Ch. 7 Biology flash cards

Given a list of activities, the one that is MOST LIKELY to have the smallest impact on environmental systems is:

using land to create a national park

T or F: Data from the best available science, inputs from economists and engineers, and responsible government action must all go hand in hand to solve environmental problems as we move into the future.

True

T or F: Global climate change is a measurable long-term change in average temperature, clouds, wind, precipitation, and the frequency of extreme weather.

True

T or F: Habitat fragmentation causes biodiversity loss and makes ecosystems more vulnerable to other disturbances.

True

T or F: If wastes are not properly disposed of, they can affect air, water, and soil resources.

True

T or F: Invasive species can cause tremendous harm.

True

T or F: Many invasive species are carried to new habitats by human trade and travel.

True

T or F: Monoculture enables efficient sowing, tending, and harvesting of crops using machines. Providing food for 7 billion people, however, impacts natural resources including fresh water and fertile soil.

True

T or F: Providing food for 7 billion people impacts natural resources, including fresh water and fertile soil.

True

T or F: Resilience is an organism or community's ability to deal with change and successfully move on.

True

T or F: Resources that natural processes cannot replenish within a reasonable amount of time are called nonrenewable resources.

True

T or F: Sustainable development goals must not only enable people to survive, but to improve their situation.

True

T or F: The ozone layer acts like a global sunscreen.

True

T or F: When large areas are used for grazing, or to grow monocultures for long periods, fertilizers and pesticides can change soil structure and microbiomes in ways that degrade soil and prevent secondary succession.

True

T or F: When natural habitats are completely changed, species that once lived in that area can be lost to human development.

True

T or F: Your ecological footprint is the total area of healthy land and water ecosystems needed to provide the resources you use.

True

The Tran family enacts a conservation plan to recycle solid wastes, including glass, metal, and plastics. After 1 month, they calculate that their plan has reduced their solid waste output by 30 percent. However, the plan did not alter the volume of glass, metal, and plastic resources that the family used.How does the conservation plan help reduce the ecological footprint of the Tran family?

by reducing the amount of space needed for landfills

A(n) environmental success is:

figuring out that DDT was killing eagle fledglings.

Data gathered confirm that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have been increasing since the Industrial Revolution. In addition, data show that most of the carbon dioxide that is released comes from burning __________ _______________.

fossil fuels

Scientific research can:

- guide changes in our behavior. - gather data to document and analyze problems and identify their cause. - identify a problem in the environment.

Examples of an environmental success would include:

- removing lead from the environment (by using unleaded gasoline and improved water treatment procedures) and - 191 countries signing the Montreal Protocol, which banned most uses of CFC's

Scientists cite evidence that anthropogenic (human-caused) emissions of carbon dioxide are causing Earth's average temperatures to increase on a global scale. Which of the following changes to Earth's systems are a direct or indirect result of the carbon dioxide emissions? Select four correct answers.

- rising sea levels - ocean acidification - changes to ecosystems and ecosystem services - reduced ice coverage in polar ice caps and glaciers

Scientists apply cause-and-effect relationships to develop computer simulations of Earth's climate, which are useful for predicting how the climate will change. Arrange the following statements in order, from top to bottom, to show a chain of cause-and-effect relationships. Each statement should describe a cause of the statement below it.

1. Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, are adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. 2. The greenhouse effect is increasing. 3. The temperature of the atmosphere is increasing. 4. The climate is changing, including patterns of precipitation, storms, droughts, and heat waves. 5. Ecosystems are changing, and many species are now at risk.

According to some calculations, the average American has an ecological footprint more than __________________ times larger than the global average.

4

Juanita claims that cattle ranching contributes more significantly to global climate change than most other forms of agriculture. Clayton doubts this claim because carbon dioxide is released by all animals, not just cows.

A cow releases large amounts of methane, an especially potent greenhouse gas.

- the overall reaction of cellular respiration - the overall reaction of photosynthesis - the combustion of fossil fuels

Besides the reactions shown, what other chemical reactions would be most useful for Simone to include in her model? Select three answer choices.

Human activities have caused both acid rain and a global increase in temperature, or global warming. How are these two effects—acid rain and global warming—related to each other?

Both acid rain and global warming are caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

a drastic reduction in the use of fossil fuels, cement, and flaring

Carbon dioxide is a significant greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere. The graph shows the estimated anthropogenic (human-caused) carbon dioxide emissions in gigatons (Gt) per year, from 1850 to the present. Based on the graph, which strategy would be MOST effective to include in a solution to global climate change?

_______________ is loss of forests.

Deforestation

Perry argues that the solution to global climate change must involve the use of technology to remove or extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Do you agree with Perry? In your response, cite at least one reason in support of the argument and one reason against it.

Either agree or disagree with Perry and tell why. Reasons (1 to support his argument, and one that is against his argument): - Ecosystems and human systems would be safest if the global climate was returned to its previous state, and removing carbon dioxide might accomplish this. - However, the new technology could be dangerous if it worked too rapidly or too well. Livable temperatures depend on proper levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

T or F: A pollutant is any beneficial material created as a result of human activity and released into the environment.

False

T or F: A renewable resource cannot be produced or replaced by a healthy ecosystem.

False

T or F: An invasive species is a native species.

False

T or F: Decreasing concentrations of harmful substances progressing through food chains is known as biological magnification.

False

T or F: Deforestation cannot affect water quality.

False

T or F: Pollution cannot cause a breakdown in the ozone layer.

False

T or F: The Anthropocene is also known as "the age of the tigers."

False

A scientist uses a computer model to predict that Earth's average temperature will increase between 1.8°C and 3.2°C by the year 2100. The precise increase in temperature depends on people's decisions in the future.

Global emissions of greenhouse gases decrease by 50 percent.

Which of the following is the mechanism that affects Earth's temperatures, and that now is causing the temperatures to increase?

Greenhouse effect

Useful icons could be added for the effects of climate change on the biosphere, including changing habitats, endangered species, and wildfires. Other icons could be added for the effects of climate change on the atmosphere, including warming temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and severe storms.

Identify three other icons that would be useful to add to this version of the model. Briefly explain your reasons for adding the icons.

The city has approved the construction of a 15,000-seat arena for a professional basketball team. Which revision to the building plans for the arena would most help it meet the goals for sustainable development, as defined by the United Nations?

Move the arena to the city center, where it can be accessed by public transportation.

Natural biomes once covered nearly all of the land of the United States. How has the land of the United States changed today?

Nearly all of the land is now covered by anthromes, or human-altered biomes.

Chemicals called PCBs were manufactured and widely used up until the 1970s. Unfortunately, these chemicals are harmful to humans and wildlife.Some legislators are concerned about PCBs accumulating in mud and sand deposits in their regions. They commission a laboratory analysis, which shows that the PCBs are present in the mud and sand, but in very low amounts.Which statement about PCBs is MOST useful for evaluating the laboratory analysis?

PCBs persist in the environment through biomagnification.

Brian is evaluating the following statement."The expression global warming is only a partial description of the changes occurring to Earth's atmosphere. Global climate change is the more accurate description."Which observation provides the strongest evidence in support of the statement?

Precipitation patterns are changing on a global scale.

identifying causes and effects of climate change

The Understanding Global Change (UGC) diagram is a useful model for explaining the causes and effects of changes to global systems. Attached is a simplified version of this diagram. What is the purpose of this simplified version of the UGC diagram?

T or F: CFCs are industrially produced gases. A few decades ago, these were banned because of their impact on the ozone layer.

True

Sustainable development favors the use of renewable resources, such as harnessing the energy of wind or sunlight. It does not favor the use of nonrenewable resources, such as fossil fuels. Which property of renewable resources explains their role in sustainable development?

Renewable resources can be replaced effectively by healthy ecosystems.

Either agree or disagree. To help you decide: The first reaction shown in the illustration produces carbonic acid, which makes water more acidic. The second reaction uses up carbonate ions in the water. Both changes affect fresh water and ocean water and harm the aquatic communities, especially the animals that make shells from calcium carbonate. If the water becomes acidic enough, then vast ocean food webs could be affected.

Simone argues that increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have many consequences for the biosphere, but that the reactions shown in the illustration are not an especially serious consequence. Do you agree with Simone? Explain your response.

ocean acidification

Simone is creating a model to track the carbon atoms that cycle between the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The illustration shows part of her model. It describes two chemical reactions that occur between dissolved carbon dioxide and water. As explained by the chemical reactions shown in the illustration, which of these events is caused by increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

An organization of climate scientists reached an agreement on global climate change. They agree that the problem is serious and that a variety of measures should be enacted worldwide. The measures include a global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a switch to renewable energy resources.What is the effect, in practice, of the agreement of the scientists?

The agreement may help guide world governments but does not force their actions.

Johan claims that ozone is one of the harmful components of smog, that it is the result of human activity, and that it harms human health. Based on these claims, he argues that the use of chlorofluocarbons (CFCs) should be encouraged, because CFCs help break up ozone.Which is the most accurate evaluation of Johan's claim and argument?

The claims are accurate, but the argument is faulty because ozone in the upper atmosphere protects life on the surface.

Shari and her family change their use of transportation. They use their private automobile less often, and instead rely more on public transportation, bicycles, and walking. How does their change in behavior affect their ecological footprint?

The footprint decreases, because the family uses fewer energy resources and reduces their emissions of greenhouse gases.

a worldwide ban on the use of CFCs

The graph shows the changing levels of halogens, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), that harm the ozone layer. The ozone layer protects Earth's surface from harmful solar radiation. CFCs are artificial chemicals that once were commonly used in aerosol spray cans, refrigerators, and other devices. Which is the most likely explanation of the trend shown in the data?

T or F: "The Great Acceleration" refers to the time period when humans began using more "gadgets."

True

T or F: An anthrome is a globally significant pattern created by long-term interactions between humans and ecosystems.

True

T or F: An ecosystem is healthy if there is a wide variety of organisms living in it.

True

A population of timberwolves lives in a large tract of forest. A developer proposes building a six-lane highway across the middle of the forest. The developer claims that the timberwolves would be minimally affected because the highway would replace only about 1 percent of the land of the forest. Which statement provides the strongest argument AGAINST the developer's claim?

Wolves hunt across large territories, so habitat fragmentation puts them at risk.

The builders of a new shopping mall have the option of installing solar panels on the roof of the mall. The solar panels would provide much but not all of the electricity for the mall's tenants. Although the solar panels have a high purchase and installation cost, they could provide an economic benefit over many years of use.Would choosing the solar panels improve the sustainability of the mall?

Yes, because the solar panels have an economic benefit and they tap a renewable energy resource.

Deforestation can have negative effects on ____________ and ____________ quality.

air & water

Ecological patterns created by human interactions with ecosystems are called ___________________.

anthromes

If a new housing development was built at Rebel's Cove, a possible negative consequence would be ___________.

loss of trees

The farming strategy of planting a single productive crop in the same field year after year is called ________________.

monoculture

The United Nations has set 17 goals for ________________ development.

sustainable

The smaller we can make our ecological footprints, the more ________________ our environment will become. We have to do a good job of using renewable resources and "thinking green."

sustainable