APES Unit 3 Test Study

Concepts:

Topic 1.4:

-What are carbon sinks/reservoirs?

-What are carbon sources?

-What is the difference between photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

-How are humans impacting the carbon cycle?

Topics 1.5:

-What are nitrogen sinks/reservoirs?

-What are nitrogen sources?

-What are the steps of the nitrogen cycle?

-How are humans impacting the nitrogen cycle?

Topic 1.6: 

-What are phosphorus sinks?

-What are phosphorus sources?

-What is the difference between the phosphorus cycle and other cycles?

-How are humans impacting the phosphorus cycle?

Topic 1.7:

-What are water sinks/reserviors?

-How are humans impacting the water cycle?

Topic 4.2:

-How are soils formed?

-What are the different soil horizons and their characteristics?

-How are human activities impacting soils?

Topic 4.3:

-What are the different particle types? What is largest? Smallest?

-How does particle size affect porosity/permeability/water holding capacity?

-Can you read a soil triangle chart to determine soil texture?

-What is the ideal soil type?

-What factors increase soil fertility?

-What factors decrease soil fertility?

-What do the different characteristics (texture, permeability, pH, color, nutrient level) tell you about the soil?

Topic 4.6:

-How are the boundaries of a watershed determined?

-How do vegetation, slope and soil type influence watershed drainage?

-Identify and describe way in which humans alter watershed dynamics

-What ecosystem services do estuaries/wetlands provide?

-What are some major sources of nitrogen and phosphorus in watersheds that result in eutrophication?

-What other pollutants are problematic in watersheds?

-Describe the effects of clearcutting on watersheds

Topic 5.3:

-What changed with agriculture during/following the Green Revolution?

-What are some benefits resulting from the Green Revolution?

-What are some drawbacks of the Green Revolution?

-What is the difference between a High Yield crop and a GMO?

Topic 5.4:

-What are pros and cons of monocropping/monoculture?

-Why is tilling harmful?

-Why is slash & burn agriculture harmful?

-What are pros and cons of synthetic fertilizers?

Topic 5.5:

-Identify and describe the 4 types of irrigation

-List the irrigation methods from most to least efficient

-Describe waterlogging and identify ways to combat it

-Describe soil salinization and identify ways to combat it

-How are aquifers recharged?

-Describe saltwater intrusion

Topic 5.6:

-What are the different types of pesticides?

-Explain the correlation between GMOs and pesticides.

-Describe the pesticide treadmill.

-Explain the correlation between GMOs and genetic diversity.

Topic 5.7:

-What are the pros and cons of of feedlots/CAFOs?

-How is animal waste from feedlots dealt with and what are some concerns?

-Why is free range grazing preferable to feedlots?

-What are issues associated with overgrazing?

-What is a more sustainable alternative?

-Describe the inefficiency of meat production and consumption.

Topic 5.14:

-What is the goal of IPM?

-What methods are employed with IPM?

-What are the pros and cons of IPM?

Topic 5.15:

-What farming methods prevent soil erosion? Describe them.

-What farming methods improve soil fertility/minimize loss of soil nutrients? Describe them.

Topic 8.3:

-What are some examples of endocrine disruptors and their use?

-How do endocrine disruptors affect humans and wildlife?

-How do endocrine disruptors affect ecosystems?

Topic 8.7:

-Why are POPs called “forever chemicals”?

-Why do POPs accumulate in the tissues of living organisms?

-What are some examples of POPs?

Topic 8.8:

-What is the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification?

-Why do apex predators have higher concentrations of environmental toxins in their tissues than lower trophic level organisms?

-List some common pollutants that are bioaccumulated/biomagnified

Topic 8.11:

-Describe the different stages of sewage treatment (primary, secondary, tertiary)\

-Which stage is biological? Physical? Chemical?

-Why are aeration tanks important for the secondary stage?

-What can be contained in raw (untreated) sewage?

-What substances are often not eliminated during the treatment process?

Topic 8.12/13:

-Can you interpret a dose-response curve to and use it to determine the threshold lethal dose?

-What is the difference between ED₅₀ and LD₅₀?

-How do we determine the maximum dose allowed for a human?

-When comparing substances, which is more toxic: the one with the lower LD50 or the higher LD50?

-Why are LD₅₀ values not always appropriate for predicting potential ecosystem impacts?