Unit 2: Ecology

Question 1

Biological Magnification (Bio-Magnification)

Answer 1

• When any contaminate found in an ecosysetm becomes increasingly more dangerous as you move up the food web/chain
• higher trophic levels are more effected
• Causes : non-biodegradable chemicals (DDT) introduced into aquatic ecosystems
• Effects : aminals at a higher trophic level are infected with a contaminate & eventually can die; possible species extinction
• Solutions: don’t use / ban DDT; use natural predators instead

Question 2

Habitat Fragmentation

Answer 2

• When an organism can’t access its entire home environment (environment destruction)
• Causes : building roadways and harvesting forests
• Effects : species extinction; species become endangered, vulnerable, or rare
• Solutions : don’t cut down forests / trees or build highways

Question 3

Invasive Species

Answer 3

• an introduction fo a non-native species to an ecosystem
• Causes : import of a non-native / new speceis into a deffernt ecosysetm from where it was grown
• Effect : the non-native species takes over/preys/crowds out native species; habitat fragmentation and possible destruction of ecosystems
• Solutions : don’t import non-native speices into an ecosystem
• Examples : Kudzu, fire ants, python

Question 4

Desertification

Answer 4

• creation of a desert with sand or soil
• Causes : overgrazing; felling of trees; brushwood for fuel; farming
• Effects : changes ecosystems; the sand can’t hold water; starvation
• Solutions : replace sand with nutritious soil; replace plants; reduce soil erosion

Question 5

Deforestaion

Answer 5

• the destruction of forests for timber & farmland
• Causes : cutting down trees; overolgging
• Effects : more CO2 in the air; soil erosion; loss of trees/forests; habitat fragmentation
• Solutions : selective tree harvesting or stop cutting trees down; plant more trees

Question 6

Soil Erosion

Answer 6

• the wearing away fo topsoil by wind & water
• Causes : wind & water wear away topsoil (topsoil is the most fertile soil on the planet and takes oonger to recover)
• Effects : not enough topsoil so the plants can’t grow as well
• Soutions : Plant rye grass or clover in between growing seasons; contour plowing

Question 7

Eutrophication

Answer 7

• the destruction of pond ecosystems
• Causes : excess nutrients in the water cause algal blooms that can destroy pond ecosystems
• Effects : ponds (water) disappear; forms marshes, bogs, and swamps
• Solutions : don’t pollute water and air

Question 8

Acid Rain

Answer 8

• the burning of fossil fuels that releases nitrogen & sulfur compounds into the atmosphere and combine with rain
• Causes :
• Effects : changes soil chemistry; destrustion of pond ecosystems
• Solutions : burning less fossil fuels

Question 9

Smog (smoke + fog)

Answer 9

• When smoke particles in the atmosphere combine with fog
• Causes : smoke paricles combine with fog
• Effects : smog containing sulfur oxides react with water vapor in the atmosphere to make sulfuric acid rain
• Solution : no polluting the air (burning coal…ect)

Question 10

Global Warming

Answer 10

• the increasing temperature in the biosphere (Earth)
• Causes : caused by more CO2 + other greenhouse gases (methane, water vapor, fossil fuels) in the amosphere that hold in the heat from the sun
• Effects : wamer temperatures
• Solutions : decrease the release of greenhouse gases, like methane, water vapor, and CO2, into the atmosphere

Question 11

Ozone Depletion

Answer 11

• When CFC’s (Chlorofluorocarbons) destroy the ozone (O3) molecules that make up the ozone layer
• Causes : CFC’s are emitted into the atmosphere by aerosol cans & AC’s (air conditioning)
• Effects : UV rays from the sun come through; causing skin cancer; harms crops and communities
• Solution : don’t spray with aerosol cans or burn Styrofoam (these are examples of how CFCs are emmited into the atmosphere)