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APES Midterm Review

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142 questions

UNIT 1: THE LIVING WORLD ECOSYSTEMS

Environmental Problems, Their Causes & Sustainability - Chapter 1 & 25
  • Understand concept and examples of the Tragedy of the Commons
  • Know and understand the 3 components of sustainability (solar energy, chemical cycling, biodiversity)
  • Understand ecological footprints, what they measure, the factors that contribute, etc.
  • Understand biocapacity
  • Know developed vs. developing countries (be able to give examples of countries)
  • Understand affluenza and its advantages/disadvantages
  • Examples of point vs. nonpoint pollution
  • Know the 3 major worldviews (environmental wisdom, stewardship, planetary management)
  • Know and be able to give examples of renewable vs. nonrenewable vs. perpetual resources
  • Difference between reusing and recycling
  • Understand the implications of poverty
Chapter 1 Practice Problems
1

Pollution from which of the following is an example of point source pollution?

1

Countries such as China increasingly have populations that are attaining a middle-class status. This has led to all of the following EXCEPT

Use the graphs below to answer the next four questions.

1

India's per capita ecological footprint is approximately

1

In the year 2000, what was the earth's ecological footprint?

1

All of the following ways would help reduce the projected ecological footprint EXCEPT

1

From the bar graph you can infer that Africa's ecological footprint is no greater than

1

Examples of the three principles of sustainability include:

1. Solar energy, which enables plants to photosynthesize and helps humans and helps humans produce electricity
2. Organisms and their ecosystems, the natural services they provide, and the ability of organisms to adapt to changes in their environment
3. Cultural changes such as the agricultural revolution and the industrial revolution, which in many ways enhanced human living conditions but had negative effects on the environment
4. The continuous cycling of chemicals, without which life would not exist

Use the graph at right to answer the next three questions.
1

In what year did the human population reach 6 billion?

1

The dotted line on the graph illustrates which type of growth?

1

Both dotted lines assume that population will

1

Refer to the figure to answer this question.


The figure illustrates

I. The conservation of energy.
II. A cycle.
III. The conservation of matter.

1

Solutions to environmental problems are not always easy. This is because

1

Which of the below is an example of the tragedy of the commons?

Chapter 25 Practice Questions
1

What one believes about what is right or wrong in our behavior toward the environment is

1

We will probably not run out of resources, but they should not be wasted best fits in which environmental worldview?

1

Which of the following is not a guideline for sustain­able living?

1

The idea that science will solve all our problems best describes which mental trap?

1

All of the following are ways to attain a more sustain­able world EXCEPT

1

Which of the below is NOT an economic tool that could be used to bring about a sustainable environmental revolution?

1

Which of the environmental worldviews below is incorrectly paired with its focus?

Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems – Chapter 2
  • Understand the basic chemistry review (matter, atoms, isotopes, pH)
  • Understand the basic biology review (organic compounds, cells)
  • Understand matter quality and energy quality including the Law of Conservation and the Laws of Thermodynamics
  • Understand nuclear changes (radioactive decay, fission, fusion)
  • Understand systems and feedback loops
Chapter 2 Practice questions
Use the graphs of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, striped bass and blue crab population data below to answer the next question.

1

What might be one possible reason for the greater fluctuations in the blue crab population?

1

Which of the below is an example of a high-quality energy source?

1

The energy you use to walk from point A to point B is a result of several energy transformations from one form to another beginning with energy from the sun. The net result of these transformations is

1

The warming of the oceans causing less carbon dioxide to be soluble in them, and at the same time leaving more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causing an increased warming of the atmosphere, is an example of a

1

A scientist made the following statement in 2008:
“The striped bass Young of the Year (YOY) index for 2008, an annual measurement of the number of juvenile striped bass taken in the Marlyand portion of the Chasapeake Bay, is one of the lowest recorded since data was recorded beginning in 1990. The 2008 YOY index for striped bass was 3.2 while the long-term average is 11.7.” (Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel; “CHesapeake striped bass population down for ‘08” 10/29/2008; http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/sports/stories/227216717.html)

This statement is an example of

1

Which of the below organic molecules is incorrectly paired with its function or role?

1

The installation of ice booms on the Niagara River may well have changed the erosion pattern along the river. The irreversible loss of an island from over 100 acres in size to less than 3 acres is an example of

The next five questions refer to the description of an experiment below.
Ecologists designed an experiment to determine whether nitrates or phosphates are more limiting to algae growth. A lake in Canada (Lake 226) was di­vided into two equal-sized sections by a vinyl curtain. Each sub-basin of the lake was then fertilized, one with nitrates and carbon, and the other with phos­phates, nitrates, and carbon. The amount of phyto­plankton in the lake was then measured in each side, with the side of the lake with phosphates added show­ing a greater rate of phytoplankton growth.
1

Frequently, studies in nature are difficult to set up and may lack some aspects of more traditional laboratory based experiments. What element of this experiment could be considered to be lacking?

1

Which of the below is the independent variable in this experiment?

1

Identify the constants in this experiment.

1

Which of the below would be a valid hypothesis for this experiment?

1

What concept below best describes the process being studied in this experiment?

Ecosystems: What are They and How do They Work? – Chapter 3
  • Know the major components of an ecosystem (organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, biosphere)
  • Understand trophic levels and the roles of organisms within trophic levels (producers, autotrophs, consumers, heterotrophs, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores)
  • Understand the flow of energy through an energy pyramid (i.e. the 10% rule)
  • Understand food webs
Chapter 3 Practice Questions
1

A tipping point in the disappearance of the tropical rain forests would be

1

Which is NOT an important ecological role of insects?

The next four questions refer to the compounds listed below.
A. Nitrogen gas (N2)
B. Oxygen gas (O2)
C. Water (H2O)
D. Phosphate (PO43-)
E. Methane (CH4)
1

A greenhouse gas produced by raising cattle.

1

Can be stored in marine sediments for long periods of time.

1

A greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere through transpiration or evaporation.

1

A limiting factor for most plant growth in lakes and terrestrial systems.

1

Organisms live within a range of tolerance that deter­mines where they live. Which of the below is NOT a range of tolerance?

1

This question refers to the data in the table shown.


Applying the 10% rule, if a shrew living in a tropical rain forest has a daily requirement of 500 Cal., how many square meters of rain forest are needed to sup­port one shrew that feeds only on snails which are pri­mary consumers?

1

The end product(s) of the wood in a log being decom­posed by fungi is

1

Which of the below is NOT a human intervention in the nitrogen cycle?

1

The phosphorus cycle includes all of the following EXCEPT it

Climate and Biodiversity/Aquatic Biodiversity - Chapters 7 & 8

Chapter 7:
  • Understand difference between weather and climate
  • Understand importance of natural greenhouse effect
  • Understand what factors influence biomes (temp, precip, latitude, elevation)
  • Major characteristics of each terrestrial biome
  • Know examples of human impact on biomes
Chapter 8:
  • Mutualistic symbiosis that make up coral reefs
  • Ecological/economic services of coral reefs
  • Threats to coral reefs & causes of coral bleaching
  • Ecological/economic services of both marine and freshwater ecosystems
  • Abiotic factors that influence aquatic ecosystems
  • Biotic factors and examples (plankton, nekton, benthos, decomposers)
  • Types of marine zones and their importance (coastal zone, estuaries, wetlands, marshes, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, intertidal zones, open ocean, deep ocean)
  • Human impact on the areas noted above
  • Be able to describe and identify on a diagram the zones for open ocean (photic, bathyal, abyssal)
  • Be able to describe/identify on a diagram the zones for freshwater ecosystems (littoral, limnetic, benthic)
  • Oligotrophic vs. eutrophic lakes
  • Be able to describe/identify zones of rivers and streams (source, transition, flood zones)
Chapter 7 Practice Questions
1

Long-term differences in which two variables are the primary determinants of climate?

1

Which of the below is an example of a change in weather?

The next group of questions refer to this diagram of surface currents in the oceans. Indicate answer with the corresponding letter from the map.

1

A current responsible for moving heat away from the equator.

1

The reversal of this current is associated with ENSO events.

1

Cape Cod juts out from the Eastern coast of North America. This current keeps the waters off Cape Cod very cool.

1

This current causes offshore upwellings of nutrient rich water that is responsible for plankton rich waters sustaining a large anchovy fishery.

1

As one climbs a mountain, the elevation change causes a change in biomes. Which of the below is a change caused by elevation?

1

Which of the below is a true statement about biomes?

The next three questions refer to the climate graphs below. The red line represents temperature and the blue represents precipitation.

1

This biome is characterized by subfreezing tempera­tures much of the year, low precipitation rates, and the formation of permafrost.

1

This biome found in equatorial regions has large amounts of precipitation but has low levels of nutrients in the soil.

1

This biome often has snow, yet the average monthly temperature is always greater than the freezing point. Trees in this biome lose their leaves every fall, produc­ing colorful displays.

1

Which of the below is NOT an adaptation found in plants living in the desert?

Chapter 8 Practice Questions
1

Which element below will be most helpful for reducing erosion from wave action to the coastline of an island in the ocean?

1

Zooplankton are animal larvae that

I. are primary consumers that feed on phytoplankton.
II. are secondary consumers that feed on other zooplankton.
III. are photosynthetic bacteria responsible for most of the ocean surface's primary productivity.

1

Which of the below factors is NOT a primary determining factor for whether an organism is found on the surface or in the middle of the water column in the ocean?

1

Which area below will have the lowest net primary productivity/km2?

1

The primary force responsible for tidal action is the

1

Which of the below is the correct path that a grain of sand would take as it is eroded from a mountain, carried downstream, and deposited on the ocean floor?

1

Where are photosynthetic organisms least likely to be found?

1

Which area of the oceans is most used by people for recreation?

The next four questions refer to the human impacts on ecosystems listed below. (Indicate with appropriate letter)
A. Coral reef damage
B. Overfishing
C. Coastal development
D. Cultural eutrophication from release of excess nutrients
E. Population growth and burning of fossil fuels
1

Causes large areas of little to no oxygen in the Chesa­peake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

1

Causes large areas of beach loss or erosion or migration of beaches to new locations.

1

Caused by boats improperly anchoring.

1

Causes ocean warming and pH reduction, leading to coral bleaching.

UNIT 2: BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity and Evolution - Chapter 4
And Sustaining Biodiversity - Chapter 9
  • Understand the components of biodiversity
  • Functional diversity
  • Genetic diversity
  • Ecological diversity
  • Species diversity
  • Understand & be able to interpret the indices use to measure biodiversity
  • species richness
  • species evenness
  • Understand the Theory of Evolution by natural selection (mutations, adaptations, fitness in environment)
  • Understand how species evolve (speciation, geographic isolation, reproductive isolation)
  • Convergent vs. divergent evolution
  • Understand difference between background extinction and mass extinction
  • Understand how evolution & extinction affects biodiversity
  • Generalist vs specialist species
  • Roles that species play (native, nonnative, indicator, keystone, foundation)
  • Understand GPP and NPP and be able to do associated calculations
Chapter 9:
  • Economic/Ecological Role of honeybees, pollination
  • Difference between different kinds of extinction: Biological, mass extinction, background extinction.
  • Difference between endangered/threatened; extirpation
  • Benefits of species diversity and ecosystem services
  • HIPPCO and what each letter means
  • Invasive species: causes, dangers, prevention
  • Island Biogeography
  • National/International treaties to protect species
  • Roles and limitations of refuges/zoos and other conservation strategies
  • What is the precautionary principle?
  • Principles of sustainability applied to protecting biodiversity
Chapter 4 Practice Questions
The next three questions refer to this diagram.
1

Which part of the diagram depicts the resource use that would be in competition if a new species moves into an area and is in direct competition with another species?

1

The niche of the black bear which is an omnivore would be best represented as which letter?

1

The area under the curve depicted by letter B would be best described as

1

Which of the choices below is the best summary of evolution?

1

Keystone species such as alligators in the Southeast U.S. have an important role and effect on their envi­ronment through

The next four questions refer to the terms below.
A. indicator species
B. keystone species
C. foundation species
D. native species
E. specialist species
1

As pollution levels in streams rise, many aquatic insects such as the mayfly quickly disappear. For this reason, many aquatic insects are studied intensively.

1

The beaver transforms its environment from streams to ponds and swamps, allowing a diverse collection of organisms to thrive that would not normally be able to survive.

1

Kelp (a brown algae) forms large beds, creating a habi­tat for many fishes and shellfishes.

1

The Chitymomma is an Agave that regionally helps or is used to define the Chihuahuan Desert of Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

1

Protists are best described as

1

Which of the below are mechanisms of speciation?

I. Reproductive isolation
II. Mutation
III. Natural selection

1

The best example of an endemic species is

Chapter 9 Practice Questions
1

Introduced species often become pests because they

1

The biggest threat to biodiversity is

1

The sale of a large forest to a developer causing the building of roads, logging, and urban development would most likely lead to

1

Which of the following would prevent invasive species from being introduced and becoming established?

I. Inspect foreign goods before they enter the country.
II. Allow ships to discharge their ballast water as they enter the port.
III. Establish international treaties banning the transfer of species across borders.

1

Match the legislative actions below with what they established legally.

Draggable itemCorresponding Item
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - 1970; requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Bans the hunting, capturing, and selling of threatened or endangered species in 178 countries
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
National policy to prevent marine mammal species and population stocks from declining beyond the point where they ceased to be significant functioning elements of their ecosystems.
The National Marine Fisheries Act
Legally commits participating governments to reducing global rate of biodiversity loss and equitably share benefits from use of world's genetic resources, ratified/accepted by 193 countries
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend; National Act passed in 1973 in US.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), 1976 to establish federal management of the nation’s fisheries and restrict fishing activities in U.S. waters.
Endangered Species Act
1

Biological extinction occurs when

1

Most extinction experts believe that the extent of biodiversity loss will increase over the next 50 to 100 years because of

1

The giant panda is prone to ecological and biological extinction because of all of the following reasons EXCEPT

1

The best example of biomagnification is

The next three questions refer to the following choices:
a. Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation
b. Invasive (nonnative) species
c. Population and resource use growth
d. Greenhouse effect
e. Overexploitation
1

Sale of exotic pets and decorative plants

1

Logging, mining, building of roads, and urban
development

1

No natural predators, generalist, and high reproductive rate

UNIT 3: POPULATIONS

Biodiversity, Species Interactions, and Population Control - Chapter 5
  • Know and understand examples of species interactions (competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism)
  • Understand how species avoid competition (niches, resource partitioning)
  • Understand difference between fundamental and realized niche
  • Understand predator-prey relationships including adaptations and coevolution
  • Understand and differentiate between primary ecological succession and secondary ecological succession


Population Dynamics - Chapter 5 (cont from previous unit)
  • Understand what limits population size
  • Density dependent limiting factors vs. density independent limiting factors
  • Understand J-shaped and s-shaped curves and carrying capacity
  • r-selected vs. K-selected species
  • Understand cycles of population booms and crashes (think of your hare/lynx lab)
  • Understand survivorship curves
Chapter 5 Practice Questions
The next group of questions refer to the species interactions below.
a. Interspecific competition
b. Predation
c. Parasitism
d. Mutualism
e. Commensalism
1

Three species of grasses compete for sunlight in a grassy lawn.

1

A species of ant living in the thorns of the Acacia tree protects the tree from herbivores and feed off of lipid rich food-bodies on the tree.

1

Barnacles adhering to the skin of a whale. The barnacle benefits by being transported to new sources of food and the presence of barnacles does not appear to hamper or enhance the survival of the animals carrying them.

1

Chipmunks, squirrels, and other animals eat the pine nuts that pine trees produce.

1

A species of pseudoscorpion disperses by concealing itself under the wings of large beetles. The pseudoscorpions gain the advantage of being dispersed over wide
areas while being protected from predators. The beetle is unaffected by the presence of the hitchhikers.

The next two questions refer to the graph below of an otter population off the coast of California.

1

What generalized trend can be made from 1983 to
2007 from this graph?

1

What is the percent change in the otter population
from 1995 to 2000?

1

Which of the following is a good example of coevolution?

1

Which of the following has NOT contributed to the explosion of the white-tailed deer population?

1

Which point on the curve above reflects the selection most like that of an elephant, a K-selected species that has reached its carrying capacity?

1

Which of the below is undergoing secondary succession?

1

Which of the below is an example of density dependent population control?

1

When does a tipping point occur?

Human Population and Its Impact – Chapter 6
  • U.S. population size (330 million)
  • World population size (7.9 billion as of Nov. 2021)
  • Carrying capacity vs. cultural carrying capacity
  • Population Growth Rate (PGR) - % PGR = (birth rate – death rate)/10
  • Population Change = (births + immigration) – (deaths + emigration)
  • Understand the Rule of 70 and how to use it
  • Crude birth and death rates are based per 1,000 people in a population
  • Most populous countries
  • Replacement-level fertility rate
  • Total fertility rate (TFR)
  • Factors affecting birth and fertility rates (education, infant mortality, contraception, child labor, poverty, etc)
  • Understand/be able to interpret population age structures
  • General population dynamics in developing vs. developed countries
  • Concerns with aging populations
  • Demographic transition stages and be able to interpret demographic transition chart
  • Solutions to population size (family planning, women’s rights/education, reducing poverty)
Chapter 6 Practice Questions
1

A medium population growth projection calls for a population of 9.3 billion people in 2050 up from the current population of 7.5 billion. What percent increase is this?

1

In 1798 Thomas Malthus hypothesized the collapse of the human population. What factor proved Malthus wrong and led to the continued increases in the human population?

1

The infant mortality rate is NOT

1

Why is replacement-level fertility slightly higher than two children per couple?

1

One of the most important factors in helping to stabilize a developing country's population and reducing environmental degradation is to

1

Which of the below is an example of a positive use of nature's natural capital?

1

Which of the below is the correct order of demographic transition states that a country experiences when industrializing?

1

Which of the below has been utilized in both India and China to attempt to reduce population growth rates?

1

UNIT 5: LAND AND WATER USE

Food Production and the Environment - Chapter 12
  • Undernutrition vs. malnutrition vs. overnutrition and effects
  • Primary food sources for world’s population
  • High-input vs. low-input agriculture
  • Types of agriculture and pros/cons of each:
  • Traditional subsistence
  • Traditional intensive
  • Plantation
  • Industrialized
  • Types of interplanting and pros/cons of each:
  • Polyvarietal, Intercropping, Agroforestry, Polyculture
  • Environmental effects of industrialized agriculture
  • Pros/cons of GMOs, organic agriculture, Animal feedlots, Chemical pesticides
  • 1st Green revolution & 2nd Green revolution
  • Gene revolution (GMOs)
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Regenerative farming
  • What is it?, Examples of practices, Climate benefit
  • Soil
  • Identify and know the properties of different soil horizons
  • Identify and know the properties of soil components
  • Clay, Silt, Sand
  • Be able to use the Soil Texture Triangle
Chapter 12 Practice Questions
1

Industrialized meat production has harmful environmental consequences. These include all of the following EXCEPT

1

Which of the following techniques helps to limit soil erosion?

1

Which best describes genetically modified crops (GMOs)?

1

One way that farmers can help to reduce soil erosion is by using soil conservation methods. Which of the following is an example of a soil conservation method?

Use this soil triangle to determine the following soil types based on %'s of clay, sand and silt.
1

Sample #1:
clay: 45%, silt: 45%, sand: 10%?

1

Sample #2:
clay: 20%, silt: 45%, sand: 35%?

1

Sample #3:
clay: 15%, silt: 80%, sand: 5%?

1

Which of the following would be a disadvantage to using pesticides?

1

Which is the best example of persistence?

1

The following practices are used to grow organic crops EXCEPT

1

A method of using biological control to control pests is to

1

The goal of integrated pest management is to

1

One way to successfully incorporate genetic engineering is to

1

All of the following are true about aquaculture EXCEPT

1

A more sustainable form of meat production is to

Water Resources - Chapter 13
  • Distribution of Earth’s water and freshwater availability - largest to smallest sources
  • Groundwater - zone of saturation, water table, aquifers (natural recharge vs. lateral recharge)
  • Surface water - watershed delineation, surface runoff, reliable runoff
  • Human water usage - domestic, agricultural, virtual water
  • Freshwater shortages
  • Causes
  • Locations - uneven global distribution of water resources
  • Problems with using groundwater - over pumping aquifers, etc.
  • Expanding surface water resources -
  • Dams/reservoirs, advantages vs disadvantages
  • Water Transfer - Aral Sea Case Study
  • Desalination
  • How can we use freshwater more sustainably? - agriculture, industry, homes
  • Threat of flooding - can we reduce the risks?
Chapter 13 Practice Questions
1

Approximately what percentage of the water on the earth is saltwater?

1

A drought in the 1930s transformed large parts of the Midwest into a "Dustbowl." This is an example of

1

One way to conserve water in agriculture is to

1

The Ogallala Aquifer is a one-time deposit of water and has such a slow recharge rate it is

1

The Colorado River project is

The next four questions refer to the following terms. Indicate choice with the appropriate letter.
A. Aquifer
B. Surface water
C. Confined aquifer
D. Water table
E. Transpiration
1

The freshwater from precipitation and snowmelt

1

Evaporation from the leaves of plants into the atmosphere

1

Underground caverns and porous layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock through which groundwater flows

1

Upper surface of the zone of saturation

1

A forested hillside will help eliminate

1

One method of desalination is

Use the graph to answer the next three questions.
1

According to the graph, the flow of the Colorado River has

1

What is a possible explanation about the flow of the Colorado from 1960 to 1980?

1

Which of the following best explains the general downward trend in Colorado River flow from 1910 until 1970?