Unit 2 FRQs
The Colorado River runs 1,450 miles from the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. The river has many dams, aqueducts, and canals that divert water in order to supply water for electricity, irrigation, recreation, and domestic use.(c2) Identify another example (other than the Colorado River) of a large-scale water-division project. Discuss two environmental problems that have resulted, or might result, from this project.
Adverse impacts: 10,000 caribou were drowned in 1984 while migrating; threat of mercury poisoning to native peoples (Cree) on newly flooded land — 66 percent of residents had high levels as per WHO standards; coastal marshes and estuaries were degraded (eel grass already disappeared and is a keystone species); salmon and other anadromous fish were blocked from spawning beds.
The active ingredients in many pesticides are chemical compounds that kill organisms such as insects, molds, and weeds. Proponents claim that the use of pesticides improves crop yields and thus protects land and soil by reducing the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland. Opponents of pesticide use claim that pesticides degrade water and soil quality and that other modern agricultural techniques and practices are responsible for the improved crop yields in recent years. (d) Describe TWO agricultural practices, other than those involving pest control, that increase crop yields.
Developing and planting high-yielding varieties/ modified varieties of crops will increase crop yield. Rotating crops can also increase yield because it prevents the soil from losing certain nutrients.
The Colorado River runs 1,450 miles from the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. The river has many dams, aqueducts, and canals that divert water in order to supply water for electricity, irrigation, recreation, and domestic use. (c1) Identify another example (other than the Colorado River) of a large-scale water-division project. Discuss two environmental problems that have resulted, or might result, from this project.
Hydro-Quebec (1970s) diverted rivers flowing into the James Bay flooding more than 4,000 square miles of tundra and coastal wetlands along the eastern shore of the Hudson Bay. The project will consist of 600 dams, dikes and will block 19 large rivers and create other diversions.
The active ingredients in many pesticides are chemical compounds that kill organisms such as insects, molds, and weeds. Proponents claim that the use of pesticides improves crop yields and thus protects land and soil by reducing the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland. Opponents of pesticide use claim that pesticides degrade water and soil quality and that other modern agricultural techniques and practices are responsible for the improved crop yields in recent years. (a) Design a laboratory experiment to determine whether or not a new pesticide (product X) is toxic to minnows, a type of small fish. For the experiment you design, be sure to do all of the following. (i) State the hypothesis.
I predict an inverse relationship between product X and minnow health. Basically, decreasing exposure to product X could result in increased survivorship of minnows.
The active ingredients in many pesticides are chemical compounds that kill organisms such as insects, molds, and weeds. Proponents claim that the use of pesticides improves crop yields and thus protects land and soil by reducing the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland. Opponents of pesticide use claim that pesticides degrade water and soil quality and that other modern agricultural techniques and practices are responsible for the improved crop yields in recent years. (c) One strategy for dealing with agricultural pests is integrated pest management (IPM). (ii) Identify one environmental benefit of using IPM.
IPM reduces the introduction of pesticides into areas other than farmland (e.g., runoff, overspray) and reduces erosion.
The active ingredients in many pesticides are chemical compounds that kill organisms such as insects, molds, and weeds. Proponents claim that the use of pesticides improves crop yields and thus protects land and soil by reducing the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland. Opponents of pesticide use claim that pesticides degrade water and soil quality and that other modern agricultural techniques and practices are responsible for the improved crop yields in recent years. (c) One strategy for dealing with agricultural pests is integrated pest management (IPM). (i) Describe IPM. As part of your description, include TWO specific pest-control approaches that are part of IPM.
IPM uses a combination of biological, chemical, and physical (two of the three) means to control pests. IPM introduces, attracts, or creates habitat for the predators of pests. They also introduce parasites that feed on pests and diseases or disease-carrying bacteria to kill pests.
The active ingredients in many pesticides are chemical compounds that kill organisms such as insects, molds, and weeds. Proponents claim that the use of pesticides improves crop yields and thus protects land and soil by reducing the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland. Opponents of pesticide use claim that pesticides degrade water and soil quality and that other modern agricultural techniques and practices are responsible for the improved crop yields in recent years. (b) Describe experimental results that would lead you to reject your hypothesis in part (a)(i). (Be specific.)
If the minnows exposed to larger amounts of product X progress positively/ have a lower morality rate compared to the other tanks and the relationship is converse, my hypothesis is wrong.
As the world's population increases and availability of new arable land decreases, providing sufficient food for the world's human population is becoming increasingly difficult. The table below shows the area of land needed to feed the world's population from 1900 projected to the year 2060. (e) One problem that can result from agriculture is soil salinization. (ii) Describe one method to prevent or remediate soil salinization.
Irrigate with water that is low in salt content.
Suppose that you have just started a summer internship working for a cooperative service, where you will collect soil samples, conduct laboratory and field tests, and make recommendations on soil conservation and agricultural practices. (b) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage to using inorganic commercial fertilizers.
One advantage of using inorganic commercial fertilizers is that nutrients are immediately available to crops which helps speed up the growing process; however, it adds no humus or organic matter to the soil and decreases water-holding capacities.
As the world's population increases and availability of new arable land decreases, providing sufficient food for the world's human population is becoming increasingly difficult. The table below shows the area of land needed to feed the world's population from 1900 projected to the year 2060. (e) One problem that can result from agriculture is soil salinization. (i) Describe how salinization occurs.
Salinization can occur when irrigation water evaporates (or is used by plants, leaving the salts behind in the soils.
Suppose that you have just started a summer internship working for a cooperative service, where you will collect soil samples, conduct laboratory and field tests, and make recommendations on soil conservation and agricultural practices. (d) Identify one biome that is characterized by soil that is rich in humus. Describe how humus originated in the soils of this biome and TWO ways that humus improves for plant growth.
Temperate rainforests are rich in humus. Here, needles/ leaves decompose to form a layer of humus. Humus improves soil conditions because prevents erosion, improves soil structure, and provides nutrients for plants and soil organisms.
Suppose that you have just started a summer internship working for a cooperative service, where you will collect soil samples, conduct laboratory and field tests, and make recommendations on soil conservation and agricultural practices. (c) Describe TWO soil conservation practices that are designed to decrease soil erosion.
Terracing or division terraces is designed to decrease soil erosion because it shapes land to create level shelves of earth to decrease soil and water runoff. As well, Alley cropping/ agroforestry is designed to decrease soil erosion because it plants crops in strips between tree and shrubs to reduce wind and water erosion.
The active ingredients in many pesticides are chemical compounds that kill organisms such as insects, molds, and weeds. Proponents claim that the use of pesticides improves crop yields and thus protects land and soil by reducing the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland. Opponents of pesticide use claim that pesticides degrade water and soil quality and that other modern agricultural techniques and practices are responsible for the improved crop yields in recent years. (a) Design a laboratory experiment to determine whether or not a new pesticide (product X) is toxic to minnows, a type of small fish. For the experiment you design, be sure to do all of the following. (iv) Identify the dependent variable.
The evaluation of minnow morality is the dependent variable.
The active ingredients in many pesticides are chemical compounds that kill organisms such as insects, molds, and weeds. Proponents claim that the use of pesticides improves crop yields and thus protects land and soil by reducing the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland. Opponents of pesticide use claim that pesticides degrade water and soil quality and that other modern agricultural techniques and practices are responsible for the improved crop yields in recent years. (a) Design a laboratory experiment to determine whether or not a new pesticide (product X) is toxic to minnows, a type of small fish. For the experiment you design, be sure to do all of the following. (iii) Identify the control.
The experimental group without the presence of product X is the control.
The active ingredients in many pesticides are chemical compounds that kill organisms such as insects, molds, and weeds. Proponents claim that the use of pesticides improves crop yields and thus protects land and soil by reducing the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland. Opponents of pesticide use claim that pesticides degrade water and soil quality and that other modern agricultural techniques and practices are responsible for the improved crop yields in recent years. (a) Design a laboratory experiment to determine whether or not a new pesticide (product X) is toxic to minnows, a type of small fish. For the experiment you design, be sure to do all of the following. (ii) Describe the method you would use to test your hypothesis.
There will be 3 experimental groups: minnows exposed to large amounts of product X, minnows exposed to smaller amounts of product X, minnows that are not exposed to product X. For each group, 30 minnows will be added to 3 identical tanks with the same water. Then, the different amounts of pesticides will be added to their group. The fish will receive the same amount of food each day. After 5 days, the minnows' morality will be evaluated.
Suppose that you have just started a summer internship working for a cooperative service, where you will collect soil samples, conduct laboratory and field tests, and make recommendations on soil conservation and agricultural practices. (a) Identify and describe one CHEMICAL soil test could be performed and explain how the results of these tests will allow the cooperative extension service to make specific recommendations for sustainable agriculture.
Two chemical tests include testing organic content, aka humus, which analyzes organic content and testing salinity which measures salt content of soil. Testing organic content is good for sustainable agriculture because it helps when adding organic matter, like animal manure, green manure or crop residues, to improve many of the soils' physical and chemical properties.
The Colorado River runs 1,450 miles from the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. The river has many dams, aqueducts, and canals that divert water in order to supply water for electricity, irrigation, recreation, and domestic use.(a) Describe and discuss two environmental problems that are associated with water diversion.
Two environmental problems that are associated with water diversion are diversion of water to develop agricultural land and increased concentration of pollutants that would be diluted without diversion. The first is bad because it leads to loss of natural areas and available habitat. The last one is bad because it leads to pollutants, like arsenic, being toxic to many plants and animals.
Suppose that you have just started a summer internship working for a cooperative service, where you will collect soil samples, conduct laboratory and field tests, and make recommendations on soil conservation and agricultural practices. (a) Identify and describe one PHYSICAL soil test could be performed and explain how the results of these tests will allow the cooperative extension service to make specific recommendations for sustainable agriculture.
Two physical soil tests include soil profile analysis which can be determined by the nature of soil horizons (structure, depth, color) and infiltration or permeability of soil which can be determined by the speed of infiltration of water into soil. Testing both soil profile and infiltration of a soil sample is very helpful when determining how much soil additives to add, such as sand, clay, or humus, to affect ion-exchange capacity as well as moisture content and water-holding capacity. This will help progress agriculture in a sustainable way.
As the world's population increases and availability of new arable land decreases, providing sufficient food for the world's human population is becoming increasingly difficult. The table below shows the area of land needed to feed the world's population from 1900 projected to the year 2060. c) Soil quality is a critical factor in agriculture. Identify TWO physical and/or chemical properties of soils and describe the role of each property in determining soil quality.
Two physical/ chemical properties are particle size/ soil type and permeability/ infiltration. Particle size dictates a soil's available oxygen, ability to hold moisture/ nutrients, and ability to allow water to infiltrate. Permeability determines whether water can be used by plants depending if water can infiltrate. Poor Permeability leads to standing water that suffocates/ drowns plants and increased soil salinity.
As the world's population increases and availability of new arable land decreases, providing sufficient food for the world's human population is becoming increasingly difficult. The table below shows the area of land needed to feed the world's population from 1900 projected to the year 2060. (d) Describe TWO viable strategies for reducing the amount of land needed for agriculture.
Two viable strategies include increasing crop yield and decreasing the demand for agricultural land. Instituting crop rotation to improve soil fertility and using more effective pesticides/ fertilizers could increase crop yield. Banning the use of agricultural crops to makes fuels would allow those crops to be used for feeding people thus decreasing the demand for agricultural land.
The Colorado River runs 1,450 miles from the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. The river has many dams, aqueducts, and canals that divert water in order to supply water for electricity, irrigation, recreation, and domestic use.(b) If there is a shortage of water, choices will have to be made as to whether water should be diverted to urban areas, agricultural areas, or natural ecosystems. Make an argument for diverting water for urban consumption and an argument for permitting the flow of water to natural areas.
Urban areas need water diverted for: domestic uses such as washing clothes, bathing, washing dishes, cooking, drinking water, etc. As well, these domestic uses contribute to maintaining health (clean/ample water supplies are necessary to prevent spread of disease, maintain hygiene, etc.) However, natural areas need water for plant functions: green plants provide natural air filtration and carbon dioxide uptake, plus they provide other benefits, such as cooling.
