Environmental Geography Exam #3

Urban heat islands affect local air current and weather conditions including which of the following? 1) increased number of thunderstorms over cities in summer months 2) lingering dust domes over cities 3) stronger natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes 4) extreme cold temperatures in the winter and record-setting heat in summer a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4 e) 1 and 2

1 and 2. 1) increased number of thunderstorms over cities in summer months 2) lingering dust domes over cities

What is the success rate of reintroducing captive bred species into the wild?

10% or 1 out of 10.

Approximately ______ of the Earth's water is freshwater that can be readily used by humans and other terrestrial organisms. a) 0.1% b) 2.5% c) 10% d) 25% e) 50%

2.5%

What percentage of the U.S. population lives in cities? a) 25% b) 50% c) 83% d) 85% e) 100%

83%

What characteristic defines a megacity? a) a city that has more than 10 million inhabitants b) a city that grows by approximately 1,000 new immigrants each day from overpopulated rural areas c) a cluster of small or medium-sized cities, each with population of less than 1 million d) a suburban sprawl of developed suburbs e) a city that has over 100 high-rise buildings

A city that has more than 10 million inhabitants.

A brownfield is an urban area of a) vacant house lots that are overgrown with weeds and vegetation b) parking lot pavement that collects heat during the day and emits heat at night c) meadows that are earmarked for industrial development d) sports arenas for baseball, football, and soccer e) abandoned, vacant factories, warehouses, and residential sites that may be contaminated from past uses.

Abandoned, vacant factories, warehouses, and residential sites that may be contaminated from past uses.

About how many biological hotspots are there on earth?

About 34

Mexico City: a) is representative of urbanization in a developing country. b) is a good example of a megacity c) was one of the 10 largest cities in the world in 2005 d) had a population of 19.4 million in 2005 e) all of these choices are correct

All of these choices are correct.

Sustainable urban development, ideally, involves: a) green space b) recycling c) urban farmers d) solar energy e) all of these choices are correct

All of these choices are correct.

Which of the following affects organisms even in undisturbed, natural ecosystems? a) global warming b) ozone depletion c) acid precipitation d) thermal pollution e) all of these choices are correct

All of these choices are correct.

Which of the following have been linked to the dramatic global decline of amphibian populations? a) drainage of wetlands b) pollutants c) infectious diseases d) global climate warming e) all of these choices are correct

All of these choices are correct.

Which of the following is an example of a species that was threatened historically due to overexploitation? a) Guam Rail b) American Bison c) Brown Tree Snake d) Nutria e) Water Hyacinth

American Bison

Water problems are particularly severe in the: a) Pacific Northwest. b) American Southwest (Colorado River basin). c) High Plains. d) Gulf Coast states. e) Upper Midwest

American Southwest (Colorado River basin)

Which of the following does NOT describe Mono Lake, CA? a) the lake is naturally fed by rivers and streams originating the Sierra Nevada mountains b) evaporation is the only natural outflow from the lake c) water diversions to Los Angeles resulted in increasing lake salinity d) an agreement was reached to allow Mono Lake to return to its original volume e) the number of migratory birds on the lake's shores is expected to increase over the next decade

An agreement was reached to allow Mono Lake to return to its original volume.

Which of the following statements about tropical rain forests is false? a) Approximately 1% of tropical rain forests are being cleared or degraded every decade. b) Most species that live in tropical rain forests are endemic. c) The forest itself generates much of the rainfall in tropical rain forests. d) Tropical rain forests cover 7% of the Earth's surface and provide habitat for 50% of the Earth's species. e) Migratory birds that winter in tropical rain forests are declining.

Approximately 1% of tropical rain forests are being cleared or degraded every decade.

Unlike people who live in urban areas, people who live in rural areas: a) are employed in occupations which involve industrial labor b) are far more heterogeneous with respect to race c) are far more heterogeneous with respect to religion d) are generally younger than those in the surrounding cities e) are employed in occupations which involve harvesting natural resources

Are employed in occupations which involve harvesting natural resources.

Biodiversity hotspots: a) house only 10% of all species of vascular plants. b) are home to nearly 20% of the world's population. c)are all located in tropical regions. d) contain few endemic species. e) all of these choices are correct

Are home to nearly 20% of the world's population.

The geographic study of living organisms is ________. a) geomorphology b) biology c) phytology d) biogeography e) limnology

Biogeography

Compared to the others, which of the following is the "hardest to pin down"? a) atmosphere b) biosphere c) lithosphere d) hydrosphere e) magnetosphere

Biosphere

The current conflict between humans and elephants is based on: a) biotic pollution. b) over-hunting for ivory. c) water pollution. d) loss of habitat. e) both b and d

Both b and d. b) over-hunting for ivory d) loss of habitat

Which of the following is a disadvantage of restoration ecology? a) high cost b) long time periods required for restoration to occur c) lack of positive results in habitats such as Tallgrass Prairie d) Both high cost and the long time periods required for restoration to occur are disadvantages e) all of these choices are correct

Both high cost and the long time periods required for restoration to occur are disadvantages.

The effects of flooding are more destructive today than in the past because: a) the use of levees has been determined to be an unsound engineering practice. b) retaining walls are too expensive to build in all of the appropriate locations. c) buildings are constructed on flood plains. d) soil with plant cover is ineffective in absorbing excess water. e) roads and buildings effectively absorb and slow water flow.

Buildings are constructed on flood plains.

Know at least 2 different biodiversity hotspots.

California Florsitic Province Leuser Ecosystems Amazon Rainforest

Humans depend on other organisms for all of the following requirements except: a) carbon dioxide. b) food. c) shelter. d) medicines. e) clothing.

Carbon Dioxide

Future climate change will likely: a) have no effect on precipitation. b) cause an increase in precipitation. c) cause a decrease in precipitation. d) cause an increase in precipitation in some areas and a decrease in others. e) cause extreme droughts throughout all of North America

Cause an increase in precipitation in some areas and a decrease in others.

Give an example of a "smart growth" city.

Celebration, Florida

Which of the following are NOT environmental problems commonly associated with urban areas? a) brownfields b) compact development c) dust domes d) urban heat islands e) all of these choices are correct

Compact Development.

Before attempting a reintroduction of captive-bred animals into the wild, biologists must a) restore disturbed lands to create appropriate biological habitat. b) teach social skills to animals in the wild for acceptance of captive-bred animals. c) determine what factors originally caused the species to become endangered. d) identify and locate biodiversity hotspots. e) artificially inseminate the captive-bred animals.

Determine what factors originally caused the species to become endangered.

A species in imminent danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range is said to be: a) endemic. b) commercially extinct. c) endangered. d) threatened. e) invasive.

Endangered

TRUE OR FALSE: An ice floe is a rugged piece of ice broken off a larger body of ice.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE: Ice has the important characteristic of being less dense than liquid water.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE: Most freshwater lakes have but one surface outlet.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE: Of the ice found in the cryosphere the portion of ice on water is larger than that ice found on land.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE: The Atlantic is the largest ocean in the world.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE: The melting of permafrost has no effect on lakes or buildings.

FALSE

What is a food desert?

Geographical location without fresh foods or farmers markets.

There are 2 examples of success stories for species we have saved from extinction... Which 2 did we mention in class?

Giant Panda White Rhino

Which of the following storage locations contains the most water? a) glaciers b) underground water c) non-oceanic, liquid surface water d) atmospheric water e) soil moisture

Glaciers

Be able to list at least 4 endangered species. (use examples from lecture!)

Golden Toad Spix Macaw Rabbs Legged Tree Frog Dodo Bird

Designing and constructing buildings that are energy efficient, economical, and made of recycled materials, is a trend called: a) friendly construction. b) green architecture. c) environmental building. d) passive design. e) ecology construction.

Green Architecture.

The single greatest threat to biological diversity is: a) the introduction of foreign species. b) air pollution. c) overexploitation. d) habitat loss e) water pollution.

Habitat Loss

Insects are an important biological resource because they: a) fix nitrogen in the soil. b) help control weeds and insect pests. c) help control the severity of local flooding. d) prevent soil erosion. e) produce antibiotics.

Help control weeds and insect pests.

Most species facing extinction today are threatened because of: a) living in biodiversity hotspots. b) changing climate. c) the recent impact of a large comet. d) large quantities of dust in the atmosphere. e) human activity.

Human Activity

Organisms that provide an early warning of environmental damage are known as: a) endemic species. b) endangered species. c) threatened species. d) indicator species. e) commercial species

Indicator Species

The greatest use of fresh water is for: a) irrigation. b) industry. c) small businesses. d) homes. e) mining.

Irrigation

Urbanization: a) is growing more quickly in developing countries than in developed countries. b) currently accounts for housing about 75% of the global population. c) results in fewer employment opportunities in developed countries as compared to rural areas. d) refers to the migration of city people to the country to enjoy country living. e) describes a grouping of 10,000 or more individuals.

Is growing more quickly in developing countries than in developed countries.

Know the 6 important properties of water.

Liquidity Ice Expansion Surface Tension Capillarity Solvent Ability Specific Heat

Which of the following statements concerning urbanization is not correct? a) urban and rural areas often have different proportions of males and females. b) To urban ecologists technology refers to human inventions that directly affect the urban environment c) Most workers in cities in the United States have to commute only one or two miles from home to work. d) Growing urban areas impact land-use patterns and water drainage. e) Factories and commercial enterprises in urban areas cause a buildup of airborne emissions.

Most workers in cities in the United States have to commute only one or two miles from home to work.

Know the invasive and native species of plants we mentioned in Chpt. 16

Native Species: Coast Live Oak Sage Scrub Manzanita Jeffrey Pines Joshua Tree California Washingtonia Invasive Species: King Palm Trees Ice Plant Mexican Fan Palms Arrundo Donax Yellow Star Thistle

Which of the following countries does NOT face significant water supply challenges? a) United States b) Iraq c) China d) Mexico e) None; all of these countries face water supply challenges.

None; all of these countries face water supply challenges.

Most of Earth's water is stored ________. a) on the surface in liquid form b) in gaseous form c) on the surface in solid form d) underground in liquid form e) as capillary water in the soil

On the surface in solid form.

Why is the Lueser Ecosystem threatened?

Palm Oil Plantations

Which of the following medicinal plants is correctly matched with its benefit to humans? a) Horehound: AIDS treatment b) Periwinkle: Cancer therapy c) Quinoa: Antiviral drug d) Winged beans: Diabetes treatment e) Cherry: Birth-control potential

Periwinkle: Cancer Therapy

Urban ecologists study urban trends and patterns in the context of four variables (POET) referring to: a) pollution, opportunity, emigration, and transportation b) population, organization, environment, and technology c) pain & suffering, overt crime rate, employment, and trades d) poverty, overcrowding, education, and traffic e) politics, options, ecosystems, and travel

Population, Organization, Environment, and Technology.

All of the following are ecological benefits of habitat corridors EXCEPT: a) facilitating exchange of genetic material among populations b) increasing the probability that suitable habitat will be recolonized after a local population goes extinct c) preventing the spread of disease among populations d) providing access to more food resources e) reducing encounters with humans

Preventing the spread of disease among populations.

Which of the following is the most effective way to reduce flood-related damage? a) creating exposed, barren hillsides by clear cutting woodlands b) constructing new buildings c) building expensive levees d) restricting development on flood plains e) paving new roads

Restricting development on flood plains.

Saltwater and saline groundwater can be made drinkable by a process called: a) trickle irrigation. b) reverse osmosis. c) boiling. d) salinization. e) osmosis.

Reverse Osmosis

Which of the following is a mismatch between the animal poached and the highly valued black-market product? a) rhinoceros - liver b) elephants-ivory c) tigers-meat d) turtles-shells e) birds - pets

Rhinoceros - liver

Excessive removal of groundwater can result in: a) rising water tables. b) sinkhole formation. c) groundwater desalinization. d) increased discharge to streams. e) all of these choices are correct

Sinkhole Formation

A patchwork of vacant and developed tracts around the edges of cities that contain a low population density is considered: a) smart growth b) sustainable development c) green architecture d) suburban sprawl e) compact development

Suburban Sprawl.

TRUE OR FALSE: A lake is a body of water surrounded by land.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Oceans can absorb a great deal of atmospheric CO2.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Oceans can absorb ½- 1/3 of carbon created by humans.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Oceans receive less moisture from precipitation than they lose through evaporation.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: The thawing of permafrost will lead to increasing decomposition of organic matter and the ultimate release of methane gas into the atmosphere.

TRUE

A flood plain describes the area bordering a river channel __________. a) where no building construction is allowed b) that is likely to flood c) that is flooded after a dam is constructed d) where periodic floods remove nutrients from the soil e) where plant cover should be removed to reduce flooding

That is likely to flood.

What is the hydrologic cycle powered by?

The sun.

Which of the following statements about amphibians is true? a) Amphibians are represented by about 500 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders. b) Populations of amphibians in a few local areas have declined dramatically in the last few decades. c) Amphibians lay their eggs in dry, sandy areas close to a source of water. d) Their moist, absorptive skin makes amphibians very susceptible to environmental contaminants. e) Scientists increasingly perceive amphibians to be fair-weather species.

Their moist, absorptive skin makes amphibians very susceptible to environmental contaminants.

The process in which people increasingly move from rural areas to densely populated cities is termed: a) high density accommodation b) rural redistribution c) urbanization d) metropolitan relocation e) municipality magnetism

Urbanization

Which of the following is not characteristic of species that are vulnerable to extinction? I. endemic to islands II. high reproductive rates III. low reproductive success IV. occupation of a large territory or region a) I b) II c) III d) IV e) I and III

b) II II. High reproductive rates.