Forest and rangelands

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

Overgrazing is public land by privately owned livestock is an example of

Tragedy of the commons

The widespread death of trees leads to a series of changes in a forest ecosystem. Identify TWO physical changes that occur in the forest ecosystem as the result of the death of mature trees. For each physical change you identify, describe an impact of that change on the forest ecosystem

-Habitat loss (loss of foliage, branches, physical structures provided by trees): Loss of biodiversity. -Increased flooding : Loss of nutrients (leaching).

The largest area of old growth forest in the US is located in A. Alaska B. Montana C. California D. North Carolina E. Michigan

A. Alaska

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. clearcutting old growth forest to allow for secondary succession C. Allowing Road building in wilderness areas so that older clear-cut forest have time to regenerate D. Logging on steep slopes designated wilderness areas E. Enforcing our provisions of the resource conservation and recovery act

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

Overgrazing is 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 statements best describes the concept of phytoremediation? A. The use of plants to absorb and accumulate toxic materials from the soil B. The concentration of toxic materials in the tissue of organisms as they move through successive trophies levels C. The breaking down of toxic materials in the natural environment by sunlight D. The remediation of an ecosystem degraded by human activities back to its original structure and composition E. The use of bacteria and other microorganism

A. The use of plants to absorb and accumulate toxic materials from the soil

in a typical forest ecosystem, dead trees and fallen trees are most important because of their role in which of the following? A. Providing valuable source of timber B. Providing habitat for wildlife C. Contributing to soil erosion D. Increasing water Runoff E. Removing carbon dioxide from the air

B. Providing habitat for wildlife

As the article states, the number of managed honeybee colonies has dropped significantly over the past few decades. Describe TWO specific economic consequences of the collapse of the managed honeybee colonies.

Consequence #1: Increased costs/prices Description: for food crops Consequence #2: Lower revenue/ sales Description: because of lower crop yields

Which of the following procedures would be best for remediation the effects of soil salinization? A. Application of broad spectrum biocides to kill microorganisms B. Application of super phosphate to increase soil fertility C. Addition of clay to increase soil water holding capacity D. Addition of large amounts of water to leach out salts E. Addition of time to raise soil pH

D. Addition of large amounts of water to leach out salts

Road construction, logging, and mining are banned in which of the following federal lands A. National parks B. National wildlife refuges C. National forests D. National wilderness preservation areas E. National resource areas

D. National wilderness preservation areas

A large forest is fragmented into small forest tracts separated by agricultural areas. This change will most likely lead to A. Increase in the population of top carnivores B. In 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

Which of the following is most likely to result from destruction of wetlands surrounding a river? A. A decreased sediment load in the river B. A decreased level of pollutants such as nitrates in the river C. An increased diversity of aquatic species in the river D. An increased level of oxygen in the river E. An increased frequency of flooding of the river valley

E. An increased frequency of flooding of the river valley

When logging is carried out in a watershed, a likely effect on the local streams is A. Mitigation of anoxia B. Decreased nutrient levels C. Decreased input of sediments D. Increased oligotrophic conditions E. Increased water temperature

E. Increased water temperature

Pollination by native insects is considered an ecosystem service. Identify a different ecosystem service and explain how that service benefits human society.

Fish, game, fruit, nuts • Source of food for hunters, gatherers, fishers. Soil formation, maintenance of soil nutrients • Reduces costs of fertilizer/soil amendment Genes for resistance to pathogens and crop pests • Reduces costs of pesticides. • Reduces use of fossil fuels.

) Reduced winter mortality of beetle larvae is likely a consequence of global climate change. Describe TWO ways that the activities of the beetles might enhance climate change

Less carbon dioxide is removed by trees (less photosynthesis/primary production/carbon sinks/carbon sequestration). • Higher levels of dead tree matter release more carbon dioxide through decomposition. • Burning of forests as a result of infestation (dead trees) releases carbon dioxide.

Provide one reason why fire-suppression policies lead to increased beetle activity

Suppression leads to increased numbers of trees/more food/denser forests. • Suppression allows weaker, more vulnerable trees that would have been weeded out by fire to survive. • Suppression leads to less diversity of tree species, so beetles spread more quickly between trees. • Suppression leads to equal/even-age stands of mature trees, which the beetles prefer