Biol 102 Final

How did Rachel Carson account for the public's blind acceptance of DDT without scientific evidence of its safety? (2 answers, select all that apply)

1: Carson said that people put unquestioned faith in the power of experts to bend nature to their will with technology. 2: Carson reasoned that individuals in positions of power made all decisions without being informed of the associated risks.

What was the unintended consequence for birds when trees infected with Dutch Elm disease were sprayed with DDT? (2 answers, select all that apply)

1: birds died when they ate earthworms with accumulated levels of DDT. 2: leaves coated in DDT fell to the ground and were eaten by earthworms.

How did DDT become accepted and popularized without knowing whether it was safe?

All answers are correct

Why is phosphorus important to the ecosystem?

All of these are reasons phosphorus is important

What is a biological hot spot?

Areas with large numbers of plant species.

Can you use permeable pavement in places where it freezes in the winter?

As long as the drainage is installed correctly, you don't get ice on the pavement.

An important role of nitrogen-fixing bacteria is to..

Convert gaseous nitrogen into ammonia

I'm aquatic environment, DDT is converted to DDE, a chemical that affects reproduction in predatory birds such as pelicans and bald eagles. In the 1950s, populations of these predatory birds plummeted. How did DDE from aquatic environments end up affecting eagles?

DDE is first absorbed from the water by zooplankton, and then moves up the food chain to higher trophic levels, eventually accumulatinf in predatory birds that feed on fish.

Which of the following statements about biomagnification is correct?

DDT is absorbed by small animals, such as zooplankton, and then moves up the food chain when a predator eats a prey animal.

What are wetlands good for?

Habitat for wildlife, reduces flooding, recharges ground water, helps ecosystems

What is the major feature that defines a biome?

It's plant life

Which are the warmest months?

June, July, august

What type of biome has short evergreen trees and shrubs with leathery leaves and is characterized by long, hot, dry summers and cool, damp winters?

Mediterranean

Which of these must be converted from an atmospheric gas into a form that plants can take up from soil?

Nitrogen

Why is it more energetically efficient to be a vegetarian than to eat meat?

No energy is lost to another animals metabolism when a person eats plants

Which of the following biomes covers the greatest amount of earths surface?

Oceans

What is a biome?

Refers to terrestrial areas with distinct plant communities

Who was president when the 1970 clean air, 1972 clean water, and 1973 endangered species act was passed?

Richard Nixon

What is (are) the best choice(s) for generating electricity in the U.S.?

Solar

Why is the sun the ultimate source of energy for all carnivores?

Some of the energy produced during photosynthesis passes from one tropic level to the next as herbivores ear produces and are then eaten by carnivores.

Which statement is true about energy transfer?

Some of the molecules consumed by organisms are never incorporated into their tissues and is lost in feces.

What type of biome is characterized by evergreen trees, with long and cold winters and only short summers?

Taiga's

Which of the following is the result of the one way path of energy flow through the ecosystem?

Tertiary consumers are often rare in an ecosystem

Why did the loss of vultures lead to more cases of rabies?

The feral dogs ate the cow carcasses, bred more, and spread rabies more.

After harvesting and selling a crop of corn, a farmer collects the corn stalks and feeds them to her cows. Why should the farmer add fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus to the field before growing another crop?

The nitrogen and phosphorus the plants took from the soil will not return to the field through decomposition

To ensure a constant supply of fresh water, which statement about the water cycle must be true?

The rate of water withdrawal from natural sources must be less than the rate of replacement

This time of year, we may get snowflakes one day, and temperatures can be 30 degrees higher the next day. This means...

The weather fluctuates a lot

Why are compact fluorescent and LED bulbs better than traditional light bulbs?

They are more energy efficient

Why are so many cities along rivers?

Transportation via water

Why is water considered a renewable resource?

Water resources are continually replenished by the water cycle.

If we are going to drill for oil in the northern Gulf of Mexico m, why don't we drill of the coast of Florida, Virginia, or California?

We can't risk tourism in those locations.

Are wildfires natural?

Wildfires are totally natural and should be allowed to burn, when possible and controlled.