill pests in soil or enclosed areas.

44. What are biological control agents?

Living organisms, such as predators, parasites, and pathogens, used to control pests.

45. What is pest resurgence?

When pest populations increase again after pesticide treatment.

46. What are non-target species?

Organisms not intended to be affected by pesticides but that are harmed by them.

47. What are POPs?

Persistent Organic Pollutants; toxic chemicals that resist environmental breakdown.

48. What is biomagnification?

The increasing concentration of toxic substances at higher levels of a food chain.

49. What is IPM?

Integrated Pest Management; combines different methods to control pests while minimizing chemical pesticide use.

50. What are examples of biological pest control?

Ladybugs, parasitic wasps, predatory mites, and disease-causing microorganisms.

51. What is famine?

A severe, widespread shortage of food that can cause starvation and economic disruption.

52. What is malnourishment?

An inadequate or unbalanced intake of nutrients, such as protein, iron, or vitamins.

53. What BMI is considered obese?

30 kg/m² or higher.

54. What are the three major grain crops worldwide?

Wheat, rice, and corn.

55. Which grain crop is the leading production crop in the United States?

Corn.

56. What crops grow in cool, moist climates?

Potatoes, barley, and oats.

57. What crops grow in warm, wet climates?

Sweet potatoes, cassava, and other tropical root crops.

58. How much grain is needed to produce 1 kg of fish?

1.5 kg of grain.

59. How much grain is needed to produce 1 kg of chicken?

2 kg of grain.

60. How much grain is needed to produce 1 kg of pork?

3 kg of grain.

61. Which is generally more economical to raise, pigs or cattle?

Pigs, because they reproduce faster and generally require fewer resources per unit of meat.

62. What are environmental effects of converting natural land into farmland?

Habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and increased water use.

63. What is triticale?

A hybrid grain created by crossing wheat and rye.

64. What is an advantage of semi-dwarf wheat?

Shorter, stronger stems make it less likely to fall over in strong winds.

65. What are high-responder plants?

Crop varieties that produce high yields when supplied with sufficient fertilizer, water, and pest protection.

66. What are GMOs?

Genetically modified organisms whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering.

67. What is a transgenic organism?

An organism containing genetic material introduced from another species.

68. What are examples of genetically engineered crop traits?

Pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, drought tolerance, and frost tolerance.

69. What are potential problems associated with GMOs?

Development of resistant pests or superweeds, gene flow, and ecological concerns.

70. What is sustainable agriculture?

Farming that conserves resources and protects soil and water for long-term food production.

71. What percentage of land do forests cover?

Approximately 29%.

72. What percentage of the world's land do forage lands cover?

Approximately 29%.

73. What environmental services do forests provide?

Regulate climate, control water runoff, and purify air and water.

74. What percentage of land must trees cover to qualify as a forest?

More than 10%.

75. Where is the world's largest tropical forest located?

South America, the Amazon rainforest.

76. What percentage of the world's forests are in South America?

Approximately 22% of forests

77. What is a primary forest?

A forest of native species that has remained largely undisturbed by humans.

78. What percentage of the world's land surface do grasslands occupy?

1/4 or 25% of the world surface

79. How does the disturbance rate of grasslands compare to tropical rainforests?

Approximately 3 times the disturbance rate.

80. What percentage of forest harvests is used for firewood?

50% of forest are use for ____

81. How much wood consumption is used for paper pulp?

1/5 or 20%.

82. What is monoculture forestry?

Planting a single tree species over a large area.

83. What is the major distinguishing feature of tropical rainforests?

Extremely high biodiversity and a large variety of species.

84. What are the major causes of deforestation?

Conversion of forests to agriculture, large-scale logging, and biofuel production.

85. What percentage of the world's forests are protected?

Approximately 12%.

86. Which country is a leader in establishing forest reserves?

Brazil.

87. What is a debt-for-nature swap?

Conservation organizations purchase a country's debt in exchange for conservation commitments or debt cancellation.

88. Why is completely eliminating forest fires a bad practice?

Natural fires and controlled burns help ecosystems regenerate and maintain biodiversity.

89. What problems are associated with overgrazing?

Soil degradation, desertification, vegetation loss, and dominance of less desirable plants.

90. How does rotational grazing work?

Animals graze in one area before being moved to another, allowing vegetation to recover.

91. What are the benefits of marine protected areas?

They shelter marine ecosystems and help protect declining fish populations.

92. What percentage of coral reefs are threatened?

Approximately 90%, according to class notes.

93. What threatens coral reefs?

Rising temperatures, destructive fishing, coral mining, and sediment runoff.

94. What is restoration ecology?

The science of reversing environmental degradation and restoring native ecosystems.

95. What is rehabilitation?

Repairing an ecosystem's functions.

96. What is reintroduction?

Transplanting organisms into an area where they previously lived.

97. What is remediation?

Using chemical, physical, or biological methods to remove pollution.

98. What is reclamation?

Using techniques to restore severely damaged or disturbed land.

99. What is mitigation?

Compensating for environmental destruction by protecting or purchasing an area of ecological value.

100. What are five common elements of restoration projects?

Removing physical stressors, controlling invasive species, replanting native plants, captive breeding and reestablishing animals, and monitoring.