Env. Problem Solving Exam 4

Independent variable in plant species experiment investigating drought?

. climate change

b. moisture

c. drought stress

d. number of fruits/plants

moisture

What is the dependent variable in the plant species experiment investigating drought?

a. climate change

b. moisture

c. drought stress

d. number of fruits/plants

number of fruits/plants

Which of the sciences that are a part of environmental science would be considered a natural science?

a. chemistry

b. history

c. political science

d. anthropology

chemistry

what is the best definition of science?

a. the stufy of life and organisms on earth

b. a systematic process for understanding the natural world

c. a process for analyzing questions

d. the facts produced by studying the world

a systematic process for understanding the natural world

which of the following is the best definition of herbivory?

a. when an individual in one species kills and completely consumes a plant

b. when an individual benefits another

c. the partial consumption of a plant by another organism

d. the consumption of a plant by an animal of organism

the partial consumption of a plant by another organism

A populations ___ is its concentration of individuals per unit area or volume

a. density

b. size

c. distribution

d. range

density

which of the following is a molecule?

a. H

b. O

c. N2

d. C

N2

Which phrase comes closest to the definition of a theory in science?

a. an untested hypothesis

b. a well-supported explanation of one or more scientific relationships

c. an idea that is plausible

d. an educated guess

a well-supported explanation of one or more scientific relationships

which level of organization in ecology is primarily concerned with groups of individuals of the same species?

a. population ecology

b. ecosystem ecology

c. community ecology

d. interactive ecology

population ecology

what kind of species interaction results in a benefit for one species and no impact on the other?

a. mutualism

b. symbiosis

c. commensalism

d. competition

commensalism

is we begin with 40,000 calories in the primary producers, how many calories should end up in the tertiary consumers of the food chain, based on what we predict about energy transfer in food chains?

a. 4000

b. 40

c. 400

d. 10,000

40

Most nitrogen on Earth is in which reservior?

a. lithosphere

b. atmosphere

c. biosphere

d. ocean

atmosphere

carbon moves from the biosphere to the atmosphere via a process called

a. transpiration

b. infiltration

c. photosynthesis

d. respiration

respiration

approximately how much of the total water on Earth is in the oceans?

a. 67%

b. 90%

c. 55%

d. 97%

97%

what is the name of the process that moves water from the lithosphere to the ocean?

a. infiltration

b. evaporation

c. runoff

d. groundwater flow

groundwater flow

kinetic energy is the energy of motion (T/F)

true

observational science doesn’t follow the scientific method but does do experiments (T/F)

false

environmental scientists are not necessarily environmentalists (T/F)

true

an atom with an atomic mass of 12 should have 6 protons (T/F)

true

respiration follows both the first and second law of thermodynamics (T/F)

true

The sex ratio of a population is its proportion of males to females (T/F)

true

the exponential growth model is not likely to fit most natural species in most situations but could be applied to invasive species living without natural predators (T/F)

true

competition results in a negative impact on both species (or individuals) involved (T/F)

true

a mutualistic relationship must also be symbiotic (T/F)

false

most of the carbon on Earth is in the atmosphere (T/F)

false

humans have altered both the carbon and the nitrogen cycles (T/F)

true

a. mutualism. deer and tick
b. commensalism. Bucks locking horns
c. competition. bee + flowering plant
d. predation. deer and plant

e. herbivory. lichens living on a tree
f. parasitism. coyote and rabbit

f

c

a

e

b

c

Draw the logistic growth curve. Label the variable on each graph axis, carrying capacity, and the major phases of the curve

Draw the 3 population distribution/dispersion types. Include and example of each type.

Random: fox
Cluster: deer
Uniform: ducks/geese

Write the equation for Net Primary Productivity and explain why it’s a better measure of ecosystem productivity than Gross Primary Productivity

GPP = NPP - Ra
- producers make their own food. They then respirate which takes up energy and the energy left after eating + respirating is transferred up to the next trophic level. This leftover energy is the GPP. NPP allows us to see all the energy and how its consumed and transferred.

the coldest biome on Earth is

a. temperate deciduous forest

b. chaparral

c. boreal forest

d. tundra

tundra

which biome has a warm climate with strong wet seasons called monsoons and a long dry period

a. Savanna

b. tropical deciduous forest

c. temperate deciduous forest

d. tropical rain forest

tropical deciduous forest

which type of biodiversity is captive breeding primarily hoping to increase

a. species diversity

b. genetic diversity

c. ecosystem diversity

genetic diversity

which link to biodiversity loss is connected to nearly everything else, and therefore considered the main cause of loss

a. habitat loss

b. urbanization

c. climate change

d. pollution

habitat loss

whats the name of the organization tasked with enforcing and protecting the Endangered Species Act

a. US department of the interior

b. national park service

c. US fish and wildlife service

d. environmental protection agnecy (EPA)

US Fish and Wildlife Service

what is one thing the IUCN red list does better than the US Endangered Species Act

a. uses quantitative listing criteria

b. protects organism parts in addition to live organisms

c. funds private landowners to protect species on their land

d. has multiple categories of endangerment

uses quantitative listing criteria

how long has it been since carbon dioxide concentrations were as high as they are now

a. 2000 years

b. at least 800,000 years

c. 1000 years

d. since industrial revolution

at least 800,000 years

global precipitation has changed by how much in the last 100 years

a. +2%

b. -1.5%

c. +5%

d. +0.1%

+2%

approximately how much better is methane (CH4) at trapping heat than carbon dioxide

a. 2 times

b. 12 times

c. 28 times

d. 265 times

28 times

the fee-and-dividend approach we discussed in class is a kind of

a. carbon trading

b. adaptation strategy

c. carbon tax

d. International climate negotiation

carbon tax

what is the best definition of a/the water table

a. the upper limit of groundwater held in a aquifer

b. porous rock, sand, and soil formations that hold groundwater

c. the profile of the below-ground zone where aquifers can be found

d. an area where water infiltrates Earth’s surface and reaches the aquifer below

the upper limit of groundwater held in an aquifer

the ___ of a lake has low oxygen levels and is located at the bottom of the lake

a. lemnetic

b. benthic

c. profundal

d. pelagic

benthic zone

all of the following are true of wetlands, except

a. they are extremely valuable wildlife habitats

b. they help recharge aquifers

c. many have been drained for agriculture and development

d. lakes and rivers are good examples of wetlands

lakes and rivers are good examples of wetlands

which type of coastal ecosystem has been heavily disturbed by agriculture in SE Asia

a. coral ref

b. estuary

c. mangrove forest

d. salt marsh

mangrove forest

approximately what percentage of plastic bottles are thrown away in the US

a. 40

b. 75

c. 25

d. 60

75%

which class of water pollution is responsible for killing 3,800 children/day globally
a. pathogens and disease
b. toxic chemicals
c. biodegradable waste
d. thermal pollution

pathogens and disease

in 2015, the US congress banned the sale and distribution of
a. toxic chemicals

b. tap water sold as bottled water

c. groundwater withdrawn from natural springs

d. microbeads

microbeads

the type of commercial fishing most likely to damage coral reefs is

a. long-line fishing

b. driftnetting

c. both long-line and driftnetting

d. bottom trawling

bottom trawling

precipitation in temperate deciduous forest varies a lot from winter to summer (T/F)

false

both the Nile and Colorado river often don’t make it to the ocean due to excessive withdrawal of water by humans (T/F)

true

nutrient waste comes from the excessive use of fertilizer (T/F)

true

most of the water used on Earth by humans is for industry (T/F)

false

Point-source pollution is from discrete locations along the water, like sewer pipes (T/F)

true

the pelagic zone of the ocean is aphotic (it doesn’t receive light) (T/F)

true

Oligotrophic lakes have high oxygen content and low nutrient levels (T/F)

true

lakes and rivers would be considered a type of groundwater (T/F)

false

the US was the only developed nation to not ratify the Kyoto Protocol (T/F)

true

the frequency of extreme weather events has doubled since 1970 (T/F)

true

several species, like the American alligator, have recovered and been de-listed from the US Endangered Species List (T/F)

true

oligotrophic and eutrophic

oligotrophic: high in O2, low in nutrients
eutrophic: low in O2, high in nutrients

consumptive vs non-consumptive water use

consumptive: water usage that occurs without replenishing the source

non-consumptive: careful water usage that occurs but the source gets replenished

why is overfishing the most severe environmental problem in the oceans

• Over 50% are not able to be caught/harvested due to overfishing

• Long-line, drift netting, and bottom trawling advance the problem and harm the ecosystem

• Bycatch is also a problem

zones of the ocean

a. intertidal

b. photic

c. pelagic (aphotic)

d. benthic (aphotic)

a. boreal forest cold but seasonal, dom. by evergreen conifers

b. chaparral no trees, only shrubs and perennial herbs

c. topical rain forest. mediterranean climate, frequent fire

d. tundra. dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants

e. savanna. mostly grasses and herbs with scattered trees

f. temperate grassland most diverse biome on Earth

d

a

b

f

e

c

2nd most diverse biome, heavily impacted

watershed

aquatic ecosystem at the mouth of a river

estuary

ecosystems with saturated soil, valuable wildlife habitat

wetland

porous rock/sand/soil formations that hold groundwater

aquifer

the area of land drained by a river

watershed

dominated by herbaceous plants, highly productive

salt marsh

a frequently flooded area near a river or stream

floodplain

oil tankers

oil pollution

sewage

Biodegradable waste

pesticides

toxic chemicals

contaminated drinking water

pathogens and disease

fertilizer

nutrients

eroded soil from runoff

Sediment

hockey stick graph

which of the following could be classified as a natural source of air pollution
a. NOX gases from vehicles

b. sulfur dioxide from a wildfire burning in California

c. industrial smog

d. particulates

sulfur dioxide from a wildfire burning in California

of the following, which compound has the longest residence time

a. CO

b. SO2

c. O3

d. CH4

CH4

the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere is called the

a. stratosphere

b. troposphere

c. mesosphere

d. thermosphere

thermosphere

____ is an example of a volatile organic compound (VOC)

a. lead

b. dust

c. ozone

d. formaldehyde

formaldehyde

which of the following is NOT true regarding the clean air act

a. the legislation was originally passed in 1963 and has been amended multliple times since then

b. it encourages emission standards for vehicles and industry

c. it hasn’t been very effective

d. it sets standards for air quality and funds research on pollution control

it hasn’t been very effective

the Montreal Protocol resulted in which of the following environmental solutions

a. leaded gasoline was phased out in industrialized nations

b. CFC production was significantly cut, stopping the growth of the ozone hole

c. the clean air act was passed

d. the environmental protection agency was created

CFC production was significantly cut, stopping the growth of the ozone hole

kwashiorkor is an example of which type of nutrient problem

a. undernutrition

b. both malnutrition and undernutrition

c. malnutrition

d. overnutrition

malnutrition

approximately how much total withdrawn fresh water is used for irrigation

a. 10%

b. 30%

c. 50%

d. 70%

70%

a 25 acre farm that doesn’t use pesticides or machinery…

a. qualifies as industrial agriculture

b. would qualify as organic agriculture but not traditional agriculture

c. would be both industrial and organic agriculture

d. could be organic, traditional, or sustainable agriculture, but not industrial agriculture

could be organic, traditional, or sustainable agriculture, but not industrial agriculture

which of the following is false, regarding the 2002 national organic program standards for crops to be certified organic

a. no synthetic fertilizers are allowed

b. the land where the crops are grown must have been free of prohibited substances for at least 3 years prior to planting the crop

c. GMOs are allowed

d. most conventional pesticides are prohibited

c. GMOs are allowed

of the following, which product requires the most land and feed to produce 1kg of that product

a. beef

b. chickens

c. eggs

d. dairy

beef

genetically-modified organisms have the potential benefit of

a. increased herbicide use

b. being raised as certified organic produce

c. hybridizing with native closely-related species

d. increased crop yields that reduce the need for new farmland

increased crop yields that reduce the need for new farmland

relative to other ecosystems, forests are diverse because of their ____

a. age

b. structural complexity

c. historical importance

d. dominance by trees

structural complexity

which ecosystem service of forests is now much more important because of climate change

a. adding O2 to the air

b. uptake of toxic pollutants

c. sequestration of carbon

d. recharging the ground water

sequestration of carbon

which statement is most accurate, regarding the rate of deforestation globally

a. there is a net gain of forests globally

b. although some regions are gaining forest, net loss equals roughly the size of maryland

c. the rat of loss per year is increasing rapidly

d. the amount of forest gained is nearly equal to that lost

although some regions are gaining forest, net loss equals roughly the size of maryland

a solution to logging that empowers local people to act as stewards of their resources is called

a. a debt-for-nature swap

b. a conservation organization

c. community-based conservation

community-based conservation

a big part of the EPA’s mission is to enforce national standards set by the clean air act (T/F)

true

much of the diversity of forests comes from organisms that live in the canopy (T/F)

true

GMOs have the potential to reduce pesticide and irrigation use (T/F)

true

organic farming typically results in a higher income for the farmer, relative to conventional farming (T/F)

true

inorganic (synthetic) fertilizers are allowed in organic farming, if they’re applied at low volume (T/F)

false

monocultures generally require more pesticides than polycultures (T/F)

true