question

Tragedy of the commons

answer

earth resources that are unregulated and will eventually be depleted

question

Ecocentric

answer

decisions that benefit the ecosystem

question

Biocentric

answer

decisions that benefit ALL of life (humans, animals, trees, etc.)

question

Anthropocentric

answer

decisions that ONLY benefit humans.

question

Biocapacity

answer

the capacity a certain area has to generate an ongoing supply of renewable resources.

question

Ecological footprint

answer

a measure of the amount of resources a person or country uses.

question

Overshoot

answer

when resource consumption is greater than biocapacity.

question

Environmental Justice

answer

fair treatment of all people, despite any ethnicity, in terms of following environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

question

What happens when our ecological footprint overshoots or exceeds the biocapacity? Can sustainability be achieved?

answer

If all resources are used, then some people will go without resources such as shelter or food. Sustainability can be regained only if the the biocapacity is the same or more than the population. NO- sustainability can not be achieved.

question

Does the present generation have an obligation to conserve resources for future generations?

answer

Yes. Future generations would have less or none nonrenewable resources if we don't watch or limit how much we use.

question

My intuition is that the right to live is one and the same for all individuals, whatever the species.

answer

Biocentric

question

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth

answer

Anthropocentric

question

The tree has a right to exist, untouched. The river has a right to flow, unpolluted, and undammed.

answer

Ecocentric

question

Deep Ecology

answer

Ecocentric

question

Shallow Ecology (typical of the western world and western religion)

answer

Anthropocentric

question

The Lorax

answer

Ecocentric

question

Attitude of respect whereby one attempts to make an effort to live one's life in a way that respects the welfare and inherent worth of all living creatures.

answer

Biocentric

question

"When I go to the beach, I don't go in the water because there might be unpleasant animals like jellyfish or crabs there."

answer

Anthropocentric

question

"The most important reason to protect areas where fish mature and reproduce is to insure that people will have enough fish to eat in the future."

answer

Anthropocentric

question

"It's OK when pelican steal fish from commercial fisherman because pelicans have to eat, too."

answer

Biocentric

question

One way to decrease the size of our ecological footprint is to...

answer

decrease consumption rates

question

Which countries tend to have higher ecological footprints?

answer

Developed countries

question

Which of the following statements best illustrates the tragedy of the commons? 1. a factory pollutes a river as much as the law allows 2. some levels of pollution are life threatening 3. some activities harm the environment, but others do not 4. irrigated cropland can be ruined by salinization 5. cropland can decrease biodiversity

answer

A factory pollutes a river as much as the law allows

question

New efforts to prevent the tragedy of the commons include

answer

moving from a taxpayers pay approach to a users pay approach

question

The Pale Blue Dot is a short essay written by

answer

Sagan

question

Who is best known as the founder as the Sierra club and the conservationist who urged the US President at that time to start the National Park System in the United States?

answer

John Muir

question

Which American president is famous for instituting protection of the California wilderness in the early 1900's?

answer

Roosevelt

question

American school of philosophy exemplified by Emerson and Whitman which saw nature as a smybol of deeper spiritual truth

answer

Transcendentalism

question

The concept of sustainability as applied to marine resources means we will manage these resources to

answer

Maintain viable populations of all fish species

question

Which of the following BEST describes the concept of a sustainable development? 1. using only renewable resources 2. maximizing the harvest of a resource 3. meeting human needs today without endangering the needs of future generations 4. harvesting a resource at a level that depletes resources 5. preserving biodiversity (biodiversity: diversity of a species in an area)

answer

Meeting human needs today without endangering the needs of future generations

question

A natural resource can be considered sustainable if...

answer

The rate of harvest does not exceed the rate at which the resource is replaced or renewed by natural processes.

question

The most likely explanation for the collapse of the Rapa Nui society of Easter Island is:

answer

an unstable society brought on by overexploitation of natural resources.

question

The capacity of an ecosystem to generate an ongoing supply of resources and to absorb its wastes is known as:

answer

Biocapacity

question

Population

answer

a group of individuals of a particular species that live in the same are and have a reasonable chance of mating

question

A particular type of organism; a population or group of populations whose members share certain characteristics and can freely breed with one another and produce fertile offspring.

answer

Species

question

Carrying Capacity

answer

the maximum population size of a species that a given environment can sustain. It can change.

question

Population Density

answer

the number of individuals per unit area

question

Exponential Growth

answer

When a population increases at a fixed percentage each year.

question

Logistic Growth

answer

when populations grows and slows as it approaches its carrying capacity.

question

High population densities

answer

can create too much competition over resources and may lead to disease and starvation.

question

Low population densities

answer

have more space and resources, organisms may have difficulty finding a mate.

question

Population Ecology- what affects population?

answer

size, density, distribution (random, uniformed, clumped), age, sex ratio's, birth, death, immigration, and emigration.

question

Limiting factors of population growth

answer

food/water, shelter, predation, disease

question

Population ecology- distribution: Random

answer

Randomly spread out

question

Population ecology- distribution: Uniformed

answer

Ex: penguins Certain amount of space

question

Population ecology- distribution: Clumped

answer

Most common (ex. humans)

question

Biotic

answer

Living or used to be living

question

Abiotic

answer

Nonliving

question

Biotic potential

answer

The ability to produce offspring

question

High Biotic Potential

answer

lay thousands of eggs

question

Low Biotic Potential

answer

long gestation period

question

K-selected species

answer

Low biotic, long gestation period, devoted to parenting the offspring. Populations tend to stabilize at or near carrying capacity

question

R-selected species

answer

High biotic potential, uses energy to produce as many offspring as possible. Tend to go above carrying capacity and dive back down

question

Survivorship curves

answer

Birth and death rates- type 1,2,3

question

Type 1 survivorship curve

answer

High death rates at older ages

question

Type 2 survivorship curve

answer

Equal death rates at all ages

question

Type 3 survivorship curve

answer

High death rates at young ages (R)

question

Ecology

answer

the science of the relationships between organisms and their environments

question

Density dependent factors

answer

factors AFFECTED BY population density

question

List density dependent factors

answer

food, shelter, disease

question

Density Independent factors

answer

factors that have the ability TO AFFECT population size but have nothing to do with population density

question

List density independent factors

answer

temperature, floods, fires, landslides

question

Fluctuations in populations (4 important factors in population)

answer

May grow, shrink, or remain stable. Birth rate, death rate, immigration(coming in), emigration(exiting) (birth rate + immigration) - (death rate+ emigration)= growth rate

question

Biodiversity

answer

The variety of different types of life found on Earth. Number of different species in an area.

question

Biodiversity- Animal distinctions

answer

Genes: disease resistance, varied diet, body size, climatic condition

question

Biodiversity loss

answer

1.Habitat change and loss 2.Resource extraction (mining) 3.Invasive species, pollution 4.Overharvesting 5.Agricultural development.

question

Protection of biodiversity

answer

U.S. endangered species act, 1975 CITIES, 1992 biodiversity treaty

question

Which of these graphs shows the Kaibab deer population between 1900 and 1923? 1. Straight line slanting upward, showing steady increase over time 2. J-shaped upward curve with very rapid increase 3. A "sine wave" curving up, down, up, down 4. Rapidly decreasing slope from left to right 5. S-shaped curve that shows smooth, rapid increase then levels off

answer

J-shaped upward curve with a very rapid increase

question

The removal of livestock and predators, and the cessation of hunting in 1907...

answer

Changed the environmental resistance, increasing K for the Kaibab deer.

question

What is going to happen to the area resources immediately after 1923?

answer

The deer herd continues to increase, so the resources will continue to damaged.

question

The initial population of the Kaibab deer in 1906 was about 4,000. In an area of about 800,000 acres, this works out to an average density of one deer per 200 acres. What is the density in 1923?

answer

One deer per 8 acres

question

Mule deer such as the Kaibab population can live 10-25 years. In 1920, an age structure diagram of the Kaibab deer population would...

answer

Look like a wide triangle, very wide at the bottom and narrow at the top.

question

A Type 1 survivorship curve is typical of

answer

Large mammals such as gorillas

question

Groups of organisms with low biotic potention, such as gray whales, that produce at most one offspring ever other year, are said to be...

answer

K- selected

question

The carrying capacity is the

answer

Maximum population size that a given environment can sustain

question

A population that is growing exponentially in the absence of limiting factors can be illustrated by...

answer

J-shaped curve

question

High population density can...

answer

Increase the incidence of disease transmission

question

A biologist reported that a sample of ocean water had 5 million diatoms of the species Coscinodiscus centralis per cubic meter. What was the biologist measuring?

answer

Population density

question

The innate (automatic) reproductive capacity of a species is its...

answer

Biotic potential

question

What ALWAYS HAPPENS when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?

answer

The population growth rate decreases

question

Populations that follow the J curve often exhibit a "population crash" in which the population is reduced to a fraction of its original size. A likely explanation for this is that...

answer

The population may destroy some aspect of the carrying capacity and thus reduce it for future generations.

question

The combination of all of the abiotic and biotic factors that may limit population increase is called...

answer

Environmental resistance

question

Under the optimal conditions, the fruit fly (Drosphila) is capable of producing a new generation every two weeks. This ability is referred to as the ________ of the species

answer

Biotic potential

question

What can be said about the growth of a population whose age structure graph approximates a triangle with a large base?

answer

It is increasing rapidly

question

A species whose member grow and reproduce quickly and then die off makes up a _______ species and would have a ________ survivorship curve.

answer

R-selected, Type 3

question

Density-dependent factors include factors such as_______, while density-independent factors include factors such as______.

answer

Competition, storms

question

Which of the following is NOT a limiting factor in the environment?

answer

Environmental Resistance

question

Which of the following would most likely increase competition between members of a population?

answer

An increase in population density

question

By altering habitats, human activity has resulted in the decline of many wildlife species by acting as a...

answer

Density independent factor

question

What is part of an ecosystem that is not part of a community?

answer

Abiotic factors

question

Habitat

answer

The specific environment where an organism lives

question

A species use of resources and its functional role in the community. is within or inside a habitat

answer

Niche

question

Competitive Exclusion

answer

One organism eliminating another when competing for a specific limited resource

question

Specialist

answer

Very specific niche requirements

question

Generalists

answer

Have broad tolerances and are able to use a wide variety of habitats or resources

question

Predation

answer

When one organism kills or eats another

question

Mutualism

answer

Partnership between two species where both benefit(+/+)

question

Commensalism

answer

One species benefits and the other is neither benefitted nor harmed (+/0)

question

Parasitism

answer

When one organism lives in or on another and feeds on it without immediately killing it

question

Can 2 species occupy the same niche?

answer

No, a specific niche can only hold one species because of the limited amount of resources

question

Community

answer

Multiple interacting species that live in the same area

question

Ecosystem

answer

Community+Abiotic factors

question

The cumulative total of living things on earth

answer

Biosphere

question

Population Ecology

answer

Studies how individuals in one species interact with one another

question

Organismal Level

answer

Studies the relationships between organisms and their environment

question

Community Ecology

answer

Studies interactions among species

question

Reveals the patterns by studying living and nonliving components of the environment

answer

Ecosystem Ecology

question

Competition

answer

When 2 organisms attempt to use the same resources

question

Intraspecies or intraspecific competition

answer

Same species

question

Interspecies or interspecific competition

answer

2 or more different species

question

Succession

answer

Predictable series of changes within the species of an ecosystem .

question

Primary Succession

answer

Community is built from scratch, on rock surfaces.

question

Secondary Succession

answer

New community forms on a previously existing ecosystem (abandoned farmland, areas destroyed by hurricanes, logging, fires, dried lakes)

question

Primary consumers are called herbivores. True or false?

answer

True

question

All ecosystems use sunlights as their primary source of energy. True or false?

answer

False

question

Despite the diversity of ecosystems in the world, all have similar trophic levels. True or false?

answer

True

question

Occasional disturbances from natural forces such as fire are good for many ecosystems. True or false?

answer

True

question

Omnivores consume both producers and consumers True or false?

answer

True

question

Large organisms like eagles, lions, or salmon are primary consumers of energy while small organisms like mice, rabbit, ad sparrows are secondary consumers. True or false?

answer

False

question

Producers are always autotrophic True or false?

answer

True

question

Consumers are always heterotrophic True or false?

answer

True

question

A trophic cascade can be caused by the removal of a keystone species. True or false?

answer

True

question

Hydrothermal vent communities use heat from the vent for their primary energy source. True or false?

answer

False

question

Abandoned farmland usually reverts back to forest. This process of forest regeneration is called...

answer

Secondary succession

question

Which of the following represents a typical example of ecological succession in temperate deciduous forest?

answer

Bare soil, weeds, grasses, shrubs, conifers, deciduous trees.

question

A species that has an essential role in maintaining ecosystem structure is called...

answer

Keystone Species

question

Approximately what percentage of energy will be passed on to the next trophic level in a typical food chain?

answer

10%

question

In a food chain, the trophic level that has the greatest biomass is the...

answer

The producer

question

The chemical process through which glucose and other organic molecules are broken down to release energy is known as ...

answer

Cellular respiration

question

In a food web that consists of grass, mice, deer, and wolves, which species is likely to have the greatest biomass?

answer

Grass

question

The process that bacteria in the hydrothermal vents perform that is not performed by other organisms in most ecosystem is...

answer

Chemosynthesis

question

Which of the following statements describes the movement of energy in food chains?

answer

Energy decreases at higher trophic levels

question

The FIRST trophic level refers to...

answer

All producers

question

Succession is made possible because...

answer

Immigrating species make the environment less suitable for species already there.

question

Where might an ecologist be able to study primary succession?

answer

A new island formed by a volcanic eruption, gravel-filled valley that had been covered by a glacier until recently, and a huge boulder or rock layer on top of mountains.

question

Different species can share the same habitat, but competition among them is reduced if they...

answer

Occupy different niches.

question

The relationship between a flower and the insect that feeds on its nectar is an example of...

answer

Mutualism. BC flower provides insect food and the insect pollinates the flower.

question

A species may become invasive if______ are absent from the environment.

answer

Limiting factors

question

Which of the following is not an example of mutualism? Termites and protozoans Humans and intestinal bacteria Clown fish and sea anemone Aphid and plant

answer

Aphid and plant

question

When two different species compete for the same limited resource it is called...

answer

Interspecific competition

question

In Madagascar, several species of lemur eat bamboo, but each species specializes in one part of the bamboo- one species eats mature bamboo stalks, one species eats bamboo shoots, and one species eats leaves. This is an example of...

answer

Resource partitioning

question

It is very important to keep______ off of Mount Rushmore, otherwise they may begin the process of______

answer

lichens, primary succession

question

If primary consumers contain 700 kilocalories of energy, the tertiary consumer will contain...

answer

7 kilocalories

question

How much water makes up the earth?

answer

75%

question

How much of the Earth's water is salt water?

answer

97.5%

question

How much of the Earth's water is fresh water?

answer

2.5%

question

How much water is groundwater?

answer

20%

question

How much of the water are ice caps and glaciers?

answer

79%

question

How much water is surface water?

answer

1%

question

Watershed

answer

Area that drains into a river, including all tributaries

question

Aquifer

answer

An underground layer of water- bearing permeable rock from which groundwater can be extracted with a well

question

Confined Aquifer

answer

Water is trapped between layers

question

Unconfined Aquifer

answer

No top layer, less pressure and easily recharged

question

Water table

answer

The level below where the groundwater is saturated with water.

question

Recharge Zone

answer

The area where water enters the aquifer

question

List the four features of a Karsts

answer

Sinkholes, losing steam, springs, cave

question

Solution to water shortages:

answer

Desalination: taking salt out of salt water Reduce agricultural demand Xeriscaping- replacing lawns of grass with sand and rocks (Arizona) Use native plants when landscaping

question

Point pollution

answer

Pollution that is coming from a specific source. Oil spills

question

Non point pollution

answer

Pollution that comes from everywhere and cannot be pinpointed. Runoff carried by rivers

question

Eutrophication

answer

The enrichment of an ecosystem with chemical nutrients. Blocks light from plants on the bottom of the ocean.

question

What causes eutrophication?

answer

Inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus

question

What type of water does nitrogen affect?

answer

Marine water

question

What type of water does phosphorus affect?

answer

Freshwater

question

What does eutrophication cause?

answer

Excessive plant growth (algal bloom). Plants die and decompose, decomposition uses up oxygen, fish die.

question

Heat pollution (thermal pollution)

answer

Takes oxygen out of water. Power plants pump in river water, use it to cool their hot machines, pump the hot water back out to the river.

question

Trophic cascade

answer

Happens when one trophic level goes up or down. When one changes in one level then it affects the other levels.

question

Are all primary consumers herbivores?

answer

Yes

question

Are all introduced species also invasive?

answer

No unless they increase competition

question

Heterotrophic

answer

Get energy from other things. Consumers

question

Autotrophic

answer

Producers. Make own food

question

A hole dug into an aquifer to reach groundwater is called a...

answer

Well

question

Which of the following offers a way to control nonpoint pollution? 1. restricting the types of trash buried in a city's only landfill 2. refusing to allow a new factory to dump waste into a river 3. upgrading the requirements for underground storage tanks 4. reducing the amount of chemicals applied to your own lawn

answer

Reducing the amount of chemicals applied to your own lawn

question

The best way to reduce groundwater pollution is to....

answer

Prevent it from happening because it takes longer for groundwater pollution to break down.

question

All of the land area that supplies water to a particular river system in a(n)

answer

Watershed

question

Sometimes, the ground water naturally rises to the surface creating 1. aquifers 2. wells 3. drainage basins 4. springs

answer

Springs

question

To help regulate river flow, prevent flooding, and to build a stable supply of water, engineers build... 1. aquifers 2. water tables 3. dams 4. wells

answer

Dams

question

Which of the following is an example of nonpoint-source pollution? 1. a boat leaking motor oil 2. a pipe releasing hot water 3. rain washing salt off the roads 4. a container leaking chemicals

answer

Rain washing salt off the roads

question

Harmful algal blooms are a result of what type of pollution?

answer

Nutrient

question

When neighborhood residents noticed a large number of dead fish in a local creek, they traced the problem to a nearby gas station. It turned out that the tank of antifreeze had developed a leak. This is an example of...

answer

point pollution

question

Which of the following causes most of the pollution of oceans? 1. sewage sludge dumped directly into the ocean 2. oil spills from tankers and offshore oil rigs (like Exxon Valdez or BP oil spill) 3. ship dumping garbage into the ocean 4. pollutants from and based activities that area carried to the ocean by rivers

answer

Pollutants from land based activities that are carried to the ocean by rivers

question

Some communities have banned detergents containing high levels of phosphates (substances containing phosphorus) because...

answer

Excessive phosphates in rivers and lakes begin the process of cultural eutrophication

question

Which of the following might occur as a result of plastic trash accumulating in the ocean? 1. turtles mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish, ingest them, and die of intestinal blockage 2. sea birds are strangled by plastic six-pack rings 3. sea mammals, such as seals and otters, become tangled in fishing line and drown 4. all the above

answer

All of the above

question

Which of the following is the most likely source of point pollution? 1. animal wastes that wash away from parks and lawns 2. leakage of radioactive waste from a landfill 3. runoff of fertilizer applied lawns 4. runoff of oil from mega mall parking lots

answer

Leakage of radioactive waste from a landfill

question

A common feature of thermal pollution and artificial eutrophication is that they both...

answer

Decrease the amount of oxygen dissolved in water

question

What is the most practical solution to fresh water shortages?

answer

Water conservation and preservation

question

A fecal coliform test.... 1. could be used to test whether a sewage treatment plant is leaking 2. test for the presence of a bacterium called Escherichia coli (E. coli) 3. would reveal a contamination of a water supply by animal feces 4. all of the above

answer

All of the above

question

Which of the following is most likely to cause conflict between two countries that share a river? 1. the upstream country drills a large number of new water wells 2. the upstream country builds a new series of dams 3. the downstream country uses an increasing amount of water irrigation 4. new industries dump pollutants into the river near the delta (or estuary) where the river empties into the ocean.

answer

The upstream country builds a new series of dams

question

Most of the Earth's fresh water is

answer

Frozen at the north and south poles

question

Which of the following offers a way to control nonpoint pollution 1. collecting livestock wastes in storage pits for treatment 2. reducing fertilizer use at home 3. checking automobiles regularly oil leaks 4. eating less meat 5. all of the above

answer

All of the above

question

Thermal pollution is caused by____and is classified as _____pollution 1. nutrients, nonpoint 2. nutrients, point 3. heat, nonpoint 4. heat, point

answer

heat, point

question

Dam:Reservoir::

answer

Wreck:traffic jam

question

Artificial or cultural eutrophication: fertilizer::

answer

thermal pollution:heat

question

Watershed: river::

answer

recharge zone: aquifer

question

Nonpoint pollution:multiple sources::

answer

point pollution: single source

question

Desalination: salt::

answer

Decontamination: pollution

question

List the 4 primary features of a karst landscape

answer

losing stream, springs, sinkholes, caves

question

What is the land around the river called?

answer

Floodplain

question

List the fossil fuels

answer

coal, oil, natural gas

question

Fossil fuels

answer

Nonrenewable resources, takes millions of years to form, releases carbon dioxide when burned

question

Coal

answer

Nonrenewable, formed from dead plants

question

Oil

answer

Nonrenewable, formed from dead ocean organisms

question

Natural gas

answer

Nonrenewable, formed from dead ocean organisms

question

Nuclear Power

answer

Nonrenewable, energy that exists in the nucleus of an atom. Radioactive waste instead of co2

question

When is energy released?

answer

When bonds that hold protons and neutrons together are broken.

question

Nuclear fusion

answer

What happens on the sun, atomic nuclei are combined. Two or more lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus

question

Nuclear fission

answer

Uranium atoms are split using a neutron bullet. A heavy nucleus splits to form 2 or more lighter nuclei.

question

Whats the difference between fission and fusion?

answer

fission: heavy nucleus splits to form 2 or more lighter nuclei fusion: 2 or more lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus

question

Lake Karachay

answer

Most polluted spot on the planet, contaminated from nuclear waste

question

List the renewable energy sources

answer

Solar- photovoltaic cells= electricity AND solar collectors= heat/hot water Wind Geothermal- using heat from earth. From geysers, hot springs, volcanoes, etc Biomass Hydroelectric Wave/tidal energy

question

List the nonrenewable energy sources

answer

Oil Gas Coal copper, aluminum, and other metals

question

How many rivers have dams?

answer

98%

question

How many rivers are free flowing?

answer

2%

question

Pros and cons of dams:

answer

PROS: Releases no carbon dioxide, produces electricity CONS: Disrupts ecosystems, destroys habitats

question

Solar Energy

answer

Uses photovoltaic(pv) cells on solar panels, turns sunlight into electricity. Solar collectors turns sunlight into heat

question

Wind power

answer

Wind causes blades on windmills to rotate Shaft turns generator to produce electrical energy Transformer converts it to high voltage Electricity is transferred to power via grid

question

Biomass

answer

Natural decomposing things crops, sewage, feces, forestry Biomass is burned which creates steam. The steam is used to turn turbine and power generator

question

Geothermal

answer

Energy using hot rocks below the Earth's surface

question

Ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water

answer

Benthic

question

When the concentration of a substance in an organism exceeds the background concentration of the substance in the organism's diet

answer

Biomagnification

question

Approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's patterns and strategies

answer

Biomimicry

question

Process of converting glucose to carbon dioxide and water

answer

Cellular respiration

question

Biological conversion of carbon molecules and nutrients into organic matter

answer

Chemosynthesis

question

Expresses a biological community of plants, animals, and fungi

answer

Climax Community

question

The change of a biological object triggered by the change of a related object

answer

Coevolution

question

Ethic of resource use, allocation, exploitation, and protection

answer

Conservation ethic

question

A US agency that has a goal to protect human and environmental health

answer

EPA

question

The sum of the environmental factors that restrict the biotic potential of an organism

answer

Environmental Resistance

question

The process of a species becoming extinct

answer

Extinction

question

A chemical or a natural substance added to soil or land to increase fertility

answer

Fertilizer

question

A fissure in a plant that geothermally heats water, commonly found near volcanoes

answer

Hydrothermal vent

question

Deficiency of oxygen

answer

Hypoxia

question

Organisms that spread uncontrollably and intrude other places

answer

Invasive

question

An organism that plays a unique and vital role in their ecosystem

answer

Keystone Species

question

A simple slow-growing plant that typically forms on rocks. First thing that starts primary succession. Made of algae and fungi

answer

Lichen

question

"Survival of the fittest" where species better adapted to their environment survive and others die with their traits.

answer

Natural selections

question

Heterotrophic plankton; organisms that drift in fresh bodies of water

answer

Zooplankton

question

A process where plants turn light into energy

answer

Photosynthesis

question

Heterotrophic plankton; plays a key role in fresh bodies of water

answer

Phytoplankton

question

Species that are first to colonize damaged ecosystems beginning a chain of ecological succession

answer

Pioneer Species

question

The commitment to try and preserve the environment

answer

Preservation Ethic

question

Organisms that eat autotrophs; all primary consumers are herbivores

answer

Primary Consumer

question

Biological and ecological building of plant life in a certain area (lichens)

answer

Primary Succession

question

A series of community changes that take place in a previously colonized, but now damaged habitat

answer

Secondary Succession

question

Organisms that eat heterotrophs

answer

Secondary Consumer

question

Mud or a mixture of liquid and solid components

answer

Sludge

question

Maintaining or supporting something at a minimum level

answer

Subsistence

question

The capacity to endure something; endurance of systems and processes

answer

Sustainability

question

Another word for urbanization; the migration of people from very populated to low population places

answer

Urban Sprawl

question

A_____ produces electricity and a _______ uses electricity

answer

Generator, motor

question

Electricity generators are very large quantities of________ spinning around inside very large_________ at very high speeds.

answer

Copper wire, magnets

question

When a turbine spins it causes the_____ to be set into motion which generates electricity.

answer

Generator

question

In a coal burning power plant, the heat from burning coal is used to...

answer

Cause water to evaporate into steam

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How does coal harm the environment? 1.destructive mining 2.releases greenhouse gases 3.contributes to acid rain 4. all the above

answer

All

question

Where does the energy in coal come from?

answer

Carbon compounds stored in dead trees, photosynthesis, the sun

question

Fossil fuels are______ energy source

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Nonrenewable

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Electricity is

answer

The flow of electrons

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Fossil fuels are formed by

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The partial decay and compression of dead organisms over millions of years

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An environmental impact common to all fossil fuels is

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They release carbon dioxide when burned

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Which of the following is not a fossil fuel? 1. Coal 2. Oil 3. Gasoline 4. Natural Gas

answer

Gasoline

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What is the most environmentally damaging type of coal mining?

answer

Mountain-top removal

question

What's the order of how coal produces electricity?

answer

1. Burn coal 2. High pressure 3. Spins Turbine 4. Generator is set in motion

question

All electric generators work by.... 1. converting oil into electricity 2. turning turbines in a dam 3. moving an electrical conductor, such as a metal wire, through a magnet field 4. rubbing copper against a substance that does not conduct electricity

answer

Moving an electrical conductor, such as a metal wire, through a magnetic field

question

Which of the following fuels does NOT release carbon dioxide when it is used to produce electricity? 1. uranium 2 natural gas 3. biomass 4. coal

answer

Uranium

question

Which of the following accurately describes the use of dams to generate electricity? 1. dams are expensive to build and cannot be built everywhere 2. electricity can be generated without producing waste products 3. dams create reservoirs that provide a water supply for cities and farms, but they also destroy ecosystems 4. all statements are correct

answer

All statements are correct

question

Which of the following does NOT correctly match the energy source with its advantages? Which is false? 1. coal can be easily obtained with minimal environmental damage 2. solar energy cannot be used up and does not pollute the atmosphere 3. nuclear energy does not release any air pollution

answer

Coal can be easily obtained with minimal environmental damage

question

The action of moving a conductive material through a magnetic field...

answer

Generates an electric current

question

Which process is the current method by which nuclear power plants obtain their initial energy? 1. release of energy from carbon 2. fission 3. fusion 4. petroleum

answer

Fission

question

Great amounts of energy are released by...

answer

The process of nuclear fission Small amounts of uranium-235 The breaking of subatomic bonds (the splitting of nucleus)

question

One disadvantage of hydroelectric dams is that they...

answer

Disrupt previously existing river ecosystems

question

What is the main problem that prevents geothermal energy from being widely used?

answer

Geothermal energy is only available in certain areas

question

Most power plants produce electricity by...

answer

Releasing the energy stored in carbon compounds

question

Unlike fossil fuels, biomass...

answer

Is considered a renewable resource

question

The major environmental impact common to all fossil fuels is that they...

answer

Produce carbon dioxide

question

Fossil fuels are a_______ energy source

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Nonrenewable

question

The Alaska pipeline was built to:

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Help increase production of domestic (coming from U.S.) crude oil.

question

Fossil fuels are formed by...

answer

the decay of dead organisms over millions of year

question

Which of the following is a correct comparison of the mining impact of the coal and nuclear industries? 1. uranium mining causes a much larger impact 2. mining is not part of the environmental impact of a fuel 3. mining impacts are both small ad compared to the extraction of other fuels 4. they both involve about the same amount of mining 5. coal mining results in a much larger impact

answer

Coal mining results in a much larger impact

question

Using nuclear energy to create electricity 1. is always safe 2. is never safe 3. involves splitting an atom 4. keeps matter unchanged on the atomic level 5. involves a great deal of air pollution

answer

Involves splitting an atom

question

Producing more electricity through nuclear power plants instead of fossil fuel-fired plants would:

answer

Help to moderate the greenhouse effect by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air

question

In 1987, Congress selected this site for long-term disposal of high level radioactive waste; but after much debate congress decided to not go through with the project.

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Yucca Mountain, Nevada

question

The world's worst nuclear power plant disaster to date occurred at...

answer

Chernobyl, Ukraine

question

With 75,000 dams in the United States, only____ percent of rivers are still free-flowing.

answer

2%

question

Home production of electricity from solar energy requires the use of:

answer

Photovoltaic cells (PV cells)

question

The burning of natural gas releases no carbon dioxide into the air. True or false?

answer

False

question

The operation of a nuclear power does not contribute to global warming. True or false?

answer

True

question

Solar energy is a renewable energy source. True or false?

answer

True

question

The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the air. True or false?

answer

True

question

Wood, solid waste, or crops used to produce energy

answer

Biomass

question

The breaking of the bonds holding together subatomic particles

answer

Nuclear fission

question

The energy that exists within the nucleus of an atom

answer

Nuclear or subatomic energy

question

Consists of a semiconductor material (phosphorous-silicon) that releases electrons when energized

answer

Photovoltaic

question

Used to heat water

answer

Sollar collectors

question

Blowing up the earth to get to coal...sickening/corporate greed

answer

Mountaintop removal

question

Energy generated by falling water

answer

Hydroelectricity

question

The flow of electrons

answer

Electricity

question

A simple turbine

answer

Windmill

Environmental Science Final study guide (tests 1-5, vocab terms)

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