EVR1001 Exam 1
The __________ includes all of the water that is underground, in surface bodies, and in the atmosphere. hydrosphere halosphere lithosphere aquasphere
hydrosphere
The __________ is the rock and sediment beneath our feet, plus earths uppermost mantle and crust mesosphere biosphere hydrosphere atmosphere lithosphere
lithosphere
The ______________is the rock and sediment beneath our feet, the planet's uppermost mantle and crust. hydrosphere lithosphere biosphere atmosphere
lithosphere
The process of industrial fixation artificially accelerates fluxes in the __________ cycle. carbon hydrologic nitrogen phosphorus
nitrogen
The following statement is an example of a(n) __________: "Zebra mussels were accidentally introduced to the waters of the Great Lakes." observation theory conclusion hypothesis
observation
Part complete The largest reservoir in the hydrological cycle is ________. precipitation the atmosphere dammed reservoirs oceans groundwater
oceans
Skin, hair, muscles, and enzymes are all made up of ________. nucleic acids proteins carbohydrates lipids organelles
proteins
In most ecosystems, the original source of energy for the living things in the system is __________. the primary producer the sun the heterotroph glucose
the sun
The entire area of land that a river drains is called its __________. watershed lithosphere wetland dead zone
watershed
Which items belong to the Water Cycle: - This cycle is significantly affected by the extraction of fossil fuels. -Transpiration is a major flux in this cycle. - This cycle's largest reservoir is the atmosphere. -This cycle's largest reservoir is ocean water. - Photosynthesis is a major flux in this cycle. - Nitrification is a major flux in this cycle. - The weathering of rock is a major flux in this cycle. - This cycle is affected by the release of detergents in treated wastewater.
- Transpiration is a major flux in this cycle. & - This cycle's largest reservoir is ocean water.
During the light reactions of photosynthesis, the solar energy absorbed by chlorophyll is used to ________. Check all that apply. - produce small, high-energy molecules that are used in the Calvin cycle to manufacture sugars - break down macromolecules such as starch - split water molecules and release oxygen in the form of O2 - defend against predators
- produce small, high-energy molecules that are used in the Calvin cycle to manufacture sugars & - split water molecules and release oxygen in the form of O2
Which items belong to the Carbon Cycle: - This cycle is significantly affected by the extraction of fossil fuels. -Transpiration is a major flux in this cycle. - This cycle's largest reservoir is the atmosphere. -This cycle's largest reservoir is ocean water. - Photosynthesis is a major flux in this cycle. - Nitrification is a major flux in this cycle. - The weathering of rock is a major flux in this cycle. - This cycle is affected by the release of detergents in treated wastewater.
- Photosynthesis is a major flux in this cycle. & - This cycle is significantly affected by the extraction of fossil fuels.
Which items belong to the Phosphorus Cycle: - This cycle is significantly affected by the extraction of fossil fuels. -Transpiration is a major flux in this cycle. - This cycle's largest reservoir is the atmosphere. -This cycle's largest reservoir is ocean water. - Photosynthesis is a major flux in this cycle. - Nitrification is a major flux in this cycle. - The weathering of rock is a major flux in this cycle. - This cycle is affected by the release of detergents in treated wastewater.
- This cycle is affected by the release of detergents in treated wastewater. & - The weathering of rock is a major flux in this cycle.
Which items belong to the Nitrogen Cycle: - This cycle is significantly affected by the extraction of fossil fuels. -Transpiration is a major flux in this cycle. - This cycle's largest reservoir is the atmosphere. -This cycle's largest reservoir is ocean water. - Photosynthesis is a major flux in this cycle. - Nitrification is a major flux in this cycle. - The weathering of rock is a major flux in this cycle. - This cycle is affected by the release of detergents in treated wastewater.
- This cycle's largest reservoir is the atmosphere. & - Nitrification is a major flux in this cycle.
Which of the following are substances and energy sources taken from our environment that we rely on to survive? Natural resources Biocapacity Earth services Ecosystem services
Natural resources
A __________ occurred when scientists determined that the earth is round rather than flat. hypothesis cyclical shift paradigm shift theory
Paradigm Shift
A ___________ _______ is a major shift in scientific thinking as the result of a new discovery or understanding that occurs.
Paradigm Shift
By studying ancient civilizations, such as the Greek and Roman empires and the Angkor civilization of Southeast Asia, historians have concluded that these civilizations declined partly because of ________. a) fires b) environmental degradation due to unsustainable use of resources c) floods d) overabundance of resources e)sustainable practices
b) environmental degradation due to unsustainable use of resources
Assume you operate a farm in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and wish to do all you can to minimize nutrient runoff from your farm reaching the waters of the Bay. You have already planted grass buffers along the creek that runs through your fields, and you plant cover crops on your land after harvest instead of leaving the soil bare, which facilitates runoff. Your land isn't amenable to planting trees along the creek, there are no areas in which to construct a wetland, and you do not yet have the money to purchase the specialized equipment that enables conservation tillage (planting crops with minimal tilling, or plowing, of the soil). What approach would be best for you to consider, as a farmer, to further reduce nutrient runoff from your fields into the Bay? a) Enhanced nutrient management programs (NMP) b) Retrofitting stormwater systems c) Minor upgrades to wastewater treatment plants (WWTP upgrades- Low) d) Major upgrades to wastewater treatment plants (WWTP upgrades- High)
a) Enhanced nutrient management programs (NMP)
You work for a wastewater treatment plant whose effluent (outflow) is released into a river that empties into the Chesapeake Bay. You are informed of the dead zone in the bay and are instructed to take measures to remedy the problem. Which of the following steps would be most effective? a. Run the purified wastewater through a system that contains denitrifying bacteria. b. Install a chlorination unit to kill any harmful pathogens that might contaminate the wastewater. c. Neutralize the acidity of the effluent to prevent the bay from becoming too acidic. d. Use microbes to break down the organic matter in the wastewater.
a. Run the purified wastewater through a system that contains denitrifying bacteria.
Based on the pie chart, which of the following approaches would likely yield the biggest benefits for reducing nitrogen inputs into the Chesapeake Bay? a) Motorists are required to have their vehicles inspected annually, to ensure their vehicle is not emitting elevated levels of nitrogen-based compounds into the atmosphere. b) Local governments work with farmers to implement strategies to minimize nitrogen runoff from farm fields. c) Wastewater treatment plants are upgraded with technologies designed to capture nitrogen and phosphorus. d) Homeowners are given a generous tax credit if they replace an aging septic system.
b) Local governments work with farmers to implement strategies to minimize nitrogen runoff from farm fields.
A leaf falls from a tree and lands on the ground. Through time, bugs and bacteria consume the leaf. Which of the following statements regarding this scenario is true? a) The decomposers are able to use all of the energy that the plant's leaf obtained from sunlight using photosynthesis. b) The nutrients from the leaf have been recycled and released back into the soil. c) Through the process of digestion, the bugs and bacteria have created new matter that did not exist before. d) The nutrients from the leaf have been removed from that ecosystem.
b) The nutrients from the leaf have been recycled and released back into the soil.
A ____________ is a quantitative relationship between variables.
Correlation
Global population is projected to be nearly ________ in 2050. 7 billion 8 billion 10 billion 11 billion 9 billion
10 billion
For what it costs to remove 1 pound of nitrogen from Bay waters by using enhanced nutrient management programs (NMP), approximately how many pounds of nitrogen could be kept out of waterways by restoring the wetland that once existed on the site? 3 7 15 33
15 Dividing $21.90 (the cost of keeping one pound of nitrogen out of waterways with an enhanced nutrient management program) by $1.50 (the cost of keeping one pound of nitrogen out of waterways with a restored wetland) yields a value of 14.6, indicating that about 15 pounds of nitrogen could be kept out of the Bay with a restored wetland for the same cost as keeping one pound of nitrogen out of the Bay using an enhanced nutrient management program.
A scientific experiment often involves both a treatment and a ___________, which are alike except for the variable that the experiment is designed to test.
Control
____________ are porous regions of rock and soil that hold groundwater, water found within the soil. Rivers Lakes Aquifers Oceans
Aquifers
A review process is in place to make sure that no ________ has skewed the results of an experiment.
Bias
The ___________ consists of all the planet's organisms and the abiotic (nonliving) portions of the environment with which they interact. Atmosphere Biosphere Lithosphere Hydrosphere
Biosphere
________ is defined as the number of protons plus the number of neutrons. Isotopic number Ionic number Atomic number Mass number Nuclear number
Mass number
________ is a basic understanding of Earth's physical and living systems and how we interact with them. Sustainability Environmental ethics An ecological footprint Environmental literacy Environmental economics
Environmental literacy
__________ is a social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world from the undesirable changes brought about by human actions. Environmental science Environmentalism Preservationism Conservationism
Environmentalism
Who is credited for articulating the conservation ethic and for founding the U.S. Forest Service? Aldo Leopold Ralph Waldo Emerson Theodore Roosevelt John Muir Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot
A _____________ is a testable statement that proposes an explanation for a set of observations. It leads to predictions that can be tested by an experiment.
Hypothesis
A _______________ describes specific results that can be expected if a hypothesis is true.
Prediction
________ believe that the guidelines for making environmental decisions are context-specific, depending on the cultures, social issues, and other factors framing the decision. Preservationists Relativists Conservationists Followers of Leopold's land ethic Universalists
Relativists
Scientists use a general process known as the ______________ to ask and answer questions about natural phenomena.
Scientific method
A _______________ is broader in scope than a hypothesis, is supported by a large body of evidence, and generates many new hypotheses.
Theory
The average citizen of which of the following nations has the largest ecological footprint? China Haiti United States France
United States
A _____________ is a factor that is either manipulated or measured in an experiment.
Variable
Which of the following is an example of kinetic energy? The energy held in bonds between atoms A rock on top of a hill Wind rotating a turbine A book on the top shelf of a closet
Wind rotating a turbine
What is the purpose of peer review? a. To guard against faulty science being published b. To repeat an experiment to verify the results c. To analyze data collected in an experiment d. To promote a paradigm shift
a. To guard against faulty science being published
Scientific inquiry is based on ________. a. an expanding knowledge based on observation, questioning, testing and discovery b. designing experiments that have never been done before c. the production of technological advances d. making huge leaps of knowledge with scientific insights e.facts that can be proven true without experimental manipulation
a. an expanding knowledge based on observation, questioning, testing and discovery
Quantitative data ________. a. are data that are expressed as numbers and can be tested using statistics b. cannot be used to support or disprove hypotheses c. fall into categories, such as male/female, school of attendance, what dorm you live in, whether you have pets, etc. d. cannot be replicated e. have variables that may not have been properly manipulated
a. are data that are expressed as numbers and can be tested using statistics
Which of the following statements best describes energy? a. energy is the capacity to change the position, physical composition, or temperature of matter b. energy is the food we eat c. entropy is another name for energy d. energy can be created and destroyed
a. energy is the capacity to change the position, physical composition, or temperature of matter
How do organic compounds differ from inorganic compounds? a. organic compounds consist of carbon atoms joined by covalent bonds, while inorganic compounds lack carbon-carbon bonds b. inorganic compounds always consist of two atoms c. organic compounds are natural, while inorganic compounds are artificially synthesized d. organic compounds are always acidic, while inorganic compounds are always basic e. inorganic compounds never contain carbon, whereas organic compounds always contain carbon
a. organic compounds consist of carbon atoms joined by covalent bonds, while inorganic compounds lack carbon-carbon bonds
If everyone on the planet had an ecological footprint the size of the average citizen of the United States, then ________. a. we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone b. we would have 50% more food to go around c. we could support 50% more people on our planet d. we would be able to provide for everyone without much difficulty by using the 50% of the land currently not being used for agriculture e. about 50% of the people would starve
a. we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone
Of the following people, which is most likely to agree with the statement that an entire ecosystem has inherent value? an ecocentrist analysis conservationist an anthropocentrist a biocentrist
an ecocentrist
If someone says, "Earth and all of its contents were created for the betterment of human beings, so as long as something is good for humans, it is good for the whole earth," what ethical perspective would he or she hold? envirocentric ecocentric anthropocentric biocentric
anthropocentric
A(n) ________ is the smallest component of an element that still maintains the chemical properties of the element. atom proton molecule ion nucleus
atom
Glass Lake, located in a valley in low forested mountains, for many decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries was a favorite picnic, recreation, and fishing site for people in surrounding towns and farms. However, in the middle of the 20th century, a trend began in which the privately owned farms in the lake's watershed were purchased by large agribusinesses. The decision was made to grow a profitable crop. The demand for quality farmland resulted in the sale of most of the family-owned establishments and a large increase in the area of land under cultivation. Most of the forests were cut to acquire the land needed for crops. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides increased several-fold by the end of the century. In addition, the combined population of the lakeside villages quadrupled during the same time. The lake experienced a slow degradation of water quality and biodiversity. Sport fishing declined, and the lake became murky, while the sediments in the lake increased in depth. If a water quality expert were to check the level of dissolved oxygen in the lake water, s/he would find that it ________. a) is much higher than normal b) is near normal on the surface but extremely low near the bottom sediments c) is very low at the surface and normal near the bottom sediments d) is within normal limits for an unpolluted lake e) is completely absent
b) is near normal on the surface but extremely low near the bottom sediments
What is the key lesson learned from Easter Island? a. Rats can be effectively introduced to an area to control invasive palm trees. b. An island population must learn to live within its means. c. Human ingenuity can turn a decimated landscape into a lush and productive tropical paradise. d. Overfishing can lead to depletion of food resources, which can ultimately lead to starvation.
b. An island population must learn to live within its means.
Later in his life, pioneering environmental philosopher Aldo Leopold would have most likely agreed with which one of the following statements? a. Our ethical concerns should focus on applying a standard of fairness and equality to all people. b. Humans are members of the land-community. c. People should put natural resources to use but should use them wisely. d. If a development project would provide significant economic benefit to humans, it would be a worthwhile endeavor even if it harms the environment.
b. Humans are members of the land-community.
Which of the following would be the most appropriate prediction for the hypothesis that Poodles are smarter than Dalmatians? a. Dalmatians are dumber than Poodles. b. If Poodles are smarter, then Poodles will learn to obey commands more quickly than Dalmatians. c. Poodle owners are smarter than Dalmatian owners. d. Poodles are smarter than Dalmatians because Poodles can learn commands faster than Dalmatians.
b. If Poodles are smarter, then Poodles will learn to obey commands more quickly than Dalmatians.
When scientists conduct an experiment, what term describes the variable that researchers intentionally change, or manipulate, to see its effects on other variables? a. Controlled variable b. Independent variable c. Dependent variable
b. Independent variable
Geothermal energy, wind, and solar radiation are all examples of ________. a. biodegradable materials b. inexhaustible renewable natural resources c.biotic environmental factors d. exhaustible renewable natural resources e. nonrenewable natural resources
b. Inexhaustible renewable natural resources
How did the agricultural revolution lead to an increase in human population numbers? a. The discovery of medicines, such as antibiotics, allowed us to live longer. b. The shift from a nomadic lifestyle to settling down on farms led to people producing more food to meet their nutritional needs, and therefore, having more children. c. Farming allowed for the discovery of pesticides, which allowed for better food production. d. Industrialization and manufacturing allowed us to produce more food.
b. The shift from a nomadic lifestyle to settling down on farms led to people producing more food to meet their nutritional needs, and therefore, having more children.
Which statement best exemplifies the concept of sustainability? a. The E.P.A. sets stricter standards on air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. b. Water extracted from underground resources must be equal to or less than the water that recharges the underground resources. c. Human population must decline for the foreseeable future to maintain Earth's natural resources. d. Forests that we have today will be preserved and not used for human consumption.
b. Water extracted from underground resources must be equal to or less than the water that recharges the underground resources.
A paradigm ________. a. is synonymous with the scientific method b. is a dominant world view in science c. is a means of evaluating scientific hypotheses d. can only come from qualitative data e. is a group of several hypotheses that can be tested together
b. is a dominant world view in science
Compared to energy-flow in ecosystems, the flow of matter ________. a. is always dissipated as heat b. reflects conservation and recycling c. is one-way d. moves from consumers to producers e. does not involve either detritivores or detritus
b. reflects conservation and recycling
Which of the following is the best example of an ecosystem service? a. a park ranger checking fishing licenses b. soil microbes fixing atmospheric nitrogen c. the regulation of gas prices d. a college environmental club cleaning up the shoulder of a highway e. a city cutting down a tree that is dying
b. soil microbes fixing atmospheric nitrogen
A decrease of one unit in the pH scale represents a ________ the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution. a. halving of b. tenfold increase in c. doubling of d. tenfold decrease in e. 1% decrease in
b. tenfold increase in
Net primary productivity is ________. a. the biomass of producers minus that of consumers b. the energy used by plants to make biomass after respiration c. the amount of detritus produced by an ecosystem d. the total biomass of an entire ecosystem e. the amount of energy consumers derive from producers
b. the energy used by plants to make biomass after respiration
Which one of the following describes a positive feedback loop? a. A positive feedback loop would stabilize the concentration of a substance. b. Positive feedback loops are relatively common in nature compared to negative feedback loops. c. Positive feedback loops are more common in natural systems altered by human actions. d. A positive feedback loop would reverse a change that may cause damage to an ecosystem.
c. Positive feedback loops are more common in natural systems altered by human actions.
The greatest source of both nitrogen and phosphorus entering Chesapeake Bay is _____________. a. septic systems b. urban fertilizer runoff c. agriculture d. natural sources e. municipal and industrial wastewater
c. agriculture
A(n) __________ is an example of an ecosystem with high primary productivity, while a __________ is an example of an ecosystem with low primary productivity. a. desert; tundra b. open ocean; wetland c. algal bed; desert d. tundra; coral reef
c. algal bed; desert
The Endangered Species Act, passed by Congress nearly four decades ago, has spawned a continuous series of debates between those who feel the ethical necessity to protect species at the brink of extinction and others who feel that if we have to protect every habitat of every species at risk, then there will be a loss of jobs and a blow to an already shaky economy. This boils down to a conflict between ________. a. social scientists and conservationists b. economists and environmental scientists c. anthropocentrists and ecocentrists d. universalists and ecofeminists e. relativists and environmental justice advocates
c. anthropocentrists and ecocentrists
The main advantage of observational studies and natural experiments over manipulative studies is that natural experiments __________. a. always limit the independent variables to one b. show causation c. are able to test hypotheses in the field and with large study areas d. can prove hypotheses
c. are able to test hypotheses in the field and with large study areas
Part complete Ecosystem services ________. a. are valuable to natural systems but not to human-created systems b. are not necessary to sustainable systems c. are economically valuable services provided by natural systems d. are required to rebalance natural systems that we have disturbed e. contribute to keeping ecosystems productive
c. are economically valuable services provided by natural systems
When you burn a log in your fireplace, you are converting ________. a. proteins to amino acids b. electromagnetic energy to chemical energy c. chemical energy to thermal (heat) energy d. thermal energy to electromagnetic energy e. chemical energy to nuclear energy
c. chemical energy to thermal (heat) energy
Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. Pablo and Johanna have to do a yearlong study for their biology course. After some discussion, they decide to try comparing their dogs and the diet that they feed them. Each has a dog from the pound, and both dogs are less than one year old. Pablo feeds his shepherd-mix dog a special diet of wet and dry foods from the local vet, while Johanna uses generic dry kibble from the supermarket for her bulldog. They want to see which diet results in bigger, healthier, faster-growing dogs. According to the information given, one dependent variable in this study will be ________. a. the breed of the dogs b. the age of the dogs c. how much the dogs grow d. the sex of the dogs e. the type of food the dogs receive
c. how much the dogs grow
Ecological modeling is most useful for studying ______________. a. small isolated microhabitats, where the inputs and outputs are well-studied b. how individual species interact with one another c. large complex ecosystems that have many interactions d. the biodiversity in ecosystems e. artificial data generated by computers
c. large complex ecosystems that have many interactions
Pablo and Johanna have to do a yearlong study for their biology course. After some discussion, they decide to try comparing their dogs and the diet that they feed them to test their hypothesis that the local veterinarian's special dog food mix will enhance growth and development. Each student adopts a puppy from the local pound. Pablo plans to feed his Goldendoodle the special diet, while Johanna plans to use generic dry kibble from the supermarket for her bulldog. After meeting with their instructor, Pablo and Johanna know that they need to change their experimental design. They contact a local puppy farm and arrange to do their study with 3-month-old litters of pups from four Irish setters, for a total of 24 puppies consisting of 12 females and 12 males. In order to have two groups of puppies (control and experimental), Pablo and Johanna should ________. a. put all the puppies from two of the litters in one group and all of the puppies from the other two litters in the other group b. randomly choose one dog for the control group and use the other 23 in the experimental group c. put six males and six females in each group, with some from each litter in each group d. flip a coin for each dog to see which group it will be in e. put the 12 females in one group and the 12 males in the other group
c. put six males and six females in each group, with some from each litter in each group
Most energy in the majority of ecosystems arrives as __________ and exits in the form of __________. a. heat; radiation from the sun b. chemicals from the ocean; heat c. radiation from the sun; heat d. chemicals from the ocean; radiation from the sun
c. radiation from the sun; heat
In a controlled experiment, if a researcher wants to examine the effect of radon exposure to rat longevity, which one would be the independent variable? a. the cage the rats were kept in b. neither the radon exposure nor the rats' longevity, because both variables are manipulated c. radon exposure d. the rats' longevity
c. radon exposure
Part complete Earth's largest pool of nitrogen is ________. a. the hydrosphere b. the biosphere c. the atmosphere d. the lithosphere e. in fossil fuel deposits
c. the atmosphere
You have read about the mistakes made on Easter Island. On Tikopia, another small island, the people acted differently. When they realized that the pigs they had imported were damaging the environment, they killed them all. They had to have permission from a chief to fish, which prevented overfishing. They practiced contraception. These all indicate that ________. a. they felt that everything was a nonrenewable resource b. they were concerned with only one year at a time c. they truly practiced sustainability d. they believed in full resource utilization e. they felt that everything was a renewable resource
c. they truly practiced sustainability
Which of the following philosophies is the most anthropocentric? biocentrism conservationism preservationism the land ethic
conservationism
Glass Lake, located in a valley in low forested mountains, for many decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries was a favorite picnic, recreation, and fishing site for people in surrounding towns and farms. However, in the middle of the 20th century, a trend began in which the privately owned farms in the lake's watershed were purchased by large agribusinesses. The decision was made to grow a profitable crop. The demand for quality farmland resulted in the sale of most of the family-owned establishments and a large increase in the area of land under cultivation. Most of the forests were cut to acquire the land needed for crops. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides increased several-fold by the end of the century. In addition, the combined population of the lakeside villages quadrupled during the same time. The lake experienced a slow degradation of water quality and biodiversity. Sport fishing declined, and the lake became murky, while the sediments in the lake increased in depth. The murkiness (turbidity) of the water was analyzed and found to have several major sources, including ________. a) fertilizer particles, wind-borne atmospheric particles, and wastewater discharge b) algae, increased microscopic animal life, and pesticides c) erosion from the hillsides, solid nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertilizers, and numerous microscopic animals living in bottom sediments d) erosion from deforested hillsides, sediments produced from poorly treated wastewater discharge, and sediments produced from the increased plant biomass of the lake e) pesticides, atmospheric deposition, and wastewater discharges
d) erosion from deforested hillsides, sediments produced from poorly treated wastewater discharge, and sediments produced from the increased plant biomass of the lake
Which of the following best embodies the qualities of a scientific theory? a. Squirrels in central Illinois prefer to build their nests in oak trees instead of hickory trees. b. Prairies that have larges herds of bison show greater plant diversity than prairies without bison. c. Students who study for their environmental science exams will perform better on those exams than those who do not. d. All gases, liquids, and solids consist of atoms. e. Dangerous wildfires in California could be avoided by better fire prevention strategies.
d. All gases, liquids, and solids consist of atoms.
A(n) __________ expresses environmental impact in terms of the cumulative area of land and water required to provide the resources a person consumes. a. biocapacity b. ecosystem service c. overshoot d. ecological footprint
d. Ecological Footprint
How many citizens of Mexico does it take to equal the ecological footprint of the average citizen of the United States? a. It takes just over two Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen. b. They are essentially equal. c. It takes just over eight Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen. d. It takes just over three Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen. e. It takes about 12 Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen.
d. It takes just over three Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen.
Part complete Carbon has an atomic number of 6. If an uncharged carbon atom has a mass number of 14, which of the following is true? a. This atom has 8 protons, 6 neutrons, and 8 electrons. b. This atom has 6 protons, 8 neutrons, and 8 electrons. c. This atom has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons. d. This atom has 6 protons, 8 neutrons, and 6 electrons.
d. This atom has 6 protons, 8 neutrons, and 6 electrons.
The greatest human impact on the carbon cycle has been through ___________. a. use of synthetic fertilizers b. increased respiration of the exponentially growing human population c. depletion of aquifers d. combustion of fossil fuels e. mining of limestone (Calcium carbonate)
d. combustion of fossil fuels
Which of the following represent the reactants (ingredients) necessary for cellular respiration? a. starch and enzymes b. hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and water c. carbon dioxide, water, and oxygen d. glucose and oxygen
d. glucose and oxygen
Although 78% of Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen, nitrogen is limited in most ecosystems because __________. a. very little nitrogen is needed by living organisms b. plants can assimilate nitrogen only during the day since sunlight is needed for photosynthesis c. nitrogen is used up by living organisms d. the natural conversion of atmospheric nitrogen occurs via only lightning and nitrogen-fixing bacteria
d. the natural conversion of atmospheric nitrogen occurs via only lightning and nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Which of the following best describes the role of autotrophs in the ecosystem? a. they consume other organisms for energy b. without heterotrophs, there would be no autotrophs c. they produce their own inorganic molecules, which can be broken down for energy d. they produce their own organic molecules, which can be broken down for energy
d. they produce their own organic molecules, which can be broken down for energy
Pablo and Johanna have to do a yearlong study for their biology course. After some discussion, they decide to try comparing their dogs and the diet that they feed them. Each has a dog from the pound, and both dogs are less than one year old. Pablo feeds his shepherd-mix dog a special diet of wet and dry foods from the local vet, while Johanna uses generic dry kibble from the supermarket for her bulldog. They want to see which diet results in bigger, healthier, faster-growing dogs. The reason the instructor gives them will include the fact that they have too many ________. a. independent variables and not enough dependent variables b. controlled variables and not enough uncontrolled variables c. replicates and not enough variables d. variables that they didn't control and not enough replicates e. dependent variables and not enough independent variables
d. variables that they didn't control and not enough replicates
If a scientist travels to the rain forest to observe and catalog new species, he or she would be conducting __________. biased science hypothesis-driven science variable-driven science descriptive science
descriptive science
Ruben has a new puppy and wants to feed it the best possible food. He decides on an experiment where he will feed it the very best canned food plus a dietary supplement of vitamins recommended by a veterinarian. Which of the following best describes Ruben's project? a) Ruben needs to take careful measurements of the puppy's weight and height at least once a week for it to be a good experiment. b) Ruben needs to use his mother's 6-year-old chocolate Shar-Pei to feed a standard diet so he can compare his puppy with a control dog. c) This is an example of an excellent controlled experiment as it is written. d) Ruben needs to control for the amount of exercise, sunshine, water, and care that the puppy gets each week, so that they are equal from week to week. e) This is not an experiment there are no controls or replicates.
e) This is not an experiment there are no controls or replicates.
A hypothesis is ________. a. the design of an experiment that can be used in scientific inquiry b. a proven scientific fact c. a prediction about something that has not yet been observed d. an instrument that is used to examine environmental conditions e. a testable proposition that explains an observed phenomenon or answers a question
e. a testable proposition that explains an observed phenomenon or answers a question
Some organisms, such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, produce their own food by absorbing the sun's radiation. These organisms are referred to as ________. a. mutualists or consumers b. parasites or heterotrophs c. heterotrophs or consumers d. heterotrophs or primary producers e. autotrophs or producers
e. autotrophs or producers
In the flow of matter in ecosystems, where would be the greatest flow of nutrients? a. between middle consumers and producers b. between the sun and producers c. between producers and top consumers d. between decomposers and top consumers e. between detritus and producers
e. between detritus and producers
That all the energy of the universe remains constant, is conserved, is neither created nor destroyed, but may change form is a statement of the ________. a. law of entropy b. second law of thermodynamics c. law of feedback d. law of systemic connection e. first law of thermodynamics
e. first law of thermodynamics
________________ are the primary, water-insoluble components of cell membranes. a. acids b. nucleic acids c. proteins d. carbohydrates e. phospholipids
e. phospholipids
A pharmaceutical company wishes to study a possible new headache medicine. They are doing human trials with 1000 volunteers and need to ________. a. have 10 volunteers in the control group b. put all women in the control group and all men in the experimental group c. divide the groups by level of health d. give both control and experimental groups the same amount of the new medication e. randomly assign each person to either the treatment group or control group
e. randomly assign each person to either the treatment group or control group
A scientist can use ecological modeling to attempt to explain and predict how __________ function. View Available Hint(s) landscape ecologists feedback loops ecological systems elements
ecological systems
Which of the following is the study of how the natural world works, how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment? microbiology anthropology environmentalism environmental science
environmental science
Academic environmental programs that emphasize the social sciences are often called ________ programs. ecological science environmental science environmental studies wildlife management resource studies
environmental studies
In scientific research, the strongest form of evidence comes from __________. hypotheses observation experimentation guessing
experimentation