Most deforestation occurs for agricultural purposes as farmers cut and burn forests to grow crops. On a local scale, animals living in the forested area will either die or be forced from their habitat. On a larger scale, many plant and animal species may become extinct.
What is another global effect of deforestation?
Production of fossil fuels will decrease as foliage is destroyed.
Soil erosion will decrease as ash covers and protects the topsoil.
Herbivore populations will increase as more plants become available for food.
Greenhouse gases will increase as carbon dioxide is not taken in by trees.
The Marianas flying fox is a species of bat found in the Pacific islands that plays an important role in pollination and seed dispersal. Hunting and habitat destruction have contributed to a drastic decline in their population. If this continues, what would be a consequence of the extinction of the Marianas flying fox?
Organisms dependent on the flying fox would adapt to other organisms.
Plant populations would flourish due to lack of competition for resources.
The region would experience more extreme climatic conditions due to instability of plant and animal species.
Other animal and plant populations dependent on the flying fox would also decrease and may become extinct.
A lake that has been affected by acid rain may have an altered pH level. Although the pH may be lower than normal, the lake may still appear blue and clear.
Which of the following best explains why this may occur?
*pH is a measure of how acidic/basic a solution is.
Acid rain may promote the growth of organisms that consume lake algae.
Acid rain may introduce invasive species that compete with algae for resources.
Acid rain may neutralize the lake's natural alkalinity which would decrease any cloudiness.
Acid rain may affect the whole lake ecosystem by first killing algae that cause cloudiness.
Human activities affect the quality and supply of natural resources for future generations. Since the Industrial Revolution, the use of fossil fuels has greatly increased industrial productivity, but it has also caused environmental issues.
Which of the following is least likely to be caused by the burning of fossil fuels?
acid rain
global warming
an increase in smog
holes in the ozone layer
Some farmers have begun using biological pest controls to manage their crops. Which of the following is an example of using biological pest controls to contribute to sustainability?
adding ladybugs to the fields of crops
cutting down only selected trees in a field
spraying pesticides that target only some insect species
using modern machinery that is more environmentally friendly
When an island or coastline is deforested, what happens to the coral reefs in the ocean surrounding the island or coastline?
There will be an increase in production by the coral reef, adding to stability.
Increased erosion will lead to an increase in sediment, damaging the coral reefs.
With fewer trees, the coral reefs will receive more sunlight, increasing biodiversity.
Plant and animal populations on land will decrease, leading to an increase in predators in the coral reefs.
Which of the following best describes the main focus of sustainability in the modern world?
using Earth's natural resources without depleting them
providing for the food demands of the world's population
ensuring that endangered species are protected to prevent extinction
developing ways to use natural resources in the most efficient manner
If a scientist discovers a new synthetic chemical that appears to have many potential uses, why must society be extremely cautious after the new chemical is manufactured?
The scientist's work may be flawed, and his work must be verified.
The chemical may be too expensive to manufacture for the general population.
Harmful problems for individuals and the environment may not be initially known.
The best use may not be immediately obvious, and the chemical may be wasted.
Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas supply much of the world's energy. However, these fuels have a tremendous negative effect on the environment. Which of the following would be the best strategy to alleviate this problem?
Impose fines on individuals that overuse fossil fuels and use the money for environmental cleanup.
Educate society on the harmful effects and gradually replace fossil fuels with alternative renewable resources.
Fund scientific research for discovering new energy sources and use the remaining supply of fossil fuels until then.
Create an environmental policy that would ban the use of all fossil fuels due to the negative environmental effects.
Monoculture is the agricultural practice of producing a single crop over a large area. In the 1980s, scientists discovered and produced a monoculture of cotton that was eventually planted throughout the southern states.
What could be one possible side effect of the monoculture cotton?
The farmers could destroy the land due to lack of crop rotation.
Supply could not meet demand because of the single cotton crop.
The price of cotton could escalate because of lack of competition.
Disease could spread throughout the crop due to lack of genetic variation.