Final Exam Flashcards
Environmental Science is a _________________.
Systematic approach in learning about the environment
Most environmental problems result from
Complex, interrelated problems
The ability of an ecosystem to recover from a disturbance is known as ____________________.
Resilience
An ecologist from your school who specializes in temperate forest ecology is touring the rainforests of Peru. You are giving her the first tour of the primary forest and she comments on the differences she notices between this ecosystem and the temperate ecosystem she is familiar with. Relate three of the differences she noted and explain what factors in each ecosystem lead to the differences.
Temperature - it is very hot and moist year around there and not every setting will be the exact same
Soil Nutrition - the nutrients in the soil are very rich and full of nutrients that will make trees and other vibrant vegetation grow, where as in a regular forest the nutrients will be different to acquire what the other plants want there.
Precipitation - Rainforests in Peru are very wet and rainy, and not every forest or rainforest will be as wet and rainy as the rainforests in Peru
Exponential growth would be represented by a ______ curve.
J-Shape
Carrying capacity is the population…..
Of a species that an environment can support in a long-term basis.
Draw a graph that shows the relationship of education for females and infant mortality rates. Appropriately label the x and y axis
On the up and down go by 1000’s, and on the left to right go by 25’s. The graph should start at 0,3000 and then proceed to go down 25, 2500 and so on and so forth till it is at 100,0.
- This is because the more educated the females become the less likely the mortality rates become.
Evaluate at least five major environmental risks you have faced in the past year. List the risks you have encountered and rank them from most harmful to least harmful (in terms of increasing the chances of dying in any given year). Support your ranking with explanations.
1.) Environmental Issues - Nuclear accidents; could kill people
2.) Pollution - Respiratory issues; cut off years of life
3.) Radiation - natural sun and tanning beds; can cause skin cancer because of the powerful UV rays
4.) Mining - Fossil fuel; cut down what we have left and can affect the atmosphere
5.) Deforestation - soil erosion; less crops=less food
Compare and contrast industrial farming with organic farming in terms of food production and pesticide use.
Compare:
Industrial
- uses toxic pesticides on plants
- chemical based fertilizers for bigger produce
- will produce more
- need license for certain chemicals
Organic
- use non-toxic pesticides
- use manure and compost as fertilizers
- no license needed
Contrast:
Industrial
- produce does not taste as good
Organic
- More taste
How they are the same:
- produce food
- can provide a living (job)
Discuss four ways that humans benefit from biodiversity.
1.) food - provides us with fruits, vegetables, and meat products from animals
2.) medications - plants are used to make certain medications
3.) jobs - about 60% of the working class is employed in agricultural based jobs
4.) protection - is a buffer for us form natural disasters as well as filtering water
List at least 3 invasive species that live in your area. What are some of the problems they are causing? Is anything being done to control the species?
1.) Wild Hogs - Root up our gardens and fields and pollute our streams and creeks. On a local basis, yes, they are hunted and trapped to keep the population under control
2.) Moles - They dig up our gardens and fields for planting and pasture that maintain livestock. On a local basis, yes, by putting out poison, and other things that shock the ground
3.) Ticks - they attach to humans and animals and pass on disease. In order to control this people use sprays that deter ticks from biting onto them and animals have medications that kill the tick when it bites them
4.) Flys - They land on livestock feces and then go to water sources and pollute them as well as landing on food sources. On a local basis, yes, most people spray for them if they are around animals, and it not some people put out poison to kill them.
Describe at least three methods that may be used in restoring streams. What is the main purpose of each method? List the benefits associated with each of these techniques.
- Reducing sediment influxe so you can plant cover plants; fish need fast moving water
- Restore habit - put things in where they can breath; place for fish to hide
- Increase speed - maintain stream beds or put straw bales out; fish need fast moving water
Describe the main anthropogenic source(s) and associated human health problem(s) for the following pollutants: lead, mercury, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon.
Lead - one of the most sources of mining and/or smelting the ore. Health wise, it causes toxins being absorbed into the nervous system
Mercury - The most common source is coal combustion. Health wise, mercury can cause nerve damage
Sulfur Dioxide - The most common source is coal combustion. Health wise, can cause lung damage by breathing it into the lungs
Carbon Monoxide - most common source from the exhaust of motor vehicles. This as well can cause lung damage by inhaling into the lungs
Carbon - main source is by the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon can lead to the risk of heart disease
Compare and contrast the cleanup and control of nonpoint and point sources of water pollution
Nonpoint - runoff; that is hard to regulate
Point - power plants (smokestacks; can be changed), discharge from pipes and sewers; easier to regulate
Explain the connections between oxygen sag send biological oxygen demand (BOD). Use a drawing in your explanation and use labels
BOD represents the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and other microorganisms while they decompose organic matter under aerobic (oxygen is present) conditions at a certain temperature.
(Point source)
