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?

Smoke from an industrial plant smokestack

Runoff from Midwestern farms

Fertilizers from agricultural fields

Pesticides from farmlands

Oil spills from leaky pipelines

1

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

more people purchasing cell phones, cars, and appliances.

a decrease in environmental impact as residents become increasingly aware of the effects of pollution.

two-thirds of the world's most polluted cities being in China.

increased harmful effects of affluenza.

less arable land available for farming.

Use the graphs below to answer the next four questions.

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1

India's per capita ecological footprint is approximately

1/2 of China's ecological footprint.

1/10 of China's ecological footprint.

1/5 of China's ecological footprint.

equal to China's ecological footprint.

2X China's ecological footprint.

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

reusing resources over and over.

continuing reliance on the current fossil fuel-based, automobile-centered economy.

converting open-access resources to private ownership.

recycling nonrenewable metallic resources.

using shared resources at rates well below their estimated sustainable yields.

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

Any solution has both advantages and disadvantages.

There is only one correct answer to environmental problems.

Once a solution is suggested it can never be changed.

Laws must always be written to solve the environmental problems.

It means that people will suffer.

1

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

Offshore clam beds in public areas depleted below replenishment levels by overfishing

Individuals catching their legal limit of fish on a daily basis

Treaties allowing for the limited taking of whales for research purposes

A large storm smothering a large oyster bed with a new sand bar

Shrimp boats accidentally catching turtles in their nets

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?

Protect biodiversity

Do not waste matter and energy resources

Avoid climate changing activities

Repair ecological damage that we have caused

Help reduce the earth's capacity for self-repair

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

purchase goods that use less packaging material and recycle that whenever possible.

use incandescent rather than fluorescent light bulbs.

use energy-efficient appliances and temperature control systems.

use mass transit, bicycle, or walk whenever possible.

buy food grown within 200 miles of where they are purchased.

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?

Biosphere-Stewardship

Biocentric-Stewardship

Self-centered-Planetary management

Anthropocentric-Planetary management

Ecosystem-centered-Environmental wisdom

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.

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1

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

Increased sediment flow has disrupted striped bass migratory patterns causing a decline in their numbers.

Blue crabs are more highly influenced by rainfall patterns than striped bass.

Blue crabs have a much shorter life span (2 years) than striped bass and naturally have more variability in their population numbers.

Global warming patterns have caused an increase in the Chesapeake Bay temperatures causing increased crab spawning rates.

Eutrophic dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay causing low dissolved oxygen levels have caused a decline in crab numbers.

1

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

Gasoline used to power automobiles

Atmospheric oxygen gas that humans need to survive

Recycled components of discarded computers and other electronic devices

Wood from a fallen tree used to keep a campfire burning on a cold night

Iron molecules retrieved from the world’s oceans

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

A scientific statement that attempts to answer ethical questions of overfishing.

Scientists often trying to prove their results.

An example of how a theory can become a law over time.

Possible human bias research introduced into scientific studies.

A limitation of science in that actual populations are difficult to measure.

1

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

Atrizine-herbicide that blocks photosynthesis

DDT-chlorinated hydrocarbon (insecticide)

Starch-complex carbohydrate for energy storage

Methane-component of natural gas

Chromosomes-energy storage

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?

The depth of the lakes

The amount of phytoplankton growth

The location of the lakes

The phosphate added to one side of the lake

The two lakes separated by a vinyl curtain

1

Identify the constants in this experiment.

The amount of phytoplankton growth

The amount of phosphate added

The species of fish in both lakes compared to other lakes

The depth of the lakes

The nitrates and carbon added to both lakes

1

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

If scientists change the amount of nutrients, then the growth of phytoplankton will change.

If more phosphate is added to one side of the lake, then there will be more phytoplankton growth on that side.

Phytoplankton grows faster with more nutrients added.

The amount of phytoplankton growth will vary with the depth of the lake.

If one side of the lake receives more sunlight, then that side will have more phytoplankton growth.

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

the change in regional weather patterns after clearing the forests that prevents their return.

the loss of habitat for endangered species as the rain forests are cleared.

the clearing of rain forests for agricultural lands that adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

the loss of trees causing less carbon dioxide to be absorbed from the atmosphere.

the clearing of land for a new road to be built through the rain forest.

1

Which is NOT an important ecological role of insects?

Transmitting tropical disease to humans who visit locations between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn

Providing a nutritious food source for other insects and for animals such as bats and frogs

Pollinating almond and fruit trees in California so the farmers themselves do not have to pollinate the flowers

Fertilizing the soil with nutrients from their waste material and when they decompose

Eating insect pests that may irritate or harm other insects

The next four questions refer to the compounds listed below.

A. Nitrogen gas (N₂)

B. Oxygen gas (O₂)

C. Water (H₂O)

D. Phosphate (PO₄^3-)

E. Methane (CH₄)

1

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

Trout populations live in areas with a high dissolved oxygen content and a narrow range of temperature.

Coral polyps need a symbiotic algae living within them.

Desert cacti can thrive in areas with low levels of rainfall.

Blue crabs in an estuary can tolerate wide swings of salinity and temperature.

Royal ferns require moist areas and are only found in wetlands.

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?

Large amounts of nitrates are added to the Chesapeake Bay causing a eutrophic dead zone.

Large amounts of nitrogen are released into the atmosphere as forests are cleared.

Large amounts of nitric oxide (NO) are released into the atmosphere by smokestacks which can cause acid rain.

Specialized bacteria convert ammonia into nitrate and then into nitrogen gas reducing nitrogen available to plants.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is added to the atmosphere through the action of bacteria on livestock waste.

1

The phosphorus cycle includes all of the following EXCEPT it

is found in rock as fossil bones and guano.

can be deposited as marine sediment and not be released for millions of years.

is a fast-moving atmospheric cycle.

is returned to the soil as fertilizer and can cause algae blooms.

is a limiting factor for many plants.

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?

A large area changes from a grasssland to a desert.

While climbing a mountain, one moves through several different biomes.

A thunderstorm forms and drops 1.5 cm of rain.

Increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere cause atmospheric warming.

Desertification of an area causes the area to see increased annual temperatures.

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

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1

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

Biomes become more diverse because of the decrease in temperature.

Precipitation increases as air rises and water vapor condenses, resulting in vegetation that thrives with a large amount of moisture.

Temperature is highest on mountaintops because they are closer to the sun and therefore receive more solar radiation.

The land becomes arid, resulting in the growth of different types of vegetation.

The change in mountainous climate is very similar to the change in climate as latitude decreases.

1

Which of the below is a true statement about biomes?

All desert biomes are hot and dry.

Biomes have not been affected by human presence because the human population is not dense enough to impact them.

Mountainous areas all over the world contain the same biomes.

Although biomes have distinctive vegetation growing in them, basically the same kinds of animals live in all of them.

Biomes have a range of temperatures and precipitation that result in specific kinds of plants that have adapted to those conditions.

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

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1

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

1

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

Deep roots to tap into groundwater

Waxy-coated leaves preventing water loss

Storing much of their biomass as seeds and remaining inactive most of the year

Breaking down stored fats to produce needed water

Opening stomata (pores) only at night to absorb needed carbon dioxide

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?

A coral reef, because it is in the shallow water near the shoreline

A sandy beach, because sand is easily replaced after a storm

An offshore pelagic zone, because the large organisms that live there help lessen the size of the waves

A sand dune, because it protects the oceanic coastline from damaging waves and wind

A salt marsh, because this is where saltwater and freshwater mix

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?

Small streams, because they are not large enough to provide the necessary nutrients

Estuaries, because most organisms cannot survive in water of varying salinity and depth

Ocean shorelines, because the waves sweep organisms out to the open sea

Lake edges, because people often populate lake shorelines

Open ocean, because of the lack of many nutrients such as nitrates and iron

1

The primary force responsible for tidal action is the

rotation of the earth on its axis, because the rate of rotation is so fast.

gravitational pull of the moon, because although it is smaller than earth, it is very close to earth.

tilt of the earth on its axis, because ocean water will rush to the tilted side.

uneven heating, because the heated water becomes less dense and is therefore more easily moved by the wind.

gravitational pull of the sun, because although it is very far away, it is massive in size.

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?

Pelagic zone ➔ estuary ➔ benthos ➔ photic zone

Littoral zone➔ estuary➔ abyssal➔ limnetic

Estuary➔ littoral zone➔ pelagic zone➔ abyssal

Benthos ➔ estuary ➔ profundal ➔ limnetic

Littoral zone ➔ aphotic zone ➔ estuary ➔ benthos

1

Where are photosynthetic organisms least likely to be found?

In estuaries, where freshwater and saltwater mix and where there are many nutrients

In the euphotic zone, with low nutrient levels and high oxygen levels

In the abyssal zone, which is very cold and with little dissolved oxygen, where many organisms live and feed upon dead and decaying organic particles

In the intertidal zone, where organisms must adapt to alternating high and low tides, as well as changing salinity levels

In coral reefs, because the coral uses all the light and nutrients to survive

1

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

Abyssal plain, because scuba divers enjoy seeing the light-producing organisms and the shipwrecks

Littoral zone, because it is near the shoreline and is easily accessible for recreational activities

Upwelling zones, because the upward movement makes water sports more competitive

Primary dune, because the slopes are enjoyed by skateboarders and they will not be hurt if they fall

Profundal zone, because it is deep and dark and pleasant for water skiers

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

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.

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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

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

The need for organisms to evolve a more perfect form.

The strongest organisms will survive to reproduce.

The change in the genetic makeup of successive generations of a species.

The grand plan of nature determines how organisms will evolve.

The organisms have desires for particular traits and so evolve them.

1

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

having large numbers to regulate the producers.

playing a critical role in sustaining their ecosystem.

shaping the community to enhance it for other species.

controlling bacterial levels preventing the infection of other species.

eliminating all potential predators in the ecosystem.

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

Protists are best described as

prokaryotes such as cyanobacteria, consisting of single cells with no nucleus.

single-celled bacteria such as thermophiles that live in extreme conditions such as oxygen-free sediments in swamps,,water with very high salinity, or heat such as hydrothermal vents.

eukaryotes, mostly single-celled organisms with a nucleus, such as diatoms and protozoans, some of which cause diseases in humans.

usually multicelled; many are decomposers such as molds and mildews.

multicellular organisms such as mosses and ferns, which can be annuals or perennials.

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

the golden toad, extinct since 1989, which lived in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

amphibians that live in ponds in agricultural areas.

reindeer that live north of the Arctic Circle.

humans that live in the Andes Mountains of South

America.

the gray wolf, which is locally extinct in the American

northeast.

Chapter 9 Practice Questions

1

Introduced species often become pests because they

produce only a few young after a long period of gestation.

increase biodiversity because they attract more species to the areas in which they settle.

inhabit only niches that have recently become available after the local extinction of another species.

have a low genetic variability, enabling them to live in a wide variety of habitats.

can live in many niches, easily adapt to many variables, and eat a wide variety of food.

1

The biggest threat to biodiversity is

the proliferation of zoos and botanical gardens, causing people to care less about preserving species in the wild because they are being cared for in those sanctuaries.

an increase in climate change, because it will result in many species moving northward or to higher elevations as they seek out their necessary habitat.

human population growth, because as population increases so does the number of plants and animals they eat, resulting in a decrease of those organisms.

asteroid strikes, such as what happened 65 million years ago resulting in the extinction of the dinosaurs.

habitat destruction, such as cutting down portions of tropical rain forest, which destroys the niches occupied by tropical organisms.

1

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

increased biodiversity because niches are created along roads where trees are cut down and in newly urban areas.

an increase in the number of indicator species because the loss of species during development would cause remaining species to become indicators.

a net increase in available biomass because more sunlight is available for autotrophs.

a decrease in invasive species because they would also have a difficult time surviving in fragmented land that has lost many of its resources.

a loss of biodiversity due to habitat fragmentation, because small populations of species are more vulnerable to predation, competition, and disease.

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 item		Corresponding Item
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		Endangered Species Act (ESA)
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 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
Protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend; National Act passed in 1973 in US.		The National Marine Fisheries 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.		National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - 1970; requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.		The Marine Mammal Protection Act
Bans the hunting, capturing, and selling of threatened or endangered species in 178 countries		Endangered Species Act

1

Biological extinction occurs when

a species becomes extinct in a specific area, such as the gray wolf in the American northeast.

a species is found nowhere on earth, such as the passenger pigeon.

additional species are preyed upon, such as when bats adapt their echolocation ability to hear the moths whose ears had adapted to hear the sound frequencies of bats.

there is a loss of indicator species, such as when the population of butterflies quickly declines in an area where they previously had been plentiful.

an event such as a volcanic eruption results in some members of a species becoming separated from other members, and ultimately each group becomes genetically different and can no longer interbreed

and produce offspring who can interbreed.

1

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

natural disease processes.

less fragmentation of biodiverse regions.

the projected growth of the world's human population and resource use per person.

the reduced input of solar energy cooling the planet and altering the earth's life.

the increase due to poaching and the demand for endangered species.

1

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

it is a specialist, living in a specific habitat and eating specific food.

its low reproductive rate, and it is not usual for pandas to successfully breed in captivity so they can be reintroduced to their habitat.

it is a top predator because no other large animal in the area eats only bamboo.

it lives in specific areas in Asia in a narrow distribution.

there are limited numbers of giant pandas living in the wild.

1

The best example of biomagnification is

nutrients from a nearby farm are washed into a pond, resulting in an increase of algae and a loss of oxygen, and eventually a dead zone.

after wolves were domesticated, people chose to breed individuals who had characteristics they desired, resulting in a wide variety of dog breeds with different abilities and physical appearances.

individual elephants had traits that enabled then to better survive in their habitat and they became more likely to produce offspring with that same trait, which enabled the offspring to survive and reproduce.

DDT was a pesticide that was used universally during the 1950s and 1960s. This chemical entered the food chain and worked its way up, eventually making the eggs of predatory birds so fragile they could

not successfully reproduce.

a road is built, fragmenting a forest and exposing the animals to introduced species, local climate changes, and disease.

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

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

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

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1

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

The otter is growing at an exponential rate.

The otter is showing a slow rate of population

increase.

The otter has reached its carrying capacity.

The otter is an endangered species.

The otter is declining more than growing.

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?

An interaction between species that benefits each, such as oxpeckers eating ticks and flies found on the backs of elephants

The sea lamprey attaching itself to fish for nourishment, such as is occurring in the Great Lakes

A bromeliad attaching itself to tropical trees to gather sunlight, water, and nutrients

Populations of the common garter snake have evolved a resistance to the toxins of their prey, newts of the genus Taricha; as the newts continue to evolve more potent toxins, the garter snakes evolve an increased amount of resistance to the poison over time as well

Several species of birds, all feeding on the same species of tree, evolve traits that enable them to eat at different levels of the tree or by eating different kinds of prey species

1

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

Elimination of many of their natural predators

Hunting laws restricting their hunting

Suburbanization eliminating many forests and creating many edge habitats

Trapping of deer and moving them out of areas where they are not wanted

Many people planting their properties with edible flowers and shrubs

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?

Recently cooled lava from a volcano

A boulder field left from the retreat of a glacier

A newly created small pond

An agricultural field recently cut for hay

An area newly covered with sand dunes

1

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

Humans clearing a forested area

A forest fire burning a woodland tract

Red-tailed hawks feeding on rabbits

An avalanche clearing a hillside of all trees and shrubs

Pollution from a city killing invertebrates in a local stream

1

When does a tipping point occur?

Each year, more and more of the sea ice melts in the Arctic. In less than 5 years there will most likely be a summer when there is no sea ice in the Arctic and this will have large ramifications for the ecology of the area that is dependent on sea ice.

The animal population rapidly changes, as when 26 reindeer were introduced to the island of St. Paul in 1910. By 1935, the population grew to more than 2,000 reindeer. Because of a lack of resources, the population dropped to eight reindeer by 1950.

There is a limit to the number of organisms that can be sustained in a particular habitat.

A population can become weak or die off if the optimal amount of physical or chemical factors no longer exists in their habitat.

Vegetation grows in response to a change in the environment, such as when a forest is cut down and species gradually return to the area, which may then become fully forested.

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?

Use of fossil fuels

Increased genetic resistance of pest species

Reliance on renewable resources

Food production increased at an exponential rate

Modern health care doubling the birth rate worldwide

1

The infant mortality rate is NOT

used to calculate the population growth rate.

lower in the United States than in any other country.

in developing countries most commonly a result of diarrheal diseases caused by polluted water.

lower in countries where women are empowered by education and equality

an indication of the availability of nutritious food and health in a country.

1

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

Some people do not marry.

Some children die before reaching reproductive years.

Use of contraceptives is increasing in developed countries.

Death rates are high in developing countries.

eath rates exceed birgh rates in stable countries.

1

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

decrease the rate at which people may emigrate.

reduce the infant mortality rate by making available more medicine for both infants and pregnant women.

empower and educate women.

teach people the importance of recycling materials used in their everyday lives.

ensure that people have enough food to eat by establishing local plots of land for rent, thereby enabling local communities to grow their own food.

1

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

Elimination of many natural predators of humans

Increasing use of the earth's net primary productivity to feed humans

Increased reliance on renewable energy resources

Introduction of species into new communities to control pests

Modification of the earth's geochemical cycles for energy uses

1

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

Iron age, agrarian, preindustrial, industrial

Nomadic, preindustrial, industrial, postindustrial

Nomadic, agrarian, preindustrial, industrial

Preindustrial, transitional, industrial, postindustrial

Agrarian, preindustrial, transitional, industrial

1

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

Limiting immigration

Increasing emigration

Attempting to prevent the transition to an industrial state

Importing new technologies into the country

Family planning and education

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

the use of large amounts of energy.

contributing to the eutrophication of the Gulf of Mexico.

contributing to global warming.

polluting the air, water, and soil with manure.

natural control of pests.

1

Which of the following techniques helps to limit soil erosion?

The creation of steep steps on a hillside, creating a series of flat areas on which to plant crops

The use of off-road vehicles because they flatten and harden the soil beneath them

The presence of large numbers of animals grazing too long in a grassy area, which hardens the soil they stand on

Cutting down all the trees in a specific area

Growing only wheat, rice, and corn, which provide approximately half the calories people ingest

1

Which best describes genetically modified crops (GMOs)?

Genes are spliced from one species into another species.

Plants are not grown in soil, but istead their roots are in nutrient-filled water so they are protected from pests that would otherwise damage them.

Used mostly in tropical developing countries, crops such as bananas, coffee, and sugar cane are grown on large plantations and sold to developeed countries.

Planting a variety of crops in the same area such as native grass, grains and sunflowers.

Fishes are grown in underwater cages, protected from pest species.

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?

Cutting down trees to allow sunlight and rain to reach the soil.

Native plants are plowed up to make room for crops, and after the crops are harvested, land is plowed and left bare until the next growing season.

One or two crops are plante dtogether in rows between trees or shrubs, which provide shade as well as fruit or nuts.

Frequent flood irrigation of agricultural land, whereby the water flows in ditches through the fields.

Frequent irrigation so water accumulated under the ground and, when the water table rises, supplies constant water to the plant roots.

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

null

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?

The financial treadmill occurs, wherein pests become resistant to pesticides so farmers must use higher doses to kill the pests.

Pesticides have a long shelf life, so farmers will not lose money if the pesticides are kept for a long time before being used.

By killing the pests that damage agricultural crops, pesticides help keep the price of food down.

Pesticides save lives by killing the vectors for diseases such a malaria, bubonic plague, and typhus.

Selective pesticides kill specific organisms, such as acequinocyl, which kills mites.

1

Which is the best example of persistence?

Protecting the enemies of pests by providing havitats for them, such as creating areas where spiders are safe during varvesting so they will persist in eating the pests

First-generation pesticides, natural chemicals found in plants such as nicotine sulfate in tobacco leaves

The use of genetic engineering to create pest-resistant crops so successive generations of those crops will also be pest resistant

The use of essential oils taken from common specis such as clove, mint, rosemary, and thyme

DDT, because it remained harmful in the environment for years

1

The following practices are used to grow organic crops EXCEPT

keeping organic matter and nutrients in the soil as much as possible.

spraying pesticides on the roots so that the part of the plant that is eaten is not contaminated.

providing habitat for insects or other small invertebrates that feed on pests.

planting crops before or after insect pests are there to cause damage.

bringing in natural enemies to the insect pests, such as releasing ladybugs or praying mantis insects.

1

A method of using biological control to control pests is to

use a second-generation pesticide.

bring in natural enemies such as predators, parasites, and bacteria.

utilize synthetic herbicides.

use broad-spectrum agents.

allow wind to carry pesticides from one region to another.

1

The goal of integrated pest management is to

genetically engineer as many crop species as possible to eliminate the need for pesticides.

wipe out as many of the pest species as possible to save crops.

use biological, chemical, and cultivation techniques in a coordinated way to eliminate pest species.

encourage farmers to grow organically, eliminating the need for pesticides.

wipe out as many of the pest species as possible to save human lives.

1

One way to successfully incorporate genetic engineering is to

add pesticides to the DNA of the crop plant.

cross a crop plant with a native variety.

bring in hormones to control developmental processes at different stages.

use biological control by importing natural predators.

get on the pesticide treadmill.

1

All of the following are true about aquaculture EXCEPT

algae and other plants are the most common food eaten by fishes raised in aquaculture envionments.

farmed fishes are safe from contamination by toxins such as PCBs because their cages do not allow them to swim deep enough in ocean water.

China raises 70% of the world's fishes using aquaculture methods.

about 37% of the wild marine fishes caught are used to provide food to farmed fishes.

also called the blue revolution, this method involves raising fishes in ponds, lakes, rice paddies, and underwater cages in oceans or estuaries.

1

A more sustainable form of meat production is to

graze beef in larger numbers but on local lands so the meat does not have to travel as far to the consumer.

switch to poultry and farm-raised fish because these are more grain-efficient animals.

inject cattle with hormones to grow larger with more muscle mass so fewer head of cattle would have to be raised.

switch to beef rather than pork or poultry because cattle are larger and can supply meat to more people.

use less land by putting more animals in feedlots and injecting them with antibiotics to keep them healthy.

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?

97%

93%

75%

60%

45%

1

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

what would happen if the giant toad or feral pigs are not controlled.

the results of many inches of rain falling within a few hours.

the conversion of rangeland or cropland into a desertlike area.

evaporation of water from the ground and release of moisture from leaves.

water flowing over the surface when it is unable to infiltrate the ground because of saturation of the soil or a steep slope.

1

One way to conserve water in agriculture is to

plant crops that have adapted to arid climates by sending down deep tap roots and storing water in times of drought.

use a technique similar to the ancient Egyptians', whereby they relied on a river to regularly overflow its banks.

plant crops in places with less sunlight so there are fewer hours during the day for evaporation to occur.

channel gray water from homes and industry to agricultural areas.

use a watering technique that focuses the water in the immediate area of plant roots.

1

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

protected by state laws and is therefore underutilized.

huge and can accommodate the water needs of the Great Plains for at least several more decades.

not replenishing at the rate it is being used, and one result is land subsidence.

increasing each year with the expectation that the rate of increase will grow as the climate changes and brings more storms to the Great Plains.

suffering from severe salinization as water infiltrates the ground and dissolved minerals are added to the aquifer.

1

The Colorado River project is

an underutilized resource that could easily provide water to farmers, ranchers, and cities.

extremely eutrophic because as water slows down behind the dams, there are more opportunities for nitrates and phosphates to enter the river water.

a water diversion project that supplies water to large cities such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

a government-subsidized water utility that provides cities such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego with cheaper water because Lake Powell and Lake Mead are huge bodies of water.

a confined aquifer that is being overpumped and polluted because of increasing populations in the cities it serves.

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

A forested hillside will help eliminate

the need for research such as that done at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire.

the use of pesticides, because the shade of the forest prevents insect pests from entering the area.

droughts, because transpiration ensures that forest areas always have a high moisture level.

flooding, because trees help reduce soil erosion and the flow of water downslope.

unsustainable farming, because crops cannot be grown on forested slopes.

1

One method of desalination is

forcing the water through a filter, which removes salts from the water.

taking more water from the aquifer than is being replaced, so less salts and minerals are entering the water.

saturating the groundwater so the water table rises, and thus decreasing the ratio of salts within the groundwater.

planting only drought-resistant vegetation, reducing the amount of water needed in home.gardens and in agriculture.

the use of hydroponic agriculture so water and salts are not added to the ground during irrigation.

Use the graph to answer the next three questions.

null

1

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

dropped continually since 1910.

gone up and down but continues to trend downward.

stayed steady over the last 10 years.

dropped steadily from 1935 until 1945.

slowly increased in the last 10 years.

1

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

There was no rainfall.

Rainfall led to variation in flow.

There were average rates of precipitation.

There was a drought.

Windstorms deposited large amounts of sediment in the reservoir.

1

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

More water is being removed from the Colorado River before it reaches any of the dams.

A series of heavy winter snowstorms have changed the water level of the Colorado River.

Residents are using more water-saving devices in their homes.

The dams on the Colorado River divert water to cities and for agriculture.

The underground aquifer is being depleted as more farmers use its water for agricultural irrigation.

APES Midterm Review

UNIT 1: THE LIVING WORLD ECOSYSTEMS

UNIT 2: BIODIVERSITY

UNIT 3: POPULATIONS

UNIT 5: LAND AND WATER USE

APES Midterm Review

UNIT 1: THE LIVING WORLD ECOSYSTEMS

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

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

India's per capita ecological footprint is approximately

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

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

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

In what year did the human population reach 6 billion?

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

Both dotted lines assume that population will

Refer to the figure to answer this question.The figure illustratesI. The conservation of energy.II. A cycle.III. The conservation of matter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

Identify the constants in this experiment.

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

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

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

Which is NOT an important ecological role of insects?

A greenhouse gas produced by raising cattle.

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

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?

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

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

The phosphorus cycle includes all of the following EXCEPT it

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

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

A current responsible for moving heat away from the equator.

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

Which of the below is a true statement about biomes?

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

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

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

Zooplankton are animal larvae thatI. 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.

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?

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

The primary force responsible for tidal action is the

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?

Where are photosynthetic organisms least likely to be found?

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

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

UNIT 2: BIODIVERSITY

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?

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

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

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

Protists are best described as

Which of the below are mechanisms of speciation?I. Reproductive isolationII. MutationIII. Natural selection

The best example of an endemic species is

Introduced species often become pests because they

The biggest threat to biodiversity is

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

Match the legislative actions below with what they established legally.

Biological extinction occurs when

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

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

The best example of biomagnification is

Sale of exotic pets and decorative plants

UNIT 3: POPULATIONS

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

Refer to the figure to answer this question.
The figure illustrates
I. The conservation of energy.
II. A cycle.
III. The conservation of matter.

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Which of the below are mechanisms of speciation?
I. Reproductive isolation
II. Mutation
III. Natural selection

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

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

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

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

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

Refer to the figure to answer this question.
The figure illustrates
I. The conservation of energy.
II. A cycle.
III. The conservation of matter.

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

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