APES - Aquatic (water) Unit

Which of the following is a direct economic advantage associated with aquaculture?

Aquaculture produces large amounts of seafood for human purchase and consumption year-round.

Which of the following is an unintended environmental consequence of aquaculture?

Contamination of surrounding water by organic waste

The farming of fish such as salmon at aquaculture facilities poses a threat to marine ecosystems because

the farmed fish can escape and outcompete wild fish for food and territory

Farmers need to make many decisions about how they grow their crops. One of these decisions is whether to use synthetic fertilizer or organic fertilizer, such as manure.

An advantage of using synthetic fertilizer instead of organic fertilizer is that

synthetic fertilizer can provide more targeted macronutrients to the crops

Which of the following is the most likely result from clearing mature, forested land and converting it into agricultural land that would be used for cattle grazing?

There will be a reduction in the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

A major environmental problem caused by using the agricultural practice of tilling is

eutrophication from excessive fertilizer use

Which of the following best describes legislation that could be used to address problems with overfishing?

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITESCITES ) uses trade rules to protect commercially valuable species.

One way that consumers can help prevent a decrease in the number of fish species that are experiencing population declines is to

eat fish that are caught using sustainable harvesting methods, therefore ensuring fish populations remain stable and reducing the amount bycatch harvested

Which of the following is the best example of an economic approach to reduce overfishing for a fish species with a declining population?

The federal government sets a catch limit (per person or per boat) for the species and imposes a tax on any extra fish that are caught.

In a rural region of India, scientists collected data of different pesticide residue levels from closely located farming plots. Some of these plots used integrated pest management biopesticides, while others used chemical pesticides to control pests. The data below show levels of four pesticide residues found in tomato and cucumber crops in the two treatment plots.

Which of the following statements is best supported by the data in the table?

The greatest effect of integrated pest management was seen in lower levels of endosulfan in both tomatoes and cucumbers.

Which of the following methods should the farmers choose to minimize the cost for efficient pest removal while still reaching their goal of reducing the amount of pollution in the river?

Planting genetically modified crops

Which of the following claims would be the best solution to the pest problem, based on the data in the graph?

Use of Integrated Pest Management techniques is the most successful method because the sources for food, water, and shelter for pests are disrupted, leading to a reduced number of pests in the area.

Carbon dioxide equivalent ( CO2e ) is used to compare contributions to climate change of various greenhouse gases. A study at a farm calculated the carbon dioxide equivalent for different production stages for beef and chicken production. Which of the following statements is best supported by the data in the graph?

Raising beef contributes more to greenhouse gases than raising chickens does, primarily as a result of fermentation in cows' digestive tracts, which releases methane gas.

Based on the data provided, which of the following descriptions best identifies the types of farms that are being compared?

Farm A is a grass-fed pasture for beef production, whereas Farm B is a traditional concentrated animal feedlot for cattle.

Which of the following claims is best supported by the data in the graph?

Global meat consumption per capita will increase in all five countries between 2012 and 2022 as the countries move through the demographic transition and become more developed.

We Need A New Green Revolution

In recent years, farm production has stopped growing in the United States, and agriculture research is no longer a priority; it constitutes only 2 percent of federal research and development spending. And, according to the Department of Agriculture, total agricultural production has slowed significantly since the turn of the century. We need another ambitious surge in agricultural science.

Experience has shown that the best way forward is funding research through a competitive process. There is a program in the Agriculture Department that embraces these tenets, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, and its research grants show great promise.

New, hardier varieties of corn are being developed from tropical species that can better withstand heat, drought and changes to the environment. The probiotics found in fermented products like yogurt are being tested to replace antibiotics used in animal husbandry. And nanotechnology and electrified micro-coatings of water are being applied to some produce, to prevent food poisoning. Government research is even exploring how to double the rate of photosynthesis and eliminate the need for pesticides.

The potential is great, but the program has never been fully funded. Despite a $25 million increase in the omnibus budget agreement, the budget of the department's research initiative sits at half of what Congress authorized in 2008 when it created the program.

Now more than ever, we need to embrace twenty-first century science, fund it and turn it loose so we can develop better methods of putting food on the table. Our world is changing; the way we grow and produce food needs a much richer diet of scientific ingenuity to keep pace.

From the New York Times. © 2016 The New York Times. All rights reserved.

Which of the following statements best identifies the author's assumptions in terms of a new green revolution?

Current agricultural practices and strategies need to be evaluated in order to meet the demand for increased food production.

Which of the following statements best identifies the author's perspective in terms of government funding for future agricultural research?

More funding is continually needed because the agricultural research programs have never been completely financially supported.

Which of the following statements best identifies the author's perspective in terms of utilizing science technology for future agricultural advances?

The only way to meet the global demand for more food is to fully utilize new science technologies to advance agriculture.

Which of the following choices below is NOT consistent with the "First Green Revolution" that occurred between 1950 and 1970?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

The greatest threat to the success of a species is

Loss of habitat

Despite the sharp rise in demand for agricultural products as a result of population growth and higher family incomes (e.g., more than one wage earner in the family), the rise in agricultural productivity caused the average adjusted world price that farmers receive for their agricultural products to fall between 1900 and 2010. Which of the following statements in true?

1.) certain areas of the world (e.g., sub Saharan Africa) have lower levels of agricultural productivity to meet demand compared with developed countries.

2.) many places around the world are far behind the advances made during the first and second agricultural revolutions in terms of agricultural productivity, and there is considerable room for these developing countries to catch up. However, Southeast Asia, China, and Latin America are now approaching the land and labor productivity levels achieved by current industrialized nations of the 1960s.

3.) the annual increase in the rate of agricultural production since the "Green Agricultural Revolution" in the mid 1960s averages about 2% growth per year. To attain and sustain these increases, farmers have relied on higher use of inputs; e.g., fertilizer, irrigation, mechanization, and pest control.

You just bought a small farm and are starting to grow some fruits and vegetables. Later in the season, you begin noticing that some of your fruits and vegetables are being destroyed by insects and the problem is only getting worse. Your neighbor suggested that you try an integrated pest management approach first. Which of the choices below would be the most logical order of the steps you would follow to reduce the damage caused by the pests, starting with inspecting your crops for the type of pests causing the problem.

Inspection -> identification -> action -> monitoring -> evaluation

Planting trees and/or shrubs between rows of crops is known as

alley cropping

The one area of the world that is NOT expected to increase food production soon is

Sub-Saharan Africa

Most foods derived from genetically modified crops contain

one or two additional genes

Which region of the developing world is currently as urbanized as the developed world?

Latin America

The most lethal form of malnutrition is

Lack of protein in the diet

Adding more fertilizer does NOT necessarily increase crop production is an example of

limiting factors

Soil that is transported by the wind is

Aeolian

The following is an excerpt from an article written by John Parker in the February 24, 2011 issue of The Economist entitled "Feeding the World: The Nine Billion People Question." ... which of the methods listed below are feasible to deal with the situation as outline in the article?

1.) close yield gaps- the difference between actual and potential crop yields

2.) increase agricultural resource efficiency, e.g., switch from flooding fields or ditch irrigation to drip irrigation, providing sustainable crop nutrients

3.) increase food supplies by shifting diets and reducing waste

Countries with the largest population growth rates are found in

Africa

Which of the following is NOT a concept that would be used in designing a sustainable city?

Design more affordable and fuel efficient automobiles

The Second Law of Thermodynamics would tend to support

More people becoming vegetarians

Most of Earth's land area is

Forest

Most grain that is grown in the United States is used

To feed cattle

The complex environmental issue of global warming requires an understanding of the problem and cooperation by all countries of the world (e.g., international treaties), as global warming is caused by and affects all countries and life forms on Earth. Thus, international protocols, treaties, and agreements dealing with global warming

Are controversial, and international regulations include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocols, and the Paris Agreement; however, not all countries have agreed to cooperate on how to solve the issue or to agree to the Paris Agreement

What is the number one cause of soil erosion?

Water erosion

A process in which small holes are drilled into the earth and water-based chemical solvents are used to flush out desired minerals is known as

In situ leaching

Which of the following changes to the local hydrologic cycle will result if large areas of land experienced clear-cutting?

Evaporation of water from the soil will increase.

Industrial logging threatens many forested ecosystems. Which of the following environmental consequences will most likely result from clear-cutting deciduous forests for logging?

More carbon dioxide will be added to the atmosphere and increase anthropogenic climate change.

It has been observed that forest fires can produce up to 40 percent of the mean annual global emissions of which of the following gases?

Carbon Dioxide

Which of the following statements best describes the most unsustainable method of clear-cutting forests to harvest timber?

All of the trees in a forest are cut down and removed in one operation

Which of the following is a commercially used method for harvesting trees and is most likely to lead to a fragmented landscape with serious impacts on biodiversity?

Clear-cutting

Which of the following is most likely to occur in a forested region that has been recently clear-cut?

The concentration of nitrates in streams running through the region will increase.

forest

- land dominated by trees and other woody vegetation and sometimes used for commercial logging

commerical timber operations

- 73% privately owned

- allowed to harvest in exchange for a royalty that is a percentage of revenues

- government spends more money on management than it receives in royalties (so logging is effectively subsidized)

royalty

- a percentage of revenues

timber harvesting practices

- clear cutting

- selective cutting

- ecologically sustainable forestry

clear cutting

- removing all or almost all the trees in an area

benefits of clear cutting

- easiest, usually most economical

- often stands are replanted

adverse environmental impacts of clear cutting

- reduction in biodiversity

- increase in wind erosion, loss of soil nutrients

- stream sedimentation

- mudslides

- increased water temperatures

reduction in biodiversity

- fast growing, direct sunlight species are favored when replanted

- less valuable species may have been harvested also (like bycatch)

- habitat destruction and fragmentation

tree plantations

- clear cut and quickly replanted with single, fast growing species

- will never mature into diverse ecosystem; nutrient depletion from soil

selective cutting

- removal of single trees or small amounts of trees

- young seedlings grow next to established old growth trees

- optimum growth produced with shade tolerant species

- less erosion, loss of biodiversity, etc

- however, many drawbacks the same, such as logging roads

ecologically sustainable forestry

- remain conscious of maintaining biodiversity

- ex: use horses to pull logs, reduce soil compaction

- difficult to compete with mechanized practices

logging conflicts

- timber production vs. maintaining biodiversity

spotted owl controversy in 1990s

- live only in old growth coniferous forests

- along with 40 other endangered/threatened species

- <10% remain (Pacific NW/Alaska)

- 1991, court stopped logging in area of forest to protect owl habitat - due to provisions of ESA

- became symbol of government overreach with environmental legislation

section 7 of ESA (endangered species act)

- requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service before moving forward with any form of development that they fund, authorize, or carry out

federal regulations since 1982

- require USFS to provide habitat for plant and animal communities while meeting multiple use goals

- no specifications of how this should be achieved or quantified

Why is the flow of ocean currents an important factor for global climates?

- it moves warm and cold waters to different parts of the globe

- affects primary productivity found in different ocean regions and the climate in neighboring continents

What are ocean currents driven by?

a combination of:

- temperature

- gravity

- prevailing winds

- the Coriolis effect

- salinity

- the locations of continents

Why are tropical waters generally more warm?

the tropics receive the most direct sunlight throughout the year

How does the force of gravity take place in making the surface waters circulate?

Warm water expands and rises, so waters in the tropics have a higher elevation than mid-latitude waters. This slope allows the force of gravity and other forces to make water flow away from the equator.

What causes trade winds above the equator to move east to west and west to east, instead of northeast to southwest and southwest to northeast?

Coriolis effect

Which direction do ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere move? Southern Hemisphere?

Northern Hemisphere: clockwise

Southern Hemisphere: counterclockwise

What are gyres?

large-scale patterns of water circulation that move clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern hemisphere

What redistributes heat in the ocean?

gyres

What are the gyres in each of the five major basins driven by?

- trade winds in the tropics

- westerlies at mid-latitudes

Explain the California current and the waters from the tropics.

- the California current flows south from the North Pacific along the coast of California, bringing cold water and cool temperatures

- warm water from the tropics moves along the east coast of continents, bringing along warm temperatures among the lands

What do the currents diverging in the west coast of many continents cause?

an upwelling of deeper and more fertile water

What is upwelling?

the upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents

Explain the relationship between upwelling and producers.

- as the surface waters diverge, the deep water replaces it and brings nutrients from the ocean bottom to support large populations of producers

- the producers support large populations of fish that are important to commercial fisheries

What is thermohaline circulation?

an oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water

Why is thermohaline circulation crucial around the globe?

it moves heat and nutrients around the globe

Thermohaline circulation appears to be driven by surface waters with usually what mineral?

large amounts of salt

Water that freezes or evaporates creates remnants of what?

salt remains behind and increases the salt concentration of the water

Does the cold, salty water sink or rise to the bottom of the ocean? What is the effect?

it sinks because the saltwater is dense; it mixes with deeper waters

List two processes that create the movement necessary to drive a deep, cold current that slowly moves past Antarctica and northward to the northern Pacific Ocean.

1. the sinking of cold, salty water at high latitudes

2. the rising of warm water near the equator

How could global warming affect the thermohaline circulation?

increased air temperatures can accelerate the melting of glaciers, which could cause waters to be less salty and less likely to sink

What is the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)?

a reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific

When does ENSO usually occur?

Every 3 to 7 years, beginning around December 25

Contrast a normal year vs. El Nino year in terms of South America and Peru.

Normal year: trade winds push warm surface waters away from the coast of South America and promotes upwelling of water

El Nino year: trade winds are weakened/reversed direction, so warm waters are built up along the west coast of Peru. This warm water towards South America ends the upwelling of the water.

What are several consequences of the ENSO?

- reduces the upwelling off the South American coast

- decreases productivity and dramatically reduces fish populations

- has widespread effects on the world

Based on the information above, which ecosystem would most likely recover the fastest from a natural disruption?

ecosystem b

Based on the information above, which ecosystem most likely experienced a recent population bottleneck?

A

Ecosystem A, because its low genetic diversity could have resulted from an event that reduced the variation in the gene pool.

B

Ecosystem B, because its high species diversity could have resulted from increased competition among its members.

C

Ecosystem C, because its low habitat diversity indicates an increase in available niches.

D

Ecosystem D, because its low species diversity indicates that it also has low species evenness.

a

Based on the information above, which of the following best describes Ecosystem C?

A

Its low species diversity indicates that Ecosystem C most likely has species with very low population sizes.

B

Its high genetic diversity indicates that Ecosystem C most likely has species that evolve quickly.

C

Its high genetic diversity indicates that Ecosystem C is most likely the result of the founder effect and a subpopulation originating from Ecosystem A.

D

Its low habitat diversity indicates that Ecosystem C most likely has a low number of specialist species and few species that utilize large territories.

d

Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem service that would provide protection from a hurricane storm surge?

A

A lock and dam system

B

An intact coastal wetland

C

An energy-producing tidal barrage system

D

An offshore, deep-water fish farm

b

Which of the following ecosystem services is categorized as regulating?

A

Wood fuel, medicine, and potable water

B

Pollination, decomposition, and water purification

C

Recreation, education, and aesthetics

D

Photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, and creation of soils

b

Which of the following economic consequences to a provisioning ecosystem service will most likely result from increased global warming?

A

The collapse of local fisheries, because of the damage to coral reefs from ocean acidification

B

Loss of revenue from the oil industry, because of increased oil spills from offshore oil wells

C

Widespread crop failure, because of increased acid precipitation in agricultural areas

D

Increased cost for water filtration, because of loss of coastal wetlands

a

Based on the theory of island biogeography, which of the following islands would most likely have the highest number of species living on it?

A

An island 30 hectares in size that is 30 kilometers off the coast of the mainland

B

An island 30 hectares in size that is 10 kilometers off the coast of the mainland

C

An island 10 hectares in size that is 30 kilometers off the coast of the mainland

D

An island 10 hectares in size that is 10 kilometers off the coast of the mainland

b

The image shows two different islands and the relative distance to the nearest mainland. Based on the theory of island biogeography, which of the following best predicts the effect of the introduction of an invasive species on Easter Island compared to Madagascar?

A

The native species on Easter Island are more likely to survive because the island is further from the mainland.

B

The native species on Easter Island are more likely to survive because the island is so small that there will be limited space for an invasive species to colonize.

C

The native species on Madagascar are more likely to survive because the island is larger and provides a greater diversity of habitats and resources.

D

The native species on Madagascar are more likely to survive because the temperature in the Indian Ocean is warmer than that of the Pacific Ocean.

Answer C

c

An island off the coast of Africa contains a larger percentage of specialist species than generalist species. Which of the following describes the most immediate effect if an invasive generalist species is introduced to the island?

A

As predation increases, the population size of the invasive generalist species will decrease.

B

As competition for resources increases, the population size of the island's specialist species will decrease.

C

As resources are partitioned, the population sizes of both the generalist species and the specialist species will increase.

D

As niches overlap, the invasive generalist species will be outcompeted by the island's specialist species.

b

Which of the following best describes the change in Antarctic temperature from about 440,000 years ago to about 340,000 years ago?

A

The temperature increases by about 10°C.

B

The temperature decreases by about 8°C.

C

The temperature increases by about 12°C and then decreases by about 12°C.

D

The temperature decreases by about 10°C and then increases by about 12°C.

c

Which of the following best identifies the author's claim?

A

The 2008 die-off of the gharials was caused by extensive overfishing of the Chambal River, leaving little food for the reptiles.

B

The gharials have a wide ecological tolerance range, so it is unlikely that changes to the water chemistry of the Chambal River would have caused the 2008 die-off.

C

Anthropogenic disruptions to Earth's resources can have sudden and severe negative consequences to the health of native species, specifically those whose populations are already threatened.

D

In light of the 2008 die-off of the gharials, Indian government officials need to enact stricter laws to prevent the illegal dumping of drugs and other pollutants into the Chambal River.

c

Which of the following best describes the pattern in the atmospheric CO2 concentration data over the past 200,000 years?

A

The concentration of CO2 fluctuated between 150ppm and 250ppm.

B

The concentration of CO2 fluctuated between 150ppm and 250ppm until recently, when the concentration rose exponentially.

C

The concentration of CO2 remained constant at first from 200,000 years ago until 50,000 years ago, and then began a steady decline.

D

The concentration of CO2 rose exponentially to 400ppm and leveled off at carrying capacity.

b

Which of the following best identifies the author's claim?

A

Observed adjustments in the ecological tolerance of a species of reef fish is a result of epigenetic changes.

B

Climate change is damaging coral reefs as a result of warming ocean waters, which affect reef fish survival.

C

Transferring specific gene sequences of the spiny chromis damselfish to other fish species will help populations acclimate to warming ocean temperatures.

D

Continued acclimation of fish populations through epigenetics to warmer oceans will eventually replace the process of natural selection.

a

Which of the following best describes the trends in atmospheric CO2 concentration and Antarctic temperature over the past 800,000 years?

A

Atmospheric CO2 concentration has remained about the same, and Antarctic temperature has varied widely over the past 800,000 years.

B

Both atmospheric CO2 concentration and Antarctic temperature have remained about the same over the past 800,000 years.

C

Atmospheric CO2 concentration and Antarctic temperature are directly correlated over the past 800,000 years.

D

Atmospheric CO2 concentration and Antarctic temperature are inversely correlated over the past 800,000 years.

c

Which of the following best identifies the author's claim?

A

Acidic water affects the salmon's ability to sense danger from attacking predators by their sense of smell.

B

Salmon can only tolerate certain water temperatures before all of their senses are severely damaged.

C

Acidic water prevents salmon from maturing and therefore from being able to reproduce and replenish declining salmon populations.

D

Acidic water is causing a rise in the population of predators as a result of the salmon's increased ability to smell predators.

a

Which statement is best supported by the data in the graph?

A

Finches were better able to find mates, and the population size increased in 1977 because of the abundance of grasses.

B

Finches with larger beaks were more likely to survive in 1980 because they were able to feed primarily on seeds and nuts during the drought.

C

The average beak size in 1981 increased to 9.8mm because finches had access to unlimited resources.

D

The finch population declined from 1983 to 1984 due to a decrease in habitat.

b