Download Review for Environmental Systems Fall Final Exam 2015

Review for Environmental Systems Fall Final Exam 2015-2016
History of the Environmental Movement
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Why did hunter-gatherers have such a low environmental impact? They were small in population size and
wandered from place to place looking for food. They were not in on spot long enough to cause harm.
How much time have we spent as a hunter gatherer type of society verses an agricultural society? We spent
much more time as hunter gatherers. If the entire time on Earth were 50 years, 49 years were as hunter
gatherers and 1 year as we are now.
Explain how the shift from a hunter gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural lifestyle changed the way we lived. We
learned how to grow crops so we no longer have to wander around looking for food. We were able to develop
technology to make our lives easier.
What are Garrett Hardin’s views on the use of natural resources? Natural resources are being abused for
short term gain because there is no private ownership or management. Everyone shared common property
so everyone took what they needed. He called this the tragedy of the commons.
What is the tragedy of the commons? The overuse of common property or free access resources.
What is sustainability? Using what we need now but saving some resources for the future generations.
Explain the differences between highly developed and lower developed countries. Highly developed
countries have a higher standard of living, are more industrialized, have lower birth rates and death rates,
etc. than undeveloped or developing countries.
When is an environmental issue considered to be global? If it has a significant impact across the world and
lasts for a long period of time.
What is an ecological footprint? The measure of a person’s impact on the environment.
Is a person’s ecological footprint greater in a developed or developing country? Explain. It is greater in a
developed country because they use more resources per person.
What years were known as the first decade of the environment? 1970’s
What is the underlying issue in most environmental issues? Rapid growth in human population which leads to
habitat loss and destruction
What was Rachel Carson’s book, “The Silent Spring” about? The dangers of pesticides especially DDT.
a. What is DDT used for? DDT is a pesticide used to control insect populations.
b. What are the pros and cons of DDT? It is very useful in controlling mosquitoes in undeveloped
countries to help prevent malaria. It does not biodegrade so it builds up in the ecosystem and the
food chain (bioaccumulation) and can harm or kill animals.
What contribution did the following people make to the environmental movement?
a. John Muir: He was a naturalist and he founder of the Sierra Club.
b. Theodore Roosevelt: He was the first national political figure to bring conservation issues to the
public’s attention.
c. Gifford Pinchot: He was the first Chief of the Forestry Services.
d. Aldo Leopold: He wrote “The Sand County Almanac and he was involved in the development of
environmental ethics and wildlife management.
Describe the importance of significant events in environmental such as:
a. Agricultural Revolution: Was a shift from hunting and gathering to a more settled existence where
crops were planted for food
b. Exxon Valdez: A large oil spill that occurred when the Exxon Valdez tanker ran aground in Prince
William Sound in Alaska in 1989. It caused massive environmental damage.
c. Montreal Protocol: An international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer.
d. Wilderness Act: Authorized the government to protect large tracts of public land in 1964
e. Gulf Oil Spill: Worst oil spill in United State which caused massive environmental damage. Several
regulations for deep water drilling were established because of this spill.
Ecosystems
Know the definition of the following and recognize examples of each.
Mutualism-  both organisms benefit example: pollinators and plants
Commensalism-  one organism benefits and the other is neither hurt or harmed, example: barnacles on a whale
Parasitism- one organism benefits and the other is harmed, example: fleas on a dog
Autotroph/producer- make their own food
Consumers/Heterotrophs- consume other organisms for food
Omnivore- feed on plants and animals
Carnivore- eat other animals
Herbivore- eat plants
Decomposers- break down organic matter and absorb the nutrients, example: bacteria, mushrooms
Detritivore- feed on organic waste by consuming it, examples: earth worms, millipedes
Scavenger- eat dead organisms in large quantities, example: vulture
Answer the following questions.
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Describe the difference between biotic and abiotic factors and give examples of each.
Biotic factors are the living parts of the ecosystem such as plants and animals.
Abiotic factors are living or once living parts of the ecosystem such as rocks, dirt and decaying organic
matter.
Energy cannot be recycled so ecosystems need a constant supply of it.
What is the source of all energy in a food chain? The sun
The sun’s energy is converted from light energy to chemical energy.
What type of organism is always found at the beginning of a food chain? Producers/Autotrophs
What is biomass? The mass of all organic matter in the ecosystem
Draw a food web consisting of three different interconnected food chains.
a. Are second order consumers herbivores or carnivores? Explain.
Carnivores because they are eating herbivores.
b. How do food webs show conservation of energy?
Energy is passed from one organism to another or converted to heat, movement etc., it does not just
disappear.
c. What happens when an organism in a web or chain dies or is removed?
The organisms the dead animal ate will increase in population, and the organisms that ate the dead
animal/plant will have to compete for other food sources.
d. How does the biomass of the producers in a food chain compare to the consumers in the same food
chain?
The biomass of the producers is larger than the biomass of the consumers in the same food chain.
e. Where are the majority of the organisms located in the pyramid?
In the lower levels…producers have the majority of the organisms
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f. How much energy is transferred between trophic levels in a food chain? 10%
g. What happens to the energy that is not passed to the next level in a food chain?
The energy is as given off as heat and it is used for the normal life functions of the organism like
moving, etc.
h. Why do food chains rarely go beyond three to four trophic levels?
There are usually only 3-4 levels because there is not enough energy to support another level.
Energy and biomass pyramids show relationships in ecosystems.
a. How does the amount of energy change as you move from the bottom to the top of the pyramid?
The energy will decrease as you move from the bottom to the top of the pyramid.
b. Where are the majority of the organisms located in the pyramid?
The majority of the organisms will be at the bottom of the pyramid.
What is biodiversity?
The combination of all the different types of living organisms. It is believed to be the result of speciation and
co-evolution. It is important because it leads to healthy ecosystems.
What is the single greatest threat to biodiversity? Habitat loss
Describe the difference between an organism’s niche and habitat.
Niche is its role in the environment and habitat is where it lives
Can two organisms occupy the same niche at the same time? Explain.
No, one will be more successful and will force the other one out
How does a fundamental niche compare to a realized niche?
A fundamental niche is the entire space in an ecosystem where animals can live. A realized niche is the part
of the ecosystem each animal gets to live because of competition for space.
Describe the following types of species.
a. Specialist species- have narrow niches and do not adapt well to change.
b. Generalist species-can survive a wide variety of ecosystems and conditions.
c. Native species- are historically found in the area.
d. Indicator species- serve as early warnings of environmental damage (ex: lichen).
a. Keystone species- Removal of these species has a big impact on the ecosystem even if they were not
there in large numbers (ex: wolves).
e. Invasive Species- species that is introduced into an area where it is not from. The species grows
rapidly and takes over because it has no natural predators and reproduces rapidly.
f. R-Strategist- produce many offspring and have a short life, example: insects.
g. K-Strategist- produce few offspring and have a long life, example: humans.
Are specialist species or generalist species more susceptible to extinction? Explain.
Specialist, because they don’t adapt well to changes in the environment.
Animal Populations
Vocabulary-Define the following words and be able to recognize examples of each.
Population- is a group of individuals of the same species in a given area.
Community- is a group of several different species living in a given area.
Population density- is the number of organisms living within a defined area
Limiting factor- is any factor that limits the growth of a population, example: amount of food, water, predators etc.
Density Dependent Factors- are factors that affect a population based on density. Examples: disease, food,
predation.
Density Independent Factors- are factors that affect a population and are not based on density. Examples: natural
disasters, fire.
Carrying capacity- is the number of organisms an area can successfully support.
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List five factors that would cause a population to grow.
Adequate food, water, shelter, limited predators, good climate will cause populations to grow.
What happens when resources in a population become less available?
The population will approach carrying capacity and growth rate will slow down until the supply of resources
equals the demand for resources.
What happens when a population grows larger than the carrying capacity of the environment?
Individuals will die because resources are depleted. The population will level off at the carrying capacity of the
environment.
List three factors that will reduce competition within a population.
Adequate food, water, shelter, limited predators, smaller populations will reduce competition.
Why is it important to do population counts? Give an example in your explanation.
Population counts help us monitor species and better understand the health of an ecosystem. This process helps
to protect endangered species such as tigers. Counts also determine the number of animals that can be hunted
during hunting seasons.
Briefly describe each of the following methods used to count populations.
a. Capture mark recapture- -capture individual, mark in some manner, release and recapture…use formula
to calculate total population.
b. Transects- count individuals along a straight line in an area… use formula to calculate total population.
c. Quadrat- toss square in an area, count individuals in square… use formula to calculate total population.
d. Camera Census- use automatic cameras to capture images of individuals in an area and use formula to
calculate total population.
Our area is growing rapidly. How does this impact the carrying capacity of our surrounding area? Will populations
of wild animals increase or decrease as we continue to expand?
The carrying capacity of our area will be reduced because there is less area to support the population of wild
animals. The animal population will decrease with increasing competition for resources.
A farming community in Texas covers 24 square kilometers. There are 840 individuals who live within the town
limits. What is the population density of this community?
840/24 = 35 individuals per square kilometers
A biologist originally marked 30 Brown Pelicans on Galveston Island. Over a six month long period 150 Brown
Pelicans were captured. Of those 150, 45 were found to have tags. Based on this information, what is the
estimated population size of the Brown Pelicans on Galveston Island?
Population Estimate = (Total Number Captured) X (Number Marked)
(Total Number Captured With Mark)
Population Estimate = (150) X (30) = 100 Brown Pelicans
(45)
Human Population Dynamics
Vocabulary: You will need to know the definitions from the population vocabulary assignment.
Population Ecology- the study of human (or other) populations
Birth Rate- number of individuals born usually per 1000 people
Death Rate- number of individuals who die usually per 1000 people
Growth Rate – Growth Rate for a nation or region = (CBR –CDR) + (Net Migration)
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Immigration-moving into an area
Emigration- moving out of an area
Zero Population Growth- birth rate equals death rate
Exponential growths– growth without limits
Logistic Growth- growth that includes carrying capacity
Population Pyramids-Age Structure Diagram
Write the name(s) of the countries described by the following statements.
1. Has completed demographic transiton. Austria, Denmark, Italy
2. In the pre-industrial stage. Kenya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia
3. Close to zero population growth. Austria, Denmark, Italy
4. Has high birth and death rates. Kenya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia
5. What precentage of the male population is 0-4 years old in each country?
7%
4%
3%
Stages of Demographic Transition: Know the stages and characteristics or each stae of demographic transiton.
Write the descriptions under the stage they describe.
Pre-Industrial
High birth rate and death
rates
Small population
Transitional
Post-Industrial
Low birth and death rates
Death rate declines
Population grows rapidly
High infant mortality low
life expectancy
Need children to work
farms
Industrial
Birth rate declines rapidly
Death rate declines
Large population
Population grows rapidly
Population levels off
Children still necessary,
families have more money
Children are not a
necessity but parents still
want them
Elderly outnumber young
Many families choose not
to have children
Sketch a population pyramid for each stage.
Exponential and Logistic Graphs: You must be able to interpret data in exponential and logistic graphs.
The graph shows the growth of 2 species of bacteria grown on the same petri dish. It also shows their growth rate
when grown separately.
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Which of the 2 types of bacteria will soon die? Why?
P. caudatum because it is reacting to something from P. auirelia
Which of the 2 bacteria strains is better adapted for competition?
P. aurelia
How is the growth rate for P. caudatum different when it is grown alone?
Its population is larger when grown alone
When does P. aurelia reach its carrying capacity?
Around 14 days
Is this exponential or logistic growth? Explain.
Logistic, the populations reach a carrying capacity
Calculating Population Growth Rate and Doubling Time: You need to be able to do this.
Growth Rate for a nation or region = (CBR –CDR) + (Net Migration)
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Doubling time (in years):
70______
Growth rate (r)
Use the formulas above and the information in the chart to calculate the growth rate and doubling time for the
following areas.
Country
Birth Rate
births/1000
population
Death Rate
deaths/1000
population
Net Migration
migrants/1000
population
Growth
Rate
%
Doubling
Time
years
Mexico
19.02
5.24
-1.84
1.19
58.82
Switzerland
10.48
8.1
5.43
.78
89.74
What is doubling time?
The time it takes for a population to double its size
Soil and Agriculture
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List the things needed to form soil.
Minerals, water, air, and organic material
How do the following get into the soil?
a. Minerals When rocks are broken apart by chemical and physical processes they release minerals into the
soil
b. Humus comes from decaying organic material such as leaves and dead organisms
Describe the following types of soil. Which type is the best for growing plants?
a. Clay has small spaces and water does not move through it rapidly
b. Sand has large spaces and water moves through it rapidly
c. Silt has medium spaces and the water moves through at a medium pace
d. Loam has medium spaces and the water moves through at a medium pace and is the best type of soil for
growing crops.
What is erosion? The action of processes such as wind and water that move minerals and soil from one place to
another.
List the two main types of erosion. Water and wind erosion.
What determines the texture of soil? The size of particles in the soil determine texture
What is porosity?
Porosity describes the number of spaces in soil.
Why is it important to have organic material in soil? Humus will attract and hold water and release nutrients into
the soil for plants to use.
What does permeability tell you about soil? Permeability tells you how quickly water will drain or how much water
a soil will hold. The more permeable the quicker the water drains. Soils with low permeability hold water better.
How does a soil become dense? It gets compacted by heavy equipment or other types of traffic driving over it.
What are some consequences that result from the way our food is processed?
There are more cases of food poisoning by E.coli and salmonella. Animals are injected with hormones and
antibiotics. Animals are mass produced and not treated humanely.
How do government subsidies promote unhealthy food? Government subsidize crops such as corn instead of
crops such as vegetables so it is cheaper to buy products made from corn that to but vegetables.
How has corn altered the food and agricultural industries? Corn is rearranged and manipulated and is used in many
of our food products. It is fed to cattle to increase production.
Complete the following chart on different farming methods.
Farming Method
General Description
Pros
Cons
Organic Farming
Use natural processes and
few to no chemicals or
hormones to grow food
This process produces
healthier food
This process is more
expensive
Genetically Modified
Crops
Introduce new gene
combinations to produce
disease and herbicides
resistant crops or grow
animals bigger faster
Crops are resistant to
diseases and herbicides
and animals grow more
quickly
Genetic combinations
could spread to weeds
and make them resistant
to herbicides
Inhumane treatment of
animals
No-till Farming
Ground cover is not tilled
under
Eliminates soil loss
More problems with
weeds and competition
Integrated Pest
Management
Uses a combination of
chemicals and biological
control to get rid of pests
Fewer chemicals are used
May introduce invasive
species into the
environment
Poverty and Hunger
1. What are the main causes of hunger in the world?
War, famine, poverty, unequal distribution of food
2. What keeps food from getting to the people who need it?
War, famine, poverty, corrupt governments, education
3. What are some common myths about the causes of hunger?
You can fix the hunger problem by giving enough money
Overpopulation = lack of food
Food shortage