Exam 3 questions

Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

1-A system is a network of relationships among various components. 2-In a dynamic equilibrium, system processes move in opposing directions to balance their effects. 3-A system in homeostasis is not able to maintain constant (stable) internal conditions. 4-A system with emergent properties has characteristics that are not evident in the components alone. Answer-3

Why have nuclear power plants not been popular in the United States?

1-Fears about accidents or sabotage 2-Storage of nuclear waste is still not solved 3-High costs of building and maintaining plants 4-All are issues regarding nuclear energy 4

Which of the following is an interesting future biofuel?

Algae

Which of the following is NOT a way to decrease hypoxia?

Apply fertilizer during spring rains

Conventional alternative fuels:

Are intermediate sources of fuel that can help us on our path towards sustainability

Which of the following forms of hydropower is least environmentally destructive?

Bend-of-river approach

What is the definition of secondary production?

Biomass generated by heterotrophs from consuming autotrophs

Which biogeochemical cycle uses photosynthesis and respiration to cycle its atoms?

Carbon

________ is the world's most populous nation, home to ________ of the people living on Earth.

China; one-fifth

Ethanol in the United States is made mainly from ______, and is used to ______.

Corn, drive cars

Which of the following is a correct statement?

Energy flows in one direction, while matter recycles

Describe the relationship between population growth rates and population size.

Falling growth rates does not mean a smaller population, but that rates of increase are slowing.

What happens during the "transitional" stageof the demographic transition?

High birth rates with low death rates - population increases

Where is the highest density of people found?

In temperate or tropical biomes

An age structure diagram shaped like a pyramid, with a wide base shows an ________ population.

Increasing

Which of the following describes a negative feedback loop?

It stabilizes the system

If ethanol in the United States continues to be produced from corn, a drawback suggested from this graph could be:

More competition between food and fuel

Which biogeochemical cycle is being affected by increased fertilizer production through the Haber-Bosch process?

Nitrogen

The reaction that drives the release of energy in today's nuclear power plants is:

Nuclear fission

Which of the following ecosystem services do you think is the most important?

Providing services such as water purification Providing goods such as food Enhancing the quality of our lives, such as spiritual renewal All of these are fundamentally important

What has accounted for most of the world's population growth in recent years?

Technology, medicine, and food have decreased death rates.

Given the choice of living next to a coal-burning power plant or nuclear plant, which would you choose?

The nuclear plant, because it's cleaner. The coal plant, because it won't be as likely a target for terrorists. Neither one; I'd move to another place. Either one; I don't care.

According to the I = P x A x T x S formula, what would happen to the impact if China's 1 billion people had a lifestyle like Americans?

Their affluence and technology would increase.

Should the United States fund international family- planning efforts?

a) Yes, absolutely b) Yes, but only in nations that follow U.S.-approved programs c) Only if it can influence the nations' policies d) Never under any circumstances, it's not our job all answers

Areas with the least dense human populations are in ________.

agricultural areas

Life expectancy in parts of southern Africa ________.

has fallen dramatically since 1990

Today ________ provide Sweden with most of its total energy and virtually all of its electricity

hydroelectric, nuclear, biofuels and new renewables

Cattle on an open range, in some areas, may compact fragile soils while grazing. This can damage plant roots, leading to fewer, smaller plants, which may in turn cause cattle to graze more and work harder to obtain food. This is an example of a ________.

positive feedback loop

Ultimately, all biofuels are ________, because they are the result of ________.

solar; photosynthesis

Overall, it appears that biomes with more available fresh water ________.

tend to have more productivity than those without much freshwater

Ecotones are the ________.

transitional zones between ecosystems