ENV Exam 1: What is the Environment?

Why are there so few ecosystems with more than four levels of consumers? A) Biomass decreases by about 90% at each trophic level, moving upward. B) Top consumers compete with and kill each other with increasing population size. C) Consumers at these highest trophic levels typically form social groups that stop reproducing at high densities. D) Predators at the highest trophic levels simply are not intelligent enough to hunt other top predators.

A) Biomass decreases by about 90% at each trophic level, moving upward.

________ play a crucial role in returning nutrients essential for plant growth directly to the soil. A) Chemical decomposers B) Herbivores C) Scavenging decomposers D) Producers

A) Chemical decomposers

Which of the following lumber harvesting strategies will most likely produce erosion problems? A) Clear-cutting B) Selective cutting C) Shelter-wood cutting D) Sustainable forest management

A) Clear-cutting

Which of the following industries is most responsible for deforestation in the world? A) Farming for animal and crop production B) Housing construction C) The lumber millsand wood pulp manufacturing D) Hydroelectric plants

A) Farming for animal and crop production

Despite a worldwide moratorium on whale hunting by the International Whaling Commission, A) Norway, Japan, and Iceland have continued to hunt whales. B) most nations of the world now permit the hunting of whales. C) whale meat is now more popular than ever in Japan and China. D) the impact of whales on commercial wild fish populations requires whale hunting worldwide.

A) Norway, Japan, and Iceland have continued to hunt whales.

Which of the following organisms is most likely a K-strategist? A) Oak trees B) Bacteria C) Bullfrog D) Fruit flies

A) Oak trees

In a deep-water marine food web that includes large populations of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and many species of carnivorous fish, what would happen if the populations of all species of phytoplankton decreased suddenly by 80% and stayed low for several years? A) The fish and zooplankton populations would decrease. B) The zooplankton populations would decrease but not the fish populations. C) The zooplankton populations would increase but not the fish populations. D) The fish and zooplankton populations would increase.

A) The fish and zooplankton populations would decrease.

Which region of the U.S. has the most protected lands? A) Western B) Eastern C) Southern D) Midwest

A) Western

Bison grazing on grasses growing in a meadow represent A) a consumer eating a producer. B) a predator eating a consumer. C) anaerobic metabolism. D) two producers exchanging energy.

A) a consumer eating a producer.

Nina got a new baby turtle from a friend and is told to feed it worms. For the first few months, the turtle seemed to grow well. But as time passed, the turtle's shell appeared soft and fragile. Someone suggested that the turtle might not be getting enough calcium in its diet. If this is true for this turtle, dietary calcium is A) a limiting factor. B) an environmental condition. C) a habitat condition. D) a natural environmentalstressor.

A) a limiting factor.

Some birds consume certain soils in what is called geophagy. In some cases, the soils help the birds digest toxins that occur in their diets. These birds eating soil represent a member of the A) biosphere consuming a component of the lithosphere. B) hydrosphere consuming a component of the atmosphere. C) lithosphere consuming a component of the biosphere. D) atmosphere consuming a component of the hydrosphere.

A) biosphere consuming a component of the lithosphere.

Biodiversity in the world is A) declining and is most negatively impacting the poorest people of the world. B) declining and is most negatively impacting the wealthiest people of the world. C) increasing in tropical regions but declining in temperate and polar regions D) decreasing in tropical regions but increasing in temperate and tropical regions

A) declining and is most negatively impacting the poorest people of the world.

Most of the energy captured by photosynthesis is stored in chemical bonds in A) glucose. B) oxygen. C) carbon dioxide. D) water.

A) glucose.

A population would be expected to grow if A) immigration increased and deaths and emigration decreased. B) immigration and emigration increased by the same number of organisms. C) emigration and death rates stayed the same and immigration decreased. D) births decreased by 1% and emigration increased by 8%.

A) immigration increased and deaths and emigration decreased.

Burning fossil fuels, cutting down large forests, and not replanting the areas with trees will affect the global carbon cycle by A) increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide. B) decreasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide. C) increasing the geological production of fossil fuels. D) increasing levels of nitrification and reduce acid rain.

A) increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide.

Species are most likely to be conserved by humans if they have A) instrumental value. B) institutional value. C) intrinsic value. D) aesthetic value.

A) instrumental value.

The total allowable catch of a marine fish used for human food would be determined by calculating the A) maximum sustainable yield. B) minimum sustainable yield. C) maximum consumptive use. D) carrying capacity of all species in the environment.

A) maximum sustainable yield.

Almost all of the threats to biodiversity represented by the acronym HIPPO are related to the A) overpopulation of the world by humans. B) overuse of pesticides and herbicides. C) introduction of exotic species to new parts of the world. D) reliance upon fossil fuels to power human societies.

A) overpopulation of the world by humans.

Many predator-prey relationships do not result in the complete elimination of the prey because A) predators cannot catch all of the healthy adults and will shift to other prey if one species is scarce. B) the predator population is limited by the availability of territorial space. C) a single species of prey does not provide enough nutrition. D) the prey populations are always far below carrying capacity.

A) predators cannot catch all of the healthy adults and will shift to other prey if one species is scarce.

Humans often manipulate the environment in ways that decrease the overall ecosystem capital because A) short-term gains are often local, while long-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced regionally. B) short-term gains are often regional, while long-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced locally. C) long-term gains are often local, while short-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced regionally. D) long-term gains are often regional, while short-term losses in regulating and culturalservices are experienced locally.

A) short-term gains are often local, while long-term losses in regulating and cultural services are experienced regionally.

One of the results of humans continuing to convert ecosystems to more direct human uses is that A) the benefits are experienced locally while the losses are experienced regionally or globally. B) the human uses are much more productive than the natural systems. C) ecosystems function best when they aremanaged by humans for human uses. D) humans can redirect natural systems to more sustainable systems.

A) the benefits are experienced locally while the losses are experienced regionally or globally.

It is common to hear about the huge reproductive potential of some organisms. For example, if all of the eggs of houseflies were to survive to maturity, the world would soon be covered in flies. This scenario does nothappen on Earth because A) the biotic potential would be limited by environmental resistance. B) the biotic potential would continue to increase. C) environmental resistance would increase, increasing the carrying capacity. D) house flies would find it too difficult to locate a potential mate.

A) the biotic potential would be limited by environmental resistance.

One of the greatest human impacts on natural ecosystems results from A) the disruption of natural biogeochemical cycles. B) the generation of electricity from nuclear energy. C) the use of our oceans for shipping and transportation. D) the use of the sun and wind to generate electricity.

A) the disruption of natural biogeochemical cycles.

In general, the optimal population for harvesting A) the maximum sustainable yield is at about half of the carrying capacity of the population. B) the maximum sustainable yield is at about 90% of the carrying capacity of the population. C) a plant population is quite different from the optimal population for harvesting animals. D) any organism is independent of the carrying capacity of the environment.

A) the maximum sustainable yield is at about half of the carrying capacity of the population.

Increases in ocean temperatures often result in coral bleaching, in which A) the symbiotic relationship between corals and their algae is disrupted. B) the calcium carbonate of corals is dissolved away, leaving only the soft animals behind. C) the water becomes so cloudy that no light can reach the symbiotic algae in corals. D) high levels of chlorine are released from the corals, killing the fish that swim by.

A) the symbiotic relationship between corals and their algae is disrupted.

The oxygen released from photosynthesis came from A) the water used in photosynthesis. B) the carbon dioxide used in photosynthesis. C) oxygenin the air. D) glucose.

A) the water used in photosynthesis.

We would expect populations in undisturbed natural communities with high biodiversity A) to be near their carrying capacity. B) to have exceeded their biotic potential. C) to have grown beyond all types of environmental resistance. D) to be characterized by high emigration and low recruitment.

A) to be near their carrying capacity.

In general, K-strategists have a A) type I survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type III survivorship pattern. B) type II survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type I survivorship pattern. C) type II survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type III survivorship pattern. D) typeIII survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type II survivorship pattern.

A) type I survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type III survivorship pattern.

In general, K-strategists have a A) type I survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type III survivorship pattern. B) type II survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type I survivorship pattern. C) typeII survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type III survivorship pattern. D) type III survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type II survivorship pattern.

A) type I survivorship pattern, and r-strategists have a type III survivorship pattern.

A poacher kills polar bears in Alaska and ships their skins to buyers in Asia. The poacher is most likely in violation of laws that come from the A) Endangered Species Coalition and the Animal Protection Institute. B) Endangered Species Act and CITES. C) National Wildlife Association and Audubon Society. D) World Wildlife Fund and the Alaska Wildlife Alliance.

B) Endangered Species Act and CITES.

Care and proper management of the world's biomes are necessary to maintain sustainability. However, some ecosystems are in better condition than others. Which one of the following regions appears to be healthiest and best managed today? A) Tropical forests in South America B) Forests in the United States C) Coral reefs throughout the world D) Mangroves in southeast Asia

B) Forests in the United States

In a mature forest in a national park, maple trees grow very large and live more than 80 years. Over an average lifetime, a tree produces more than 100,000 seeds, of which only 2 to 3 sprout and grow to maturity. This maple tree is A) K-selected and exhibits a type I survivorship curve. B) K-selected and exhibits a type III survivorship curve. C) r-selected and exhibits a type I survivorship curve. D) r-selected and exhibits a type III survivorship curve.

B) K-selected and exhibits a type III survivorship curve.

Passed in 1900, the most significant domestic legislation to protect wildlife from illegal killing or sale is the A) Endangered Species Act. B) Lacey Act. C) Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act. D) Wildlife Protection Act.

B) Lacey Act.

Which of the following is an example of natural goods from an ecosystem? A) Pollination B) Ocean fish netted for food C) Control of pest populations D) Carbon sequestration

B) Ocean fish netted for food

At the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, the loss of coastal wetlands due to human activities contributed to storm damage caused by recent severe hurricanes. This loss of coastal wetlands therefore represents A) an increase of natural goods. B) a loss of provisioning services. C) a long-term regional benefit to humans. D) a long-term economic benefit to humans

B) a loss of provisioning services.

To feed its young, an owl captures mice that eat grains. The owl also eats small snakes that feed on these mice. The diet of owls represents the roles of A) a first order and second order consumer. B) a second and third order consumer. C) an herbivore and a carnivore. D) a producer and a consumer.

B) a second and third order consumer.

The greatest potential for sustainable growth in fisheries is in A) the major rivers of the world. B) aquaculture. C) freshwater capture fisheries. D) saltwater capture fisheries.

B) aquaculture.

In an ecosystem with many similar species, we typically find A) low levels of interspecific competition, mostly for food. B) competitors using different resources to minimize interspecific competition. C) intense interspecific competition mostly for suitable habitats. D) adaptations for battles and intraspecific competition.

B) competitors using different resources to minimize interspecific competition.

The continuing addition of large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus to aquatic ecosystems may exceed planetary boundaries and create a "tipping point" in which A) nitrogen and phosphorus are depleted from soils. B) high nitrogen and phosphorus levels cause aquatic ecosystems to change in ways difficult to reverse and that are damaging to human food production. C) these ecosystems produce far more human food than ever before. D) water is lost from these systems, and they become deserts.

B) high nitrogen and phosphorus levels cause aquatic ecosystems to change in ways difficult to reverse and that are damaging to human food production.

The light bleached color of dying coral in marine ecosystems is most likely the result of A) exposure to increased levels of sunlight. B) increased ocean temperatures. C) increased pH of the ocean. D) shifts in ocean currents.

B) increased ocean temperatures.

Someone who argues that every species has a right to exist, undisturbed, on this planet is arguing for the A) institutional value of life. B) intrinsic value of life. C) finite value of life. D) economic value of life.

B) intrinsic value of life.

Endemic species are A) well-established and show the least risk of extinction. B) limited to just one location, such as an island. C) widely distributed, found especially on large continents. D) usually the dominant species within an ecosystem.

B) limited to just one location, such as an island.

A population of bullfrogs in a pond produces many thousands of eggs each spring that hatch out into tadpoles. However, only about 1% of the tadpoles survive to reproduce. This population of frogs is experiencing A) low environmental resistance. B) low levels of recruitment. C) unlimited population growth. D) exponential growth.

B) low levels of recruitment.

Even-aged and uneven-aged management are used in A) the lobster industry. B) silviculture. C) fishing industries. D) habitat restoration.

B) silviculture.

The cutting of large trees in a natural forest and subsequent sale of the logs for timber, is an example of A) the consumptive use of a natural resource. B) the productive use of a natural resource. C) theminimum sustainable yield of a resource. D) the carrying capacity of a population.

B) the productive use of a natural resource.

Over the last 90 years in the United States, A) the total area of forests has been reduced by about 90%. B) the total area of forests has increased in size. C) most national forests have been clear-cut and converted to agriculture. D) most national forests have been replaced by commercial development.

B) the total area of forests has increased in size.

A keystone species A) has a disproportionately large impact on the stability of an ecosystem. B) typically reduces overall biodiversity of an ecosystem. C) is typically an herbivore. D) is an example of amensalism

B) typically reduces overall biodiversity of an ecosystem.

You want to have the best outdoor experience possible, experiencing life in the least disturbed ecosystems in the United States. The best place to visit would be a A) state park with camping and RV facilities. B) wilderness area of a national forest or park. C) military property with some natural habitats. D) wildlife refuge adjacent to a large urban community.

B) wilderness area of a national forest or park.

If a deer population is 4,500 individuals, how many can you harvest without going below the optimal population size? A) 4,000 B) 3,000 C) 2,250 D) 1,500

C) 2,250

Which one of the following best illustrates consumptive use of a resource? A) A farmer raises 1,000 acres of soybeans in Illinois. B) A fishing vessel hauls in 100 tons of tuna for sale on the open market. C) A farmer in Indiana shoots a wild turkey for his Thanksgiving dinner. D) A shrimp farm in Thailand raises shrimp to sell in China.

C) A farmer in Indiana shoots a wild turkey for his Thanksgiving dinner.

Which of the following human activities has resulted in the conversion of nearly 50% of the Earth's land surface? A) Construction of roads and bridges B) Construction of all homes and buildings C) Agricultural production of crop and animal products D) Construction and operation of mines

C) Agricultural production of crop and animal products

If you find yourself standing in an oak-hickory forest in southern Michigan, what you see around you represents a good example of a A) biotic community. B) species. C) biome. D) landscape housing several ecosystems.

C) Biome

Which one of the following statements about the carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen cycles is true? A) The major source of carbon used by plants is the carbonate rocks and soil. B) The major source of nitrogen used by plants in photosynthesis is the atmosphere. C) Phosphorus has no atmospheric component. D) Soil bacteria drive the phosphorus cycle.

C) Phosphorus has no atmospheric component.

In logistic growth (an S-shaped curve), how does the population growth rate change as the population nears its carrying capacity? A) Population growth rate increases. B) Population growth rate remains steady. C) Population growth rate decreases. D) The population typically crashes when a population nears its carrying capacity.

C) Population growth rate decreases.

In 1968, Garret Hardin described an environmental problem in which shared environmental resources may be depleted as individuals try to maximize their gains by disproportionately using the resource. He called this "The Tragedy of the Commons." Which of the following threats to biodiversity best reflect this "Tragedy of the Commons"? A) The appearance of many deformed frogs from overuse of herbicides B) The accidental introduction of invasive species into North America C) The decline of fish populations due to overexploitation D) The fragmentation of natural habitat to build bridges and highways

C) The decline of fish populations due to overexploitation

The biodiversity and productivity or coral reefs is most similar to that of A) desert environments. B) a natural prairie. C) tropical rain forests. D) a river system.

C) Tropical rain forests

A grasshopper population in a prairie is limited in large part by the number of birds in the region. Following a hurricane that killed many of the birds, the grasshopper population exhibits exponential growth. This happens because the grasshoppers experienced A) a new biotic potential with steady environmental resistance. B) a new much lower biotic potential with decreased environmental resistance. C) a steady biotic potential but suddenly decreased environmental resistance. D) a decreased biotic potential and decreased environmental resistance.

C) a steady biotic potential but suddenly decreased environmental resistance.

Density-independent factors such as earthquakes and hurricanes are A) abiotic factors that maintain a population near equilibrium. B) biotic factors that maintain a population near equilibrium. C) abiotic factors that are not involved in maintaining a population near its equilibrium. D) biotic factors that are not involved in maintaining a population near its equilibrium.

C) abiotic factors that are not involved in maintaining a population near its equilibrium.

A reverse biomass pyramid is typical of A) terrestrial ecosystems because of the high concentration of sunlight. B) terrestrial ecosystems because land can support more animals than water. C) aquatic ecosystems because top consumers reproduce much more slowly and live much longer than producers. D) aquatic ecosystems because water contains much more oxygen than air.

C) aquatic ecosystems because top consumers reproduce much more slowly and live much longer than producers.

The search is on as the evidence from ethnobotany reveals the genetic potential of wild plants to produce chemicals of medical significance. The scientists exploring the medicinal use of plants by indigenous peoples throughout the world are engaged in A) bioengineering. B) transnational corporations. C) bioprospecting. D) creating seed banks.

C) bioprospecting.

The maximum sustainable yield for most populations must be recalculated every year because A) commercial demand for the product is variable. B) the cost of producing products depends upon varying costs of labor. C) changing environmental conditions produce variations in carrying capacity. D) carrying capacities show large fluctuations even in stable environments.

C) changing environmental conditions produce variations in carrying capacity.

Along the shoreline of a pond, Canadian geese, American toads, and grass frogs search for food while bluegill and bass prey on small fish in the shallow water. Thesespecies, living and feeding in this particular location, represent one A) species. B) population. C) community. D) ecosystem.

C) community.

Many Thailand shrimp farms have been built in mangrove wetlands. Therefore, overall, the ecosystem capital in this particular region has A) increased because of the investment in this shrimp industry. B) increased because the shrimp farm decreases the need to harvest wild populations of shrimp. C) decreased because the value of the shrimp farm is less than 10% of the value of services provided by the intact mangrove wetland. D) decreased because on average, the shrimp farm provides more valuable services than the original wetland for only 50 years.

C) decreased because the value of the shrimp farm is less than 10% of the value of services provided by the intact mangrove wetland.

Some beetles escape from a ship and fly to a small island covered with grass but with no trees or beetle predators. As the beetles feed, they destroy all the grasses. But with abundantfood, the beetle population soars, doubling in size every month. After about a year, the population crashes as thousands of beetles have destroyed almost all of the plants and there is little left to feed the large population. This scenario best illustrates A) constant growth followed by equilibrium. B) a population that has stabilized near its carrying capacity. C) exponential growth followed by a population crash. D) the fact that the beetles have strong competition from other species for food supply.

C) exponential growth followed by a population crash.

Compared to the evolutionary long-term historical average rate of extinction, extinction rates today are A) lower. B) about the same. C) higher. D) changing from higher to lower rates in the past century.

C) higher.

Domestic and feral house cats in the United States A) are a keystone species, controlling potentially huge populations of rodents. B) provide the necessary population control for pigeons, starlings, and cowbirds. C) kill more than one billion small mammals and birds annually. D) spread viral infections to native carnivores.

C) kill more than one billion small mammals and birds annually.

Biodiversity in extensive dead zones of both freshwater and marine ecosystems is mainly caused by pollution from A) endocrine (hormone) disruptors. B) DDT. C) nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients used in agriculture. D) untreated sewage from most large U.S. cities.

C) nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients used in agriculture.

Only about 30 species have recovered significantly enough to be removed from the Endangered Species List. Recovery to this extent is limited because A) the regulations protecting the species do not extend to private landowners. B) hunting of protected species often continues even after the organisms are listed. C) populations are already low and at high risk by the time they are listed. D) protecting the habitat of an endangered species is not as critical as once assumed.

C) populations are already low and at high risk by the time they are listed.

The separate feeding locations of five warbler species on different portions of the same tree illustrates the principle of A) biotic transformation. B) competitive exclusion. C) resource partitioning. D) top-down population regulation.

C) resource partitioning.

Most coral reefs are located in shallow water that is no more than 75 meters deep because below this depth, A) water temperatures are too cold. B) water currents are too fast. C) sunlight levels are too low. D) there is not enough oxygen.

C) sunlight levels are too low.

Invasive species are dangerous because A) they are almost all predators, disturbing ecological relationships by eating other species. B) they carry viruses that spread disease in new ecosystems. C) the native species have not evolved with and adapted to these organisms. D) they tend to be secretive, going unnoticed in their new ecosystems

C) the native species have not evolved with and adapted to these organisms.

The greatest loss of biodiversity in the last two centuries has resulted from A) the introduction of alien species to new ecosystems. B) the use of fossil fuels to power transportation and electrical production. C) the physical alteration of habitats. D) the use of rivers, lakes, and oceans for transportation.

C) the physical alteration of habitats.

Primary productivity of the open oceans is very limited because of A) the shortage of water. B) the shortage of light. C) the shortage of nutrients. D) low temperature.

C) the shortage of nutrients.

Many ecosystems are damaged by attempts to make a quick profit because A) natural services are valued more than natural goods. B) ecosystemservices require sustained human development. C) the value of ecosystem services is poorly understood and underappreciated. D) the prices of most natural goods continue to fall.

C) the value of ecosystem services is poorly understood and underappreciated.

Which one of the following illustrates interspecific competition? A) The largest wolves in a pack are the first to feed on a freshly killed deer. B) Two honeybees from the same colony converge on a flower to collect pollen and nectar. C) Advertising its nectar with red colors, a columbine flower attracts a hummingbird for a meal. D) Caterpillars of two different species of moth are feeding on the same plant's leaves.

D) Caterpillars of two different species of moth are feeding on the same plant's leaves.

Sumatran rhino populations have declined steadily to a point near extinction. Because of its population decline, this unusual forest-dwelling rhino is near its A) carrying capacity and is officially listed as threatened. B) carrying capacity and is officially listed as endangered. C) critical number and is officially listed as threatened. D) critical number and is officially listed as endangered.

D) Critical number and is officially listed as endangered.

Resources for seagulls living along an ocean shore would include A) shifting tides. B) ocean temperature. C) the strength and direction of the wind. D) nesting sites.

D) Nesting sites

Which of the following are products of photosynthesis? A) Carbon dioxide and water B) Water and oxygen C) Light and heat D) Oxygen and glucose

D) Oxygen and glucose

The application of the precautionary principle to a commercial fishery whose primary catch species is in decline would result in A) many years in which no fish are harvested at all. B) anoptimal population size that is just about the maximum sustainable yield. C) a total allowable catch above the best estimate of the maximum sustainable yield. D) a total allowable catch below the best estimate of the maximum sustainable yield.

D) a total allowable catch below the best estimate of the maximum sustainable yield.

A large oak tree with its abundant leaves glimmering in the sun on an early fall morning represents A) a heterotrophic producer. B) an autotrophic consumer. C) a heterotrophic consumer. D) an autotrophic producer.

D) an autotrophic producer.

Invasive species have been A) hunted to extinction in most places where they occur. B) successfully controlled in most regions using predators, viral agents, or bacterial agents. C) successfully controlled by the introduction of other alien species that are natural competitors. D) an ecological problem in North America since the first European colonists arrived.

D) an ecological problem in North America since the first European colonists arrived.

In general, coral reef ecosystems globally A) provide very little ecosystem capital. B) are in critical condition in the Caribbean, but healthy elsewhere. C) recover quickly from human-caused damage because corals grow quickly. D) are sensitive to pollution, physical breakage, and invasive species.

D) are sensitive to pollution, physical breakage, and invasive species.

The acronym HIPPO identifies the five major factors contributing to extinction today. These are A) humans, invasive species, periodic climate changes, pollution, and overexploitation. B) hunting, immigration, people, population, and outsourcing. C) housing, immigration, people, pollution, and overproduction. D) habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, population growth, and overexploitation.

D) habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, population growth, and overexploitation.

Energy transfer between trophic levels in aquatic systems is generally A) lessefficient than terrestrial food pyramids. B) less efficient than a detritus food web because aquatic systems lack fungi. C) inverted, in which more energy is transferred from one trophic level up to the next. D) more efficient than terrestrial food pyramids.

D) more efficient than terrestrial food pyramids.

The last 50 years of declining productivity of the commercial fish populations off the northeast coast of North America reveal the impact of A) air pollution on fish populations. B) water pollution from sewage and fertilizers on fish populations. C) global climate change on fish populations. D) overfishing.

D) overfishing.

The main instrumental value of biological diversity is the A) ability of organisms to adapt to fluctuations in their natural environments. B) ability of natural ecosystems to respond to natural disasters. C) joy that humans gain from their beauty in nature. D) potential for new types of animals and plants that can be used by humans.

D) potential for new types of animals and plants that can be used by humans.

Living organisms draw their essential elements from A) the atmosphere. B) the lithosphere. C) the atmosphere and lithosphere. D) the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.

D) the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.

Biogeochemical cycles involve A) only biological processes. B) heat loss from both respiration and photosynthesis. C) only geological and chemical processes. D) the cyclic movement of materials through all planetary ecosystems.

D) the cyclic movement of materials through all planetary ecosystems.