Understanding Urban Sprawl and Ecosystem Dynamics

24/25 that's 96% RETAKE 24 questions were answered correctly . 1 question was answered incorrectly . 1 Which of the following is NOT an impact of urban sprawl?  Less walkable cities  Exposure to carcinogens inside vehicles  Reduced biodiversity  Lower need for gasoline RATIONALE Urban sprawl leads to a greater need for gasoline to fuel the cars that travel further distances. Urban sprawl also leads to a reduction in biodiversity, cities that are less walkable because of the reliance on cars, and increased exposure to carcinogens inside vehicles because of the increased time spent in cars. CONCEPT Urban Sprawl in the United States 2 Which of the following correctly defines an ecosystem?  The number and abundance of species living in a certain area  Services that humanity benefits from, including water purification and soil formation  A relationship between humans and nature in which resources can be used indefinitely  Living organisms interacting with nonliving components in a specific area

RATIONALE The definition of an ecosystem is the living and nonliving components that interact in a given area. The number and relative abundance of a species in a given area is biodiversity. Services provided by the environment that humanity benefits from are ecosystem services. The relationship between humans and nature in which resources can be used indefinitely is sustainability. CONCEPT Biodiversity Sustainability 3 Environmental scientists cite several challenges to protecting endangered species. Which of the following is NOT a difficulty faced by those working to protect endangered species?  Extinction is natural in nature, and its rate of occurrence has remained steady.  Scientists who are focused on a single species may not recognize another species in peril.  Fundraising can be more difficult if the species is not perceived as valuable.  Protection efforts may be slowed because of difficulty enforcing new regulations. RATIONALE Species extinction is a natural ecological process, but it can also be due to human activities such as habitat loss, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. Extinctions are currently happening at a higher rate than the historical average because of these human activities.

Protecting endangered species can be slowed by a lack of enforcement, lack of funding, or failure to notice other species in danger when focusing on one specific species. CONCEPT Endangered Species 4 Choose the true statement about global food production.  Food production is dependent on suitable land, temperature, precipitation, and soil health.  Cash crops include only nonfood crops such as tobacco and rubber.  Examples of subsistence crops are tea and coffee.  Many different crops are grown around the world, but rice is the most dominant. RATIONALE Food production is dependent on four primary factors: arable land, temperature, precipitation, and nutrient availability. Rice, corn, and wheat are the dominant crops grown around the world. While cash crops include nonfood products, certain foods are also considered cash crops. Tea and coffee are examples of cash crops, not subsistence crops. CONCEPT Agriculture Practices 5 Select the statement that refers to an exponential population growth model.  This model considers an environment’s biotic and abiotic conditions.  This model of population growth is more realistic.  The slope of the graph in this model is determined by changes in birth and death rates.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

 The slope of the graph in this model is determined by natural resource availability. RATIONALE Sine exponential growth models are not concerned with limited resources or carrying capacity, the main factors affecting the slope of the line are the changes in birth and death rates. Since biotic and abiotic conditions are ignored, these models are less realistic than logistic models. CONCEPT Population Ecology 6 Select the energy source that is nonrenewable.  Algae are made into biodiesel.  A dam converts running water into electricity.  A solar farm produces electricity for 2,000 homes.  A natural gas stove allows chefs to adjust the flame during cooking. RATIONALE Natural gas is a fossil fuel and a nonrenewable source of energy. Solar, biodiesel from algae, and hydroelectricity are all forms of renewable energy. CONCEPT Energy Renewable Energy Nonrenewable Energy 7 Choose the statement about deforestation that is NOT true.  Soil erosion degrades the land.  The water cycle is affected.

 Climate is unaffected.  Impacts are local, regional, and global. RATIONALE Climate is affected by deforestation. When deforestation occurs, the carbon dioxide that was stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Deforestation contributes to soil erosion; changes in the water cycle; and environmental changes at the local, regional, and global levels. CONCEPT Forests and Deforestation 8 Of the world’s electricity, 13%–14% is produced by __________.  natural gas  nuclear energy  oil  coal RATIONALE Nuclear energy produces between 13% and 14% of the world’s electricity and 6% of its energy. Coal provides around 37% of the world’s electricity, natural gas around 24%, and oil only around 3% since it is mainly used for transportation, not electricity. CONCEPT Nonrenewable Energy 9 Which of the following is an effect of acid rain?  Solar radiation gets trapped in the atmosphere.

 Forest cover becomes irregular and sparse.  More solar radiation enters the atmosphere.  Respiratory and cardiovascular disorders develop. RATIONALE Forest cover becoming irregular and sparse is an effect of acid rain. The development of respiratory and cardiovascular disorders is an effect of particulate matter. Solar radiation getting trapped in the atmosphere is an effect of the greenhouse effect, while more solar radiation entering the atmosphere is an effect of ozone layer depletion. CONCEPT Impacts of Air Pollution 10 Which statement about the Kyoto Protocol is true?  Since signing, global greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 14%.  Each participating country had the same target for reducing emissions.  The agreement set goals for emission reductions by 2012.  The United States ratified the agreement in 1997. RATIONALE The goal of the Kyoto Protocol was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2012. While the United States signed the Kyoto Protocol, it was never ratified by the country, meaning the targets are not binding. Different countries had different targets for reducing emissions. Unfortunately, greenhouse gas emissions have not decreased since the Kyoto Protocol. CONCEPT Efforts to Address Climate Change

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

11 Choose the true statement about the sources of air pollution in the United States.  Nonpoint sources of air pollution are easier to monitor and control.  Mobile sources contribute about one third of man-made pollution emissions.  Stationary sources of air pollution are also point sources.  Natural sources of air pollution include household products. RATIONALE Stationary sources are point sources of air pollution, because they are easier to monitor and control than mobile sources. Nonpoint sources of air pollution are more difficult to monitor and control. Mobile sources contribute about half of man-made pollution emissions. Stationary sources of air pollution include household products, such as refrigerators and lawnmowers. CONCEPT Air Pollution 12 A piece of land was cleared of trees many years ago but has been left alone since. New trees have grown and restored the land to its previous state. This ecological process is called __________.  species interaction  ecosystem management  primary succession  secondary succession RATIONALE

Secondary succession occurs when a disturbance damages communities or organisms in an already-established community enough that there is a vacuum, where new species can move in and establish themselves. Since the land was previously cleared of trees, the new trees growing there are part of secondary succession. This process is not a part of primary succession, species interaction, or ecosystem management. CONCEPT Community Ecology 13 Select the FALSE statement about the benefits and impacts of dams.  A dam can provide hydroelectric power, which is environmentally safer than burning fossil fuels.  A dam can create new ecosystems, which increase biodiversity.  A dam can provide a means of irrigation to a region with poor or unpredictable rainfall.  A dam can provide a dependable water supply for urban or industrial use. RATIONALE Dams fragment habitats and decrease biodiversity; they don’t create new ecosystems or increase biodiversity. The other statements about dams are true. CONCEPT Water Supply 14 Which statement about human population growth is FALSE?  The global population is expected to peak at 7 billion and then begin decreasing.  From 1350 A.D. to the present, the world has experienced continuous population growth.

 From 200,000 B.C. through 8,000 B.C., the global population was low.  The world population doubled between 1959 and 1999. RATIONALE The human population reached 7 billion in 2011 and has continued to grow since. The global population stayed low until the end of the Black Death in 1350. Following this, the world has experienced continuous, often rapid, population growth. Between 1959 and 1999, the human population doubled from 3 billion to 6 billion. CONCEPT Human Arrival and Expansion 15 Which of the following is the best example of how the public can apply environmental science?  Studying the impact of a proposed natural gas pipeline that crosses a protected environment  Purchasing only organic vegetables after learning about the damaging effects of pesticides  Administering free vaccinations to children in a developing country  Regulating air and water emissions from a nearby power plant RATIONALE The public can apply environmental science by making informed decisions, such as purchasing organic vegetables. Administering vaccines in a developing country would be an environmental application for a nonprofit organization, regulating air and water emissions would be an application for an environmental government agency, and studying the impact of a pipeline on the environment would be an application for environmental scientists. CONCEPT

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Applying Environmental Science 16 Plant and animal life faced many challenges when moving from water to land. Select the FALSE statement about this transition.  Plant and animal life experienced increased effects of gravity on land.  Organisms had to adapt in order to reproduce on land.  Plant and animal life suffered from a lack of consistent sunlight on land.  Organisms tended to dry out upon moving to land. RATIONALE Plant and animal life did not suffer from a lack of consistent sunlight during the transition from water to land, since there was more sunlight on land than in the oceans. In fact, plants and animals faced dried out and died if they couldn’t find a water source on land. They also had to learn how to reproduce and do other things on land, where the effects of gravity are increased compared to those in the water. CONCEPT Early Life 17 Choose the statement that is most likely to be made by an environmentalist rather than by an environmental scientist.  “Some renewable energy sources capture their energy from natural processes, such as wind, flowing water and the Sun.”  “Lessening our dependence on fossil fuels is the most important environmental issue facing the world today.”  “The burning of fossil fuels causes more environmental damage than using renewable energy sources.”

 “Coal-powered plants emit 40% of the United States’ total carbon dioxide and 50% of its particle pollution.” RATIONALE This statement is the most likely to be made by an environmentalist because environmentalism concerns the subjective ethics of how humans impact or are impacted by the natural world, while environmental science remains objective. The other statements are objective and are therefore more likely to be made by environmental scientists. CONCEPT Environmentalism 18 Select the item below that is biotic .  Water  Dirt  Algae  Air RATIONALE Biotic elements and environments are those that are living. Algae are living and are considered biotic. Water, air, and dirt are nonliving and are considered abiotic. CONCEPT Environmental Science 19 Ecosystems provide many benefits to humans, which are termed “ecosystem services.” Photosynthesis and soil formation are examples of __________ services.  cultural

 provisioning  supporting  regulating RATIONALE Supporting services include topsoil formation, nutrient cycling, and the production of energy from sunlight or photosynthesis. Provisioning services include food, fiber, and fuels. Cultural services include tourism, educational use, and aesthetic value. Regulating services include climate regulation, water purification, and pollination. CONCEPT Biodiversity 20 John and Cheryl want to avoid using pesticides as much as possible on their farm. They rotate crops to disrupt insect mating cycles and introduce some common pests’ natural predators into their fields. Their neighbor is trying to keep pests from their crops and gardens too, so they ask John and Cheryl for advice. Which suggestion is the most effective method of environmentally friendly pest control?  Plant several plots of vegetables so one pest can’t destroy all of them.  Use compost and other organic farming methods to provide pest protection.  Use only genetically modified seeds.  Plant aromatic herbs to serve as a natural deterrent to pests. RATIONALE Planting aromatic herbs is an effective and environmentally friendly way to help attract pests away from the more valuable crops.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Using only genetically modified seeds might be effective, but it is not practical or environmentally friendly. Using compost or planting several plots of vegetables are not effective ways to control pests. CONCEPT Fertilizers and Pesticides 21 Which of the following statements about photosynthesis and carbon cycling is true?  All carbon on Earth is contained in living organisms.  Climate is involved in carbon recycling.  Carbon cycling occurs in both long-term and short-term cycles.  Cellular respiration is the breakdown of sugars as oxygen and energy. RATIONALE The carbon cycle can occur in short-term intervals (carbon is absorbed by plants during photosynthesis, and the plants are then eaten by animals, who absorb and exhale the carbon) and long-term intervals (dead organisms are compressed over millions of years to form fossil fuels, which are then extracted and burned by humans, releasing the carbon into the atmosphere). While all living things are made of carbon, it is not true that all carbon on Earth is contained in living things. The climate is not involved in carbon recycling, but human impacts on the carbon cycle have also extended to the global climate. Cellular respiration is the breakdown of sugars to produce carbon dioxide, not oxygen, and energy. CONCEPT Photosynthesis and the Carbon Cycle 22 Which of the following is an example of competition?  Leeches attach themselves to a swimmer’s legs.  Cacti with deeper root systems consume more water than other nearby plants.

 An owl captures and eats a field mouse.  Bacteria in a human’s intestine eat food that humans cannot digest. RATIONALE In competition, two species compete for the same food or resources. In this case, the cacti and the other plants are competing for water. The bacteria and the human are in symbiosis. The owl is preying on the mouse, and the leeches are preying on the swimmer. CONCEPT Community Ecology 23 Which of the following is NOT a way humans negatively affect groundwater?  Humans build structures with impermeable surfaces.  Humans build dams to provide water for agriculture.  Humans poison the water with chemical runoff.  Humans lower the water table. RATIONALE While dams can have many negative environmental impacts, they affect lakes, rivers, and streams, not groundwater. Lowing the water table, building impermeable surfaces, and poisoning water with chemical runoff are all ways in which humans negatively affect groundwater. CONCEPT Water Supply 24 Which statement about agriculture impacts is FALSE?  Agroecosystems do not allow a natural progression of multiple species and ecological succession.

 Monoculture can threaten human health because of the increased use of chemicals.  Fewer pesticides are used when monoculture is practiced.  Agroecosystems try to control a certain number of species in a limited area. RATIONALE In monoculture, more chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used to maintain the growth of a single species in a given area. The other statements about agroecosystems and monocultures are true. CONCEPT Agriculture Impacts 25 When analyzing environmental issues, scientists try to predict future states or events, which is difficult because so many factors are unknown. Nevertheless, predictions are valuable for determining and managing risk. Select the FALSE prediction for the future of the environment.  Overexploitation of plants and animals will decrease as endangered species legislation is enforced.  Water pollution is expected to continue to deteriorate the water quality of oceans and freshwater bodies.  Fewer forests will mean more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  Global temperatures are expected to increase by up to 10 °F over the next 100 years. RATIONALE Overexploitation of plants and animals is expected to continue, with 30% of Earth's species facing the threat of overexploitation.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Global temperatures are expected to increase by 2.5–10 °F over the next 100 years. Deforestation will lead to more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Water pollution will affect both ocean and freshwater quality. CONCEPT The Future

sci 201 final milestone

Related Documents