Environmental Science Final
What's the difference between "good" and "bad" ozone?
• "Good" ozone resides in the stratosphere and blocks UV-B radiation, whereas "bad ozone occurs in the troposphere and is a pollutant.
Under ideal conditions it takes about ___________ to make 1 millimeter of soil.
• 1 year
A fishery is considered "collapsed" when the annual catches fall bellow ____% of their historic high. The stocks can no longer support the fishery.
• 10
Even though the planet is 75% water, only ________ of this water is freshwater.
• 3%
If current rates of use and extraction do not change, known oil reserves are expected to last for __________ years.
• 40
Sustainable agriculture is defined as _____________.
• A farming method that does not deplete resources, such as soil and water, faster than they are replaced
The difference between a food chain and a food web is that ____________.
• A food web shows interactions between all the species of a community, instead of just a single line of energy transfer among trophic levels.
In terms of petroleum, what is a reserve?
• A measure of the amount of petroleum that is economically feasible to extract from a deposit using current technology
How does a peer-reviewed article compare to an Internet blog?
• A peer-reviewed article will contain scientific jargon not easily understood by the general public.
Why can scientific opinions change over time?
• ALL of these statements are true: o Conclusions are considered tentative and open to revision o Our understanding can change as scientist learn more o New evidence may be used to overturn conclusions
The conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbonic acid is the leading cause of ocean _________.
• Acidification
Ecological concerns regarding plastics in oceans include which of the following?
• All of the above
Water scarcity can lead to ________.
• All of the above: a short life span, malnutrition, conflict over water rights, and cultural turmoil.
How can a society increase its energy security?
• All of the above: develop alternative energy sources, increase energy efficiency, exploit local energy sources, reduce overall energy imports.
Incineration of waste reduces its volume by 80-90%, which is good. What are problems associated with this practice?
• All of the above; creation of air pollution, creation of water pollution, production of toxic solid waste, incinerators are expensive to build
Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding evolution?
• An individual organism in a population will evolve to adapt to its environment
A(n) __________ is an underground, permeable region of soil or rock that is saturated with water.
• Aquifer
The intentional breeding for certain traits, or combination of traits, is ______.
• Artificial Selection
What is the main use of grasslands today by humans?
• As a good source for large grazing animals
In mutualism, one organism is _________ and the other organism is _______.
• Benefited; benefited
A manufacturer of potato chips claims that its packaging can be broken down by living organisms. This packaging is considered ______________.
• Biodegradable
An area that contains a large number of endemic but threatened species is a(n) _____.
• Biological hotspot
The increase in concentration of fat-soluble substance in a food chain is called_____.
• Biomagnification
Which forest type is NOT paired with its correct description?
• Boreal forest: thick soils from plant decomposition
Which of the following is an inexpensive way to maintain water supplies?
• Both a and b: not waste so much water, use water-saving irrigation methods
A country with a growing population will have a __________ age structure diagram, while a country with a shrinking population will have a _______ age structure diagram.
• Bottom-heavy, top-heavy
Populations that have a _______ range of tolerance and are ________ genetically diverse have a greater chance of surviving a change to their environment.
• Broad;more
Final treatment of wastewater in the United States normally involves treatment with ________ to make it safe from biohazard.
• Chlorine
The _____________ regulates industrial pollutants and sets allowable levels of pollutants that can be present in environmental waters or released over a certain period of time.
• Clean Water Act
Which timber harvesting method is does little to protect the watershed and severely limits biodiversity?
• Clear-cutting
Which of the following is NOT an example of self-inflicted environmental damage?
• Climate cooling
The greatest amount of electricity in the United States is generated using __________.
• Coal
The three principle fossil fuels are ___________.
• Coal, oil, natural gas
________ is the process of allowing waste to biologically decompose in the presence of oxygen and water.
• Composting
A temperate forest __________.
• Contains deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the winter.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a sustainable ecosystem?
• Contains species that all depend on the same limited resource
Which of the following ecological services provided by forests has been deemed "most valuable"?
• Cycling of nutrients
Organisms that consume dead organic matter and make nutrients available to other components of the ecosystem are known as ___________.
• Decomposers
As a country's economy changes from preindustrial to postindustrial, low birth and death rates replace high birth and death rates. This phenomenon is known as ___________.
• Demographic transition
Predators, competitors, and diseases are all examples of __________.
• Density dependent factors
Which of the following is a key factor influencing ocean ecosystems?
• Depth
Several factors contribute to the endangerment of species including all of the following EXCEPT __________.
• Diversification of genes
A region's ______ is the land needed to provide the resources and assimilate the waste of a person or population.
• Ecological footprint
The process by which one community replaces another is known as _________.
• Ecological succession
When a storm hits a coastal wetland, the wetland ecosystem acts as a buffer between the storm damage and developed inner land. The buffer provided by the wetland is a(n) ______.
• Ecosystem service
_________________ are all the organisms living in a given area plus the physical environment in which they interact.
• Ecosystems
_________ species may benefit from activities that fragment habitat.
• Edge
Species are considered ______ when they face a high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Species are considered ______ when they are in danger of becoming _____ in the near future.
• Endangered; threatened; endangered
A species that is native to a particular area and isn't naturally found elsewhere is considered ____ to that area.
• Endemic
Which of the following is known to move in only one direction through an ecosystem?
• Energy flow
Why has the scientific community shifted from the single-species approach of conservation to the ecosystem approach.
• Entire communities can benefit from a holistic approach.
The oceanic zone that receives the greatest amount of sunlight is the _______.
• Epipelagic
Nutrient rich areas where shallow rivers meet the ocean are known as ____.
• Estuaries
Many nations have tried to protect their fisheries by the creation of ____ which extend 200 nautical miles from the coastline and give exclusive rights over marine resources.
• Exclusive economic zones
Which type of study is appropriate for demonstrating the cause-and-effect relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable?
• Experimental
Inferences are ___________.
• Explanations of what else might be true or what might have caused the observed phenomenon
Early in the colonization of a new habitat, a population will show _________, shifting to ______________ as the density of the population increases.
• Exponential growth; logistic growth
_______ is the complete loss of a species from the Earth.
• Extinction
A species that is locally extinct in one or more areas but still has populations in other areas is ________.
• Extirpated
Which situation best describes the "tragedy of the commons"?
• Farmers irrigate their fields by tapping into an underground aquifer. The water source is free for everyone to use and begin to irrigate more fields as they believe, "if I don't use this available resource someone else will"
Chemicals that can press easily through cell membranes an are more likely to be persistent in the food chain are called ______.
• Fat-soluble
Modern industrial agriculture methods _______________.
• Focus all resources on a single crop
Which of the following factors affecting humanity is not density-dependent?
• Forest fires
The correct order of forest layers from the bottom to the top of a forest is _____.
• Forest floor, understory, canopy, emergent layer
Water that has a low level of dissolved ions is classified as __________.
• Freshwater
_______ is the driving force behind the Green Revolution 2.0.
• Genetic engineering
The main sources of genetic variation is ________.
• Genetic mutations
Periodic dry periods, grazing animals, and periodic wildfire are factors that lead to the maintenance of
• Grasslands
The number one reason for the endangered status of many species is _____.
• Habitat destruction
A road that cuts through a forest is an example of ____________.
• Habitat fragmentation
Which is TRUE about the precautionary principle?
• Harmful products are prevented from reaching store shelves.
Why are water soluble chemicals sometimes safer for humans but not for the environment?
• Humans can excrete water soluble chemicals in their urine but environments are "stuck" with them.
A(n) ________ is a possible explanation for what is observed that is based on some previous knowledge.
• Hypothesis
Which of the following is NOT a reason why the global human population growth rate surged as a result of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700's?
• Improvements to the educational system
What is one negative effect of a low population density?
• Inbreeding
What effect do acidic ocean water have on shells made of calcium carbonate?
• Increased dissolution (dissolving) of calcium carbonate shells
An increasing population size causes all but which of the following:
• Increased standard of living due to technology
When conducting an experimental study, scientist manipulate the ______ variable and measure the _______ variable to see if it is affected.
• Independent, dependent
Natural selection acts on _________ while _____ evolve.
• Individuals; populations
Groundwater in aquifers is naturally replenished by __________.
• Infiltration
You would expect to find barnacle, starfish, and mussels in which of the ocean zones listed below?
• Intertidal
Controversy exists in the United States concerning the containment of a fish species known as the Asian Carp. Species that successfully populate areas they are not native to and alter the existing community are known as ______.
• Invasive species
The largest amount of freshwater is used for
• Irrigation
Environmentalist are especially concerned about the amount of carbon dioxide released from burning coal because it ____________.
• Is a significant greenhouse gas
Aquaculture _____________________.
• Is farming fish by rearing fish in tanks, ponds, or ocean net pens
Which of the following is FALSE regarding a scientific theory?
• It is a tentative idea based only on observations and inductions.
How is anthropogenic climate change different from the climate change experienced by the Greenland Vikings?
• It is caused by human actions
What is a watershed?
• It is the area of land that drains into a body of water.
One advantage to burning natural gas instead of oil for fuel is _____________.
• It produces lower amounts of CO2 and other pollutants
Why should we care about the ozone layer?
• It protects the Earth's surface from UV-B radiation
A community can be greatly affected if a ____ is lost.
• Keystone species
Which of the following LD50 scores (does in ppm) indicates the highestlevel of toxicity?
• LD50= 8
The majority of municipal solid waste produced in the United States ends up being _________.
• Landfilled
Match the waste management method to is potential harm to ecosystems.
• Landfills ---- ground water contamination from leachate
Out of all the water on Earth, how much is usable by humans?
• Less than 1%
A(n) __________ is the one abiotic or biotic factor whose supply determines the population size of a given species in a given biome.
• Limiting factor
What is likely to be the MOST important global impact of bycatch?
• Loss of ocean biodiversity
More than half of the world's fisheries are at _______, the amount of fish that can be harvested without decreasing the yield in future years.
• Maximum sustainable yield
Today, the United States and France each exhibit an aging population. Why is this such a concern for demographers?
• More people are retiring with fewer younger people to support them.
Everyday garbage or trash (solid waste) produced by individuals or small businesses is known as ____________.
• Municipal solid waste
All of the following are products of crude oil refining EXCEPT ____________.
• Natural gas
Fracking is a method to extract ____________ from deep unconventional reserves.
• Natural gas
Which area of the U.S. seems to be at threat for major desertification?
• New Mexico and Western Texas
_____________ pollution comes from multiple locations that are not easy to define.
• Nonpoint Source
Coal, natural gas, and oil are examples of __________.
• Nonrenewable resources
Studying the effect of CFCs on ozone in the atmosphere is an example of which of the following?
• Observational Study
Which is TRUE regarding the following statements (1) "Higher levels of greenhouse gases cause increased warming of the troposphere" and (2) "People who are good go to heaven when they die".
• Only statement (1) is a scientific hypothesis testable by scientific methods
Many advantages and disadvantages are associated with organic farming techniques, both fro the environment, the consumer, and the farmer. Which of the following is FALSE?
• Organic farming is more labor intensive than traditional farming
The most common cause of desertification of grasslands is _______.
• Overgrazing
Coal is a solid fossil fuel formed when plant material is buried in ____________ conditions and subjected to ___________ over a long time.
• Oxygen poor; high heat and pressure
Pollution from U.S. coal power plants include all of the following except?
• Ozone
The leading cause of impaired surface waters in the United States is ______.
• Pathogens
Soil erosion in grasslands is a direct result of ______.
• Plant loss and soil compaction
Which of the following is NOT considered as hazardous waste?
• Plastic bottles
To make wastewater _______________, or clean enough for consumption, a process called reverse osmosis is used.
• Potable
Forest biomes are determined by which main factor(s)?
• Precipitation and temperature
Which of the following information sources are peer-reviewed?
• Primary Sources
Cultural and economic forces than encourage women to have more children are called ___________.
• Pronatalist pressures
How do zooxanthellae affect coral?
• Provide coral with food and color
What is the definition of "unconventional oil reserves"?
• Recoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay whose extraction is expensive and environmentally costly
The Dust Bowl of the 1930's was caused by severe drought coupled with farming techniques that left the bare soil vulnerable to wind erosion. Which of the following sustainable farming techniques would help prevent such as phenomenon from happening again?
• Reduced tillage
The four R's to help an individual limit waste production are ___________.
• Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle
Which of the following is NOT a part of critical thinking?
• Refusing to believe anything
Match the human activity to its correct consequence for marine ecosystems.
• Release of ballast water from ships ----- introduction of invasive species
When an oak tree undergoes photosynthesis, it is essentially _____________.
• Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Owls hunt for field mice in a filed at night. Foxes hunt for field mice in the same field during the day. The term that best describes the interaction between the owls and the foxes is
• Resource partitioning
Carefully weighing the risk and benefits associated with any chemical is known as ________.
• Risk assessment
Desalination is the process that removes ____ from water is__________.
• Salt and other minerals; expensive
The most effective way for each of us to reduce toxic wastes is to avoid the use of chemicals that are potentially hazardous. This approach is referred to as ______.
• Source reduction
The relative abundance of the different species in an area is referred to as ____.
• Species evenness
The number of different species in an area is referred to as _____.
• Species richness
______ is the first step toward protecting and maintaining biodiversity.
• Taking a census of what species exist in an area and what threats they face
_______ is the first step toward protecting and maintaining biodiversity.
• Taking a census of what species exist in an area and what threats they face
Which of the following do NOT characterize a particular biome?
• Temperature
The coordinated global effort to eliminate hunger by improving crop performance using modern agricultural technologies in developing countries is called ____.
• The Green Revolution
Which of the following is the biggest advantage to the United States' use of coal?
• The United States has a lot of coal
Green and blue coral snakes are found in even numbers on an isolated small Pacific island. A hurricane hits the island and randomly kills the majority of the blue coral snakes. The remaining coral snakes repopulate the island with green now being their predominate color. With regards to evolution, this change is considered an excellent example of __________.
• The bottleneck effect
Which phrase best describes "environment"?
• The living and non living surroundings in which an organism exists
Nutrient cycles, or biogeochemical cycles, refer to _______________.
• The movements of life's essential chemicals or nutrients through an ecosystem
What is carrying capacity?
• The population size that an area can support indefinitely
Public health officials monitor recreational areas and drinking water for the presence of coliform bacteria. Larger numbers of these microbes may indicate
• The presence of sewage
Plants riparian zones help improves water quality because _____________.
• They store nutrients in their roots, allowing nutrients to slowly seep into the river
Modern fishing techniques use giant nets to harvest large numbers of fish in the short term. This may result in severely reduced populations of fish in the future. Which term best describes the above scenario?
• Time Delay
Due to their complexity, any given response to and environmental problem involves significant ________ and no one response is likely to represent the ultimate solution.
• Trade-offs
Where would you find the highest concentration of coral reefs?
• Tropical marine areas
Which biome has abundant biodiversity, with warm temperatures and a great deal of rain?
• Tropical rainforest
Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are best suited in _______.
• Urban centers of wealthy countries as locations close to larger markets could help make RAS operations more likely to be economically viable.
_______ and _______ make up the majority (90%) of species listed as either endangered or threatened.
• Vertebrates; plants
Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation is the basis of the __________.
• Water cycle
Not having access to enough clean water supplies is known as __________.
• Water scarcity
Debt-for-nature swaps are _____.
• Wealthy nations forgiving the debts of another country in exchange for environmental protection in whose countries