Land Use MCQ

(A) Endangered Species Act (B) Kyoto Protocol (C) Montreal Protocol (D) National Environmental Policy Act (E) Wilderness Act Contains an amendment that allows private landowners to modify their property under a habitat conservation plan A. Endangered Species Act B. Kyoto Protocol C. Montreal Protocol D. National Environmental Policy Act E. Wilderness Act

A. Endangered Species Act

Which of the following would be categorized as a cultural ecosystem service of forests? A. Recreation and scenic areas for tourism B. Timber and landscape materials C. Mushroom and plant harvests D. Soil stabilization and air purification

A. Recreation and scenic areas for tourism

Fragmenting one large park or preserve into many small parks with human habitation in between them is most likely to lead to which of the following? A. Reduction in species diversity B. Stabilization of microclimates C. Decreases in the proportion of edge habitat D. Increase in gene flow within species E. Increase in population size of top carnivores

A. Reduction in species diversity

Which of the following is most likely to occur in a forested region that has been recently clear-cut? A. The concentration of nitrates in streams running through the region will increase. B. The average depth of topsoil will increase. C. The water temperature in streams running through the region will decrease. D. Volume of runoff after rains will decrease. E. The frequency of landslides will decrease.

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

Biological controls are frequently used to replace persistent chemical pesticides. Which of the following represents the greatest potential risk of using biological controls? A. The control agent attacks not only its intended target but also beneficial species. B. The control agent mutates and is no longer an effective control agent. C. Repeated applications or introductions are required to eliminate the pest population. D. Residual pesticides in the environment kill the control agent before it can eradicate the pest. E. Biological controls prove to be more costly to use than chemical pesticides.

A. The control agent attacks not only its intended target but also beneficial species.

A new 450-unit housing development will replace several small farms on the outskirts of Fremont. The development will be composed of 1/4-hectare lots with nearly identical footprints, as show below. Which of the following will be the greatest impact of the development on the local water supply? A. There will be less recharge of groundwater. B. There will be less runoff to fill reservoirs. C. There will be higher humidity in the suburb. D. There will be decreased soil exposure, reducing bacteria loads in surface water. E. There will be decreased erosion in local streams.

A. There will be less recharge of groundwater.

Sustainable use of forests in the United States would likely be encouraged by A. cutting small groups of medium- and large- sized trees in uneven-aged forests B. clear-cutting old-growth forests to allow for secondary succession C. allowing road building in wilderness areas so that older, clear-cut forests have time to regenerate D. logging on steep slopes in designated wilderness areas E. enforcing all provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

A. cutting small groups of medium- and large- sized trees in uneven-aged forests

Overgrazing of grasslands can lead to reduced range quality. Two of the major effects of overgrazing are A. erosion and desertification B. higher fire potential and increased productivity C. eutrophication and increased methane production D. higher primary productivity and ammonification E. soil compaction and subsidence

A. erosion and desertification

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is produced by domestic livestock? A. NO2 B. CH4 C. O3 D. CO E. SO2

B. CH4

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? A. Selective cutting B. Clear-cutting C. Shelter-wood cutting D. Slash and burn clearing E. Gleaning

B. Clear-cutting

Which of the following methods of agricultural irrigation results in the loss of the least amount of water by evaporation? A. Conventional center-pivot irrigation B. Drop irrigation C. Laser-level irrigation D. Flood irrigation E. Gravity-flow irrigation

B. Drop irrigation

Which of the following changes to the local hydrologic cycle will result if large areas of land experienced clear-cutting? A. Transpiration of water from vegetation will increase. B. Evaporation of water from the soil will increase. C. Runoff from watersheds will decrease. D. Siltation of local streams will decrease.

B. Evaporation of water from the soil will increase.

Farmers use various methods of irrigation on crops. Which of the following statements correctly pairs an irrigation method with an advantage or disadvantage? A. Drip irrigation is readily used in large-scale farming because of the low cost associated with this method. B. Flood irrigation is often used in agricultural fields, however, it increases surface erosion and salinization of the soil. C. Furrow irrigation is a method in which farmers plant two different types of crops in alternating strips which increases productivity. D. Spray irrigation loses the least amount of water to evaporation.

B. Flood irrigation is often used in agricultural fields, however, it increases surface erosion and salinization of the soil.

Which of the following statements about genetic diversity is true? A. Genetic uniformity of a crop increases the crop's overall resistance to pests and disease. B. Genetic resistance to pests and diseases can be increased by crossing a crop plant with ancestral varieties. C. Genetic engineering technology is used to increase genetic diversity by creating new species with synthetic genes. D. Genetic diversity within populations of common crop species such as corn is typically high. E. Genetic diversity is usually high in endangered species.

B. Genetic resistance to pests and diseases can be increased by crossing a crop plant with ancestral varieties

Which of the following is the most likely reason that the greatest number of extinctions of bird species occurred in the period 1901-2000? A. Pollution was becoming so widespread that many birds migrated to new habitats. B. Increased environmental disturbances from human activities altered bird habitats. C. Adaptive radiation produced many new species of birds. D. Animals were being domesticated, leading to the agricultural revolution. E. Ecosystems were changing rapidly because of widespread glaciation.

B. Increased environmental disturbances from human activities altered bird habitats.

Switching from customary large-scale agricultural practices to which of the following is most likely to reduce the exposure of farmworkers and nearby residents to toxic chemicals? A. No-till cultivation B. Integrated pest management C. Contour plowing D. Crop dusting E. Use of cover crops

B. Integrated pest management

In general, which of the following is the best long-term method of preventing extinctions? A. Breeding endangered species in captivity B. Protecting the habitats of endangered species C. Paying people not to kill endangered species D. Providing food to endangered species in the wild E. Removing predators from areas that contain endangered species

B. Protecting the habitats of endangered species

The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in a sample of river water suggests which of the following? A. The pH of the river is very high. B. The water is contaminated with animal waste. C. The river is devoid of plant life. D. The dissolved oxygen level of the river is high. E. Fish caught from the river will be free of parasites.

B. The water is contaminated with animal waste.

Which of the following best explains why the maximum sustainable yield for ocean fisheries has been exceeded? A. Populations of fish-eating birds such as the albatross have increased. B. Too many fish of reproductive age are harvested. C. Too many marine fish farms have been created. D. Everything trapped by large bottom trawl nets is used for food. E. For every calorie of fish caught, a ship uses only about 0.5 calorie of fuel energy

B. Too many fish of reproductive age are harvested.

Which of the following statements identifies a concern associated with the increased proportion of GM crops being grown? A. Planting GM crops results in reduced crop yield, which causes more land to be put into production. B. Use of GM seeds can lead to loss of genetic diversity in crops. C. GM crops cannot be grown in marginal soils. D. Runoff from GM crop fields can lead to increased eutrophication. E. GM crops cannot withstand herbicide application, reducing crop yield.

B. Use of GM seeds can lead to loss of genetic diversity in crops.

The CITES treaty has been helpful in protecting endangered animals and plants by A. listing all species that can be hunted, traded, and used commercially B. listing those species and products whose international trade is controlled C. funding projects for breeding endangered plants and animals D. preventing the hunting of whales and dolphins E. specifying prices for certain plant and animal products

B. listing those species and products whose international trade is controlled

Vegetarianism is often cited as a partial solution to the growing problem of deforestation and other types of habitat destruction as the human population continues to grow. The reason for this is A. vegetarians are healthier due to a lack of animal fat in their diets B. more people can be fed using less agricultural land because vegetarians eat at a lower trophic level C. vegetarians consume fewer calories per person and therefore require fewer acres of farmland D. vegetarian diets often recommend consuming large amounts of tree nuts as a source of protein, which preserves forest habitats E. vegetarians often support conservation efforts that promote forest conservation

B. more people can be fed using less agricultural land because vegetarians eat at a lower trophic level

When a rain forest is slashed and burned, the local concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases. This is primarily due to A. changes in the local climate B. oxidation of carbon compounds C. cellular respiration of rain-forest plants D. erosion of exposed soil E. carbon dioxide being released by anaerobic organisms

B. oxidation of carbon compounds

Which of the following is an unintended environmental consequence of aquaculture? A. Meeting an increasing demand for seafood B. Decreasing the prevalence of disease in nearby wild fish C. Contamination of surrounding water by organic waste D. High initial cost of facility

C. Contamination of surrounding water by organic waste

A new 450-unit housing development will replace several small farms on the outskirts of Fremont. The development will be composed of 1/4-hectare lots with nearly identical footprints, as show below. Storm water runoff from the new development into nearby Samel Creek will likely lead to which of the following? A. Biomagnification of mercury in birds of prey such as eagles and osprey B. Improved recreational opportunities for swimmers and boaters C. Destruction of fish habitats by high levels of suspended solids and sediments D. Contamination of drinking water supplies by volatile organic compounds such as ozone E. Increased incidence of waterborne diseases such as malaria

C. Destruction of fish habitats by high levels of suspended solids and sediments

Which of the following claims is best supported by the data in the graph? A. As the demand for chicken increases and the demand for beef decreases, changes in meat production will decrease the demand on global water supplies. B. Meat consumption per capita will decrease in India between 2012 and 2022 because individuals in that country have a primarily vegetarian diet. C. 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. D. The use of growth hormones and antibiotics will allow for an increased yield in meat production in all five countries by 2022.

C. 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.

A group of farmers want to change their pest control methods to reduce the amount of pollution in a nearby river. The data on the cost and percent pest population reduction for several methods of pest control the farmers could consider are presented in the table below. 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? A. Using physical traps B. Applying a single dose of pesticides C. Planting genetically modified crops D. Introducing a natural predator to feed on the pests

C. Planting genetically modified crops

An integrated pest-management approach to pest control emphasizes which of the following? A. Eradication of the pest population B. Reliance on spraying broad-spectrum pesticides C. Reduction of crop damage to an economically tolerable level D. Use of plant monocultures to simplify spraying E. Elimination of the use of second-generation pesticides

C. Reduction of crop damage to an economically tolerable level

A farmer observes that increasingly higher concentrations of a particular pesticide have been required each year over the past ten years to achieve the same level of effectiveness on a specific insect pest. Which of the following best helps explain the observation? A. Some individual insects live longer than others and pass on traits acquired during their lives. B. Only the most aggressive and territorial insects survive and reproduce. C. Some individual insects are more likely than others to survive and reproduce due to their inherited traits. D. Some individual insects produce many offspring, and thus their offspring live longer. E. Some individual insects reproduce before the pesticide is applied, thereby avoiding its harmful effects.

C. Some individual insects are more likely than others to survive and reproduce due to their inherited traits.

Which of the following statements best explains the relationship shown on the graph? A. Increased use of glyphosate herbicides kills more weeds and thus leads to higher crop yields. B. The use of glyphosate herbicides has decreased because it has been shown to be ineffective in killing weeds. C. The use of glyphosate has selected for herbicide resistance in weed populations. D. The use of glyphosate herbicides has decreased because the cost of the herbicides has increased. E. Increased use of glyphosate herbicides correlates to increased agricultural profit.

C. The use of glyphosate has selected for herbicide resistance in weed populations

Which of the following practices is consistent with the production of organic crops according to the United States Department of Agriculture? A. Using sodium nitrate as a fertilizer on green, leafy vegetables B. Using strychnine to prevent buildup of aphid populations in field crops C. Using chemicals known as pheromones to disrupt insect mating cycles D. Using sewage sludge to improve the fertility and structure of soil E. Using genetically modified plant varieties that kill insects that chew their leaves

C. Using chemicals known as pheromones to disrupt insect mating cycles

Salmon farming threatens the health of wild salmon stocks primarily because A. salmon farming prevents commercial fishing fleets from overharvesting wild salmon B. salmon farming prevents interbreeding between domesticated varieties of salmon and their wild counterparts C. farmed salmon can spread parasites and disease to wild salmon D. farmed salmon compete with wild salmon for spawning sites E. farmed salmon can contain chemicals derived from food additives and antibiotics that may be harmful to human consumers

C. farmed salmon can spread parasites and disease to wild salmon

As urbanization increases and natural soil surfaces are covered, the groundwater supply is reduced due to A. increased evaporation and transpiration B. decreased surface runoff C. loss of recharge area D. confinement of aquifers E. capping of artesian wells

C. loss of recharge area

An alpine area of a national park near a trail is normally covered by plants, but much of the area is now bare soil. Park rangers suspect that trampling by hikers has killed the plants. Which of the following will best test the hypothesis? A. Counting the number of hikers leaving the trail in comparison with the number of hikers leaving other trails B. Counting the number of plants along the trail in comparison with the number of plants along other trails C. Comparing the number of hikers this year to the number of hikers last year on various trails D. Comparing plant survivorship in areas where hikers stay on the trail with plant survivorship in the area where hikers leave the trail E. Comparing the ages, heights, and weights of hikers on different trails

D. Comparing plant survivorship in areas where hikers stay on the trail with plant survivorship in the area where hikers leave the trail

Which of the following best describes a disadvantage of creating a series of protected habitats in an effort to maintain biodiversity in an area? A. Threatened or endangered animal populations can grow in size until the populations cannot be supported by the habitat. B. Populations within the protected habitats become too genetically diverse, leading to speciation. C. Climate change can lead to habitat loss because of changes in temperature and precipitation in an area. D. Protected habitats often separate species inside the habitat from other populations of the same species living outside the habitat.

D. Protected habitats often separate species inside the habitat from other populations of the same species living outside the habitat

Red pine trees are currently found growing in only the cool northernmost areas of the central and eastern United States. Climate change is expected to have an impact on the distribution of the species. Which of the following describes the most likely change to the distribution of red pine over the next 200 years? A. Red pine will grow in only the wetter areas of the southeastern United States. B. Red pine will spread to large areas of the Southwest. C. The total number of red pine trees will decrease, but red pine trees will continue to grow in the same locations as they grow currently. D. Red pine distribution will shift northward into Canada. E. Red pine distribution will expand southward to Caribbean nations.

D. Red pine distribution will shift northward into Canada.

Which of the following problems is best addressed with contour plowing? A. Eutrophication B. Denitrification C. The pesticide treadmill D. Soil erosion E. Soil salinization

D. Soil erosion

Which of the following describes a fundamental characteristic of the green revolution in food resources? A. The application of higher levels of organic fertilizers to increase rice production B. Deforestation to provide field crops with increased sunlight for photosynthesis C. The addition of calorie, fat, and fiber percentage to the information provided on food package labels D. The development of new strains of crops with higher yields E. The discovery that chlorophyll adds nutritional value to wheat, rice, and sorghum

D. The development of new strains of crops with higher yields

Which of the following is true of farm-raised salmon? A. They are more genetically diverse than their wild counterparts. B. They seldom escape from their containment areas. C. They have no impact on the quality of the water in which they are raised. D. They are often infected with parasites and sea lice. E. They are maintained at lower population densities than are wild salmon.

D. They are often infected with parasites and sea lice.

All of the following are negative externalities EXCEPT A. illnesses related to living near a manufacturing facility B. noise associated with living near a major airport C. air pollution caused by refinery emissions D. bees pollinating vegetables in addition to creating honey E. damage to crops from automobile exhaust

D. bees pollinating vegetables in addition to creating honey

The major cause for the decline in the worldwide catch of fish since 1990 is A. acid deposition B. escalating price of fuel C. competition from aquaculture D. overfishing E. decline in market price

D. overfishing

Which of the following best represents the percent of water that is used for various purposes worldwide? A. AgricultureIndustrial 10%, MunicipalResidential 20%, and Commercial 70% B. AgricultureIndustrial 20%, MunicipalResidential 30%, and Commercial 50% C. AgricultureIndustrial 30%, MunicipalResidential 50%, and Commercial 20% D. AgricultureIndustrial 50%, MunicipalResidential 10%, and Commercial 40% E. AgricultureIndustrial 70%, MunicipalResidential 20%, and Commercial 10%

E. AgricultureIndustrial 70%, MunicipalResidential 20%, and Commercial 10%

The development of dangerous strains of disease organisms represents a significant consequence of which of the following agricultural practices? A. Using herbicides in mechanized, large-scale grain farming B. Using plant-based insecticidal compounds on vegetable crops C. Growing crops that are genetically modified for increased yields D. Including the use of legumes into crop rotation protocols E. Incorporating antibiotics into the feeding regimens of densely concentrated livestock

E. Incorporating antibiotics into the feeding regimens of densely concentrated livestock

Which of the following actions would be most likely to increase the protection of ecological systems in national forests? A. Encourage timber harvesting of old-growth forests within national parks B. Allow national forest managers to use revenues from timber sales as they see fit C. Encourage the building of new roads in national forests and improve existing roads D. Make the growing, harvesting, and sale of timber the primary use of national forests E. Mandate that the government sale of logging rights in national forests be at fair market value

E. Mandate that the government sale of logging rights in national forests be at fair market value

Which of the following is likely to minimize soil erosion? A. High-yield crops B. Deforestation C. Herbicide use D. Annual plowing E. No-till agriculture

E. No-till agriculture

Coal was surface mined from five sites, labeled 1 through 5, that had originally been covered by forest. Each site was planted with a mix of tree seedlings to reclaim the area to forest. Grass was also seeded over each site to prevent initial erosion and to provide forage. Ten years after planting, information was collected at the five sites and is given in the table below. Select the letter of the row that indicates the site with the most successful forest reclamation. A. Row A B. Row B C. Row C D. Row D E. Row E

E. Row E

All of the following statements about invasive exotic species are true EXCEPT: A. They may compete with native species for food. B. They may prey on native species. C. They are generally introduced by human activity. D. They may be plant or animal species. E. They tend to have low reproductive rates.

E. They tend to have low reproductive rates.

A large forested area is fragmented into small forest tracts separated by agricultural areas. This change will most likely lead to A. an increase in the population of top carnivores B. an improvement in the dispersal mechanisms of forest species C. a more stable regional climate D. a decrease in the amount of edge habitat E. a decrease in the gene flow within species of the original forest

E. a decrease in the gene flow within species of the original forest

Factors contributing to the rise in world hunger include all of the following EXCEPT A. unequal distribution of available food supplies B. loss of or decline in arable land C. increasing rate of population growth D. increasing poverty in developing countries E. increasing consumption of vegetable protein in place of meat protein

E. increasing consumption of vegetable protein in place of meat protein

The factor that likely poses the greatest threat of extinction of species worldwide is A. weakening of environmental legislation B. increase in hunting and fishing C. aggressive collecting of specimens by museums and zoos D. black-market trade in endangered species E. increasing loss of habitat

E. increasing loss of habitat

A new 450-unit housing development will replace several small farms on the outskirts of Fremont. The development will be composed of 1/4-hectare lots with nearly identical footprints, as show below. One important step that homeowners in the new development can take to protect water quality in Samel Creek would be to A. apply lawn fertilizers immediately before storm events B. channelize Samel Creek to improve water flow during storm events C. use only persistent organic pesticides to control weed species in their lawns D. make certain that pet waste is disposed of directly into storm drains E. use rain barrels to reduce the flow of storm water into the creek

E. use rain barrels to reduce the flow of storm water into the creek