ENVSTY 101 midterm

ecosystem

ecosystem

“a set of organisms within a defined area of land or volume of water that interact with one another and with their environment of nonliving matter and energy” is known as:

4-5%

the USA holds about what % of the world’s population?

25%

the USA uses approx what % of the Earth’s natural resources?

false

scientists are always certain about their conclusions

limited atmospheric temp change

over the last 3.8 billion years, life on earth has been possible because of 3 life sustaining scientific principles which we discussed in class. they include all the following EXCEPT.

scientific model

another way to study nature is to develop a _____, or an approx physical or mathematical simulation of a system

compounds

most MATTER is made up of ______, which are combinations of 2 or more different elements held together in fixed proportions

over 400 ppm

in the 2020s, the global atmospheric CO2 concentration around…

transportation

according to the data we looked at in class, which of these sectors is contributing most to the production of greenhouse gas emissions in the US

methane

which greenhouse gas results from human activities such as agricultural activities (livestock gas), waste management, energy use, and biomass burning? choose the best answer

the absorption of excess heat created by anthropogenic activity

scientists have observed that global increased ocean temp is a result of….

true

algal blooms can be toxic to animal and human life

true

the growth of microorganisms and cyanobacteria that cause algal blooms happen at a higher rate in warmer water compared to colder water

stronger storms, increase in algal blooms, and decrease in ocean biodiversity (all of the above)

the rise in ocean temperature is resulting in:

false

based on what we discussed in class, scientists have observed that about 2/3 of global sea level is attributable to the fact that warmer water takes up more space

true

the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) does not conduct it’s own research but rather aggregates the existing scientific knowledge on topics related to climate change

frequency, duration, intensity (all of the above)

studies have identified heatwaves are increasing in:

warmer and drier conditions, prolonged wildfire season

climate change intensifies wildfires through…

acidity

higher _____ affects the balance of minerals in ocean water, which can make it more difficult for certain marine animals to build their protective skeletons or shells

increased

in multiple independent analyses scientists have observed that the amount of heat stored in the ocean has _____ since the 1950s

slower

the bigger the ecosystem, the _____ it will collapse because there are more species and connections to fail

decreases

when an ecosystem collapses, it _____ the number of species comprimising the ecosystem

nitrogen

the innermost layer of the atmosphere, the troposphere, is comprised of mostly….

mutualism

in ____, two species interact in ways that benefit both, by providing each other with food, shelter, protection, or some other resource

trophic level

ecologists assign each organism in an ecosystem to a feeding level known as a…

1/5

according to recent research (referenced in our class reading from The Conservation), _____ countries are at risk of their ecosystems collapsing

tipping point

natural ecosystems can resist stress from human actions and climate up until they reach their ______, a term used to describe when an ecosystem can no longer cope with environmental change

false

a parasite always aims to kill its host

high

_______ biodiversity is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem

Latin America and the Caribbean

according to the living planet index, biodiversity loss is worst in which region?

true

in solar sharing microgrid technology like SOLARSHARE in Bangladesh, each home generates its own power and can benefit from selling excess power back to the grid

increased

in an effort to improve soil health, farmers in the film 2040, ______ the number of plant species in the soil

the cycling of nutrients

allowing livestock to graze on farmlands provides many benefits to the soil and plant quality. these benefits are an example of which of the following?

exists today

one of the central premises of the film 2040 is that the technology we need to properly adapt to and mitigate the climate crisis _______

Asheville

this popular mountain city in Western North Carolina, has experienced some of the most devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene including massive flooding, landslides, failure of the drinking water system, and loss of communication channels

educating ourselves about biodiversity related issues and solutions, prioritizing locally grown foods and produce, limiting the use of pesticides and insecticides that might cause harm to pollinators (all of the above)

as individuals we can protect biodiversity by ________

HIPPCO

ways in which human intervention harms biodiversity

1/3

roughly _______ of food produced globally is never eaten

true

using traditional methods, the creation of plastic is fossil fuel intensive

decrease

high efficiency heat pumps dramatically _______ energy needs