Mod 2: Environmental process and sustainability

Question 1

Define Sustainability

Answer 1

The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.

More specifically the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.

Question 2

List 6 environment changes that are related to human society

Answer 2

Climate Change
Pollution of air, land and water
The effects of resource demand
land degradation
loss of biodiversity

Question 3

List factors that contribute to environmental degradation

Answer 3

What we consume
what we produce 
where and how we live
what we eat
our standard of living
how we travel
the generation of energy
use of natural resources
management of waste
how we work

Question 4

Everything that affects an organism during its lifetime is collectively known as its ______.

Answer 4

Environment

Question 5

Physical factors that impact the population of any given species

Answer 5

weather and climate
topography or landform
water

Question 6

Biological factors that impact the population of any given species

Answer 6

competition
predation
parasitism
disease

Question 7

Different types of ecosystems

Answer 7

Land-based
Marine
Freshwater

Question 8

Different types of land based ecosystems

Answer 8

Forests and woodlands
grasslands
alpine shrubland
desert areas

Question 9

Different types of marine ecosystems

Answer 9

coral reefs

sea-grass beds

Question 10

Different types of freshwater ecosystems

Answer 10

lakes
rivers and streams
wetlands

Question 11

Of the 500 million species of organisms that are believed to have ever existed, what percentage survive?

Answer 11

1-2%

Question 12

What is land degredation?

Answer 12

It leads to a reduction in the productive capacity of the land (either economic or ecological).

Question 13

What types of land degradation are easily apparent?

Answer 13

Gully erosion

Question 14

What types of land degradation are not as easily apparent?

Answer 14

soil salinity

Question 15

What is Dry land salinity?

Answer 15

Removal of deep rooted native trees regulate the existing salt-laden artesian water at an acceptable level. When they are removed for cropping the land becomes so saline that it will not suport the very crops for which it has been cleared.