Environmental Change Part 2

Question 1

What is an example of a source/provisioning function in an ecosystem?

Answer 1

Mineral deposits such as coal which we turn into fuel

Question 2

What is an example of a sink/regulating function in an ecosystem?

Answer 2

Micro-organisms in oceans which break down oil spills

Question 3

What is an example of a service/supporting function in an ecosystem?

Answer 3

Wetlands which filter water and slow floodwaters

Question 4

What is an example of spirituality/cultural function in an ecosystem?

Answer 4

The deep connection Indigenous Australians have with their tribal lands

Question 5

In the ecosystem of the Australian Alps, provide an example of each ecosystem service?

Answer 5

Sources: Food sources from the stream such as fish
Services: Trees provide shade and photosynthesis for organisms
Sinks: Trees act as a sink for carbon dioxide
Spirituality: Native people have a deep connection with the land, formed over many generations

Question 6

How do sources/provisioning functions benefit humans?

Answer 6

We gain food sources such as plant crops or fish

Question 7

How do sinks/regulating functions benefit humans?

Answer 7

Bacteria in soil breaks down human waste

Question 8

How do services/supporting functions benefit humans?

Answer 8

Natural environment allows photosynthesis to occur

Question 9

How does spirituality/cultural functions benefit humans?

Answer 9

People appreciate the aesthetic value of the land

Question 10

Which ecosystem service is of the greatest value to a Western, capitalist society and why?

Answer 10

Sources/provisioning functions, because they lead to the production of goods and therefore boost the economy

Question 11

What is sustainability?

Answer 11

The ongoing capacity of the environment to support the lives of all living things and manage resources, to ensure we meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same

Question 12

What are the three type of systems?

Answer 12

Isolated, closed and open

Question 13

What occurs in an isolated system and provide an example?

Answer 13

No energy or mass comes in and out, such as a submarine

Question 14

What occurs in a closed system and provide an example?

Answer 14

Only energy comes in and out, such as Earth

Question 15

What occurs in an open system and provide an example?

Answer 15

Energy and mass comes in and out, such as a classroom

Question 16

What was Biosphere 2 and its purpose?

Answer 16

A man-made closed system, designed to act as a model to test hypotheses regarding the functioning of Earth

Question 17

Why could Biosphere 2 be initially described as a closed system?

Answer 17

No mass entered or exited the system, and there was no external air coming in

Question 18

How did the closed system of Biosphere 2 become an open system?

Answer 18

Oxygen had to be pumped into the system in order to sustain life, changing it from a closed to open system

Question 19

Where else could the closed system idea of Biosphere 2 apply to and why?

Answer 19

On Mars, because there is no mass coming in or out of the system