Earth's Resources and Sustainability Assessment practice KEY

What is sustainability?

The practice of meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs, balancing environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability.

What are minerals? Are they considered renewable resources?

Minerals are naturally occurring solid materials not considered renewable resources as they form over geological timescales, and once extracted, they are effectively gone.

What is the difference between a renewable resource and a non-renewable resource?

A renewable resource can be replenished naturally over a relatively short time, while a non-renewable resource exists in finite quantities and is not replaced on a human timescale.

Describe the three types of mining examined in class.

Open pit mining exposes ore at the surface; vertical shaft mining digs deep tunnels for underground deposits; mountain top removal strips the top of mountains for quick access.

What is mining reclamation? Why is it important?

Mining reclamation restores disturbed land to its original state, crucial for mitigating environmental impacts like habitat destruction and water pollution.

Describe how a thermal power plant works.

A thermal power plant converts heat energy from burning fuel into electricity through a series of steps involving steam production, turbine rotation, and generator activation.

What is the role of water in a thermal power plant?

Water acts as the working fluid to produce steam that drives turbines, and it also helps dissipate excess heat during cooling.

How does wind power work?

Wind power generates electricity by harnessing kinetic energy; wind turns blades that spin a rotor, which activates a generator.

How does a hydroelectric dam generate electricity?

A hydroelectric dam uses moving water to drive turbines connected to generators, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy.

What powers a nuclear power plant?

A nuclear power plant is powered by nuclear fission of radioactive isotopes, typically uranium, which generates heat to create steam for electricity generation.

What is population ecology?

Population ecology is the study of how populations of organisms interact with their environment and factors affecting their size, density, distribution, and changes over time.

What is population density?

Population density measures how many individuals of a species live in a given area, expressed as individuals per square unit.

What is the land area of a country with a density of 11 people per km² and a population of 7,381,023?

Land Area = 7,381,023 people / 11 people/km² = approximately 671,002.09 km².

What is the population of Laos with an area of 230,800 km² and a density of 34 people per km²?

Population = 230,800 km² × 34 people/km² = 7,847,200 people.

What is the population density of lizards in a 55 km² nature preserve with 82 lizards?

Population Density = 82 lizards / 55 km² = approximately 1.49 lizards/km².

What are immigration and emigration?

Immigration is the movement of individuals into a population; emigration is the movement of individuals out of a population.

What is a density-dependent limiting factor? Give an example.

A density-dependent limiting factor's impact on population growth is related to population density; e.g., competition for resources.

What is a density-independent limiting factor? Give an example.

A density-independent limiting factor's impact is not related to population density; e.g., natural disasters.

Compare exponential and logistic population growth.

Exponential growth occurs with unlimited resources, resulting in a J-shaped curve, while logistic growth levels off near the carrying capacity, forming an S-shaped curve.

What does logistic growth theoretically stabilize at?

Logistic growth stabilizes at the carrying capacity (K) of the environment.

What is carrying capacity?

Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum sustainable population size an environment can support indefinitely.

What is an r-strategist?

An r-strategist produces many offspring with little parental care, typically found in unstable environments.

What is a K-strategist?

A K-strategist produces few high-quality offspring with significant care, typically found in stable environments.

What survival strategy does an organism exhibit if it lays 8,000 eggs, with only 82 surviving?

This organism exhibits an r-strategist survival strategy, indicating low investment per offspring.

How do the populations of pickerel and sunfish interact?

Pickerel (predator) populations fluctuate based on sunfish (prey) populations, creating a cyclical predator-prey dynamic.

What are population pyramids?

Population pyramids graphically represent age and sex distribution in a population, showing age structure, growth trends, and dependency ratios.

If a population pyramid shows most individuals over 45, is this population growing or shrinking? Why?

The population is likely shrinking as a wider top indicates a low birth rate and fewer individuals entering reproductive ages.

What is primary succession? Describe its steps.

Primary succession occurs in an area devoid of life; steps include pioneer species colonization, establishment of early successional plants, mid-successional plants, and climax community development.

What are pioneer species?

Pioneer species are the first species to colonize barren environments, typically hardy, fast-growing, and facilitating soil formation.

What events trigger primary succession?

Primary succession occurs after events creating new land surfaces like volcanic eruptions or retreating glaciers.

What are lichens?

Lichens are composite organisms formed by the symbiotic relationship of a fungus and an alga, often pioneering in primary succession.

What is secondary succession? When does it happen?

Secondary succession occurs in disturbed areas where the existing community is removed but soil remains, triggered by events like wildfires or floods.

What is a climax community?

A climax community is a stable, mature ecological community resulting from succession, characterized by a stable species composition.

What is the species richness of a surveyed woodland area with four bird species?

Species richness is four, as there are four different species present in the area.

How do you calculate relative abundance of species?

Relative abundance = number of individuals of one species ÷ total number of individuals.