Chapter 2
Land use changes, particularly deforestation, account for what percentage of greenhouse gas emissions? A. 1% B. 20% C. 75% D. 100%
20%
Forests Represent how much of the carbon sink in the US? A. 10% B. 40% C. 90% D. 100%
90%
Which of the following is the term for the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems? A.Ecosystem services B. Nutrient cycling C. Food products D. Cellular respiration E. All of the above
A.Ecosystem services
Wetlands hold excess runoff after a storm, and then release it slowly. What type of ecosystem service is this? A. Provisioning-primary production B. Regulatory-flood prevention C. Aesthetic-exercise opportunity D. Supporting-habitat for pollinators
B. Regulatory-flood prevention
Trees, minerals, ecosystems and atmosphere are examples of which of these? A. built capital b. human capital C. natural capital D. all of these
C. Natural capital
Which of these describes the relationship between natural and other types of capital? A. Natural capital cannot be valued so has no real benefits compared to built capital. B. Natural capital is in opposition to social capital. C. Natural capital interacts with human capital to provide benefits. D. All of these
C. Natural capital interacts with human capital to provide benefits.
Which of these is the best description of the importance of biodiversity to ecosystem services? A. Biodiversity makes products more varied but does not directly impact the supply and flow of ecosystem services arising from natural capital. B. Biodiversity can have negative impacts on ecosystem services when it is too high since competition among species can lead to extinction, decreasing natural capital stocks. C. Biodiversity does not have much of an effect on goods and services because increases in human and social capital have made up for declines in natural capital. D. Biodiversity increases the stability and abundance of our natural capital which leads to greater supply of ecosystem services.
D. Biodiversity increases the stability and abundance of our natural capital which leads to greater supply of ecosystem services.
What type of service are soil formation and nutrient cycling, which are necessary for production of all other ecosystem services? A. Provisioning ecosystem services. B. Regulating ecosystem services. C. Cultural ecosystem services. D. Supporting ecosystem services.
D. Supporting ecosystem services.
Which of these statements correctly describes an ecosystem service? A. Wind and water carry soil to new areas through erosion, a provisioning ecosystem service. B. Putting air conditioning in homes is an example of a cultural ecosystem service. C. Precipitation on hot days is a supporting ecosystem service. D. Wetlands provide protection against storm damage and floods, a regulating ecosystem service.
D. Wetlands provide protection against storm damage and floods, a regulating ecosystem service.
Describe the importance of forest resources in mitigating climate change
Forests store large amounts of Carbon - trees make up 90% of carbon sink for the US
The United Nations attributes climate change to which of these? A. human activity B. solar reflectivity C. UV rays D. all of these
Human Activity
Explain how ecosystem services arise from natural capital stocks
Ecosystem services consist of flows of materials, energy, and information from natural capital stocks which combine with manufactured and human capital services to produce human welfare.
Which of these is an example of carbon sequestration? A. carbon dioxide dissolving in ocean B. burning biofuels C. plants taking in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis D. insects breaking down carbohydrates in the soil E. all of these
Plants taking in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
Examples of Natural Capital
Trees, Minerals, ecosystems, the atmosphere, etc.
capital
a stock of materials or information that exists at a point in time all forms of capital generates, autonomously or in conjunction with services from other capital stocks
Regulating Services
benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem processes examples: Climate regulation, Disease regulation, Water regulation, Water purification, pollination
Provisioning Services
products obtained from ecosystems examples: Food, water, fuelwood, fiber, biochemicals, genetic resources
Name four places where carbon can be stored in terrestrial biomes
aboveground - leaves and stems long-lived products - wood (trees) and wood products soil - includes roots in the soil rocks - carbon in soil can turn into rocks
how is climate change is defined according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?
A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods - UNFCCC
carbon market (Cap and Trade)
A mechanism in which an emission allowance for CO2e is a traded commodity with a price set by forces of supply and demand.
Define Carbon Sequestration
A process where CO2 is pulled from the atmosphere and stored for a long period of time in various places in our environments
Name at least three ecosystem services provided by forests
Carbon sequestration, flood prevention, climate regulation, medicines, etc. They have high conservation value for number of threatened and endangered species and mitigating populations
According to Costanza et al., Global land use changes had what effect on ecosystem services in the time period between 1997 and 2011? A. Losses of ecosystem services valued in trillions of dollars/year. B. Minor decline in ecosystem services with values that were immeasurable. C. Positive overall gains in ecosystem services valued in hundreds of dollars/yr.
A. Losses of ecosystem services valued in trillions of dollars/year.
Which of these stores carbon? A. rocks and soil B. wood logs used in buildings C. aboveground plant matter such as stems and leaves D. all of these
All of these (rocks, soil, wood, above ground plant matter such as stems and leaves)
Which term best describes non-rival, non-excludable services? A. ecosystems B. public goods C. private commodities D. all of these
B. public goods
Describe the connection of biodiversity to ecosystem services
Biodiversity is the source of many ecosystem goods, such as food and genetic resources. Changes in biodiversity can influence the supply of ecosystem services.
Effects of deforestation
Deforestation accounts for approx. 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions also destroys habitats for dozens of species soil grows weaker loss of protections for erosion and flood control
Which of the following are examples of ecosystem services? A. Recreational opportunities B. Cleaner air C. Cleaner water D. Wildlife habitat E. All of the above
E. All of the Above - Recreational opportunities, cleaner air, cleaner water, wildlife habitat, etc
Cultural Services
Nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems examples: Spiritual and religious, Recreation and ecotourism, Aesthetic, Educational, Cultural heritage
What is the role that peat moss plays in carbon sequestration on a global scale?
Peat stores at least 1/3 of all carbon in terrestrial biomes
What ecosystem service is associated with regulating global temperature and precipitation?
Regulating Services
Which of these strategies leads to great levels of carbon sequestration and mitigates climate change? A. deforestation. B. converting forests to pasture. C. replanting trees on land that previously was forested. D. all of these
Replanting trees on land that perviously was forested
Which of these is the best way to maintain stored carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions? A. Manage forests intensively to increase growth rates. B. Manage forest stocks by selling wood for fuel. C. Use steel or concrete in place of wood for construction purposes D. Develop forests into agricultural settings where biofuels can be grown.
Use steel or concrete in place of wood for construction purposes
Which of these best describes the effect of global warming on peat moss populations? A. Warming melts permafrost where a high percentage of peat moss is found, releasing carbon dioxide and methane. B. Global warming increases the growth of peat bogs as there is greater energy for photosynthesis which results in greater carbon sequestration. C. There is no effect because they are far enough north to be protected by cool winters. D. All of these
Warming melts permafrost where a high percentage of peat moss is found, releasing carbon dioxide and methane
Evaluate the importance of assessing values to ecosystem services and describe how values might be determined
one way to think about the value of ecosystem services is to determine what it would cost to replicate them in a technologically produced, artificial biosphere. Experience with manned space missions and with Biosphere II in Arizona indicates that this is an exceedingly complex and expensive proposition. Biosphere I (the Earth) is a very efficient, least-cost provider of human life-support services. Some argue that valuation of ecosystems is either impossible or unwise, that we cannot place a value on such 'intangibles' as human life, environ- mental aesthetics, or long-term ecological benefits. the decisions we make as a society about ecosystems imply valuations
An important way to help landowners become active participants in mitigating climate change is by: A. supplying machinery for managing timber resources B. requiring them to register their land with the BLM C. providing financial incentives to protect their forests D. educating them about ecosystem services
providing financial incentives to protect their forests
Supporting Services
services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services examples: Soil formation, Nutrient cycling, Primary production
Define Ecosystem Services
the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems